A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD

How does a trip around the world sound?

What about on foot?

I have heard from several different sources in the personal development industry that we often overestimate what we can accomplish in a year, but also underestimate what we can get done in 5 years.  Well, what about a lifetime?

A riddle which comes to mind is, "How do you eat an elephant?". Answer, one bite at a time.

And of course there is the quote by Lao Tzu, "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.".

How often do we look at the length of the journey or the size of the elephant and decide it's too big, would take too long, or too difficult and stop there instead of taking action?

So again, aside from asking for a very long snorkel, what would you say to having to walk around the world?

Now, what if you had to complete this journey IN ADDITION to your every day life?

According to the American Podiatric Medical Assocation, the average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, which they estimate add up to 185,000 KMs in a lifetime - four times the circumference of the globe.

What is something you want to accomplish in this lifetime?
What is the first step in this journey that you will take now?

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce

Book Review: Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl

Man's Search For Meaning is a staple in the Personal Development and Psychological world. The book is comprised of two parts; Viktor Frankl's incredible story and then the theory (Logotherapy) which came from this experience.

Viktor E. Frankl recounts the horrors of living in the Death Camps of Nazi Germany through the eyes of a psychiatrist. Shortly after his admittance, he becomes curious as to what attributes to the survival of some and the demise of so many.  In circumstances which soon equalize all who enter, how is it that some prisoners live on for years while other quickly die? A clue to the answer: "everything can be taken from man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

In the ultimate test of one's psychology, as you learn of the horrors of what went on within the camps, it is impossible not to wonder... if faced with such circumstances, how would you show up? would you be amongst the few that lived or the many that perish.

Worth noting, Viktor Frankl does a fantastic job of recounting and not dimissing the horrors of what happenned within the camp without diving into all the details which could turn off some readers.

The second part of the book is the science behind it all.  Quite frankly (no pun intended), this part isn't for everyone.  Although valuable to all, it is a tough read.  There is more information packed into one paragraph than found in entire psychology text books. As Viktor himself notes, the 60 pages which comprise the end of the book are a compilation of twenty volumes in German.  If you are a coach, tough it out. It is well wort the read.

Inspirational/Key Quotes & Excerpts:

"Man, however, is able to live and even die for the sake of his ideals and values!"

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." - Nietzsche

"Live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first timeas wrongly as you are about to act now!"

"The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself."

"We must never forget that we may also find meaning in life even when confronted with a hopeless situation, when facing a fate that cannot be changed. For what then matters is to bear witness to the uniquely human potential at its best, which is to transform a personal tragedy into a triump, turn one's predicament into an achievement. When we are no longer able to change the situation... ... we are challenged to change ourselves."

"Consider a movie: it consistsof thousands upon thousands of individual pictures, and each of them makes sense and carries meaning, yet the meaning of the whole film cannot be seen before its last sequence is shown."

"People have enough to live by but nothing to live for; they have the means but no meaning."

If you joined me at my last seminar, you would have heard me talk about the meaning of life at the very end.  So again I say...

"Instead of asking 'What is the meaning of life?' ask, 'What is a life of meaning?'" - Bryce Healey

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce

Book Review: Life's Golden Ticket

Hi everyone:

One thing you will start to see more and more of on this blog is Book Reviews.  A part of my own personal growth as well as to learn how to become an even more effective Coach, is reading books. In order to give you some insight into what books might be worth a read, I will be posting a quick summary and review of all the books and audio programs I complete.

Links are included to Amazon if you want to order yours right away.



This is the perfect book to start my book reviews.

At just over 200 pages, this is an easy read you won't want to put down! It is written by Brendon Burchard (Experts Academy as well as High Performance Academy and many other high quality/value seminars and online courses).

Life's Golden Ticket will help you connect with yourself and what is trully important in life. Its a wonderful story of man who goes looking for answers and ends up on a magical journey of self discovery.  Brendon Burchard manages to keep the writing light while we examine some of our own heavy issues. A must read for any personal development enthusiast and/or Coach.

I wish I could give more details, but I dare not spoil the surprises and amazing tail to be told. Just go get it already!

Dream your life. Live your dreams.

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce

Are you ready?

Tony Robbins has said that "It is in the moments of decision that your destiny is shaped." For the context of this blog let's simplify to "It is in the moments that destiny is shaped."

If your moment to shine... to perform... to serve... to STEP UP and make a meaningful difference... called upon you, would you be ready to answer?

If the sales opportunity of a life time stepped into an elevator right now, what would you do?
If your ultimate career opportunity presented itself, are you prepared?
If the person of your dreams sat down next to you, do you even know what you would say?
If you had to make a decision right now that would define the direction of your life, would you know how to weigh out the options?

If life called upon you right now, are you ready... mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually?

"What we practice in private will be rewarded in public" - Maxim

Intellectually I understood this maxim and just recently it really started to hit home, but it wasn't until this evening that it became a part of me at a fundamental level.

As some of you may know, in addition to Coaching and Training, I am a Wedding Officiant. As I arrived onsite to perform a ceremony today, I was quickly ushered into a side room where I could see both the bride and groom together and the groom was sitting down crying… these were not tears of joy. It was only 15 minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to begin and he had just found out that his mother had been rushed to the intensive care unit of the hospital.

'Fortunately' I had watched a training video just 3 days ago which gave me the framework to best handle such an intense and delicate situation. Using this framework as well as the skills I have learned and practiced as a Coach, I was able to step up and make a difference in a moment of need.  What took place next was the most powerful ceremony I have ever witnessed or been a part of. Peace prevailed allowing Love to shine through.

If it wasn't for all the hours I had spent learning and, more importantly, reviewing and practicing my skills in private, there is no way I would have been ready to play my part.

I don't say this to impress you, I say this to impress upon you the importance of 'practicing in private' or as the Boy Scouts of America would say, to "Be Prepared.".

Too often we only prepare or practice when there is an immediate perceived benefit.... a planned event such as an interview.

Life, however, is what happens between the plans.

Dream you life. Live your dreams.

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce

A story of a dog named Floyd

(For those of you who know the real Floyd, stay calm, he is alive and well!).

There once was a puppy named Floyd who loved nothing more than to go for walks... running around, chasing birds and squirrels... it was paradise.

As Floyd grew older he began to get tired of his walks.  "There has to be more to it than this.", he thought, "I feel like all I do is go in circles. What's the point?".  And with that Floyd decided he wanted to walk somewhere. To make something of his walk. But where?

He pondered this while continuing his usual walk.  Afterall, why change when he knows this walk so well. Once he figures out the answer, then he will change. And so he walked and walked and pondered and pondered. But still no answer. Frustrated he barked loudly into the sky, "Please tell me the answer!", but he did not hear a reply.

The next morning, as Floyd as was on his usual walk, he came to a sudden stop.  "What the heck is this?!" He asked himeself. "Somebody has built a road right across my usual path! Nobody asked my permission.  Who do they think they are?!?" Floyd barked in a fury.  Confused, he turned around and went home.

The next morning he set out on his walk hoping it was all a bad dream. But sure enough, the road was still there. And this time, some strange thing with four wheels zoomed by on the road. "What is going on? I don't understand. Why did this happen to me?" Floyd thought. Tail between his legs, Floyd turned around and went home.

The next morning Floyd went to leave on his walk, but then suddenly stopped. He thought of all the change in the last 2 days.  "What if more has changed?" He asked himeself.  "I don't know if I can handle any more change." And so, Floyd decided to stay home.

"Home isn't so bad." Floyd thought. And he did his best to keep busy, but soon enough he grew tired again. He began to pace in his house. Wondering what to do. Back and forth he paced... "I can't play inside anymore, but I can't go outside... not now... its been too long... too much will have changed by now." Not knowing what to do Floyd barked with frustration loudly into the sky, "Please tell me the answer!", but he did not hear a reply.

That night, Floyd woke up to the loudest thunder he had ever heard in his life. "Great, what now?" He thought. "It can't get any worse." And then sure enough, it did. Water began to flow into Floyd's home ruining all his favourite things. Floyd couldn't believe it. "Why does this always happen to me?" he barked "What did I do to deserve this? I didn't ask for this! This is the worst day of my life."

Feeling as if he had no other choice, Floyd left his home.  He couldn't remember the last time he had been outside. And his worries were right... much more had changed.

So Floyd did the only thing he knew what to do, he began walking. Even though much had changed, he quickly adapted and thought to himself, "this isn't so bad." As Floyd relaxed and began to enjoy walking again, he laughed a little and thought, "you know, I never did figure out what the point of these walks are. I really wish somebody would tell me the answer."

Just as soon as this thought had finished a road came across his path. And not just any road... the same road that started this whole mess. FURIOUS Floyd barked and barked and barked until he tired himself right out and lay down beside the road.... feeling completely lost.

When Floyd awoke he was looking down the road instead of across it.  This new perspective allowed him to notice something he had never seen in all his days of walking.  There was something down the road.

Curious, Floyd walked with the road until he came across this new something. As he came to the spot where he thought it should be, the something wasn't there, but from here he noticed many other somethings. So he continued down many other paths. Some were short, some long, some dark, some bright, some were paved, some were gravel... all with many somethings. Some somethings he liked, some he didn't.

Then on one particularly beautiful day when there were no clouds in the sky,  he decided to hold his head up high and look up into the sky, well above his own height, for the first time in his life. And it was then he saw the something which called out to him like no other ever had.  This something though was far off and high above him, but he began walking anyway with a sense of purpose.  Whenever he grew tired, all he had to do was look at this new something and we was revitalized. It was as if this new something was giving him new energy, new life!

At times, he wished he had looked higher than his height sooner, as this something was probably there all along. But of course it wasn't just about looking up high, as sometimes clouds were in the way. As Floyd continued on his trip, he had to use all of the skills he had learned along the way. In fact, if it wasn't for all those other paths in the past, the good and the bad, he would not have been able to take on this trip. It was then he realized that life hadn't been happening to him... it was happening for him.

Finally, Floyd reached his ultimate something!!! HE WAS OVERJOYED! And so he began running around, chasing birds and squirrels... it was paradise.

The Power of Making a Decision

"It is in the moments of decision that your destiny is shaped." - Tony Robbins aka The Man

Whether your conscious of them or not, you are making thousands of decisions a day.  The challenge is, you make the same ones or poor ones.You can have anything you want in life simply by DECIDING to make it so.

That being said, let's check in on what the true definition of making a decision is.  According to Dictionary.com the origin comes from "to cut off from".  Meaning, when you have made a TRUE DECISION, you have cut off from all other possibilities.

There is an old story about a great warrior and leader who sailed with his army to face a fierce enemy which outnumbered them.  Upon arrival, he ordered the boats to be burned. When questioned of his intentions, he responded that now the only way to survive is by winning! And as the story goes, that is exactly what they did.  A perfect example of making a true decision.

Furthermore and in my opinion, when you have made a true decision, action in the direction of that decision immediately follows.  Otherwise, you haven't decided, you are still considering options and/or reaffirming your desire.

To continue the riddle theme from my last post....  There are 5 birds sitting on a wire, one decides to fly off, how many are left?

Answer: It depends on your definition of decision.

In the old definition, 5 birds would remain, as making a decision didn't hold any weight.
In your new defitinion, 4 birds would remain, as action would immediately follow.
And if that bird was a leader, no birds would remain.

OK, time to get real.

If you don't already know, I am hosting my first public seminar in a couple weeks (June 2, 2010 see the events section of my website for more details,  http://www.brycehealey.com/ ). Its FREE and you are all welcome!

How did this become a reality? I decided.  Honestly, it was something I knew I would do 'one day' and had talked about it several times, but had not decided to.  So how did I decide???  Well... I was in the shower and the thought of doing a seminar popped in my head... AGAIN.  And I said to myself "Enough is enough." Immediately after my shower and barely dry, I booked the venue. ACTION!

So...  now I had a date and a location.  All I needed was an audience and what it was I was going to say.  Minor details.. ha ha. Fast forward to today, already I have 10 people confirmed and the framework for my speech is complete.

And again, how did this become a reality? I decided. One simple decision backed with action.

So perhaps now or this weekend, start making some decisions.  If its been a while start small or maybe for now its simply the decision to start making and acknowledging true decisions when you make them.

Either way, the path to your destiny is paved with conscious decision making.  And you don't want to know what the other path is paved with.

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce

PS - If you liked this post and need help in this area. Contact me for a free coaching session OR if you prefer a do it on your own method, Tony Robbins' Person Power is the best there is on the topic.

Life lessons through riddles

Sometimes the answer is in front of us
A tree doubled in height each year until it reached its maximum height over the course of ten years.
How many years did it take for the tree to reach half its maximum height?

The Importance of Meaning
Why are 2010 (loonies) dollar bills worth more than 2009 (loonies) dollar bills?

The Importance of Perspective
Brad stared through the dirty soot-smeared window on the 22nd floor of the office tower. Overcome with depression he slid the window open and jumped through it. He landed he was completely unhurt, not even a scratch. Outside the building it was a sheer drop to the ground. . Since there was nothing to cushion his fall or slow his descent, how could he have survived the fall?

ASS-U-ME
A black dog stands in the middle of an intersecton in a town painted black. None of the street lights are working due to a power failure caused by a storm. A car with two broken headlights drives towards the dog but turns in time to avoid hitting him. How could the driver have seen the dog in time?

A Lesson in Dynamics
You are on a ship, over the side hangs a rope ladder with half meter rungs. The tide rises a half meter per hour. At the end of five hours, how much of the ladder will remain above the water assuming that nine rungs were above the water when the tide began to rise?

Something to keep as an advisor, not a jailor.
I make you weak at the worst of all times. I keep you safe, I keep you fine. I make your hands sweat, and your heart grow cold, I visit the weak, but seldom the bold. What am I?

Something so powerful it can build us up or tear us down:
What can bring back the dead; make us cry, make us laugh, make us young; born in an instant yet lasts a life time?

COMMENTS WELCOME! ENJOY!

I will post the answers in a few days... email me if you can't sleep.

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce




THE ANSWERS:
1) 9-years - the tree DOUBLES in height every year. Therefore last year it would have been half the height (see it visually).
2) Because 2010 is 1 more than 2009 (think of it as the number of loonies/dollar bills and not the year).
3) Brad was a window washer and was looking at the window from the outside. When he opened it up and jump through he was jumping into the building.
4) It was day time.
5) Nine rungs. The ship rises with the tide.
6) Fear
7) Memories

Easter Insipiration

Making $500,000 in one year and retiring in her early 50s. - Impressive

Backpacking solo throughout Europe... ALSO in her 50s. - Simply f__ing cool

Starting her Internet Marketing business at age 78 - INSPIRATIONAL!

Her name is Mary Nolan and something tells me that these 3 points are just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to her inspirational life.

Being a Why Guy, I became curious as to why this had the impact on me that it did and why it was that I felt so inspired. Taking a quick step back, how do we get inspired?  One way this happens is when your realm of possibilities expands, quite often through the lifting of a limiting belief or thought.

So, what was my limiting thought? In this case, when my mind was presented with the age of 78, it formed images of being elderly and starting to wrap up my life.... wind things down.  It definitely did NOT have the image of starting a new business (or really, starting anything new), let alone with the latest and greatest technology.

Without having asked her, I will go out on a limb here and say that Mary has a very different definition of 78. And why not!?!?!?  WE can decide what life should be like... our definitions or what getting older will look like, how work should be, what the experience of a being relationship is, etc...  Our definitions are one of the few things that are 100% in our control. And what you believe to be true will become so.

If you believe work is 'hard, but necessary so suck it up'. Guess what your experience of anything you label the word work will be like. If all you've had in life are unstable chaotic relationships and believe that is just the way they are, guess what you will experience time and time again. If you say to yourself, LIFE SUCKS. Guess how life will start to feel?

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought." - Buddha

Stepping into Mary's world at 78...  still full of energy and starting things...  gets me EXCITED to reach that age, not fearful of it and resisting it (still in no rush though! ha ha). It also challenges ALL of my own BS (Belief System and the other one) excuses around not getting the ABSOLUTE MOST out of life.  Which inspired me to get Wayne Dyer's latest book 'Excuses be gone'.  Once complete, I will do a review for you.  So far, all very good stuff (and it comes in audio format too.. woo pee!).



In summary, check in with what your definition is when you hear the below words. Be honest with yourself.  What is the initial reaction, feeling, and/or image that pops into your mind? If its not what you actually want, then CHANGE IT!
- 80 years old (young)
- Relationship/Marriage
- Friends
- Kids.... Grandkids
- Work
- Retirement
- Other??? EXPLORE your definitions

And lastly, as a BONUS for my loyal readers, something which hit me just the other morning.

Life is as simple as knowing what you want and then going after it! Live your dreams or have your excuses... you choose (more to come on this once I am done the book).

Have a great weekend!!!!

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce

The Cure to Procrastination

This is a quick kick in the butt for those of you who need it (you know who you are).  January is 1 day away from being done! That is almost 10% of the year complete, forever gone, adios muchachos.  Hesitation kills dreams. Take action now, as now is the only time we have.

If you are wondering why you are not following through with actions that you want, this blog is for you.

The reason we do ANYTHING always comes down to two things; pain and pleasure. If you associate more pain than pleasure in the moment to taking a particular action, you won't do it and vice versa. If only pain is present, you will do the action which causes the least perceived pain. And if only pleasure is present (now THAT is a quality problem), you will do whatever you see will give you the most pleasure.

Extreme example; death. Arguably, death can be seen as the ultimate pain.  So why would anybody choose to die?  Two examples come to mind; depressed individuals or suicide bombers. 

If you are depressed you are associating A LOT of pain to living.  If you live this life long enough and continue this pattern of thought, there is a tipping point where the pain of death is perceived to be less than the pain and living. 

On the other hand, in order to become a suicide bomber, one would have to associate ultimate pleasure with taking their life.  We have heard of such things as their families being taken care of for life, being a hero to your community and country, and of course the harem of virgins awaiting for you in heaven.

Its also worth noting, that most of us will take action to avoid pain, rather than gain pleasure.  Quick test of this.  Would you work harder to gain $50,000 or to not lose $50,000? Most people would fight like crazy not to lose the $$.

The two key phrases here are "perceived pain or pleasure" and "in the moment."

Perception = Reality 

Wither you logically know differently or not, whatever you emotionally feel will override this thought. And this would only apply to that particular moment you are making the decision.  After all, once you have made the decision, logic or emotions no longer apply.  The exception to this is when you find yourself in conflict, where you attempt to make a decision, then something (pain or pleasure) stops you and forces you back to the decision point again (also known as hell!).

In summary, if you find yourself procrastinating, ask yourself, "What pain or pleasure have I associated with this particular task?". Then, be honest with yourself and hook up pleasure in doing the action and massive pain in not.

If you find yourself in conflict or in need of help, you should consult a coach.  Now geeeeeee... if I only knew who I could refer you to.......

Dream your life. Love your dream.

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce

Like a Virgin in Vegas

First off, something tells me a virgin wouldn't last too long in Sin City!

HAPPY 2010!!!  How are your New Years resolutions coming along? Having challenges sticking with them? If so, make sure to visit my website regularly as I will be posting some exciting updates soon.  And for those who resolved not to make any resolutions, heed these words: "The only constant in life is change".  If you are not deciding your future, who is?

OK, time to get to today's blog...

Me and a good friend returned from Vegas not so long ago where we attended a Business Mastery seminar hosted by the one and only Tony Robbins (you the man Tony... you the man).  It was his first time and I had been there once before about 3 years ago (also on business).

As the plane commenced its final decent into Vegas, my friend was bubbling with anticipation.  I on the other hand was relatively calm... after all, I had been there before.

Arriving at our hotel (the Venetian!), he was blown away by the lobby; the sheer size and detail! I on the other hand was expecting this... after all, I stayed at Caesar's Palace last time.

Walking down the strip, he had his camera ready and was quick to point out... well... pretty much everything.  I looked at him in amusement and took in the sights... after all, I had seen this before.

Day 1 of the event, I thought he might wet his pants as the crowd worked itself into a frenzy waiting for Tony Robbins to hit the stage. OK, I was excited too, but he had that extra special anticipation.

Going for lunch, he commented on all the different (especially high end) stores, the size of the hotel, and all the attractions along the way to the food court. I was focused on getting some food in my stomach... after all, this wasn't new to me.

Pretty much the entire trip, his level of excitement over the smallest things way surpassed mine.  It appeared he was having WAY more fun than I was. Makes sense... after all, I had been to Vegas once before.

So???  I had been to Vegas ONCE before and even then barely got to see it! It's not like I am an expert on the place and even if I was... SO????

How does having seen or experienced something take away from the awesomeness of the event? IT DOESN'T!

How would your experience of life be different if you were doing so as if it was the first time...
your first time waking up beside your lover...
your first time having sex...
your first time putting on comfy socks...
your first time eating your favourite breakfast...
your first experience in a car (but please drive like you know what you are doing! ha ha)...
your first time outside...
your first time breathing in a full breathe...
your first time telling somebody you love them...
your first sunset...

What would you notice differently? 
What is in your life now you would have killed to have in your life only years or maybe only even months ago?
WHO is in your life your life?
What amazing areas of your life have you become desensitized to that you simply need to reconnect with and re-appreciate?

I challenge you all to experience a day with virgin eyes, virgin ears, a virgin nose, a virgin mouth, virgin hands, a virgin body......... a virgin heart.

If Madonna can sing about being touched like a virgin, we can certainly relive it at least once!

Your friend and Coach,
Bryce

http://www.brycehealey.com/
Now on Twitter: http://twitter.com/coachbryce

Live in the now

It’s my last morning in Mexico. I am sitting out in the hotel lobby and in about an hour the shuttle will come and take me and the rest of my family off to the airport.

At the very least, it is an overcast day, so it makes it a little easier to leave. That being said, it is always tough when something you have been looking forward to for months comes to an end, especially when a winter wonderland awaits you! As the saying goes, all good things eventually come to an end.

Let me say this again, one day, everything good in your life will end. Vacations end, your favourite car eventually needs to be replaced, great jobs change, moments pass, pets die, and even the best thing in life (your relationships) will eventually end when either you or they pass on.

Morbid, perhaps, but it’s a fact. Rather than be in denial of this fact, accept it and EMBRACE it! The very fact that all of these things are finite are what make them special.

You could choose to live in the past and dwell upon all the things that used to be in your life that are no longer there, but that would make for a pretty sad life.

You could live entirely in the future, dreaming of what is to be. Saying things like ‘WHEN I get my promotion, things will be different’ or ‘WHEN the new year arrives I will change’ or ‘WHEN I win the lottery, then I can be happy’. WHAT IF… WHEN never comes???

The only ‘WHEN’ is now. EMBRACE the moments you have in the present. Be happy, now. Feel RICH, now. Enjoy, NOW.
Be grateful for all those magical moments in the past as well as every thing you have in the present. Ensure you have a future that excites you, as with every ending ushers in a great new beginning.
But again, love and live to the fullest, now. For now, is the only time we will ever have.

Your friend and coach,

Bryce