An X Factor star is an 'unlikely' one ...

So The X Factor is back on our screens in the UK and has landed on the screens in the US.

The contest is 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
Straightforward, straight talking (Ingredient X) coach.
http://www.walkahead.co.uk/
http://www.amanawalker.com/

Being grumpy can make you ill....How are you feeling today?

'The Victor Meldrews of this world are more likely to fall ill.

Experts claim there is a link between physical sickness and being constantly grumpy like Richard Wilson’s One Foot In The Grave character.

They studied how negative emotions can affect people and examined the relationship between failure, bitterness and quality of life.

Failure was singled out as the biggest cause of bitterness.Professor Carsten Wrosch, from Concordia University in Montreal, who led the study, said: “Persistent bitterness may result in global feelings of anger and hostility that when strong enough could affect a person’s physical health.” '

Daily Star 11/08/11

So it's official .
And now you have more reason to snap out of your grumpiness and find a reason to be happy.
Your health (and happiness) depends on it.

Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach.
http://www.walkahead.co.uk/


http://twitter.com/Coachx

Celebrities?...Just people like you and me.

The range of people I coach individually is, quite honestly, staggering.

There is no consistent age, type, sex, or occupation-some are seriously wealthy some are not so, some have a traditional job, others don't, like:

Golfers
Actors
Singers
Footballers
Business Leaders
Chief Execs

But what do they have in common?

.....not enough 'success' or 'happyness' (judged by their own rules not mine).

When we are looking for the answers with something 'tangible'-like, you know, material stuff, money or concrete stats -
that's when we get disappointed.
Why?
Because the answers are not always on the outside.

We are looking way too far away.

And often we won't allow ourselves to feel we've 'achieved' until we get the tangibles- then when we do get what we think we're looking for ....well.....we still don't feel the way we were expecting. (And if we do it's short lived).

Is that sad?  Yep, and more like ,just real life nowadays.

So many of us are still searching for something.

....'Yes but if I had more money Amana, I'd be happy' I hear people say.

Oh really? For how long? Money might plug one gap-but it always, always creates another.

To change how we feel, we need to change how we think.

It's simple-but not easy. Ask anyone who has ever tried to diet!

Changing the habits of a lifetime can happen very quickly with coaching-but STAYING that way and keeping that momentum going is where I really can help.

I may coach celebrities, but behind closed doors? We are all the same.

They are just people. People like us.

(Only, the more successful we are, and the more money we have, the more we have to cope with.)

Some people are more well known than others. But still no better, and no worse than us.

Listen to my video for a cheeky little insight into how I help ,in an unconventional way.

Because now - conventional just won't do.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz9ImXpTUj8

Amana

Straightforward, straight -talking Coach.

http://www.walkahead.co.uk/
http://www.amanawalker.com/

Walkahead Blog: It's Bad News

Walkahead Blog: It's Bad News: " ..."

It's Bad News

                                                                                                                                                       

Every day I look at a newspaper.

Everyday I see the news.

Everyday it's always the same  story....   

                                                                                               

It's. Bad. News.

Sometimes it's shockingly upsetting, and sometimes we're shocked with anger.

Is our world becoming the pits to live in, or is it that because of technology...we just hear about more stuff?

We could blame the press, but they are doing their job (OK, some of them badly), we could blame a number of things that causes the stories, like:

- Alcohol

-Drugs

-Religion

-Race
-Greed
-Jealousy
-Hate
......actually, let's just stop there.

But what if we are to blame - for the effects it has on us?. Yep you and I.
What if we take in too much, absorb it, hold onto it , and then become part of the downward spiral ourselves? Isn't it possible that we make ourselves unhappy as a result of being emotionally involved with the world? And then we spread it (unknowingly).


I love technology(ok, I'm no boff).
But if using it gives us access to more bad news, shouldn't we be regulating ourselves?
After all, we can't stop the technology machine . But we can limit ourselves to how much 'bad stuff' (including 'celebrity' news) we consume can't we?


You know what I think is really the bad news? How much we all now- in some shape or form- need help because we can't stop looking at news. Traditional , or otherwise (twitter, facebook, texting - yep even blogging!). More people are struggling to cope with their lives than ever before. Stress, pressure, lack of confidence, feeling inadequate, etc, etc


Our world is actually a fab place to be (I don't fancy the look of Mars), and yes, sadly there is awful stuff happening every day, but in order to help others, we need to help ourselves first.

We can do that by looking for what might be good news - there's plenty of it out there, and becoming a stronger, more positive influence on people's lives. That's when we can really help others.

Switch your conversation to talking about good stuff (acknowledge the bad - but don't labour on it - it will drag you down.).

Make yourself someone who is damn good to be around, not someone who is themselves, Bad News.

Just my opinion of course.

Amana
Straightforward, straight talking coach.


http://www.amanawalker.com/

Walkahead Blog: A Lesson From Darren Clarke....

Walkahead Blog: A Lesson From Darren Clarke....: "Here's a lesson for all of us. ..."

A Lesson From Darren Clarke....

Here's a lesson for all of us.                                                                        
                                                     
But it's a particularly good lesson for all those people who want success or fame FAST.

Darren has been a great golfer for many years, and has had lots of success along the way, but he hasn't won as big a tournament as The Open.

Until now.

As every golfer knows, you can play well and not win, and over the 20 or so years that Darren has been playing, some would say that his finest days were over. They won't be saying that now.

Darren has shown the world - and , more importantly, himself - that major success can come at anytime , as long as you are ready for it. Over the years Darren has been through some heart wrenchingly difficult times and you could argue that he wasn't ready to win big.

Now, having turned a few mental and emotional corners he is at his best and absolutely deserves the attention and acclaim he is being given.

So for those of you who dream of reaching your goals - take a lesson from Darren that has nothing to do with golf:

1. Never, ever, give up on your dream.

2. There is no such thing as 'too old'.

3. Dream big - make it worth holding out for.

4. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you through  thick and thin.

5. In your darkest hour, and in the face of adversity -  refuse to be crushed. 

6. Success isn't for the young. It's for those who want it the most, and who are ready.

7. Anything is possible, keep looking for ways to make it happen.

8. Stay cool, have fun. It shows, and wins you support and admirers.

9. It's not about the golf. It's about you as a person.

10. Never give up. Ever.


Well done Darren. For proving so many people wrong, for achieving something special and for giving hope to everyone.

A lesson learned.

Amana.

Straightforward, straight talking coach.

http://www.amanawalker.com/