Deal with your problems, but focus on building your dreams.

We are all in a state of becoming...

We don’t have to beat ourselves up because we’re not there yet.

Failure is just another way of saying;

"You’ve learnt how not to do what you are trying to achieve."

Cowards need assurance and security, just to get out of bed, they hiss and spit at risk takers, but dream builders stay up late and get up early, driven and sustained only by their dream, 

In a recent interview with Joanna Lumley, Will i am, (an amazing dream builder) said:

“I’m ignoring my problems and building my dreams”

Perhaps the only reason you are not up and out building your dream,

Is that your focus in on your day to day problems, 

...you don’t have a compelling, driving and inspiring vision screening in your head.

If you want some help creating that vision, email me at themotivationclinic@gmail.com

Discover your motivation.

Interview with Mike about his new work

Motivation.  It’s great when you have it, it’s hard work when you don’t have it.

Today I’m with Mike E Kennedy, director of a new business called “The Motivation Clinic”.  He’s just written a book about it and I’m trying to find out what his take on motivation is and what we can get from being around the Motivation Clinic.

So how do you feel about your new work – The Motivation Clinic Mike?

It's been a real revelation to me writing this book – it started out as a question about what it is that I do.  What do I really offer?

For many years now people have seen me as a “Motivational” speaker and trainer.  This title has never fit comfortably with me.  I've always believed that no-one can motivate anyone –that motivation actually comes from the individual motivating themselves. 

I've constantly said: “I'm not a motivator – you’re motivating yourself!”  I’ve seen myself more as a catalyst and an observer of people who discover their own motivation and then head off in hot pursuit of amazing and meaningful adventures.

So I've spent the last 12 years in a form of retreat - coaching and training coaches to help people find their own unique courage, creativity and confidence and to encourage them to create great big inspiring and audacious goals and then go out there and make it happen.  I've been witness to hundreds of people stepping out and doing amazing stuff.

Finally, from seeing my clients examples and engaging myself in two questions: “What do I really do?” and “What do I really, really want?”, I've found my own courage, creativity and confidence to be the amazing writer, speaker and trainer that I am – to be my own best version of me out there in the world.

When I think of greatness…when I think of the people who stepped out and became great in everything they did and said every day in every way; it's like they made a decision at a critical point of time; to be the person that they became.  They lived into the best possible version of themselves that they could have imagined.  Phew! Now that's a source of motivation!

Anyhow, even though I'm proud of everything I've done before, this work in the motivation Clinic is the beginning of my best work.  I'm now stronger, more confident in who I am and what I deliver and I'm willing to step out and speak my truth whatever the situation.

So what is next for you Mike?  What are you going to do?

I'm going to focus on providing the possibility of personal motivation to as many people as I can in the world.  I'm going to be the catalyst for personal motivation, clarity and courage for the world.

I'm developing low cost entry versions of my workshops and seminars and mentoring programs.  I want this message to be available to everyone.

I'm going to remind people how amazing they are, how capable they are and how the answers to their questions are inside of them.  I'm going to show them ways to access those answers.

I'm going to be creative.  I'm going to write blogs, books, create videos and work toward supporting people who want to own their choices and be the best version of themselves they can imagine.

What are you currently writing?

I'm writing a book called “Release Your Human Hand Brake!”. It's all about an internal conflict I've observed in most people.  This conflict inside of us, stops us moving toward what we want in a smooth and integrated manner. 

Its like inside of us, we are running an internal three-legged race – remember how when you have your leg tied to someone else's leg, even if you know them really well, how jerky and uncoordinated you are until you somehow work it out?  When that happens, you can just about sprint as fast as you can on your own.  The two of you had to work out your differences and commit to a common direction and goal.

That's what this book is all about.  Sorting out the different agendas you have within you and committing to a common direction and goal, moving forward.

In fact, the process of writing this book has deepened my own sense of integration and direction.  It's amazing how it works.

So what is your message to people about their personal motivation?

Feeling jaded, unmotivated, overwhemed, listless, un-enthused, un-inspired by anything or just plain bored with what you are doing, is really a high state of mind!  It means that you are no longer motivated with what you are doing.  It means you are ready to discover what uniquely motivates you in your life and are ready to unleash yourself.

What you are currently feeling is the calm before the revelation of who you really are, what you really stand for and where you are really going.  When that happens, you’ll take off like a rocket!

What do you and The Motivation Clinic have to offer people who want to find their own motivation?

You'll find conversations, processes, concepts and learning experiences that will enable you discover, clarify and put into action what really motivates you.

You'll find a community of motivated people for you to be part of.

You'll find ideas, inspiration and information to sustain and grow your motivation.

You'll be given permission to go for what you really, really want and what's important for you.

Thank you Mike

What you resist, persists. What you look at dissolves.

 Sometimes you get to push away that part of you you don't want to effect your life.

You demonise it, marginalise it and fight it with ferocity.

You hide it from others, you really are ashamed...

But in doing so, something strange starts to happen.

Things don't get better, they get worst.

It gets harder to put on the mask you show to the world, you start doubting the meaning of it all

That's because what you resist, persists and what you look at, dissolves away.

So how do you get to look at what it is you feel threatened by?

You go to the mirror and tell that part of you, that you want to ask it some questions,

That you will let it have your voice to answer these questions with.

Then you ask them these questions:

• What are you concerned about?
• What are you trying to tell me?
• What do you think I should do?

 After you ask each question, you look straight at them in the mirror,

You give them your complete attention, watching for emotion and body language too.

You thank them for each answer they give.  If you want to explore more, please do.

...and when you are finally through with your conversation;

Thank them for their courage and generosity  in looking out for you.

Tell them that you will take their concerns into consideration.

Then wait for the peace that comes from you no longer fighting with yourself.

Thanks for visiting us here. What would your life be like with some clarity?  Call me on (+61) 439 979 577 or  email me, Mike Kennedy... to find out if this would work well for you

Skunk Work's Organisational Genius: Kelly Johnson.

Collaboration needs strict rules and boundaries to give a structure to the fast turnaround and creative blitz that are the great possibility of collaborative projects. 

 Here's an example of Kelly Johnson's "14 rules of Management"; the basis of a legendary collaboration project from 1943:  The Skunk Works:

Johnson's famed "down-to-brass-tacks" management style was summed up by his motto, "Be quick, be quiet, and be on time." He ran Skunk Works by "Kelly's 14 Rules":

1. The Skunk Works manager must be delegated practically complete control of his program in all aspects. He should report to a division president or higher.
2. Strong but small project offices must be provided both by the military and industry.
3. The number of people having any connection with the project must be restricted in an almost vicious manner. Use a small number of good people (10% to 25% compared to the so-called normal systems).
4. A very simple drawing and drawing release system with great flexibility for making changes must be provided.
5. There must be a minimum number of reports required, but important work must be recorded thoroughly.
6. There must be a monthly cost review covering not only what has been spent and committed but also projected costs to the conclusion of the program. Don't have the books 90 days late, and don't surprise the customer with sudden overruns.
7. The contractor must be delegated and must assume more than normal responsibility to get good vendor bids for subcontract on the project. Commercial bid procedures are very often better than military ones.
8. The inspection system as currently used by the Skunk Works, which has been approved by both the Air Force and Navy, meets the intent of existing military requirements and should be used on new projects. Push more basic inspection responsibility back to subcontractors and vendors. Don't duplicate so much inspection.
9. The contractor must be delegated the authority to test his final product in flight. He can and must test it in the initial stages. If he doesn't, he rapidly loses his competency to design other vehicles.
10. The specifications applying to the hardware must be agreed to well in advance of contracting. The Skunk Works practice of having a specification section stating clearly which important military specification items will not knowingly be complied with and reasons therefore is highly recommended.
11. Funding a program must be timely so that the contractor doesn't have to keep running to the bank to support government projects.
12. There must be mutual trust between the military project organization and the contractor with very close cooperation and liaison on a day-to-day basis. This cuts down misunderstanding and correspondence to an absolute minimum.
13. Access by outsiders to the project and its personnel must be strictly controlled by appropriate security measures.
14. Because only a few people will be used in engineering and most other areas, ways must be provided to reward good performance by pay not based on the number of personnel supervised.

Note that Kelly had a 15th rule that he passed on by word of mouth. According to the book "Skunk Works" the 15th rule is: "Starve before doing business with the damned Navy. They don't know what the hell they want and will drive you up a wall before they break either your heart or a more exposed part of your anatomy." 

Note also that collaboration is probably going to be a big part of your toolkit.  What are your 14 rules?

Thanks for visiting us here.
Want to get serious about being great?  Call me on 0439 979 577 and tell me about your goals!
Get to know clarity. Email me, Mike Kennedy...

Research only reveals a part of the story...

 I did what I thought was a thorough research into ebook publishing platforms.

A consultant from one of them called me.

After letting them know I wasn't going to choose their platform, they immediately rattled off about three alternatives I'd never came across.

There are so many choices, so many options out there.  I'm amazed at what is out there.

Thanks for visiting us here. Get to know clarity. Email me, Mike Kennedy...