I recently listened to Matthew McConaughey’s audiobook, “Green Lights”, a most enjoyable and entertaining book with some good sound advice.
The basic premise for the book, as I heard it, was that each day, you need to review and remember wherever you enjoyed green lights in your day instead of red lights.
Green lights:
A green light is when something happens to you in your daily/weekly life that you, on reflection, realise is a positive experience.
What people do in their lives, more often than not, is focus on remembering the red lights. The obstacle that prevents you from going forward.
An example from my own experience:
When I am providing individual coaching or in a group setting, there are always people who will say to me, I need constructive criticism. I can take it, give it to me straight.
Who were the people in your life who criticised you in the belief or otherwise that it was for your benefit?
A parent, a teacher, a sports coach or perhaps a sibling?
Please answer this question now and write down a name.
Did this advice benefit you, or were you more likely to give up?
My Guarantee:
My guarantee to people I coach is that I will only focus on the things they do well, in the knowledge (30 years of coaching) that when I do this my clients will grow in confidence.
Increased confidence is infectious and has a positive effect on you and those around you.
Advice from Ronnie Delaney 🏅:
I heard Ronnie tell this story some years ago.
Before Ronnie left for Melbourne, who was hosting the Olympic Games in 1956, his coach, Jumbo Elliott (a world-renowned coach), placed a winning tape across the track that Ronnie trained on each day.
Then he told Ronnie to run around the track, break the tape and do what he usually does when he wins a race. Ronnie said he felt silly but did it anyway.
After breaking the tape and repeating his winning ritual, Jumbo tapped him on the shoulder and said, you have practised everything. Now go and win the gold medal, and he did!
Still the only Irish athlete to win a gold medal on the track in the Olympic Games.
Practice Does Not Make Perfect!
Practice Makes Permanent.
Practice (with a trusted coach) Makes Perfect.
