This site is the website of motivational speaker Craig Harper. A constantly updated, one-stop information, inspiration, education and motivation station. Unlike many similar sites, it is a totally free resource for anyone who is serious about moving from mediocre to amazing in any area of their personal or professional life. With hundreds of articles covering a wide range of subject matter, great interviews with cool people and inspirational video posts, there's more than enough brain-food to keep you busy for hours. Okay, days!! Enjoy.
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Fattitude
- Craig Harper
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Craig Harper is Australia's leading
motivational speaker
and educator (according to Google Australia). He is a highly
sought-after corporate coach and is considered to be
a leader and pioneer in the areas of personal and
professional development.
Working with hundreds of
teams, companies and a wide variety of organisations
on numerous continents over the last twenty years
has given Craig a unique insight into, and
understanding of, human performance and all its
variables. Craig has an ability to educate, inspire,
challenge and make people laugh all at the same
time!
Hey Guys. This week (as most) has been crazy busy.
Some good stuff, some not-so-good stuff, some fun stuff... a few lessons, some interesting people and a few challenges to keep me honest and test my resolve. We'll call that... life!
What would I do if it was all smooth sailing? I'd be bored.
This week was the final installment of our six week Life Renovation Program. We had some great breakthroughs, some nice feedback (I received a beautiful 9-page letter from an appreciative partner!) and it was fantastic to see people who have been 'stuck' (with habits, thinking, attitudes, disempowering beliefs and behavioural patterns) for years (and years)... starting to see and experience the light at the end of the tunnel. Real change. Yay.
People who (for the first time) realised that they can do, be and createamazing when they consistently follow certain change-principles and when they stop sabotaging themselves. And with that internal shift.. we began to see some real-life change and genuine, measurable, practical results. That's what I love; physical, tangible, measurable... real results.
I have so much passion for, and belief in, people's ability to change that it frustrates me when I see beautiful, clever, talented people consistently talk and think themselves into mediocrity. Or less. Consistently going around in circles. And I see it daily.
Sometimes I meet people and I honestly think.. "I wish I had your talent... if only you knew what you could do and be." One of the reasons I'm so passionate about teaching what I believe.. is my lack of ability. It's because of (not in spite of) my lack of ability that I had to be driven, had to be passionate and had to get uncomfortable on a regular basis. I don't know everything but I do know how to maximise ability.
While I have some talent, I meet many people who are so much more talented than I'll ever be... but choose (knowingly or not) not to use or develop that talent.
At the completion of our program I gave the participants a handout with, what I believe were, the key messages, principles and ideas to come out of our time together.... knowing that most of you can't attend the six-week program (probably a bit tough geographically)... flying from the States, Canada or the UK every Tuesday might prove to be problematic... and expensive! I thought it might be an idea for me to share my (very abbreviated) synopsis of the program with you.
It's cheaper (free) and you don't have to sit in a classroom with me for six weeks (bonus).
As you read, keep in mind that these summary points were not intended for use in a post (such as this) and therefore do not necessarily flow from one to the next. They were more to be used as prompts and reminders for my students as the program becomes a distant memory.
Some of these will be irrelevant for where you're at (personally), some will be a reminder of something you already know, some will be revision for recent(ish) posts and lessons... and some may be a fresh revelation or insight for you. Use what's for meaningful for you. Discard the rest.
Okay, here we go:
Summary Notes Life Renovation Program July, 2007:
1) We are multi-dimensional, complex beings and we need to factor that into every (significant) decision we make. It's (very) possible (likely perhaps) to be successful in one area of our life (finance, career for example) while a complete disaster in another area (health, personal relationships, spiritual life perhaps) so if we're a squillionaire... but we're gonna have a heart attack next Tuesday or we haven't had a meaningful conversation with a loved one since the eighties... perhaps we need to re-assess how and why we do things...and possibly redefine what success is for us.
2) My world will change when I change. My reality needs to change from the inside-out; not the other way around. While there are many variables in the process.... I (my choices, my attitudes, my habits, my communication, my ability to adapt) am the Captain of the 'SS Me'.
3) I need to (be able to) separate the emotional from the cerebral. When I make emotional, reactive decisions.. I typically create bad (or undesired) outcomes. What I feel (the emotional stuff) and what I think or know to be true (the cerebral stuff) don't always align... in fact... often don't align. Sometimes we need to take a certain course of action, do certain things, make certain decisions (because logic and common sense tell us so) eventhough the insecure, fearful, self-protecting eight year-old in us is kicking and screaming to the contrary.
4) Our goals, dreams, hopes and values need to be wrapped around a practical life-strategy (plan)... and for many people, they're not. Despite what the LOA might suggest, sitting on the couch waiting for the universe to deliver our desires... doesn't work. Most people don't have a sensible, practical goal setting process; they have a wish-list. While we all 'get' what goal setting is... most of us don't do it (practically and consistently apply it to our life).
5) It's great to be passionate... it's better to be passionate and practical. Passion without the practical... leads to frustration.
6) Creating amazing outcomes is not about talent or potential as much as it is about decisions, attitude, commitment, drive and work ethic. Sometimes.. talent is a handicap.
7) Fear doesn't make us dysfunctional or weird... it makes us human and normal. In order to create amazing we (occasionally) need to do things, take chances, make decisions, address issues... despite our fear. Sometimes we need to look for the most effective way... not the most comfortable or enjoyable way.
8) Creating amazing is not always quick, easy, painless, simple or convenient. Despite the what the advertisements say.
9) Dealing with (not avoiding) adversity (problems, challenges, discomfort, pain) is how we develop skills (emotional, social, decision making, practical, coping), gain strength, change our mindset and become more effective and empowered. Problems, challenges, curve balls... are part of the human experience... not dealing with them is an unrealistic approach to... anything! So failure, pain and disappointment can actually help us succeed.
10) Hard / difficult is more about attitude than it is about situations, circumstances, events, environment or other people. Many people make the simple hard... every day. Situations and circumstances aren't difficult... (as much as) people are!
11) Every day we have the choice to have a great day despite what happens (or doesn't happen) in that day. A good day is not about fate, destiny, chance or events... it's about us. You and me.
12) To create different we need to think different. When we change how we think.. then we react, decide, communicate, cope, interact and manage stress differently. We also create a different reality.
Different thinking = Different choices = Different behaviours = Different outcomes =
Happy Campers!! (YAY)
13) If we can't define it, we can't have it. We need to get clear about what we want. We need to set goals (and have a practical process). Too many people want success... but don't actually know what it is.
14) We also need to get clear about what we don't want. Knowing what we don't want helps move us in the right direction... helps create momentum and the right mindset. Sometimes identifying what we don't want is the catalyst we need.
15) Success is different things for different people... and what will make one person happy might make another person miserable or stressed (a pregnancy.. for example). The one common denominator is that we all want to be happy... however, the mechanism and / or catalyst for that happiness will vary from person to person. We need to discover what pushes our happy button.
16) I am not a body; it's just where I live. As long as our identity is rooted in something which can be taken from us (looks, jobs, money, toys), we'll always be insecure. I am more than my career, my house, my bank balance, my education, my body and my achievements... As long as my self-esteem is dependant on how I look, what I do or what I own... I'm in trouble. I need to find my identity; who I am beyond what I do, own, drive.. or how pretty/handsome I am.
17) Knowing what to do is not nearly as important as doing what we know. We live in the information age (we've never been more informed)... but we seem to be as troubled (dysfunctional, obese, unhappy, unfulfilled, confused, broke, addicted) as ever. We get angry, we get bitter, we make excuses, we wait, we explain, we blame... and we still don't really do anything. We go to church, the synagogue, school, the library, the Internet, workshops, therapists, life-coaches... we are constantly bombarded with information (much of it great) and still... many of us are exactly where we said we'd never be.
18) "We don't see things as they are; we see things as we are" (AnaisNinn)... and in order for us to be able to communicate and co-exist effectively with others (in all kinds of relationships and situations) we need to be able to see things through others eyes... learn their love language.. understand their communication style. If I consistently use the same communication style with different people, I will consistently create good, bad and indifferent results.
19) My past does not have to equal my future... but for most people it does. Generally speaking, our beliefs (about what's possible for us in the future) are not remotely reflective of our ability, potential or possible future achievements. It is not our ability, but our thinking, beliefs and fears... which limit us.
20) To an extent, an individual's overall level of happiness (joy, peace, fulfillment) will be dependant on their ability to adapt. Everything around us is in a constant state of change, while we are (often) in a constant state of same. This can create problems on many levels if we don't adapt, learn, grow and change with our constantly evolving environment.
21) Many of us waste time and emotional energy on things we can't change while ignoring (and doing nothing) about, the stuff we can. We need to identify where and how we do this... and start asking ourselves empowering questions (verses the "why is life so unfair to me" questions)... the "what can I do" questions.
22) I will not accidentally succeed. Success will not fall on my head from a great height. Some people spend their life hoping they'll win the lotto... hoping success will happen to them.
23) The number one reason people don't create forever results is... they don't finish what they start. Success ain't about starting, it's about finishing. Results ain't about motivation, it's about perseverance.
24) Motivation is temporary... I need to get the job done despite my motivational peaks and troughs.
25) Situations, circumstances and events don't create stress, I do. I need a stress management strategy... the time to address my stress level is not after my first breakdown.
26) Even though we don't like feedback, we need it... I can't be completely objective about me (performance, behaviour, decisions, communication). Critical, informed, intelligent feedback is a gift if we use it properly (doesn't always feel like it at the time).
27) Some of us manage everything... except us.
28) There are different kinds of smart. Intelligence ain't all about IQ tests... in fact... not at all. Some 'highly intelligent' people are socially, emotionally and practically stupid.
29) Discipline is not necessarily cool.. or sexy... or marketable.. or popular... but it is effective. The world wants to buy easy but without a certain level of discipline (self-control, inner strength, mental and emotional toughness) creating real change is impossible.
30) Trying to teach someone who doesn't want to learn is an exercise in frustration (for you) and annoyance (for them). Quite often, the well-intended suggestion or spontaneous life-lesson.. will produce more resentment than enlightenment.
31) Who I am (and who I will be) is not predetermined, it is self-determined.
So there you have it; don't ask me why thirty one points... just worked out that way. Hope a light went on for you.
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