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.
Click play above
to
see one of Craig's weekly segments on national
television. (9AM with Kim & David - Network Ten)
Online
Personal Training
Can’t always make it to the gym? With your very own
Cyber-Trainer you don’t need to. Our online PT
service is for people who would like to access the
skill, knowledge and experience of a quality
Trainer, without doing the face-to-face thing.
Life Coach
If you are interested in maximizing your potential,
stepping out of that 'holding pattern' and being
privately coached by Craig click here.
Business Coach
If you're a personal trainer, gym owner or studio
owner who is interested in growing your business
then mentoring with Craig could be a valuable part
of your overall success strategy.
Biological Age Testing
Recently, 67 year old Jan Frazer completed one of
our biological age tests only to discover she has
the body of a 37 year old (in terms of fitness,
strength and function). How old is your body? Find
out here.
Body Composition Analysis
Craig's
team of experts can provide you with a
complete Body Composition Analysis in just 30
minutes.
Online
Nutrition
Many
nutritional experts confuse people with their jargon
and pseudo-science. Let Craig's Director of
Nutrition cut through the dietary confusion and
contradiction for you.
Fattitude
- Craig Harper
While many books focus on food,
Craig teaches that creating life-long change is more about the
dieter, than the actual diet. This book is perfect for people who have a
history of 'almost' getting in shape.
DVD
or CD - Renovate Your Body In this entertaining presentation, Craig discusses the
notion of Renovating Your Body - once and for all. Many of us have a curious
ability to be able to get in shape for events (weddings, parties, reunions
and birthdays), if only we'd get in shape for life.
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!
I have to share something with you; something you may find hard to believe. I think it's best that you sit down for this. Oh, you are. Right. Okay, ready then? Here it comes...
Some people don't like me. My thoughts, my ideas, my communication style, my writing, this site... me. Shocking I know.
Sorry, had to whisper it. I'm embarrassed. And a bit hurt. Hang on, that's not all; there's more.
Some people don't like you either. I do, but amazingly, not everybody does.
It's hard to believe I know. How is that possible? You and I are so ace. What's not to love about us; we're fantastic. I think you're great, you think I'm mildly amusing. Can't everyone else recognise our undeniable fabulousness (a word) and simply embrace us for the champions of humanity that we are? Apparently not. To my absolute astonishment, it appears that I'm f-f-f-f-lawed. Periodically offensive, politically incorrect, blunt, insensitive and occasionally, w-r-r-r-r... ong. Who'da thought? There I said it. It's out. And I thought I was the poster boy for 'adorable'. My mother so mislead me.
Moving from complete obscurity to someone with a profile (of sorts) and a public voice (at times) has taught me many lessons, but none more important than that of being able to deal with criticism in a constructive way. And to deal with it on every level - emotionally, psychologically, professionally, publicly, privately and practically. For many of us, our inability to deal with criticism, or even constructive feedback, is what stops us from moving from mediocre to amazing. It's what stops us from fulfilling our potential and becoming a 'better version' of us. However, the irony is that if we actually choose to learn from, and use that criticism (instead of cracking the sads and sulking for a year), it can be the catalyst for real growth and often proves to be one of our greatest teachers.
One of the other ironies of personal growth (in terms of us personally learning, growing and adapting) is that people who are constantly and exclusively surrounded by people who only tell them what they want to hear are actually being handicapped (not empowered), and will invariably come crashing down to earth. They will learn less, grow less and be deprived the opportunity of developing crucial life and coping skills because they aren't living in reality. And then one day when reality steps into their world (and they discover that they are in fact, not perfect or universally loved and accepted), they won't cope.
Publicly putting your ass on the line (via radio, TV, magazines, speaking, this site) and sharing your thoughts, ideas and life-philosophy with the masses has proven to be a high risk activity for me. As it is with anyone who does what I do. When I first started out in the big wide world of public speaking, I must admit that I was naive. I stupidly assumed that if my motives were good, I was passionate and sincere about my message and it was my objective to have a positive impact on people, then I would be universally embraced because clearly, I'm adorable. And lovable, hilarious, irresistible and totally captivating.
Good theory Dumbo. And as for my mother's "don't worry, they'll all love you" theory - seriously Mary, what were you thinking?
I quickly learned that I had the ability to both 'engage and alienate' different people in the same audience at the same time. I had to learn that the very same words which motivate, challenge and inspire one person may alienate, intimidate and even anger, another. I'm still learning this lesson.
While I have had much support, encouragement and love over my journey, I've also had my share of critics. And to be completely honest and transparent with you, sometimes those critics were right, or at the very least, had a valid point. Sometimes I need a reality check, a kick in the ass and a different perspective. I have had to learn that not everyone speaks 'Craig' - a very obscure and at times, difficult language.
Last week I gave a presentation. It went reasonably well. Not amazing, but okay. I've done better, I've done worse. As I left, people came and thanked me, shook my hand and told me that they had enjoyed it. Yesterday I received an email from a man who was also in the presentation. I could share some of the specific contents of the email with you but I'll save us both some time and condense it for you:
"Dear Craig, you're a big tool and your presentation sucked...."
Fifteen years ago feedback like this would have killed me. I would have been emotionally wounded for days because I had a burning desire to please everyone and to be universally liked (two stupid and impossible objectives). These days, I read the letter thoughtfully and I genuinely consider the writer's perspective and feelings. Rather than 'react', I choose to de-emotionalise the process and see what I can learn.
Here's what I have to teach you about Criticism: 1. If you're alive you will have critics. And the more ambitious you are, the more you will be criticised. If you don't want to be criticised then don't speak, don't have an opinion, don't disagree with anyone and preferably live somewhere remote; a small island or a cave perhaps. Maybe one of those weird-ass subterranean bunkers with some tinned food and a big heavy door.
2. Someone who criticises you is not automatically an idiot. Yes, some people are vindictive, nasty pieces of work... but some people actually have a point. Here's a crazy notion - what if they're right?
3. Thoughtfully consider constructive criticism and feedback. Genuinely try to understand their point of view. However, always ignore mindless, angry abuse. There's a difference.
4. I can choose how I react to any situation and to any feedback - positively or negatively. So can you. I will de-emotionalise the process to the best of my ability and I will consciously find the lesson. I will react different(ly) to most, because I want to be different to most.
5. Considering someone's critical feedback doesn't mean that you need to agree with them. I often 'understand' someone's point of view while not necessarily agreeing with it. That's okay. Smart even.
6. I can get grumpy or I can get enlightened. I can learn that we don't all share the same reality or perspective and that's okay. In order for me to be able to connect with people, I need to find the lesson, rather than perpetuate the problem.
7. I can transcend the ugly, common practice of engaging in back and forth mindless, destructive criticism (pointless arguments). I will offer feedback (constructive criticism) only when I genuinely believe that a) it will be received in the manner I intend it and b) I believe it can be of real value to the recipient.
8. As difficult as it may be, I can embrace criticism as a part of my development. I can make it an opportunity to learn, grow, improve, develop and change for the better. Rather than experience and process it as a setback or a trauma.
9. I can get self-righteous and defensive, or I can get humble. Sometimes I need to pull my head in. You too.
10. I can be a precious, sooky, la-la (see, I just offended fifteen people right there) or I can toughen up and get a little practical. Some people won't like you - deal with that. Some people will disagree with you and be offended by you even when you're busting your ass to do the right thing. Welcome to life; it's messy, it's lumpy, it's bumpy and it's definitely not fair.
Okay, lesson over.
I gotta go and vacuum my weird-ass subterranean bunker.
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