Personal Reflection

I have read many articles, watched a multitude of reports on too many TV programmes and received countless emails encouraging me to make sure I set my goals for 2008. Hell in the past I have sent out more newsletters, articles and the like encouraging you to do the same than I care to recall. I am not about to change that...not too much anyway. With all of the up's and down's I experienced last year, 2007 turned into a year of reflection for me. For more years than I care to recall I have driven myself to higher levels of achievement and success (with the odd re-visit to the bottom thrown in) by setting specific goals and then focussing on those goals until they were either achieved or deemed not as important as I gave them credit for. As a result, I have achieved some amazing things in my life. I have met some wonderful people, travelled to some of the most beautiful places in the world and more than once stuck my neck out a little too far. (Someone once said "If we weren't meant to stick it out we wouldn't have been given a neck!") However I am also willing to admit that all of this goal setting and focus stuff has cost me a great deal, too. In fact I suspect that it has cost me at least two relationships...so far!

So what am I saying here? Am I saying no more goal setting? Am I retracting everything I have ever said about achievement being the result of setting goals?; that a goal is just a dream with a date attached?; that a man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder? Am I saying that goal setting is not the way to go? HELL NO!

I still maintain that I would not be where I am today if I had not set specific goals to get here. I would not have climbed mountains, run across deserts and built a successful business starting with nothing other that a bucket full of self-belief and a story to tell. And I still maintain that, if you want to reach greater heights than you presently enjoy, you need to create that vision and get busy achieving those goals.

For me though, I need a rest from climbing and running the world. It is time to take stock of who I am and where I am. Until I know this I cannot even envisage where I want to go or who I want to be beyond now. So for me 2008 is going to be a year of consolidation and reflection. My watchword will be Authenticity. Let's look at a couple of those words...

Authenticity

1. Of undisputed origin or authorship
2. Genuine
3. To give authority to

This means that the me you see or hear will be the me that I am. I will be honest with myself and always strive to tell my truth. This is not to say that I have not been honest or truthful in my past. I can honestly state though that at least twice in my business life recently I have said yes when I should not have done so. I have delivered that which I have no authority to deliver. It is also true that despite the fact that I was recently introduced as a "come and have a go if you're hard enough" speaker I have sometimes not told my truth when asked my opinion through fear of reprisal or worse still the recipient disliking me. This not only compromises my authenticity it is disrespectful to the person who has asked for my truth and not received it. From this point on my conscience and my heart will be my voice. Only I can tell the story of Clive Gott. And just as a warning. If you don't want my answer please don't ask me your question.

Consolidation

1. To form or cause to form into a whole
2. To make or become stronger or more stable

This means that I intend to consolidate every lesson I have learned and every goal I have achieved and pull them together. Then, and only then, can I start to discover who I truly am. I believe that I can come out of 2008 even more inspired and motivated than ever before and, between you and I, that scares me a little. If I did all those things one by one, what one earth can I achieve when I bring all of my skills, beliefs and experiences together and direct them towards my next goal...?

So, please, go ahead and set those goals and make 2008 your greatest year yet. You have my best wishes - and for those who think they would benefit from it, you have my support, too. For 2008 I will not set specific goals. I just know that something is going to happen and when it does I will be awake and ready.

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Recommended reading, listening or watching

I have two suggestions for you this month. My first is another poem, this time written by my friend Mark Baker, a speaker based in Jersey. I don't know what I expect you to get from reading Marks words. I only know that when I read them I wondered; I wondered what wasted opportunity I might be having a conversation with in years to come. The poem is available as a PDF document which can be downloaded using the link in the right hand column of this newsletter.

My second suggestion is a DVD that I watched recently. On the recommendation of a (male) friend, I just watched "The Notebook" and I am left asking myself "Is this the greatest love story ever written?" As far as I can recall I have to say that, in my truth, it is.

The messages of commitment, unconditional love and the pain of choices are beautifully highlighted in this two hour journey. Go on, treat yourself and give it a look. I watched it alone, choosing to share the experience with a nice Merlot and a box of Maltesers. You may choose different partners. Whoever or whatever you choose to watch it with, ENJOY!

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What do I know now that I didn't know a month ago?

A breakdown is a breakthrough

SKY+ is 'IT'.

Those bendy glasses that you can now buy from specsavers...well, not only can you put them in your pocket without them breaking, you can also leave them in your pocket and wash your jeans on a full cycle without breaking them. How cool is that?

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WHY...?

Conversation with The "County Hall Travel Inn", London...

"Can I book a room for the 12th April for 1 night please?"
"I'm sorry sir but, because it is the London marathon weekend, you can't book one night only."
"But I only want to stay one night."
"Can I suggest that you book two nights, sir, and then call later and cancel your second night. That will not affect your one-night booking!"

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Actionstep

For a few years now I have introduced a small exercise into any workshop I have delivered in January. The exercise is designed to help the delegates think about the year they have just experienced as well as some of the things they would like to achieve or experience during the coming 12 months. Each delegate is given two sheets of A4 paper - one has questions on it relating to the year just gone - in this case, 2007. The second contains some questions about what they would like to achieve during the coming year - in this case, 2008. I also give delegates an envelope on which they must write their home address or the address they would like to receive the completed pages at a later date in the coming year. Once they have answered the questions (and I don’t give them too much time for the exercise so we can get the thoughts at the forefront of their mind) they are asked to place both sheets in the envelope, without taking a copy for themselves, and hand their sealed envelopes to me. I take them home and post each delegates envelope back to them during the second week of December - almost 12 months later.

Why not give it a go yourself? In the right hand column of this newsletter is a downloadable word document consisting of the two pages explained above. Print out the two sheets, complete them both as quickly as you can and put them in an envelope. Remember, in order to gain the maximum benefit from the exercise, you must not keep a copy for reference. Then place that envelope in a second one and send it to me at:

Clive Gott
15 Toll Bar Way
Tadcaster
North Yorkshire
LS24 8JT

You will receive your completed pages back in December of 2008 when you may well be amazed at what you have written and achieved even though you don't appear to have been focusing on it...

Have FUN!

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Achievements Inventory

I have gone up from beginners to improvers in my Salsa class (I know...but it means something to me!)

I stopped my mums tap from dripping by fitting a new washer (I know...but it means a lot to me!)

I fitted a window blind, pulled the cord to close them and they never fell off the wall.

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Feedback

My mate, Steve McDermott, is constantly telling me (and anyone else who will listen) that "There is no failure only feedback!" For the most part I agree with him...unless, of course, we fail to take notice of that feedback and make the same mistake over and over again. Here is some of the feedback I have received or am still receiving this year...

• My jeans are tight
• I went through a period of waking up every morning as tired as I was when I went to sleep
• My bike has dust on it
• My running shoes have gone stiff and mouldy…..YES! MOULDY
• I didn’t receive my invite to the running club Christmas dinner
• I DID receive an invite to a party at my local pub
• The guy in the takeaway knows my order and that I will be back to collect it in half an hour

All of this, and a few other things, tells me that I have relaxed a little too much as far as physical exercise is concerned. So, it is now time to listen to my feedback, dust off the bike, buy some new running shoes and get out there. London marathon here we come!

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This months adventure

My adventure this month was a particularly beautiful one. I went walking with wolves. Not scruffy dogs with sharp teeth...no...these were pure-bred North American wolves with none of their natural instincts bred or beaten out of them.

The day began with a few safety rules, some of which are...

1. Do not crouch down when stroking a Wolf.
2. Keep one hand free (near your face) at all times when stroking a Wolf.
3. Only approach a Wolf on the Handler’s instructions.
4. You may take pictures of the wolves, but if the Wolf gets hold of your camera we can not get it back for you.
5. Do not take bags, handbags or umbrellas on the walk as these can be easily seized by the Wolves.
6. Do not wear suede, leather garments or brightly coloured coats.

I have always had a healthy respect for dogs, this was a little different though. There was no fear, just enormous respect for these beautiful creatures. We walked with two wolves who were sisters. They were both on a long chain that was attended by two handlers to each wolf. These creatures are immensely strong with heads the size of footballs. If they were to break free the chances of them returning to their handlers or compound would be almost nil. They would revert back to type which would mean if they couldn't be re-captured, they would be shot. Both wolves were calm although still required respect when approaching them.

Click here to see the larger version of this photo

Following the walk we were allowed into the pens where the pups were kept. These playful yet still magnificent creatures went very giddy with excitement when we entered. We were told in no uncertain terms that if we didn't like the idea of them licking us we shouldn't enter the compound and how right they were. Having two almost full grown wolves jumping up at you and licking you to gain your scent was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.

Click here to see the larger version of this photo

I can highly recommend a day walking with wolves to anyone with a sense of adventure. For more information go to www.ukwolf.org - you won't be disappointed.

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If...

Questions to stimulate conversation either in the office or over dinner.

Q1. IF, in 2008, you were given the opportunity to realise just one of your dreams, which one would you choose? Why wait to be given the opportunity?

Q2. IF you were asked to sum up mankinds achievements to date in one quotable paragraph, what would you say?

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