Month: August 2020

“If we did all the things that we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” Thomas Edison.

This year is certainly been an interesting one for us all given the uncertainty and anxiety created by the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

I was thinking last week about how so many people have faced sadness and challenges as a result of the virus. Many people have lost their life or loved ones. Others have faced financial hardship as a result of the lockdown measures rendering it impossible for them to work.

Someone who faced challenges in his life was Thomas Edison. I have always been interested in his work and featured him in one of the chapters for my first book “Be First Class.” He’s regarded as one of the most successful inventors of all time. He invented an astonishing 1,093 things including the phonograph (early version of a record player), motion picture camera and the incandescent light bulb.

It’s reported that it took him 10,000 attempts to create the light bulb. Prior to his successful attempt, Edison didn’t see any of his previous efforts as failures. He saw them as discoveries of ways that didn’t work and moved him closer to a solution.

Edison is mentioned in a book, “People who changed the world.” His achievements are even more remarkable given that he had little formal education; he was expelled from school because his teachers thought he had learning difficulties. In fact, he suffered from hearing problems throughout his life. Edison’s enormous achievements were entirely due to years of hard work and his natural intelligence. It’s interesting how he didn’t allow his teacher’s judgements to hold him back.

We all face adversity, challenges, obstacles, frustrations and set-backs at times in our lives. When in the middle of periods of misfortune or challenge it’s easy to lose perspective, become downhearted and wonder if things will ever improve. They can have a detrimental effect on our levels of confidence and belief if we allow them too.

Sometimes we have to experience difficulty and tough times so that we can develop a greater appreciation of the good times and be grateful for the periods of pleasure.

When you set out to achieve a goal or a dream, whether it is starting a business, pursuing a new career, beginning a new hobby, looking to lose weight or commencing a fitness regime, it’s easy at the first sign of a setback to give up and settle for what’s known.

There are countless examples of the challenges that people encountered on the road to success. We may never have heard a record from the Beatles, if they had taken rejection as a sign to not pursue their passion. When they first started out, a recording company turned them down and said “we don’t like your sound and guitar music is on the way out.”

Many people may not have viewed a Disney movie or visited Disneyworld if Walt Disney had given up when he was fired early in his career by a newspaper editor because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” He suffered business failure, bankruptcy and was turned down an incredible 302 times by banks when he was seeking funds to establish his theme park. He never gave up on his dream to create Disneyworld. It took him years of hard work, raising finance, dealing with disappointment but Disney stayed focused on his goal.

The Harry Potter movies and JK Rowling’s books are hugely popular across the world with lots of people. They may have been denied that pleasure; if she had let difficulties, she experienced in life hold her back. Prior to the books being published, she was virtually penniless, depending on welfare payments to survive and help to bring up her child as a single parent. She was divorced and suffered from depression. Her series of seven books have sold more than 450 million copies, won innumerable awards, been made into movies and transformed Rowling’s life.

Experiencing adversity can be a lesson. It can re-awaken us to the things that are far more important than money and material possessions; our health, our family and our friends.

An illness teaches us to be humble, to see every day as a gift, to live more in the moment and motivate us to lead a healthy life. A sudden loss in the family brings into sharp focus the cycle of birth, life and death. Losing a job can be a scary place for many people and create uncertainty. However, it can be the springboard for something new and exciting and the start of a whole new adventure

Adversity can come to our lives to suggest that it’s time for us to change direction and do something new.

This week, why not pause for a few moments to reflect. Ask yourself what lessons you have learned from any challenges and adversity that you’ve experienced in your life.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arthur Ward.

Have you heard the phrase “Don’t sweat the small stuff?” This essentially means don’t worry about or waste effort on small matters. Instead focus on the big picture of your life and most important priorities. It’s also the title of the best-selling book by Richard Carlson, which is a great read.

Small stuff can amount to spending time getting frustrated by having to queue in a shop or bank etc. It may be getting upset by traffic jams or someone rushing into a car parking space that you had hoped to use. I’m sure you can think of countless examples of small things that irritate, frustrate and disappoint you (if you allow them to).

I heard some news last week which acted as a great personal reminder of the importance of not “sweating the small stuff.”

I was shocked to learn that a man that worked in my local coffee shop and who had served me most weeks over the past 3 years had died of Coronavirus. Apparently, he contracted the virus shortly after lockdown measures were introduced and died a few weeks later after being hospitalised.

My wife and I had spoken to him a couple of days before lockdown started. He was joking with us about what he was going to do with so much time on his hands, as he anticipated that the café would be closed from the following Monday. I was really stunned and saddened by the news of his passing as he was always very friendly and cheerful and anticipated what my order would be.

The news I heard reminded me of another coffee related story that had previously made me reflect.

It involved a gentleman that I met in hospital when visiting my father. He was in the next bed and we got chatting. He was one of the most positive people I have ever met. His optimistic mindset was truly inspiring.

He explained to me that he had a thriving photography business and loved his work. He went on to tell me how his life changed dramatically when he was just 42 years old. He told me that he went from enjoying a cup of coffee at a service station to having the direction of his life altered significantly in a matter of minutes.

Shortly after pulling out of the service station, the car he was driving was involved in a head on collision with a lorry that was on the wrong side of the road. After being air lifted to hospital, some weeks later he emerged from a coma. Sadly, his life was a complete blank. He was unable to remember his name or anything about his life including his family. He was completely paralysed apart from the use of his arms.

Slowly over the next five years with specialist care and his own determination, he had been able to piece together bits of his life and was able to recall some information about his history. He was slowly rebuilding his life and one day planned to write a book about his experience.

His attitude was so positive despite the adversity he had faced. He was determined to make the most of his life and experience it in a new way. Talking to him made me feel very humble and had a profound impact on me.

The stories I have shared both really made me stop and think. They are a great reminder that it’s vital to focus on the important things in life such as good health, family and close friends. They teach me that (when I catch myself worrying about stuff) to ask myself the question “will this matter to me a year from now?” It also prompts me to ensure that I make the most of the opportunities that come my way, not put off what can be done today until tomorrow or a later date.

They also serve as a reminder for me to be grateful for my good health and all that I have in life and to remember to count my blessings frequently. This includes focusing on what I have rather than what I lack.

They have reinforced to me that it’s important for me to focus on the present and to be in the moment more often, to enjoy life and have fun and not overly worry about tomorrow or yesterday.

This week why not take a few moments out to pause and reflect and consider if you remembering to count your blessings frequently. Ask yourself “what can I be grateful for today?”

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk