Learning New Stuff!

I have always liked drawing but I was never good at! As some of you may know I work in marketing and a big part of it is design, whether it be for a clients Facebook post, marketing collateral or initial creative for a new business pitch. I have always had an interest in it but never had the resources (Photoshop) to try it for myself. Luckily a colleague of mine gave it to me and since then I have become hooked!!!!

I’ m quickly finding out how useful it is and I am having great fun learning new aspects of the program too. It brought me onto think about how important it is to always be learning something new. I have a very addictive personality and I remember as a kid I’d pick things up quickly and never put them down for ages. Whether it was me learning how to Rollerblade or if it was learning the guitar (which i regrettably put down). Looking back on it now these moments were when I was at my happiest and most motivated. I’m a learner! I love the thrill of being rubbish at something and finally cracking it, it gives me such a buzz and it definitely boosts my confidence!

I have decided that I am going to go to a boxing gym and learn how to box. I have always had a fascination with the sport and loved the discipline and the honor associated with it.  I have never been the best specimen of an athlete in my life I’m of average height short arms and slightly on the chubby side but I think that because I have identified this it will help push me to go harder.

A big part of this for me and i’m sure you people is finding the time! I believe that it is strongly imperative that you brake your time down into these major categories to live a better life: work, social and you time. Even if you have to literally create an excel spreadsheet and divide your time up each week based on these categories I guarantee you will see a change in your overall mood.

 

 

“The expert in anything was once a beginner”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organization Is Control

I sincerely apologize people! I usually try to at least do one blog post a week but I admit I have fallen off. In all honesty I didn’t think it would affect me as much as it has, me not having my weekly vent has left me feeling silenced almost, so once I again I apologize to you and myself.

I think that the main reason for my inability to remain consistent has been me “Not having any time” AKA being really unorganized. At the very least my unorganized last few weeks has highlighted to me that I need to be which brings me on to the topic of this post.

Being organised is paramount! All successful people are organised. I am not only referring to people with money but that person who is a social butterfly, good at their job, that beast in the gym all of them are organised and prioritize their time successfully based on their vision of success.

Timetable your time: This encompasses all areas of your life whether you work a 9-5 or unemployed looking for work. Schedule time in for the gym, to see your mates to watch the football match on a Saturday but just make sure you have an overview of the time available to you and where you have spent it.

To do lists: Always have a daily to do list based on your timetable and make sure tasks are prioritized, for me I always deal with the hardest task first.

Use the calendar on your phone: We are always on the go! make sure your timetable and to do list is synced to your phone so you constantly adhere to what you need to be doing.

Being organised is being in control, don’t let your day run you, run your day!

 

 

 

Everyone Tells Us To Take Risks… But Why Should We?!

I read a lot of blogs and books on self development and there always seems to be a common theme: Taking risks will make your life awesome! However, at times when I haven’t felt so brave all the quotable sentences, facts and advice doesn’t really count for anything. These books and posts always say just do it and you’ll feel better and your life will be amazing and so on but when your stuck in a rut this hardly pushes you to take a risk and come out of your comfort zone. This isn’t an assault to all of you out there encouraging people to take risks this is just my opinion.

For me and I’m sure many others, I don’t tend to do things unless I have a rough understanding of the repercussions, whats the gain?  So this post is just a few reasons why we should take these risks.

Our mind plays tricks on us but in order to re-frame our mindset we need to take risk on. Your mind works in a funny way, it can hang onto the negative and perpetuate the fear of uncertainty. It always seems worse than it actually is. Even when we aren’t feeling brave doing brave things that makes us seem brave tricks ourselves to thinking we are. Fake it till you make it because like attracts like. If we keep on taking risks we will be more willing to take more.

Life in essence is one big learning curve, a process, a journey and the lessons we learn from the risks we take may lead us on a new path!

Ever heard that phrase “If its not worth fighting for, its not worth having” I’m pretty sure you have; Success won’t fall in your lap — you have to pursue it. The only way to pursue it is to try new ways of getting to your achieved goal if you persist doing the same thing and getting the same unwanted outcome, you’ve got to try new things! The reward seems greater as well because its an area your not used to challenging so when you think about it, it’s always a win win. It’s weird, I’ve always come across Edison’s quote “I haven’t failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” and thought WHATEVER MATE! I’d be mega pissed if I tried something 10,000 times and it didn’t work, but now I totally get it. In a very strange way failure can motivate you which brings me back to thinking every step is a step forward. You become confident in your ability to fail which only happens once the failing starts!

 

-If you win you’ll be happy. If you lose you’ll be wise-

 

You Have To Break A Few Eggs To Make An Omelette!

I have always been a peace keeper… It’s just so much easier! Everyone likes you! Life is good……… But do you actually get what you want? Chances are you don’t, I have always found myself sacrificing my opinion, sitting on the fence, always thinking about other peoples feelings which isn’t always a bad thing.

Funny thing is when I was younger I was always the loudmouth, making people either laugh or cry but I think over time I learnt to conceal this side of me which in all honesty I kinda miss.

I remember in my psychology for managers module at University we studied a theory on the team building process:

The Forming

Storming

Norming

and performing stages

(Created by Tuckman its worth a look!)

The storming stage is where the conflict happens and I don’t know about you but that seems extremely early in the process. In reflection, people need to know where they stand extremely early on whether it be your partner, friends or work colleagues. If people know where they stand with you it gives them an indicator on how much energy they should invest in you and visa versa.

We have all been there as guys you meet a really nice girl you go on a couple dates and then things get distant.I always get super pissed off when that happens i’m sure all you guys out there do too! I’d much prefer a girl to say yeah we can go on a date and see what happens but if not I doubt you’ll see me again. I would respect that SOOO much!  Or a simple I’m not interested.

HOWEVER…. I think I have had a part to play in this too and I’m sure many of you lot have as well very much unconsciously though. In our attempt to impress we forget about are own expectations and don’t make them clear. There comes a time when enough is enough. The only way change will come is by truly and I mean truly speaking your mind whether it’s bad or good. In this clarity I strongly believe your life will flourish so whether it be a friend that always bails tell them your not going to put up with it; or your lazy ass brother who always leaves the place in a mess tell him to SORT IT OUT!

Remember! This blog is all about positivity but as the title says!

 

Trials And Tribulations Of Finishing Uni

One of the best moments in my life was graduating Uni with a 1st class degree. Me?! I managed to achieve a 1st?! I busted my ass day and night and sacrificed so much and got what I deserved! Finding a job can’t be that hard now can it I’m surely going to own a Ferrari :D…… Well you bald mug you were wrong! I have always been a motivated person, strong willed and resilient but my time after University made me seriously question these qualities I previously thought I had.

My time after Uni sounded a little like this:

Mate 1: “Aaron I got a job in Accounting 23k starting!”

Me: “Well done mate you deserve it”

Mate 2: “Aaron I got a job in Marketing 20k and there paying for me to study further”

Me: “Well done darling you deserve it”

Mate3 :”Aaron i’m working in china in recruitment 25k and accommodation paid for”

Me: “Amazing I hope you have a fantastic time”

Mate 4: “Aaron”

Mate 5: “Aaron”

Mate 6: “Aaron”

 

Hold on! Where the fuck is my amazing job?!!!!!! I’m not an envious person but I did really well, worked my ass off and people who didn’t are in amazing jobs progressing with their lives and i’m on pause like a scratched DVD. It wasn’t as if I wasn’t trying either, Id apply for ten jobs a day and trust me I have the job log on excel to prove it.

My money started getting low (practically non existent) I was at home bored, my life felt like a complete mess. I almost began to feel like I was owed something! I wanted a career in marketing and felt as though it was unattainable and I should just pack it in and get an admin role somewhere and just do a job I’d hate. Many people told me to do that as well! but I thought to myself…. Think how many times people told Obama he couldn’t be president and i’m pretty sure he’s the geezer in the white house at the mo! So I persisted and persisted and my breakthrough came!

I’m a strong believer that there’s a reason for everything whether it be good or bad and when things come hard they taste that much sweeter. I strongly believe the hard spell I had after Uni helped me to become super motivated and learn as much as I can to propel myself to the next level. It’s easy to play the victim role and question “Why is this happening to me?” but this achieves absolutely nothing, ACTION does.

Weather your dream is big or small just keep at it never let anyone sway you!

-Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent-

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Back Into The Gym

YEEESSSSSS HOLIDAYYY BOOKED!!!

 

I do not want to be this guy! I have totally, totally fallen off the horse in terms of working out. I use all the excuses in the world, I’m to busy with work, I’m to busy with my blog, I’m to busy with my job search….. YEAH RIGHT! Great excuses! As I said in a previous post it’s imperative to look after yourself!! If I was to prioritize exercise as much as work or my blog I’d probably look like this:

 

 

But you know what it’s normal to fall off the horse sometimes but I just haven’t got back on it in a while lol!

 

 

As you can see I was by no means a body builder but I was very content with my size and overall health.So for all you great people out there (and myself) here are a few tips to get your ass back in the gym:

Set goals ( what are you trying to improve? what’s your goal weight? how much do you want to lift?)

Workout plan

Food log

Prep meals (Bulk cooking)

Drink water (Before and after each meal)

6 meals a day- (Eat little but often)

Start with big exercises (Compound exercises like squats use more muscles thus making you lose weight faster and after your workout)

Always have the tunes! (Have a specific workout playlist and keep it fresh)

Track performance (From start weight, to pictures, to gains)

Take out old clothes- (The scale can trick you so use that old pair of jeans you can’t get into anymore as a measuring tool)

Avoid Alcohol

Bring your gym bag to work and make a point of telling people your going to the gym that day

 

 

I’m starting my journey back into the gym this week and I’ll keep you posted with my progress!

 

– Stay blessed, Workout, Less stress! –

Taming the “inner-monkey”

Infinity Pro-Coach!

So I was surfing WordPress as I normally do and one blog I repeatedly check out is the “Infinity Pro-Coach” blog written by David. It’s literally amazing I had to let everybody know about it! He has immense self development articles and really knows what he is talking about as he has a solid theoretical background through his studies in Mental Health.

He provides his readers with phenomenal strategies, tools and perspectives to help you reach your infinite potential. I thoroughly enjoy his blog as he provides sound information on a range of topics surrounding self-development, his passion for the subject transcends through his writing. A work colleague of mine told me about a book she has been hooked on called “The Chimp Paradox” and sure enough David covered it with an excellent piece!

This is a blog to watch, definitely check it out and show some love: https://infinitypro.net/

 

Have fun reading!

 

Would You Have Taken The Fight?

Anthony Joshua is now the IBF champion of the world! A lot of people doubted him and said he took the fight too soon but he saw an opportunity, believed in his ability and went for it! I have nothing but respect for the guy, a lot of people in life (Myself included) wait for the perfect time that never comes and this typifies why you shouldn’t.

Imagine Joshua didn’t take the fight and fought another opponent and lost. He’d of went down in the rankings and maybe wouldn’t have got that title fight for some while. But now he’s got the belt and has the possibility of fighting Tyson Fury in the near future for two more belts!

 

-Chat Shit Get Banged-

 

My Key Takeouts From The Art Of War!

“A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy”

Take what you can from people and experiences.

“Sun Tzu said: In the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy’s country whole and intact; to shatter and destroy it is not so good. So, too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them”

So don’t burn them bridges even if your not getting on with someone don’t shatter what you had previously!

“Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting”

Be persuasive, cunning and tactful and often you don’t even have to fight.

“If equally matched, we can offer battle; if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy; if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him”

Pick your battles wisely.

“He will win who, prepared himself”

Make plans.

“Hence the saying: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle”

Know and understand what you’re up against.

“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard”

Don’t over complicate stuff, you have all you need to achieve.

“The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim”

Be true and decisive in your decisions don’t be sitting on the fence.

“For it is the nature of a log or stone to remain motionless on level ground, and to move when on a slope; if four-cornered, to come to a standstill, but if round shaped, to go rolling down. Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy”

Motivation comes from moving and actually doing things.

“Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances”

Don’t do the same shit and expect different results.

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt”

Don’t make your plans known.

“A soldier’s spirit is keenest in the morning; by noonday it has begun to flag; and in the evening, his mind is bent only on returning to camp”

Get your biggest tasks done as soon as possible in the day.

“If in training soldiers commands are habitually enforced, the army will be well-disciplined; if not, its discipline will be bad”

Good habits are important.

“The skillful tactician may be likened to the shuaijan. Now the shuai-jan is a snake that is found in the Chung mountains. Strike at its head, and you will be attacked by its tail; strike at its tail, and you will be attacked by its head; strike at its middle, and you will be attacked by head and tail both”

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket be multidimensional, cover all angles.

“If the enemy leaves a door open, you must rush in”

If the opportunity ever so slightly presents itself take it!

“Move not unless you see an advantage”

Focus on the positives and you’ll keep moving.