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Showing posts from January, 2013

W05.04 Continuing My Story: Alexander Business And Life Mentors

“Rich or poor does not matter – it is what you are believing and thinking that matters.” “Money does not bring happiness, it may even increase suffering.” You have heard all those sayings – and it’s true that money does not equal happiness – but my first business mentor, Brendan Nicholls, taught me: sure that’s true, but if you want money you have to deal with all those beliefs you are thinking, because those are the thoughts that keep you poor. Brendan’s sales pitch was “Money in your pocket.” He was not impressed by the symbols of “success” and he himself lived a simple life style, in an unassuming home, where his neighbours had no idea that he easily nets over one million dollars a year – and that’s after giving away 20% of it before tax. Brendan had no time for the flaky, new age reasoning behind the maintenance of poverty: “In my life, I have only meet a few people who genuinely do not care about how much money they have. The rest are just kidding themselves.” H

W05.03 My Teams of One

Marjorie Barstow died on Monday 31st July, 1995. The night she died I had an extraordinary dream. I was in alone in a house, or so I thought… Suddenly this woman appeared at the end of the hall: “I can see you” she said, and her eyes bore deep into my essence. I realized in that second that I was totally naked, that I could never hide from her, no matter what I did. The power of her penetration terrified me, and I let out a startled cry and sat bolt upright in my bed – all in one flash movement. And there I was, wide awake in the middle of the night, sitting up in my bed - my heart beating fast - wondering what the heck had just happened. Two days later, I found out that Marj had died that night. My mentor was gone – but was she? I think the best mentors live on as voices inside, offering echoes of advice once heard when present to their many words and experiences with you. Marj was one of a long line of mentors that led me to where I am today… After Marj’

W05.02 How Do I Do What I Want To Do When I Don’t Feel Like Doing It?

Paul Cook, Editor and Publisher of DIRECTION Journal, wrote to me on the weekend thanking me for the blog, and then asked… “I wonder what's in it for you... all this generous outpouring for AT teachers? Is there a paying model at some stage?” It’s a great question, and I am sure the savvy business types among you are wondering the same thing. Well first relax – it will keep coming. I will finish this free online course and continue to blog. The “because” behind my effort fits in nicely with the topic of this week: mentors, team and support, so I decided to share my reasons for doing this blog… You are my team of one. You are the people who keep me awake. I am leveraging a relationship with you to support me doing something I might otherwise avoid doing. This is what I call creating a structure of fulfillment - or changing your system - to get what you want. It is vital to your success. Let me explain. This April I will launch in Tokyo an entire new module of Body

W05.01 Alexander's Breakthrough Needed A Mirror - What Will You Use To Get the Same Result?

He was desperate – his whole life was at stake. He had done the rounds, tried their suggestions, and finally ended up here: alone, half-dressed, wondering where it had all gone wrong… He was a long way from home, and there was no going back to the island. Anyway, he didn’t want to go back, not there, not to him. Later, he would deny it. Bloch would find out, tell everyone – but he would be dead by then. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had to find out why – otherwise, there was no hope, no possibility. Unless. Finally it hit him: he had to employ an agent. There was no choice anymore – he had to go down that path, whatever the consequences. But who? Where? How? *** Our film noir hero is Alexander of course: circa 1870s, trying to get his life back on track after a devastating loss of voice that spelt the end of his career, drowning dreams harboured since a little boy. Many Alexander Technique teachers feel a similar desperation – loving

W04.07 Guest Post From Jennifer Mackerras in Reply to My Case Study...

On Sundays, as I continue my free online course for Alexander Technique teachers on my 12 Point plan to build a financially successful practise , I am offering each teacher who submitted their situation for a case study a chance to reply to my comments. Last week I wrote a case study of Jennifer Mackerras’ situation . This is her reply… *** Jennifer Mackerras He had me hooked right at the beginning: "Jennifer is doing a great job - she doesn’t need my feedback. All the pieces are there, and she’s got them working together nicely, so why is she asking me for advice?" I asked Jeremy for advice because I don't feel like a success. Pure and simple. Yes, I work more than some teachers. But I don't teach as much as I would like, and as much as some other teachers I know. I want to be more successful. And yes, if I'm honest, I want to take myself to a level beyond that, to a national/international level. Everyone has to h