What's 'Beneath your Beautiful'?

Apart from the fact that it is lovely song, Emeli Sande/Labrinth's 'Beneath your Beautiful' holds many truths.

So many people put on a 'front' - a persona, an image of someone they are pretending to be.

At work it can masquerade as 'professionalism' (but too distant).
In the celeb world it often comes out as 'aloofness' .
And in sport - you may well just look like a cocky prat! (sorry but it's true).

...and in all 3, don't be surprised if at some point you go off the rails and down that slippery slope of being angry/ frustrated/ lonely/ depressed.

Do you intend to give out these messages? Er, probably not.  But of course on the inside you feel different to how you look on the outside. So to you ,doing the 'pretending'-  it feels safe - almost a guard behind a big wall.

That, my friends is where there is a problem.

Because in this fast paced world we live in, we don't have the time (or patience) to look beyond the perception and climb the wall. Or try to see what's behind it.

So whilst you feel safe behind your wall of protection....no one knows who you really are.

No one can see your strengths
No one can see your  potential
No one can see your real personality
No one can see your real beauty
No one can love the real you.

And THAT, can be not only very isolating, but also means you never. really. shine.

Heck! What kind of a life is that???!!

Whatever reason you have for hiding behind it (and whatever you are afraid of) , there will be a solution for it - Goddammit - GO LOOK FOR IT.

Ask for help if you need to ....but just flippin' do it. (I know, I'm tough on you).

And only then can you start living life as the real you.allowing people to see you 'stripped bare' (ie by quitting the cover up ).


I promise you, when poeple see 'beneath your beautiful' - they find something better.

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

What's your Ingredient 'X'?......

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 from Chapter 1)........
 
Let’s take talent.

 

We’ve all seen it. A talent contest 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 isn’t it?   

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 usually 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.

 

‘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 looks good physically - 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.

 

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.....

 

 

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

 

Amana

Straightforward,straight talking coach.

www.amanawalker.com

 

 

 

Say 'No' to New Year Resolutions..

I know, it sounds plain wrong for a coach to be advising you against making plans.
But New Year Resolutions aren't just any old plans - they are the kind we make just for fun.

Aw come on! - You know it's true.
It makes us feel good to think up something, but we know damn well we aren't gonna stick to
them really  (even though we get caught up in the initial burst of excitement).

We do it because it's the thing to do at this time of year.
And you know I'm right so don't kid yourself!

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of having a new start for a new year....but when we label our plans as something traditionally seen as a bit of fun, then all too often the plans are heading down the pan. And then we feel low because we couldn't stick to them!

 So what's the alternative?

1.  Drop the flippin' label (NYResolutions) , and think seriously about what you want to achieve this year (or who you want to be).

2. Only consider putting pen to paper for stuff that is an absolute burning desire (i.e 'I could do to lose a few pounds' is not big or burning enough  to move you into action!).

3. Make them big - but keep it simple. No more than 2/3 goals that you absolutely , desperately, want with a passion to achieve (got that?)..

4. Give yourself some dates to achieve them by. By all means have some interim dates to break your goals down to smaller chunks, but give yourself a deadline to achieve the lot.

5. Don't be hard on yourself. It takes strength, guts and a shed load of encouragement to change behaviour and get something you want. Get help from friends, family, workmates.....just in case you even dare to think about giving up (hell no!).


And if you think you'll need more help than that to get what you want. Get yourself a damn good coach who will push you all the way, and power you on when you have lost the will.

So say 'NO' to fancy resolutions and a blinking big 'YES' to making some personal changes this year.
Shake a leg, and GET. SERIOUS. about. it.

Yeah, I'm harsh.
Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach.
www.amanawalker.com