I said last week I was going to share

with you a marvellous idea.

 

A MARVELLOUS IDEA

'The doctor came down in his dressing gown as usual for breakfast but he hardly touched anything. I thought something was wrong, so I asked what was troubling him.

 

‘Darling’ he said, ‘I have a wonderful idea’ and after drinking his coffee, he went to the piano and started playing. Now and again he would stop, make a few notes and then repeat: ‘I’ve got a wonderful idea, a marvellous idea.’

 

I said ‘Then for goodness sake tell me what it is, don’t keep me in suspense.’

 

He said, ‘It’s difficult, I still have to work it out.’

 

Albert continued playing on the piano and making notes for about half an hour, then went upstairs to his study, telling me that he did not wish to be disturbed, and remained there for two weeks. Each day I would send him up his meals and in the evening he would walk for a little exercise, then return to his work again.

 

Eventually he came down from his study looking very pale. ‘That’s it’ he said, wearily putting two sheets of paper on the table.

 

And that was his theory of relativity.'

 

Elsa Einstein (second) wife (and niece) of Albert Einstein, related to Charlie Chaplin at a dinner at the Einstein's home and written up in Charlie's autobiography.

 

I usually relate this story in my seminar presentations on sleep. I lot of people don't sleep well. I wonder whether Albert didn't sleep well during those two weeks and whether he really cared. If you wake up in the middle of the night I think it's a message from your self to wake up to yourself!

 

Anyway, more of that at a later date.

 

The marvellous news I had for you last week was that I've developed a brand new back care website.

 

In the meantime something cropped up - like the opportunity to change a good idea for a better one - and the release of the new web site has been put back a couple of weeks. When it's ready I'll write again and show you where you can access it.

 

However, I've got another marvellous idea for you.

 

THE COACH

I frequently get asked whether I coach people. Yes I do.

 

I do it in two ways

 

•   personally at the Bodywise Studio in the Canberra Suburb of Weston or

 

•   over the phone. I've got a Voip phone and camera so over the phone is a good

    way to do things.

 

I don't do personal training, for a couple of reasons. Firstly I don't think it's a cost effective use of your money. Secondly, with good coaching I can help you design and build a health, fitness and wellbeing program whereby you automatically motivate yourself to do the training you need to do.

 

I'll direct you to the resources I think you might need, provide you with useful tips, give you some encouragement and act as your sounding board. I'll expect you to report back on a regular basis to let me know what you've been doing.

 

MOTIVATION

When it comes to being fitter and healthier an enormous number of people express the desire to be more highly motivated. Of course what they're really saying is that they want to change their focus from being motivated to do one thing (like work or watch TV) to being motivated to do something else (like exercise more).

 

The word 'motivation' comes from two words, 'motive' and 'action'. If you don't have a motive to be fitter and healthier, the motive to work or watch TV will win out hands down, every time; the chances are there won't be much action.

 

You won't get any coaching from me until you've emailed me your motive.

 

The other quote I like about motivation is

 

'You don't motivate yourself to do something, you do something and then become motivated'.

 

ONE LEG AT A TIME

Someone once told me that they'd heard Robert de Castella say that the hardest thing he ever had to do each morning was to get outside his front door in his shorts and sandshoes. Sound familiar? After that it was like all journeys, one leg at a time, starting with the first step.

 

And as with journeys, so with pulling on your shorts. It's one leg at a time there too. That's where it starts. Get up and put your shorts on.

 

It was during a seminar presentation some time ago that I said that if everyone did what John Howard (the former Prime Minister, not the actor) did every morning the national illness bill would drop by about 80%. Someone put up their hand and said 'That's all well and good for John Howard, but he's got more time than I have.' I just stood there rolling my eyes and gob smacking.

 

A woman who used to come to my fitness centre every Tuesday evening after tea stopped coming. I rang her up and asked what was going on? She said her husband didn't get home early enough to look after the children.

 

Now, far be it from me to make judgements about other people's family situations, I thought that just one night a week the fella could have come home on time to give his wife the night off to get some exercise.

 

I know there are families where mum or dad do share some of the domestic rituals so the other can get some exercise. If the motive is strong enough, if you're well organised, I think you'll find a way.

 

One bloke I know with a large family gets up at 5.30am to get his run in. He's the bloke who scores zero on the health, fitness and wellbeing profile. He goes to the gym at lunch time. He's well organised. He's motivated. He's as fit as a trout. So are his children.

 

On balance though I don't think there are many people who can't find the time to get some exercise each week, providing they're motivated to do so; particularly when the average Australian sits in front of the idiot box for over 20 hours a week..

 

The sort of coaching you'll get from me will help you to

 

•  find that time

 

•  work out what you need to do, when you need to do it and for how long

 

•  make sure you do what you know you need to do

 

•  motivate yourself to do it.

 

One of the keys is a mate. Unless you're incredibly disciplined you have to find a mate(s) to exercise with. There's a small group over at Defence in Canberra who have upped their exercises dramatically by forming a group that goes walking. You can do that. It's not a tough assignment.

 

If you want some coaching, complete the contact form and send me an email, or call me on (0424) 391 749. If my phone isn't on it's because I'm, running a course. Just leave a message.

 

THE INVESTMENT

In one of the 'Yes Minister' episodes the Minister leans toward Humphrey and says 'What what are they talking about?' Humphrey's response; 'Minister, whatever they're talking about they're talking about money.'

 

My fee is $120 an hour.

 

And I give homework.

 

And I expect you to send me a report each week letting me know how you're progressing.

 

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

I think this is where it all began. So, stop what you're doing, turn up your speakers, settle back for a few minutes and watch this.

 

 

In the meantime stay tuned, highly tuned and if you're too busy to spend a bit of time looking after your Self, you're too busy.

 

Regards