5 Beliefs that Define our Destiny...

Our beliefs about ourselves and our environment, define our behaviour, relationships and performance, however, our beliefs are made up of complex, random and subconscious triggers; many of them are irrational or simply not true, some serve us well whereas some do not...

For example...

During and after WW2, the indigenous populations of the Melanesian Islands witnessed both Japanese and American forces fighting the battle of the Pacific.

On some islands the Americans built runways and military camps with 1000's of troops being stationed there; they witnessed at first hand the technology of the American forces including radio, aircraft and weaponry.

They also saw trained men marching in uniform, performing bizarre rituals and organised "meetings" - the clear consequence of which was that food, cargo and supplies were delivered to the men by planes from the sky...

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic..." - Arthur C. Clarke

When the battle for the Pacific was over, the Americans left and took all their equipment and rituals with them.

So impressed were the locals however, that they decided that if they simply recreated the equipment, rituals and uniforms of the Soldiers, they too would receive food, cargo and supplies from the planes in the sky...

And so the Cargo Cults of the Melanesian Islands were born. Radio masts, planes and weapons were built out of wood, the uniforms and marching rituals were copied in the hope that the "Gods" would return and supply them with the supplies they needed...

Prayers would be chanted into bamboo radio sets, fires would be set along the runways and the letters USA were painted onto the chests of tribesman marching whilst holding onto bamboo models of M1 Garand rifle...

Photo - Paul Raffaele.

Unfortunately, the gods never responded, but because the natives had evidence that the rituals worked, they kept going in the belief that one day they gods would return and save them...

As it happened, during peace time anthropologists and scientists visited the islands to explore the flora and fauna - and they found the native peoples performing strange rituals in line with their Cargo Cult beliefs.

To prevent them from starving, the scientists called for help. So the planes came back and delivered medical, food and equipment supplies; this simply proved to the natives that their prayers were not in vain and confirmed their belief in their rituals and icons...

We may think that is ridiculous...

Easy for us to look on with scorn and mock these people for making Gods out of the United States Army and Air-force; but to them it was and is real, in fact it was so real that their prayers were eventually answered by the return of the planes from the sky...

However...

In reality, many of the beliefs we hold are equally if not more ridiculous. The evidence we choose to substantiate them equally selective, but also equally seductive and compelling.

There are some "common" beliefs that we hold that define our lives, the challenge is of course, they might not actually be true...

1. I'm not attractive - compared to what and compared to whom...?
2. I'm not Lucky- who told you that...?
3. I can't - the most limiting belief in the world..
4. I don't know - no one does until they do it...
5. I'm scared - everyone is from time to time...

How do we support these beliefs...?

Simple - we find evidence to support them. We think of our history, the stories we were told, the experiences we had and the conditioning we received. Then, although we may test the beliefs, we look for more evidence that they were true all along - if you believe you are unlucky and you go to a casino, guess what will happen...

The way round this is equally simple - look for different sets of evidence to support a new set of beliefs...

First choose the beliefs you would actually want to be true for you, then construct evidence to validate and support that new belief system; find people that support you, opportunities that empower you and knowledge that inspires you.

Then, as the natives found when the scientists returned to their islands, your beliefs will become manifest to you - you are a result of whatever you choose to believe...

Make sure you choose your beliefs carefully...

David Holland MBA is the Founder and CEO of Results Rules OK, a Business Coaching, Training and Publications Company with offices in France, Luxembourg and the UK...

To find out more about working with David as you Business Coach, Executive Coach or Team Trainer - just drop him a note to davidholland@resultsrulesok.com for an introductory and complimentary discussion that just could change your life, your business and your results...

If you'd like to come to one of our Events to meet David, the Team and some of his Clients, then check out the website HERE - we look forward to seeing you and hearing from you...

The #1 Rule for Achievement that most People Ignore...

...but high achievers nail every time...

I am often asked what it is that makes people successful - personally and professionally. As a Business Coach I see all sorts of people achieve fabulous results - I have also come to recognise the patterns of behaviour associated with this success, and the patterns that sabotage he success of others...

First, lets look at what you DON'T NEED to be successful...

1. College or University Degree.
2. Masters Degree, especially an MBA...
3. Rich parents or family...
4. Rich wife or husband...
5. Be pretty or handsome...
6. Permission from someone else...
7. To be liked by everyone...

Of course having some or all of them may increase the pace of success, but they shouldn't be excuses that are allowed to get in the way either..

So does this mean that uneducated, ugly people living in poverty that no one likes are bound to be successful...?

Of course not; but if you don't have any of them it doesn't mean that you can't achieve what you want either...

Now that's out of the way, there are a couple of other "issues" that have to be addressed. Doesn't matter whether you are employed, running your own business or even in the military; there is one thing that will get in the way of achievement no matter how rich, pretty, or educated you are...

It's all about what is at the centre of your Universe...

What I mean, is what do you choose to place highest priority and importance on...?

As a young Operations Manager running a large distribution warehouse, it was my job to make sure that all incoming orders were picked, packed, despatched and delivered such that our customers experienced excellent service and 24 hr turn-round...

We were selling Computer Games Consoles and December was a huge month for us we would be despatching 1000's of machines, games and accessories every day on the run up to Christmas.

After an exhausting few weeks, we had finally made it to Christmas Eve, I was the last person to leave the warehouse, it was around 19.00; we had finally stopped operations for a couple of days and I was looking forward to a family break...

As I was about to switch the lights off and hand the site over to on site security, my 'phone rang.

It was a distraught woman who had ordered a games machine from us for her 9 year old son, but it hadn't arrived and she wanted to know if |I could help...

It was almost tempting to start mimicking the answer machine message and inform her that we were closed for Christmas and she should call back in a week; but I didn't...

I took her details, and promised to call her back within 10 minutes. Firing up the Order Processing system I could see that the order had been retrieved and paid for, but that one of the accessories was out of stock so it was placed on backorder.

I called her back, and said that I had the machine and the accessories, and that they would be with her before Christmas morning.

She lived about 100 miles away from the warehouse, and the only way to get it there was to put it in my car and take it myself, it was 20.00 by now...

I called Lynn and told her what I was doing, she wasn't surprised and simply said - "see you in the morning..."

Arriving at around 23.00 at the home of the family who'd ordered the machine, I rang the bell and waited.

The door opened and I have never seen anyone so happy to see a bloke carrying a cardboard box - they were overjoyed, I had made their son's Christmas, and they were stunned that someone from a Corporate Business actually cared enough to drive 3 hours to deliver one box - one out of 1000's we had already delivered...

At the centre of my universe was my purpose to be the best, most effective manager I could be. I knew that if I achieved that, then my family would be well cared for and we would achieve financial, lifestyle and balance success as a consequence; the better I was as a Manager the better life would be...

I ask the question...

"what would you do in that situation...?"

at events and workshops and only about 5% of people say...

"I'd take it to her..."

What would you do...?

Most people make excuses, create reasons or give refunds. Some people put their own time ahead of their professional time, and some people just say "tough, call back next year..."

So here, in my experience, we have one of the defining factors that determines our levels of success. It is our ability to put the objectives and purpose ahead of our own convenience and routines.

I was taught to put my Purpose at the centre of my Universe, and that providing I did that and sacrificed a little bit of comfort and convenience now and again I would achieve all that I wanted.

When we have clarity about the purpose we are working towards, whether it be professional or personal, and we give that our full attention even at the expense of our own levels of comfort and convenience - that is where the magic happens...

Here's the #1 Results Rule; if you put...

Self at centre of Universe = then you will do only what is Convenient...

Purpose at centre off Universe = then you will do what ever it takes...

So the question is; what are you prepared to sacrifice in order to achieve...?

Will you give up your weekends, work late, cancel holidays; the day after we got married we postponed the Honeymoon so I could go to College and sit an exam that I didn't want to miss..

Made me very popular...

Or are YOU the most important thing in the universe around which others must rotate and gravitate towards. Do your priorities always take precedence over those of others - are you so attached to your comfort blanket that it actually smothers any chance of growth and success that comes your way...?

Truly successful people put their Purpose at the centre of their Universe, they work their socks off to make it happen and reap the rewards that are denied to many because they are willing to endure the sacrifices tolerable to only a few...

PS - this rule doesn't mean that you sacrifice your home and family life in the name of money and professional success. Lynn and I have been together for 35 years this week as it happens, we have two amazing, balanced and successful boys; it just means that sometimes you have to do something outside of the 9 to 5 routine to achieve the results you desire...

David Holland MBA is the Founder and CEO of Results Rules OK, a Business Coaching, Training and Publications Company with offices in France, Luxembourg and the UK...

To find out more about working with David as you Business Coach, Executive Coach or Team Trainer - just drop him a note to davidholland@resultsrulesok.com for an introductory and complimentary discussion that just could change your life, your business and your results...

If you'd like to come to one of our Events to meet David, the Team and some of his Clients, then check out the website HERE - we look forward to seeing you and hearing from you...

How to Close every Sales Pitch you Make...

In what seems like the middle of the last century, I started my Sales Career selling cardboard boxes and industrial packaging to manufacturers and the military...

Let's face it, no one wants to pay much for the packaging of a product - it gets thrown away anyway and can be hugely price sensitive; exciting as this sounds - it did allow me to figure out how to sell not just a product, but a service too...

One project I was working on was the design and development of a transit container for a glass product - imagine a glass jar about 200 mm diameter and 400 mm tall with a helix tube inside - also made of glass and attached only at the bottom and top of the jar.

The helix was used to pass liquid through to cool the contents of the jar - I have no idea why, but it just did...

My job was to design a package that would ensure this fragile item got to its destination in one piece...

Several suppliers were invited to provide samples and quotations, then go along and present the pack to the prospective client and explain how the design would work and how we had approached the design challenge.

Most products can be assessed in terms of their Fragility Factor - essentially, how delicate they are and how susceptible to shock they are; the lower the "g" factor the more fragile they are..

For reference, a kettle is around 100 g, a TV is around 60 g and Missile Guidance Systems around 25 g - this product was rated at 15 g.

Basically it was VERY delicate and we had to get it through parcel carriers and airline handling safely...

So the day of the presentation came - we were last to present our package, and I was accompanied by my Managing Director, this was a big contract...

As we walked up the stairs to the first floor office my boss looked at me and said..

"on a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that you pack can survive a 2 metre drop - the design criteria...

"10" I replied, more out of hope than certainty...

We entered the presentation suite - with our prototype package. On the desk was one of the glass products. My design included filling the jar with beads - the beads would support the helix at so reducing the risk of fracture should the package be dropped.

Then the "beaded" jar was wrapped and placed within a frame work of expanded polyethylene cushions designed to absorb the energy of a 2 metre drop...

This was a unique approach - when asked why I had gone for beads in the jar, I explained that I wanted to make the product heavier and more robust. If you imagine dropping a crystal champagne glass onto the couch, it will still break.

The heavier item would deflect the cushions and allow them to decelerate the product without breaking it - if it was too light it would simply bounce of any cushions...

The customers looked confused, other designs were more traditional and smaller than ours too...

So, my design was bigger, heavier and more expensive - not only to buy but to transport as well...

My boss walked over to the box which by now had been packed with the glass jar and beads during my presentation. He sealed the lid and walked over to the window, opened it and glanced around looking for cars and pedestrians...

Then he threw the package out of the window...

It bounced on the car park and rolled onto the grass verge opposite - he looked at me and said - I hope you were right, and winked at me...

The clients were shocked - they ran to the window and shouted at my boss - he simply said...

"with packaging, you can either buy on price or you can buy peace of mind - we don't sell packaging, we sell peace of mind..."

One of the client engineers actually ran down stairs and retrieved the package and brought it back up to the office...

The corrugated cardboard was scuffed and dented and as he placed the pack on the table he invited me to open it...

As I opened the top of the box I could see what had happened; the product was still in tact, the beads had done their job and the cushions had done theirs.

I handed the pristine product back to the client and they immediately signed the agreement for supply - we had won the deal...

In the care on the way back to the office I asked my boss how he knew that the package would work so well..

"I didn't, but I trust you - and the only way to sell low value products is to prove they have high value performance, so I thought I'd throw it out the window to prove a point..."

The lesson I learned and use is that we can't sell what the product we make or the service we deliver - what we are selling is the benefit or the value the client will experience as a consequence of the purchase...

I also learned that when selling anything, if you can prove that it works, so much the better...

So here are my top Seven Tips for closing every Sales Pitch you go to...

1. Have absolute belief in the product or service you are offering - and yourself, and those in your team......

2. Be creative and unique in your approach - differentiate or die by price comparison every time...

3. Don't attempt to sell on Price or be the Cheapest, be the best and solve the problem the client actually has...

4. Prove and demonstrate the effectiveness of what you are selling, seeing is in fact believing...

5. Take the risk of being unique and give your prospects more reasons to buy from you than not...

6. Have fun in the process of selling, it is a game and once you understand the rules, winning is more likely...

7. Sell Value, sell Trust, sell Confidence - you can avoid having to "close" the deal; they will close you...

David Holland MBA is the Founder and CEO of Results Rules OK, a Business Coaching, Training and Publications Company with offices in France, Luxembourg and the UK...

To find out more about working with David as you Business Coach, Executive Coach or Team Trainer - just drop him a note todavidholland@resultsrulesok.com for an introductory and complimentary discussion that just could change your life, your business and your results...

If you'd like to come to one of our Events to meet David, the Team and some of his Clients, then check out the website HERE - we look forward to seeing you and hearing from you...

At 39 it was time to get the F#@£ out of there...

There is still something shocking and disturbing about the "F" word - it pervades our society and enters into the conversations we have with ourselves and others...

It is the one word that holds us back from achieving our full potential and we even pass it on to our friends family and children safe in the knowledge that our issues will become their issues too..

The word is FEAR of course....

You may of course have found yourself thinking of another four letter word beginning with F...

Fail, Folk or Fame for example...

In 1982 I was as young Engineering Apprentice working for the Ministry of Defence as part of Royal Ordnance - not in the military but in the design , development and manufacture of assault rifles and cannon up to 30mm...

During that time I was involved with the special projects division in support of the Falklands War which ended on the 14th June, and as such got to work with some of the soldiers from the Parachute Regiment and Special Forces brigades.

I asked one of the soldiers who was due to be deployed, if he was scared of going and the prospect of being in combat - in hindsight a stupid question, but at the time seemed a good idea...

He was only 22 years old, stood about 5' 10" and looked tough and mean; I was glad he was on our side...

He simply said - "Everyone gets scared, you just trust your mates, trust your training and trust yourself; it's how you deal with it that matters..."

"Everyone gets scared; it's how you deal with it that matters..."

In life and business, there are plenty of Fears, Worries & Concerns that hold us back. We don't call them by these names of course we call them Logic, Comfort and Commons Sense, then we surround them with Reasons, Evidence and Doubt such that we convince ourselves to take the paths of least resistance.

By the time I was 39 I had a great career, my own successful businesses a great family and life was good - but it wasn't great...

Living in a small Shropshire town in a cul de sac of new "executive detached homes" we all drove German Saloon cars, went out for a curry on a Saturday and spent each new year in the sitting room of one of the neighbours singing Auld Lang Syne at midnight...

To me it was like living on the set of a Soap Opera, it was a suburban routine that was turning into a nightmare...

So we decided to make a change before it was too late...

We sold our business interests and decided to follow our hearts; we decided that running a Logistics, Transport and Recruitment business wasn't for us, we decided to change direction away from all that we knew, put all our assets on the line and start from scratch doing a business we knew we'd love...

Were given advice from others, told not to do it and even told that we were having a mid life crisis and that it would all calm down in a few years...

Were we scared of making this change...?

Yes - but we had to trust each other, our instincts and ourselves and simply believe that we would make it work...

We could have found 101 excuses not to make the change- it was not the "common sense" thing to do , we were doing OK as we were and in hindsight it would have been a lot easier to succumb to the anaesthetic of suburban mediocrity...

Since then we have built the business we love, left the UK to live in the USA and then moved back to Europe to live in France; not in a boxy "Executive" home but a rambling house in 2 acres with a gravel drive and wrought iron gates...

We have friends, colleagues and clients all over the world and our social and business network is truly amazing - and most of all life is great, and we are happy...

Was it easy...?

No, we lived on beans on toast when things were tough, we bought each other spares for the car for Christmas and Birthdays and occasionally sat staring at the stars wondering if we'd ever make it...

We have worked harder than we ever have, cried more, laughed more and travelled more than we ever thought possible. Because we love what we do, it's not work any more; writing this Blog on a Sunday afternoon with Molly the Labrador sat at my feet is not a chore it's a pleasure and privilege...

Would we do it again...?

Absolutely; with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight we may do it a bit different if we had our time over, but my only regret is not doing it earlier...

So why do so many people choose to allow their "Fears" to get in the way of doing what they really want - I don't mean just making money - but living the life of the dreams, with people they love...?

Simple - their allow their FEAR to outweigh their DREAM..

In fact before that, they don't have clarity about what their DREAM actually is; it gets dulled by corporate career, hard work and long hours, and the people they associate with who validate and perpetuate their comfortable situation...

I spent a number of years, and I suspect many others do too, living and working between two limiting factors - FEAR and PAIN...

Sounds a bit melodramatic, but I always knew that I wanted to DO more and BE more; I still do, it is a journey not an event...

As life progressed and I achieved more I would get to a point where my FEAR outweighed my Determination and I bounced off the barrier that the FEAR created. I accepted this for a while but then as my frustration grew and the Quality of Life diminished as a result, I would again have to confront my FEAR of change and taking the risk associated with breaking through.

And again I would get to the point of actually deciding, the FEAR would win and I would bounce of the barrier again.

For many people this is how personal and professional life is; a sequence of bounces between FEAR and Pain; not a great place  to be. It is why so many turn to alcohol, gambling, divorce etc. as a coping mechanism..

So how do we overcome the FEAR Barrier...?

1. Build your Vision and Dream - with as much clarity as you can. Be clear it is what you actually want and not just something that your parents would approve of...

2. Prepare to let go - of all that you know; your identity, ego and status. Doing what you love may need a new version of You to be available...

3. Trust yourself - to be able to do what ever it takes to achieve it; you may work long hours and live on beans on toast for a while, but if you know you can do it, then you will...

4. Do It - make the change. Then use your resources and develop your knowledge as you go.

5. Enjoy the challenge - and the journey, only taking those people with you who will support, guide and inspire you...

The breakthrough will come when the strength of your Dreams outweighs the power of your FEARS...

Let your Vision and Dreams guide you - we are on this planet for a short enough time; way to short to live caught between the thresholds of Pain and FEAR...

What experience have you had when overcoming Fears and making changes in your life...?

What advice would you give to anyone considering making changes..?

David Holland MBA is the Founder and CEO of Results Rules OK, a Business Coaching, Training and Publications Company with offices in France, Luxembourg and the UK...

To find out more about working with David as you Business Coach, Executive Coach or Team Trainer - just drop him a note to davidholland@resultsrulesok.com for an introductory and complimentary discussion that just could change your life, your business and your results...

If you'd like to come to one of our Events to meet David, the Team and some of his Clients, then check out the website HERE - we look forward to seeing you and hearing from you...

The amazing Eric Winkle...

...his story will amaze you...

In the last 15 years of Coaching, Training and Mentoring 100's of Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and their Teams; I have learned a few things about achievement and success...

I have learned that success and achievement doesn't come from reading the Secret or walking the Hot Coals, nor does it come from chanting Incantations or staring at Vision Boards - yes they can help increase the pace of success, but they don't create it in the first place; only we can do that for ourselves...

Roll up Mr Eric Winkle...

Picture Credit - www.dailymail.co.uk

I found Eric's story on the BBC website, just before he was due to appear on the BBC Radio 4 Program - Desert Island Discs.

His story is compelling, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on this amazing, and yet largely unsung hero, he even has his own Wiki Page - click HERE to take a look...

Born in 1919 - and due to celebrate his 96th  Birthday on January 21st Jan 2015, his lifetime achievements are truly mind blowing; here's a brief summary...

1. As a Test Pilot he has flown 487 different types of plane, a world record.

2. He holds the world record for number of landings on an Aircraft Carrier; 2407...

3. He is the Fleet Air Arms most decorated living Pilot...

4. Attended the 1936 Berlin Olympics and had a meeting with Hermann Goring.

5. Flew with the WW1 German fighter ace - Ernst Udet.

6. Was one of only two survivors when HMS Audacity was torpedoed by German U Boats in 1941.

7. Landed a twin engined plane on a carrier for the first time in 1944 - deck speed 86 kts, stall speed 110 kts...!!

8. Helped liberate Belsen Concentration Camp.

9. Sang with the Glenn Miller Band...

10. Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Rocketry Oral History Programme in 2007..

How was all this possible without a copy of Think and Grow Rich...?

Simple - he planned and prepared for every flight he ever took, while other pilots were in the bar, he was studying and preparing for his next sortie...

He attributes his success to being able to curl up tightly in the cockpit due to his short stature...

So what can we learn from Eric Winkle...?

For me, I think it is the work ethic, the calm deliberate approach to overcoming challenges without the fanfare. The ability to "get on with it" when the odds are clearly stacked against you...

Being prepared to risk everything for the achievement of the extraordinary, without the expectation of reward... 

In the words of William Shakespeare;

"When the sea was calm, all ships alike showed mastership in floating.."

Sometimes in order to be great, we have to enter stormy seas too...

Have a great week, and best wishes to Eric Winkle too; a truly great and inspiring man...

The times they are a changin...

...Bob Dylan 1964…

Change Management is a high profile subject, why is that…?

Simply, because change affects all of us, it’s continuous and very few people deal with it well, in fact plenty of organisations don’t manage change well at all…

First, people are perfectly happy with the concept of change; we change our car, our holiday destination, our clothes and careers without drama, stress or anxiety; providing we choose then life is good…

It is not change itself that is the challenge; it is how it is introduced and perceived. If people are in control of change, they are generally happy; if change (positive or negative) is imposed upon them they are generally unhappy.

Rather than Change Management, we should really call it Choice Management. If I take away someone’s choices about the options they have, or actually make choices for them, they are likely to push back. It is this push back that affects organisations and teams during a period of change; Change Management is using techniques and tactics such that the negative impact of the process is mitigated…

Why don’t people like change…?

Tony Robbins describes the six basic human needs that motivate us; Certainty, Variety, Significance, Love & Connection, Growth & Contribution. When change is imposed on people it affects some or all of these needs – and the effect is stress induced poor performance, reduced productivity and even anger and depression.

Imagine that we need to change the job that someone is doing, move them to a different location, change their title and the way they are remunerated. Whilst we could argue that the need for Variety is being met, it is likely that the desired levels of Certainty, Significance, Connection and Growth and Contribution.

That person will attempt to fulfil those needs by fighting against the Change which has been perceived as a threat – essentially, people feel threatened when imposed change takes them outside of their comfort zone…

What can organisations do to cope better…?

There are two strategies that organisations can use to manage the change process - there is a third that applies to Entrepreneur and Transformational Companies too;

• Reactive Management...

This is where as little change as possible is implemented until it is absolutely necessary. Then a painful seismic shift has to be made, dramatic painful change is imposed on people with little thought for the consequences upon them – the panic button has been hit…

• Proactive Management...

This is where change is planned and communicated effectively – change becomes almost continuous, and yet there are no “panics” or shocks to the system. People are more comfortable and relaxed about the consequences because they feel they are involved in the process and have a degree of control over their destiny.

Clearly, the Proactive approach is more effective, enabling change to be effected whilst maintaining productivity, efficiency and profitability. The symptoms of Proactive Management are;

• Clarity of Vision, Mission and Purpose
• Frequent Communication at all levels
• Bad news delivered quickly and privately to individuals
• Good news is delivered and celebrated publically
• Team Spirit is a core value of the company

Change will of course result in winners and losers; it is the process of handling both that determines the success of the process…

How can individuals deal with the consequences of change…?

If change is imposed on you, the first thing to do is recognise that there is a process to dealing with change; one that can be anticipated and managed.

The Kubler Ross Change Curve plots the emotional journey that can be experienced as a consequence of imposed changes.

Understanding the process is a key first step to coping and dealing with it. Some years ago I was fired from my job – and I thought that my world had ended, in hindsight I recognise the process I went through.

Also in hindsight, in reality it was the best thing that ever happened to me and it gave me the impetus to change direction and start out on my own – and the rest as they say is history.

As a Coach I work with people in tough and challenging situations, helping them and their organisation deal with change; what I have learned, and something that is worth bearing in mind is that whatever the change is, however painful it may appear at the time – there is always a bright future with more opportunity available than you may recognise or believe.

What tips would you give our readers for capitalising on change…?

Change appeals to some more than others –my need for Variety outweighs my need for Certainty so I enjoy change; a 40 year career actually terrifies me…

First, I would be honest with yourself about what you want, what motivates you and inspires you.

Don’t define yourself only by your professional status and position; be prepared to change career, retrain and engage in both personal and professional development programs; go to every seminar and workshop you can, read a book a week and explore new principles and knowledge.

Remember, you are working to live; not living to work. Far too many people are identified simply by what they do between 9 & 5, so that when their identity, status and influence is negatively affected through change, they find it difficult to cope.

Your job is to make yourself a highly valuable and transferable commodity. Make your personal brand and professional network so powerful that if you happen to become an unfortunate casualty of change in one organisation, you have the best opportunity possible to be hired by another; perhaps in a different sector.

It could just be the best thing that ever happens to you..

David Holland MBA can be contacted atdavidholland@resultsrulesok.com

Getting Picked out on a Police Identity Parade...

...taught me a lesson that has stayed with me...

1980 was an interesting time...

At 17 Years old I had left home and moved to London. During the winter of that year I had ended up sleeping on tube stations and trains to avoid the cold, I discovered that if I agreed to have drug counselling I could get Pie and Mash at one of the charity shelters in the East End..

I couldn't afford food let alone the drugs, but I learned how to fake some of the signs of addiction which meant I have had counselling for all types of drugs including addiction to Methylated Spirits and Brasso - which until then I hadn't realised were addictions that were available to me...

If you get the chance - just smell at an open bottle of Methylated Spirits, and imagine how desperate someone must be to even consider drinking the stuff..

Note - don't it will kill you...

Then one day, I was "invited" to participate in an Identity Parade by the local Police.

Picture Credit - www.geeknado.com

Apparently a gang of youths had attacked a family in North London, and the father had died as a results of the injuries he sustained - the alleged attackers had been charged with Murder...

All of us were asked to place a sticky plaster over our right earl lobe - the person charged with offence wore an ear ring and the ideas was that we should all look as "similar" as possible..

Back then, there was no glass screen or partition to separate those of us "on parade" from the people - the family of the murdered man - who were attempting to pick out the perpetrator...

First, the wife came into the room, escorted by a Woman Police Constable. She walked along the line up and looked into our eyes intently - we had been instructed to each look at a spot on the opposing wall of the room and not show any emotion or hold eye contact with any of the victims as they looked at us...

She didn't recognise anyone, then her teenage son did the same and again, couldn't recognise anyone in the line up..

Finally, her teenage daughter came into the room, again escorted by a WPC...

Her eyers were red, she was clearly distraught by the whole process and she was shaking and had to be supported by her escort as she stumbled along the line up...

She got to the end and then turned round for a final look - then collapsed on the floor in tears sobbing...

Still not able to look away from the spot on the opposing wall, all this was happening in my peripheral vision; on a human level I wanted to console her and help her regain composure. Being in a room with someone who has witnessed their father being brutally murdered in the street is a sobering experience...

I could sense her mood changing from anguish to anger; she pointed and screamed..

"That's the ba$£@rd there - No 3..."

As she stood up using here renewed energy she made a lurch towards the line up and swung hare arms and fists, spitting and hissing as she did...

She had to be restrained by the officers and was take out screaming and kicking promising vengeance, cancer and a slow death to No 3 in line line up...

We were all somewhat shaken by this experience - in the line up with me was the suspect and five soldiers drafted in from Chelsea Barracks specially for the occasion...

As we began to relax and breathe sight of relief, the suspect was escorted out of the room; I noted that he had a big smile on his face as he left...

Turns out, I was No 3 in the line up, and had been the only person identified by any member of the victims family...

As I had this fact pointed out to me by the soldiers in the room, two of the biggest Coppers I had ever seen came in to the room with handcuffs and truncheons drawn, and made straight for me..

I was cuffed and escorted to a cell below the Police Station, my boot laces were removed and my belt confiscated - as the handcuffs were removed and I was ushered into the cell, one the biggest Coppers in the world said..

"Sit down, shut up and think about what you've done - we'll be back for you later.."

As a 17 year old, this was all quite terrifying...

I sat in the cold cell and began to think.

Not only had I ended up sleeping on trains and eating at the charity shelters, I looked like a murderer too...

What I realised was that I had to change my lifestyle and quick. It could have been my family that were attempting to identify someone in a line up that had murdered me in some disgusting back street or platform...

The people I was associating with came from this world, not one I was used to, but one that I could see was becoming increasingly difficult to get away from - there is a strange intoxication of the spirit that being even marginally associated with it brings on...

I decided to make an agreement with myself, that if I got out of this situation, I would figure out a way of getting my life back on track - I made deals with any of the Gods that would listen to me, I promised them too, that if just this once they helped me out, I'd be good...

With raised senses, I noticed the echo of my breathing in the gloss painted cell, the graffiti scratched into the walls, the noise of traffic outside, distant voices and shouts from other inmates.

After about 30 minutes - which seemed more like 30 hours - I heard a large key begin to open the complex lock on the door. I remember thinking that it sounded like a well engineered mechanism; there is something satisfying and reassuring to an engineer when a mechanism sounds so precise and well made; guns have the same satisfying well engineered sound as they are loaded and fired...

The two biggest Coppers in the world came into the cell with me.

I could smell the streets on their uniforms, I could smell coffee on their breath and see the stubble on the faces and even noticed that they were wearing different styles of shoes - strange what you notice when you think you are about to get a good kicking...

A strange sense of calm comes over people when the uncertainty of the future is removed, regardless of how bad the situation actually is, when it becomes imminent, calm prevails...

I braced myself and prepared to coil up and protect as many of my soft fleshy bits as I could; for a split second I wondered if I should take the initiative and at least get a punch into one of them before I went down on the floor; I quickly thought better of it...

Then, one of them smiled and the other started to laugh uncontrollably...

"Here you go mate..."

My boot laces and belt were handed back to me...

"We were just messing with you; you are free to go, thanks for your help with the parade..."

I walked out of the cell and up the stairs into the waiting area - still full of about 25 soldiers who had been invited to participate in the proceedings...

As I entered the room - there was a huge cheer and and round of applause...

Apparently, being cuffed and put into a cell had been their idea and the two biggest Coppers in the world went along with it and thought it would be highly amusing too...

As I left the station, I decided to keep my promise to myself and change the way I lived my life; in hindsight the tow biggest Coppers in the world actually did me a favour, they made me think...

Sometimes in life we need fear to be the emotion that helps us choose, sometimes we need two of the biggest Coppers in the world to get us to think about what we have done such that we can make a simple decision to stop doing it in the future...

You can find out more about David, his events programmes and workshops by checking out his website at or you can email him at davidholland@resultsrulesok.com ....