The Skill Stack Podcast

Bonus Session - Feeling Lazy? Here's What To Do About It.

In this unusual time. More people are staying at home in lockdown.  Some people have to work from home whilst many others have the "luxury" of doing nothing.

I don't know about you but I would much rather be working from home that doing nothing!

But here's the thing, people are not lazy, they are just uninspired and need an objective, a target, a goal. They need to be moving towards something that inspires them.

This lack of energy is caused by mucscles being under-utilised and energy stagnates.

Sleep inertia can also cause you to feel lazy during the day.  This sleep inertia is caused by sleeping longer. We no longer need to get up and commute, so more time in bed.  We can stay up late. But all of that compounds and will lead to sleep inertia which can lead to you wandering around your home in a hypnagogic trance - almost like a teenager!

So what do you do if you can't concentrate?  If You struggle to work at home>  If you're feeling tired all the time?

I spoke to people who have worked at home for years and asked them these questions.  The answer is Routine.  Get into a routine. A good routine and stick to it.

But that aside, here are 6 other things that you can do to stave off the lazy feelings and yo cure sleep inertia.

1. Workout

2. Go out

3. Do something for someone

4. Get creative

5. Plan something to look forward to

6. Make a nutritious meal

All success leave clues. The Skill Stack shows you what to look for and more importantly, like any great recipe, the correct order of the ingredients and skills is as important.

You can learn more at: www.TheSkillStack.com

For all the underlying links and transcript, go to: www.TheSkillStack.com/podcast

You can get us in our Twitter account: @TheSkillStack

email us on: [email protected]

The following statement is often attributed to the famous scientist Charles Darwin: It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.

Adaptability as a skill refers to the ability of a person to change his actions, course or approach to doing things in order to suit a new situation. ... It encompasses being able to effect changes in a course of action with smoothness and timeliness, without any major setbacks.

Adaptability means being open to ANY new challenge or changing situation, regardless of your background and skills, and refusing to place preconceived judgments on the challenge or presume it's something you can't handle, or won't like.

As a differentiating value, Adaptability means ability to change and maintain effectiveness in a changing environment. The critical ingredient to adaptability is remaining effective when everything is changing

Often confused with Survival of the fittest.

Darwin uses the phrase "survival of the fittest" in chapter four of his groundbreakng book “On the Origin of Species” to describe the process of natural selection. But he did not coin the phrase. It was borrowed from English philosopher Herbert Spencer, who first talked about survival of the fittest in his Principles of Sociology.

The world is changing rapidly and that’s down to Four things: Abundance, Asia , Automation and AI

The first 3 were extensively written about by Daniel Pink in his 2006 book “A whole new mind” – The newest addition is AI

· Abundance: prosperity has allowed westerners to fill their lives with material goods but not fulfillment – the search for meaning and happiness goes on.

· Asia: workers from Asia are taking over the role of knowledge workers.

· Automation: any job that is dependent on routines can be replaced or reshaped by technology: eg computers that can program other computers; medical diagnoses that can be done online by patients

 * AI: This is the branch of computer sciences that emphasises the development of intelligence machines, thinking and working like humans. For example, speech recognition, problem-solving, learning and planning.

To be able to be adaptable we will need six essential aptitudes; he calls them the Six Senses: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning.

For the list of jobs in the future, Click on this link:  Jobs of The Future

It’s the mindset skills that make up the larger portion of required skills in the future.

Having them makes being adaptable easier.  Having a variety of useful skills makes you mentally more able to cope with change.

All success leave clues. The Skill Stack shows you what to look for and more importantly, like any great recipe, the correct order of the ingredients and skills is as important.

You can learn more at: www.TheSkillStack.com 

For all the underlying links and transcript, go to: www.TheSkillStack.com/podcast

You can get us in our Twitter account: @TheSkillStack

email us on: [email protected]

How To Get More Done In A Day

First of all, leverage as much as you can.  But here is how to control your day to get the most out of it and to let you get on with your core skill/profession.

18. Outsource everything.

All success leave clues. The Skill Stack shows you what to look for and more importantly, like any great recipe, the correct order of the ingredients and skills is as important.

For all the underlying links and transcript, go to: www.TheSkillStack.com/podcast

You can get us in our Twitter account: @TheSkillStack

email us on: [email protected]

How to Get Anyone to Take Action in 6 simple steps.

1. Limit their options - not too many choices.  They need to believe they are in control. Remember the analogy of the jam in the supermarket or my wife shopping curtains.  Less is better when it comes to getting someone to take action.

2. Set Deadlines - Any task will contract or expand depending on the time given. Let people know they must act NOW! ... or within a very short timeframe or they will lose the offer.  This acts the same as when we are told we can't have something; we tend to want it more and also remember scarcity.  The human desire for something increases when there is less of it.

3. Use Isaac Newton's law of inertia.  Objects in motion tend to stay in motion; get them to do something.  Something small can lead to something bigger. Buying something for a small price can lead to buying something from you of a higher price.

4. Another useful law is that of expectation.  People will do what you expect if you do it with confidence.  "Follow me"!  "Go there" especially if you walk off in that direction.

5. Watch how people process information.  If you want People to do something, make it easy.  If you want to discourage them, make it sound complicated.  My son taking out the recycling is a great example.

6. But wait...there's more!  The add-on is a great way to get someone to do something...and add on can increase sales by as much as a third. IN fact any small additional benefit for taking action now will always go down well.

So that is it.  6 Steps.

But always remember the number one rule when it comes to getting someone to do something for you or with you - they ideally need to like you and also trust you, so use their name as often as you can.

Whilst you're here, there is an offer for the next 3 days only. Go to the website as join the Skill Stack and you will get 6 weeks worth of direct 1-2-1 coaching with me...not my team...me.  But wait! That's not all.  I will show you some simple ways to earn back 10 times the cost of the programme. But this is only open to the first 10 people who join in the next 3 days.

Go to the site.  Do it now! www.TheSkillStack.com

All success leave clues. The Skill Stack shows you what to look for and more importantly, like any great recipe, the correct order of the ingredients and skills is as important.

For all the underlying links and transcript, go to: www.TheSkillStack.com/podcast

You can get us in our Twitter account: @TheSkillStack

email us on: [email protected]

How To Make Quick Changes.

You are not the problem.  Your approach to the problem is the problem.  This is a system and process flaw not a personal one.

It’s true what employers say, people don’t work…systems work.  People don’t fail. Systems fail.

Michael Gerber has been saying this for years in his seminal book: The E-Myth – Why most small businesses don’t work and what to do about it.

I first came across this over 20 years ago. It was brought to my attention by a group of accountants called Ran One (Results Accountants network)

This is a mindset changing book and the suggestions in it do work.

So in order for you to make changes, you need to adjust your mindset – and it’s easier than you think.

Bear in mind that this makes no distinction between starting a behaviour or quitting a behaviour. Between good habits or bad habits…and there are certain things that apply across the board when it comes to changing.

1.  Stop critisising yourself – it’s not you… it’s the system you use (or don’t use)

2.  Take any challenge you have and break it down into small steps. (like eating an Elephant…one bite at a time)

3.  If you do make a mistake, recognise it, own it, learn from it and move on.

When you follow a simple system you will get quick wins.  There will be times when you say to yourself “Hey this really works!”  That’s important.  It’s important that you celebrate these wins as that will reinforce the behaviour and you will want to do more.

So keep score.  In your phone, in a book or in a Journal, make a note of coincidences and times when you catch yourself making the small changes necessary.

1.  Stop beating yourself up it’s not your fault. This is a process error not a human one.

2.  Take very small steps and measure what you are doing…after all it’s not the mountain that holds you back, it’s the pebble in your shoe!

3.  Celebrate the wins.

Some of the best changes are made when 3 things come together.

1.  You actually really want to make the change – you are willing - make sure that you do

2.  You have the ability to make the change.  You can actually do it. You are not physically prevented

3.   Something must make you do it. Reminder

If you have any questions or want to ask me about anything in this podcast, you can join the Skill Stack on Facebook or in Twitter @TheSkillStack or you can email us directly; [email protected] or if you would like to discover the power of accelerated personal growth you can sign up to the Mindset, Training and Strategy modules at TheskillStack.com

Once again, thank you for listening and I’ll hope to talk to you again on the next episode which is Episode #34  - How to Get More Done in a Day

And remember;

“The greatest investment you’ll ever make is investing in yourself.”

The Worlds Largest Work from home experiment

This is the World’s Largest “Work from Home Experiment”

People who are optimistic about the future will win.

Let’s think about Fear for a moment.  Fear is just a seed.  It must settle in your imagination as it can produce nothing without imagination + or – (positive or negative and it gets magnified)

If I take a look in your garden 3,6,9 months from now I can clearly see what seeds you have planted.

If you hold on to fear it will seriously impact upon you.

Play this game with patience. Not fear. Feel the fear and do it anyway and be very careful of your emotions around fear as they will actually increase your chance of becoming ill.  Fear creates stress hormones and they will reduce your bodies ability to fight off infection.  Your immunity will become compromised.  Do not let it (fear) take hold.

Who Needs help right now? Who has a problem?

1. People who currently have a problem are employees working from home with kids.

2. Companies struggling to keep staff productive.

3. Entrepreneurs lacking digital processes.

Who has the potential to Grow?  

Think about all the companies who have massive potential.  Online anything really!

So remember, Money does not disappear in a recession it changes hands.

What Resources are available to you?  

What subscriptions are you keeping?  If you're keeping them, so is everyone else.

Strategy – Checklist – What gifts, skills, talent, knowledge and expretise could you digitise to help others? How did you reach your goals or overcome adversity in the past?

Money goes to people who solve meaningful problems. –

Strategy – What Pulled You Through? What is Important to you?

Tactics – Do what you love?

Think about your daily MMA's Money Making Activities – KRA's Key Result Areas – HVA's High Value Activities – DMO's Daily Method of Operation

Remember to keep up a routine and follow the routine.  It's not discipline you need it's a routine and accountability.

More on that in the next episode.

All success leave clues. The Skill Stack shows you what to look for and more importantly, like any great recipe, the correct order of the ingredients and skills is as important.

For all the underlying links and transcript, go to: www.TheSkillStack.com/podcast

You can get us in our Twitter account: @TheSkillStack

email us on: [email protected]

Mindset and Strategy - Coping in a Crisis

So coping in a crisis.

It’s important that we all do our bit.  Play our part in being part of the solution and not the problem.

So COVID-19 - Some Wise Words - Mindset and Strategy - Coping in a Crisis

Okay for those of you who have been listening to The Skill Stack Podcast for a while you will know that I am very keen on mindset.

In fact The Skill Stack starts with 12 modules on mindset then 12 modules on training then 12 models on strategy and how to put the training into practice.

So let’s get into some things to help you cope and some ways to quickly implement these coping mechanisms.

The way we feel at the best of times is triggered by outside events.

And that can and does change how we act.

And the way we act can then reinforce how we feel.  It’s a spiral that we need to watch out for and break out of.

You cannot control the situation but you can control your reaction.

What will you learn today? Who will you teach?

Here is what I’m going to teach. Coping in a Crisis.

So here we go:  22 Tips for Coping in a Crisis;

1. Don’t Panic – Breathe. Stay Calm.

2. Reactions – Everyone reacts differently

3. Right Now Is the Worst Part

4. There will be Good Parts

5. Routine – Establish one early and stick to it.

6. Meals – Take the time to prepare them

7. Privacy – Let each person have their own space

8. Exercise -  regardless of age – do it

9. Drink – Alcohol, tea, water – everything in moderation

10. Stocking Up – Food yes but don't forget things like lightbulbs, toothpaste, toothbrushes and washing power.

11. Transport-  Bicycles are best

12.Connect -  Keep in touch with people.

13.Help For Others - Help friends and your local community.

14.Medicine – have the basics to hand

15.Arrange Help for You.  Ask for it if you need it - there are no prizes for suffering in silence.  www.Mindstore.com is brilliant and start to follow Jack Black Mindstore on Facebook for some great tips, advice and videos on mental health.

16.Restrict Social Media Time

17.Limit Your News Exposure

18.Expect More Change

19.Small things can make a big difference

20.Sense of Humour – Don’t lose it and seek it out where you can.

21.Underlying problems don’t go away.

22.One Day This Will Be Over

The main thing is, be kind to yourself and others.  You’re feeling anxious and stressed, that’s millions of years of evolution and is a coping mechanism.

This time though, you are not alone in this crisis.  You are not alone in feeling this way…millions of others are as well…but millions of others are also working to fix things on your behalf.

You need to do your bit.  You need to ensure that you are part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Remember that running away from your problems is a race you will never win.

And if you do one thing…just one thing…of all the things listed in this episode….make it that you prepare a routine.  Write it out. Follow it.  Make sure others in your family follow one as well.

Put up little post-it notes around your house with the routine and the timings on it and follow it to the letter.

How To Sleep Better and Wake up Fresher

Do you or anyone you know, have sleep "issues"?

It's a very common problem and one that I can say used to affect me badly...but for the last 20 years I have slept soundly every night and woken up at the same time every day without an alarm clock.  Here's how I do it and the good news is that you can do it as well.

It is usually fear of something that stops us from falling asleep or if we wake up in the middle of the night, it can be the fear of something that keeps us awake and keeps our mind "spinning".

On the two-day courses I have asked people to use these techniques (called the pathway to sleep - created by Jack Black at Mindstore.com) to get a good night sleep and wake up fresher.

Here is the pathway to sleep.

1. Create a house in your mind. Ideally in the country. Make it as big or as small as you like. You design it. It's your ideal house.

2. Within the house create a room, a big comfortable bedroom called the sleeping quarters. Make it as luxurious as you wish.

3. In the room have a big comfortable bed and at the end of the bed have a wall with a huge clock face on it for setting the time to wake up.

4. When you go to bed at night and prepare for sleep, visit this house and enter the sleeping quarters. Sit on the bed and take 3 deep breaths.

5. In your minds eye, look at the clockface on the wall and see the hands move to a time when you want to wake up. Make it 06:11 or 06:43  It doesn't have to be on the hour or half hour. (Do NOT use an alarm clock as back-up!)

6. Fall back into the bed. Take another 3 deep breaths. Relax from head to toe. Each time say, "I am falling into a deep, deep sleep".  So Relax my head - I am falling into a deep, deep sleep.  Relax my face - I am falling into a deep, deep sleep...and so on all the way to your feet and toes.

7. Wake. Check the time and laugh because It Only Works!!

Now 7 things ti remember from the podcast

1. The brain can only process one conscious thought at a time so use positive self-talk when facing up to your fears

2. Fear exists only in the mind. Take action and step into what you fear and you will discover it no longer exists.

3. Do away with your alarm clock and set your own opportunity clock in your mind within your sleeping quarters

4. Use the Pathway to sleep every night and you will get better at it and your quality of sleep will improve.

5. Take advantage of waking up early to get up, go for a morning walk or read a motivational book. (If you don't normally do this, put a note beside your bed as a reminder.

6. Keep a notebook by your bed to record ideas that come to you.

7. Take a note of your dreams to harness more of your creative capacity.

All success leave clues. The Skill Stack shows you what to look for and more importantly, like any great recipe, the correct order of the ingredients and skills is as important.

For all the underlying links and transcript, go to: www.TheSkillStack.com/podcast

You can get us in our Twitter account: @TheSkillStack

email us on: [email protected]

Dealing With Judgement

8 simple steps to deal with judgement

1. Keep it in perspective

2. Know The source.  If they don’t know you personally, don’t take it personally

3. If it’s useful feedback, learn the lesson

4. Are they judging you or are you judging yourself?

5. If You are being judged – why? See Number 3…learn the lesson

6. Focus on what matters to you, not someone else

7. Realise when it’s time to leave….sometimes you just need to block people

8. Shift Your focus – see the good

All success leave clues. The Skill Stack shows you what to look for and more importantly, like any great recipe, the correct order of the ingredients and skills is as important.

For all the underlying links and transcript, go to: www.TheSkillStack.com/podcast

You can get us in our Twitter account: @TheSkillStack

email us on: [email protected]

Dealing With Overwhelm

Many of the people I deal with on a  1-2-1 basis, such as clients and Mastemind attendees tell me that from time to time they are feeling overwhelmed by running their business and by Life in general!

It doesn’t matter whether your business is brand new or 20 years old, whether you are young or old...there are many things to juggle as a business owner, as a mother, father, brother or sister. You are not alone in feeling this way, and there are some very common reasons why we feel overwhelmed in business and in life:

· Trying please everyone (usually, but not always this is a common female trait.)

· Trying to focus on or get too many things done at one time – not to be confused with multitasking

· Being too optimistic about how much time it takes to do a task (This should only take me 5 minutes!) Yeah right!

· Adding too many appointments and projects to your daily or weekly calendar

· Not saying “no” to people and projects

Notice how all these things are a CHOICE you have made? Every time you make a choice to do too much, you are actually making a choice to feel stressed and overwhelmed.  You can stop this as you are in control.

To Deal With Overwhelm

1. Just Say No

2. Clear Desk...clear mind

3. Do What's most important first. Eat That Frog!

4. Do. Dump.Delegate or Destroy

5. Work towards results not for the sake of being busy.  What are your Key Result Areas (KRA's) and Income Generating Tasks (IGT's)

6. Create a Routine

7. Do just 4 tasks a day

8. Admit to yourself that it never ends - but it IS something you can control

9. Celebrate

10. You don't have to get it right but you have to get it going - Perfection will kill you and your business.  Strive to get it done regardless!

11. Action defeats worry.  Get moving. Stop thinking about it.

All success leave clues. The Skill Stack shows you what to look for and more importantly, like any great recipe, the correct order of the ingredients and skills is as important.

For all the underlying links and transcript, go to: www.TheSkillStack.com/podcast

You can get us in our Twitter account: @TheSkillStack

email us on: [email protected]