Motivation to Success!

In light of our upcoming ‘Goal Setting’ Workshop which is on this Thursday the 8th of April from 1900 to 2100 in the Absolute Hotel in Limerick (still places available), Patrick thought he would warm you up with 12 tips for enhanced success in achieving the Goals you set for your self. Enjoy!

1. ’Desire is the starting point of all achievement’ (Napoleon Hill). What is the reason for the goal? What is the desire? Develop that desire.

2. Believe you can achieve it! Really believe you will do it!

3. WRITE it down in detail. Make it tangible by putting it on paper!

4. Make a list of all the ways YOU will benefit from achieving it.

5. Take the time to analyse where you are right now in relation to the Goal and accept your starting point without blame or worries attached.

6. Set a deadline for the goal, a fixed date. This helps as a motivator.

7. Make a list of all the obstacles that might occur on your path towards achievement. Then list what you can do about them if or when they happen. This ensures you know what to do at that moment.

8. Identify all information you need to get, where to get it from and when you will get it.

9. Make a list of all the people you need to assist you. Also think of what you can do for them.

10. Prepare a detailed action plan with all steps, time frames, people, information etc…

11. Visualise the achievement. Either see yourself achieving it in your mind or use pictures of it and hang them around your house or workplace.

12. Make the decision to NEVER give up! You are probably nearer to achieving it then you think.

‘Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal.’ Elbert Hubbard

4ward 2 Success are delighted to announce Patrick Mercie’s April and May workshop and seminar schedule, all to be held in the wonderful Absolute Hotel on Sir Harry’s Mall in Limerick. www.absolutehotel.com

These workshops and seminars are all flying under the same banner of ‘Taking responsibility for your own life!’.

More details as well as booking opportunities will be coming your way very soon but here are the dates and topics to wet your appetite:

Thursday 08/04 1900-2100 Rerun on demand of the popular ‘Goal Setting Workshop’. All participants will walk away with goals set and action plans made.

Saturday 17/04 1000-1300 Career Coaching Workshop. Through practical exercises and golden tips all participants will be taken through the do’s and don’ts of career identification, CV preparation and interview techniques. A great morning for all the unemployed and redundant people of the area or the people who want to change career.

Thursday 06/05 1900-2100 ‘Effective Communications’ workshop. You will become more efficient and successful in your relationships at home and in the workplace if you learn how to communicate effectively. This workshop is highly interactive to promote intense learning.

Saturday 15/05 1000-1300 Seminar. ‘It’s your move next.’ Here Patrick will deliver a 3 hour high energy talk about the how to and benefits of taking full responsibility for all your actions, thoughts and feelings. You will hear how you can take control of every situation you face and empower yourself to deal with them YOUR way. Patrick uses examples of his own journey of self development to enhance the experience.

I hope you agree this varied schedule should have something for all to look forward to. More details to follow in the coming days!! Have a fantastic Day.

Patrick Mercie, 4ward 2 Success, 083-3008963.

A lot of us every New Year after 2 cans of Lager to many make New Year resolutions of all kinds. We are going to climb Kilimanjaro barefoot, give up smoking after we finished the 400 packs we got in Lanzarote, walk the dog 8 days a week, never get angry anymore at politicians, get fit watching Davina McCall fitness DVD’s, support our local sports team instead of watching reruns of Leinster’s Heineken Cup win on Sky Sports 7 and so on.

Inevitably by the 5th of January you have blisters from walking the kitchen floor barefoot, got another 100 packs for New Year of your neighbour who came back from Gran Canaria, realise there is only 5 days in the week you want to walk that dog, get hit by another 5% levy and spit at the politician on your telly, eat 10 packs of crisps and drink 2 more cans of lager watching Davina do it for you and order in ESPN cause they have the Premiership rights for the 5pm matches on Saturday.

How does this happen? What can you do for this not to happen? Here’s my 10 tips for sticking to that New Year resolution and becoming the envy of begrudgers everywhere!  

1- Write it down in detail. This makes it real and gets it registered into your subconscious. Put it in your diary on page 1, write it on a notepad and stick it on the fridge. Make sure it is somewhere you go very regularly so you constantly remind yourself of it. This helps you staying motivated.

2- Believe you can do it. If your goal is realistic and you can visualise yourself achieving it, then you can do it. Make a clear mental picture of you achieving it. Seeing yourself succeed puts you in the right frame of mind.

3- Make a list of all the ways you will benefit from sticking to your New Year resolution. The more ways you can find, the more motivation you will receive from them.

4- Set a timeframe and write it beside the goal. The date by which you will have achieved what you set out to do. Again you are making it real both visibly and in your subconscious.

5- Think about all the difficulties you may encounter on your way to achieving your New Year resolution. These difficulties may come from inside you (such as willpower, lack of a certain skill etc…) or may come from external influences (such as uncooperative family members, time spent at work etc…). By identifying them you can already start looking at a way around these before they occur.

6- Check what information you lack right now to be able to start your journey to success and take steps to get this information ASAP.

7- Make a list of people you need help from; whether they are friends, relatives or professionals. By asking for their help, you validate them. Ask yourself what you can do for them so they will gladly help you.

8- Use all of the above information and make a detailed plan. Be precise, thorough and specific. Write down step by step how you will succeed. Brake down the resolution into manageable steps and plan them 1 by 1.

9- Celebrate every completion of one of the steps. Pat yourself on the back, give yourself a treat. Congratulate yourself. It keeps the motivation meter at 120%!!!

10- Never give up! You are always closer to achieving than you think you are. So NEVER give up. While change is always good, nobody said the transition period is a bed of roses. There will be thorns, admire them for what they are and move on!

I want to congratulate all of you in advance on bucking the trend and making 2010 the year where you turn those New Years resolutions into real achievements!! WELL DONE!!!

P.S.: remember there is always a friendly Life Coach nearby to help, motivate and support you. He/She is only a phone call or email away.

If you or anyone you know is deciding on taking part in THE running event of 2009, the Lifestyle Sports – Adidas Dublin marathon, then NOW with 6 months to go is the time to start training. The marathon promises to have a record entry for its 30^th anniversary. The organisers expect up to 15.000 participants.

NOW is the time to consider starting your training. There are a lot of great training programs to be found on various websites, yet they are general programs not specifically written for you. Or you could pay a trainer to write a 6 month training program for you. This fails to allow for increases or decreases in performance and is rather inflexible.

If you want a personalised training program written specifically for you on a WEEKLY basis then 4ward 2 Success is the place to be. We will contact you individually every week to check on progress and availability and send you the program for the following week based upon your actual performance rather than on a prediction months in advance. There is also the possibility of going for runs with the coach, breaking the boredom of training solo. And you will get all information necessary regards gear, medical attention, injury prevention, nutrition advice etc…

As a qualified and accredited Motivational Coach, based in Limerick, Patrick is also ideally equipped to deal with the mental side of training and running so you get the best preparation possible for your race.

For information on our very competitive packages and a FREE assessment meeting contact Patrick at 4ward 2 Success in Limerick on

061-340156

083-3008963 or

patrickmercie66@hotmail.com

P.S.: Please pass this on to anyone you want to help succeed; they’ll thank you for it!!!!

“In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that.”
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

“Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re probably right.”
-Henry Ford

Hi All,

Please find below the latest exciting new product from 4ward 2 Success Coaching & Training. 

There will be days you don’t think you can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing you have. (Dublin marathon email excerpt)

There is a marathon in everyone. (Dublin Marathon magazine)

Most of you that know me have been bombarded last year with emails regards the Marathon I ran, for the Barretstown charity, in Dublin. I also ran the Dublin Half marathon, the Frank Duffy 10 Mile and the Plassey 10k, all in relatively competitive times for a 42 year old who had given up smoking for only 1.5 years when I started training. My time of 4hrs 11 for my first Marathon was very pleasing. This year I will take part and compete in the Connemarathon (1/2 marathon for me) on 22/03, the Great Ireland run (10k) in the Phoenix Park on 05/04, the Burren Half marathon in Ballyvaughan on 23/05, the Achill Half marathon on 04/07, the Dublin Race series 5 mile, 10 mile and ½ marathon in July-August-September and the 30^th Dublin Marathon on the 26^th of October. (Hopefully in around 4 hoursJ).

I will enter some other races as I become aware of them. To be able to do all this I have had to get serious about running. It has become part of my daily life. I train 5 to 6 times a week, changed my lifestyle (healthier food etc), put together training programs, visit physio’s and GP’s, talk to experienced runners, get advice from professionals etc… By doing all this, what looked like a mountain of work became a very pleasant (most of the time) molehill of a journey leading to successful completion of the Marathon.

Positive results other than the races have been more energy, a leaner and fitter body, less stress and feeling like I can handle anything life throws at me.

All this preparation work is time consuming so I imagine that if you work 9-5 or more this might be daunting for a beginner or novice to undertake. You might also lack the right motivation to take this on or the right person to help you and guide you and push you forward without judgment or negative comments!

That’s where I come in as a Motivational Coach. I am a qualified Personal and Motivational coach (Dip. Personal & Business Coaching from the ILI (www.ili.ie)).

Combining my motivational coaching skills with my running experience I have come up with a Professional Motivational Running Clinic. This is aimed at the Beginner, Novice, Intermediate runner who wants to compete at their level in any kind of distance events, from full blown Marathons to Mini-Marathons or 5K’s.

Apart from gaining from my experience as a runner and a coach you will get personalised training schedules adapted to your needs, wants and aspirations. You will get 1 to 1 assistance on medical check-ups, dietary advice, race planning, running gear, injury prevention, warm-up and warm down. Also included in different packages are an initial assessment meeting, phone support, regular  assessment meetings and a weekly run during the weekends with me if desired.

DO YOU WANT TO SUCCEED? CALL ME NOW FOR THE FREE INTIAL ASSESSMENT MEETING ON 083-3008963 OR EMAIL ME AT PATRICKMERCIE66@HOTMAIL.COM

(The rates charged are depending on the level of assistance the client requires or desires. Packages start from €100/Month. (How much would all this cost in a GYM or from a personal trainer???).)

Hi all,

I sincerely hope that your festive season was a time full of love, togetherness, understanding, peace, happiness and balance. And if it wasn’t picture perfect I hope you had the time to learn from it and use the imperfections as stepping stones to succesful change. 

Though I am not a traditionalist in the pure sense of the word, I thought I would use one tradition as my theme for this week’s post. ‘New Year resolutions’. We all make them (and break them). Every year we indulge in them and for most of us they stick around for a while until the first serious obstacle occurs and then we (reluctantly) celebrate failure.

So let’s look at a few pointers to buck that trend and stick to the New Years resolution this year. It will make you feel fantastic as well as being the envy of others (not that that is important ). I presume you have made a resolution. (If not contact me and we can together work towards one).

One proviso: It is hard work so make sure there is fun involved as well. Reward yourself regularly to motivate yourself.

1. Accept yourself for where you are right now in relation to the goal you set. Don’t beat yourself up. Who you are now is super for now. Write this down on an A4 sheet under 1. Where am I right now? And say to yourself it’s ok to be there cause we are going to change it anyway. (Example: I owe €5.000 on my visa)

2. Where do I want to be? Write down what it is you want to achieve. Be specific. Make it measurable. You want to know whether you succeeded, or be accountable at any stage of your journey. (Example: I want to clear that €5.000 by 30/09/08)

3. How will I get there? This is your action plan. This has to be very specific. Make sure you allow for checking in at regular intervals to see if you need to make adjustments. (Example: There are 44 weeks from new year til the 30th of September so that’s €115 per week to be saved or made, make a financial plan to get there or seek help from a professional coach.)

4. What may be the obstacles that I can encounter and how can I plan in advance for them? Don’t kid yourself. you will encounter obstacles and may fail at some hurdles. So if you plan in advance what they may be you will be able to deal with them immediately when they occur. (Example: My car is getting that bit older so I might incur costs to that at any time. If that occurs I can go and train in open air and cancel my gym subscription for 2 months).

You know that one friend or relative or acquaintance that is always positive towards you and that you know will support you no matter what. Tell them your goal. Use them as a motivator and support system.

I want to congratulate all of you in advance on bucking the trend and making 2008 the year where you turn those New Years resolutions into real achievements!! WELL DONE!!!

P.S.: You know there is a friendly Life Coach nearby to help, motivate and support you. He/She’s only a phone call away.

Patrick Mercie – 4ward 2 Success Coaching & Training

083-3008963

patrickmercie66@hotmail.com

Doing the best you can is always good enough.

What do you think would change for you if you just tried to always do the best you can? No more, no less. Just do the best you can at any give time. 

This came to me again recently when I bumped into a friend I hadn’t seen for weeks. I tried to start a conversation yet the interest seemed to be coming from my end only. As I am the curious type I asked him straight off what was out of sync in his life. I could see from his body language something was bothering him. I got no immediate response and somehow the question came to me; ‘Are you running out of time?’ He looked at me and his shoulders dropped. I took him for a coffee and he started explaining how his partner had lost her job and he had to clock extra hours to pay the mortgage and seemed married to the job now and was never at home for her or the kids.

He said he was doing his best for the family. I asked him to repeat that slowly and think about it. What were the net results of this serious amount of overtime? He was missing out on family time. He was always tired and had become less effective at work as a result so to cover that he had to even more hours. The job had become all about the pay package instead of something he enjoyed. He had gained weight because of bad eating habits. There were rows at home. And so on. On the positive there was more money coming in. And that was it.

When you overdo things, you will spend more energy than you want or can and your best will no longer be good enough. You will deplete yourself and will eventually have to stop all together.

If he just did the hours he wanted to do and could master those then he would be more effective and had to do fewer hours to get the same result. And if that was not sufficient then they had to look at other solutions to deal with the financial issue. Only by doing his best at work in the time he could afford to give it was he going to get the best results. No more, no less. I have met him since and he looked way more relaxed and said  he found an extra source of income after sitting down with his partner for a brainstorm.

Doing your best is always good enough and will get the best results. It will also remove any need for blaming your self or judging yourself. Because if you know you did your best then you should be happy with yourself and feel good about yourself!!

Go on, give it a try!!

Patrick Mercie – 4ward 2 Success – 12-12-2008

This time of year is often used to compile lists. The top 10 sporting moments of the year, the top 20 songs of the year. I thought I would stay trendy and put together a list of my own. The top 10 inspirational movies of all time. As picked by yours truly.

I can tell you that if you want some feel good factor or motivation in this doom and gloom media world then these will definitely brighten up the month of December for you!! I have added the age cert for information purpose only. Enjoy a bright inspirational month with these beauties!! You can look up further details on www.imdb.com (Internet Movie Data Base). And thanks in advance for adding your films to the list and/or for your comments!!

In no particular order:

It’s a wonderful Life – UK cert U for Universal

They’re making memories tonight! An angel helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would had been like if he never existed.

Dead poet’s society – UK cert PG for Parental Guidance

He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary. English professor John Keating inspires his students to a love of poetry and to seize the day.

Pay it forward – UK cert 12

Like some other kids, 12-year-old Trevor McKinney believed in the goodness of human nature. Like many other kids, he was determined to change the world for the better. Unlike most other kids, he succeeded.

The pursuit of happiness – Ireland cert 12A

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he’s poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.

Inside I’m dancing – UK cert 15 – Irish film

Live life like you mean it. When the kinetic Rory moves into his room in the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled, his effect on the home is immediate. Most telling is his friendship with Michael, a young man with cerebral palsy and nearly unintelligible speech. Somehow, Rory understands Michael, and encourages him to experience life outside the confines of home.

Guess who’s coming to dinner – UK cert PG

A love story of today. Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn play a couple whose attitudes are challenged when their daughter brings home a fiancé who is black.

My left foot – Ireland cert 12 – Irish film

A film about life, laughter, and the occasional miracle. The story of Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy. He learned to paint and write with his only controllable limb – his left foot.

Forrest Gump – Ireland cert 15

The story of a lifetime. Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny, eludes him.

The Shawshank Redemption – Ireland cert 15

Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free. Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.

The Rookie – UK cert U for Universal

It’s never too late to believe in your dreams. A Texas baseball coach makes the major league after agreeing to try out if his high school team made the playoffs.

Have a great inspirational film month!!

Patrick Mercie – 4ward 2 Success – 02/12/2008