The X Factor – and The Ingredient ‘X’ we ALL need at work…..

The X Factor – Ingredient ‘X’ at work…..

Talk too much? OUCH. That's dangerous.....

I can't believe just how many people fall into this category.    

Yes, we are living in a world with information/ technology/online overload  - but now we have a growing number of people who are adding 'talk' to the noise.

Here's a test for you:  - ask someone a simple question, and see how longer their answer is.

How many get straight to the point?

The dangers of people who talk too much are HUGE, so without risking talking too much,
here's a few biggies:

1. They risk losing the plot and end up talking nonsense (..or is that the other way around?!).
2. They isolate you and are not interested in listening to you. (do they even realise?)
3. Even if they are interested - they don't stop for you to speak (That's just rude).
4. They build a reputation (and it ain't a good one).
5. Their self awareness is pants.( aka crap).
6. And if they are self aware - hell, they have a big ego! (know any of those....?).

So if you are one of these people. Get. Help. Fast.
Or contact me.

If you know someone like this - forward this blog post on to them.
And get them to contact me.

Not only would you be doing them a huge favour, you'd be helping to save the world.
It's not (just) about saving our ears. I'm talking about sanity and emotional well being for all.

Who's with me on this eh?


Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach.
www.amanawalker.com

Simon Cowell and the Egg Thrower

Someone has been carrying a grudge. For a long time...

Oh , I understand how deep feelings can run when you face 'rejection' of any kind.
But revenge is not sweet - and the backlash is far worse. 

A real winner is one who 'fails' or 'falls' and then picks themselves up and carries on - learning more as they go. A winning reputation has to be earned.


So Simon Cowell had a few eggs thrown at him. But he's not the one who got hurt.

The 2 guys (Richard and Adam) singing their heart out on the BGT final did.
Their family/friends/supporters in the audience- who watched them have their big moment destroyed, did.
The security and staff who will face the questions around how it could have happened did.
And perhaps the egg throwers family, who were stunned to see her behaving like that, did.


In order to satisfy one persons need to lash out, is it worth causing so much grief to people who
 are genuinely there to help and support you?


You decide. The votes are free and the lines are always open.

Amana
Straightforward, straighttalking coach
www.amanawalker.com
 

Wentworth....and Winning

Congratulations to Matteo Manassero.

Regardless of how old you are....or how many years you've played, you can still win.
At Wentworth, or anywhere.

Assuming you have the skill at it, that is.

Oh, and you need one more thing.

The.Right.Mindset.

Because when the going gets tough and the pressure is on, your skill might suddenly let you down.

You might want to 'blame' it on your swing not being right, or your short game, or long game, or even your flippin' putting needing some attention.

But the truth is, your skill is NOT the problem, is it?

Your beliefs are driving your thoughts and your thoughts are driving your behaviour.

So if you want to win at Wentworth...or anywhere - GET GOOD at managing what's going on in your head.  No more 'excuses'.

Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach
www.amanawalker.com

And the winner of 'The Voice' IS........

So The Voice and Britain's Got Talent is back on our screens in the UK (as is The X Factor in the USA).

These contests are full of excellent singers - solo and groups, and has it's usual mix of those who cannot and will NEVER be able, to sing.
Even if their mum does tell them they can!!.

But CAN you pick a 'winner' out of all that talent?
There are plenty of people with confidence, and those who have been singing for years - they KNOW how to face an audience and love the spotlight.
Chances are that one of them will win - right?

Well actually, wrong....

The star, and ultimate winner will be someone who is the opposite to that, trust me (I know it's early days and you have my permission to e mail me to tell me I'm wrong, if I am !).

But I know that the person who wins will be someone like this:

- They will lack confidence
- They won't have much stage experience
- They will be humble and doubt their abilities
- They will believe that anyone else is likely to win, except themselves
- They won't believe that people could actually vote for them....

How do I know this? Because that's the kind of person we want to see win.

The winner will be an 'unlikely' star. An ordinary 'girl/guy next door' type .
A total 'non celebrity'.
Someone who has talent - but more importantly has a big dose of 'Ingredient X'.

Watch and you'll see.

Amana Walker,
Straightforward,straight talking coach- Expert in finding Ingredient X.

What do you NEED to win?...Take a peek

Here's a short sample from my book:

'The Power of Ingredient 'X'..

..A no nonsense guide on how to stand out from the crowd.'

(Draft sample chapter)

Let’s take talent.

We’ve all seen it. A talent show where the person with the most talent DOESN'T win!

Because someone else stands out more. They grab us by our emotions. We want them to win because we LIKE them-not because they are the best at what they do.

Funny that . 
But we like them for a reason (or reasons). Let's just say they 'have it'.  
Their own, unique personal cocktail - their Ingredient 'X'.

SO are people with ‘it’, born with  it?

Hell No!
 

It’s true that many people develop their own charisma, friendliness, ‘likeability’ from a young age. But that’s the thing-it often develops over time, and, personal surroundings, family –and circumstances, all play a part.

Ingredient ‘X’ in Sports

 

There are many skillful sportspeople out there who have worked for years to get to where they are at. Best in their team, best in their town, best in their country, Olympic medal winners.

Now, there is no doubting that they are good, and have the ability to win.

But they sure don’t all show their uniqueness - their Ingredient ‘X’, so we don’t become emotionally engaged and fail to connect with them. And that costs. Massively.

‘There is only one David Beckham!’-I hear people say. Not only is he nifty with his feet, he’s sharp when it comes to placing the ball-but let’s be honest-other people can do that, can’t they? ...Only they can’t do it the way David does it.
He has the flair and style to go with it. Ok, he's damn sexy - which is a huge factor for many (and has earned him a few bob). But he also appears to be (perception is everything baby) a nice guy. And he’s a family man. And he seems patriotic. And he does a lot to help develop young kids’ football skills.

.....And before we know it, he has a cocktail of stuff that makes us like him for more than just football.

What about Wayne Rooney? Different style. Hungry, aggressive, young, down to earth, ‘boy next door married to girl next door’ type. Different to Beckham-different cocktail again.

And, Messi?...WHERE do we even  start?!

 

What about football managers?

Jose Mourinhio-driven, dashing, powerful leader, fiery, exciting, self- confident, sexy.

Harry Redknapp-caring, ‘safe’, authoritative, ‘fatherly figure’, motivational, respected.

Both different. Both good. Different Ingredient ‘X’ cocktail mixtures.....

And don't get me started on The Masters...The best will be there, and all more than capable of winning.

But listen to the crowd and you'll see which golfers they are getting behind to win.
.....Ask yourself WHY.

(To read more excerpts follow @coachx on twitter...)

Amana

Straightforward,straight talking coach.

www.amanawalker.com

NOT achieved your 'thing' yet? - It's time to CHANGE your game.

I coach so many people who are disappointed.

They are disillusioned at work.
They aren't achieving what they'd hoped.
They haven't found the man/woman of their dreams.
They'd hoped that by 'this age'...they'd have so much more.

They look around and wonder why other people have what they want. But 'life' of course hasn't treated them quite so well.

...And all the time they spend thinking about what they haven't got, they are sliding further down the spiral of negativity. The further they fall the harder it is to pick themselves up.
It's no surprise that their friends/family/colleagues....don't want to be around them. They can't 'fix' their life for them.

And that my friends is when the well intended, verbal KICK up the arse is so needed.Yeh really.

Who am I to allow YOU to drag yourself down even further?
Its time to change your game.

Something IS going right in your life (if you cant find it, I flippin' will)
Whatever that is ...build, build and build on it.

How much of this 'disappointment' have you brought upon yourself?.....
..(hold back from lashing out at me - I'm on your side)...we are MASTERS at self- sabotage.
And we are SO good at beating ourselves up.
Listen to your language - how DO you talk to yourself (mentally and openly)?
Until you support who YOU are, very few will be attracted to you. 


And - here's one that might hurt -
..Just how much have you REALLY tried to get what you want in life?
Because when you want something BADLY, you just DON'T STOP trying.
Ever.

For every disappointment, knock, or set back you have - there is a an opportunity for you.
The opportunity is in what you SAY to yourself at that time.
MOST people get angry, frustrated,hurt or worse.

THE WINNERS...say 'so what? - this has happened for a reason, BRING ON the next challenge'.
(or words like that).

The MAJORITY , slide down that spiral even further - and stay there even longer.Because 'luck' only happens to other people.
NO! - you can be as 'lucky' as you TRY HARD to be.

I never said achieving your thing would be easy.
But it DOES depend on HOW BADLY you want it.

Amana,
Straightforward,straight talking coach.
www.amanawalker.com