Progression or regression: The choice is yours and the time is now

I flew to Sydney on the weekend just passed; Well, the pilots flew and I sat in relative comfort sipping a coffee and eating my breakfast baguette served by one of the most happy airline cabin crew I have ever met; She had beautiful smiling eyes...Anyway...It was a nice flight listening to tunes on my earphones and thinking about, well, relatively very little considering everything that's going on at the moment.

The trip wasn't for pleasure, although I like visiting Sydney for that reason too; It was for work. Don't tell my sister though. I never mentioned it to her as I knew there would be no time to see her anyway. So, it was work, but not work on behalf of my employer; It was more about me and my own future, independent from my current work situation. I also took the opportunity to visit my business/life coach for a one and a half day coaching session and general chin-wag.

Friday was spent in meetings with three different groups of people who are currently operating in a space I am interested in, hence my investigations. I contacted them a few weeks ago and they were gracious enough to meet with me to discuss their operations, business start-ups, how they transitioned from corporate (where I am now) to 100% consulting and of course the challenges they faced along the way. It was a very valuable opportunity to gather intel with a view to either plan for, or plan around [read: avoid] the issues they faced themselves. All of the groups opened up as best they could, or to their degree of comfort-level, and I felt they were reasonably genuine with most of the discussions we had. Naturally I felt that they held back somewhat in certain areas however I expected that; I'd do the same.

It was a very productive day on the Friday and I returned to my accomodation to make copious pages of notes on what I had learned, ideas of my own, identifying possible threats and challenges that I may face and of course strategies to move forward. I was so absorbed in it I missed dinner. Well, to be honest I avoided it I guess. I'm not a fan of sitting in a hotel restaurant by myself eating a meal like Nigel-no-friends and so I got room service at around 9pm and suffered the inevitable consequences of a big burger and chips that late at night...

Saturday and Sunday until mid-afternoon was spent with my business coach. (The Saturday with a group and the Sunday mainly one-on-one). I don't go often these days. Back a few years I'd go 4 times a year (in Sydney) which ended up being quite a costly exercise at around $15,000 a year taking into consideration flights, accomodation and sundry expenses. Tax deductible sure, but still money out of my pocket [Read: Credit card] each time.

I won't go into what the sessions involved as it's deeply personal however the results are near-to miraculous. I was told when I initially found my coach that implementing the concepts into my life and business it would 2X my income (double it) in the first 12 months. I was skeptical but since first entering my industry I had spent 20% of my annual income on personal-development and so decided to push on. Thirteen months after my initial coaching sessions I realised it was the best decision I had ever made from a business perspective and my life had transformed, not just from the financial aspect, but personally also. I felt truly equipped to move into my 40's (this was was back when I was 39 years old, 2009) with more confidence. I was ready and equipped to be the best version of myself that I could be and realised that up to that point I had not been. Not consistently anyway.

I always come back from these sessions a little fried in the brain. My partner used to ask how it went, what happened and what was it all about however after the first couple of sessions she stopped because I could never articulate it in a satisfactory way...She didn't get it. My coach told me that would happen. It did. So, I stopped saying anything and she stopped asking. This occasion is no different. It'll all start to soak in over this week I guess, as always, and then I'll get out and deploy it.

I've written a little here on Steemit about ownership, responsibility, attitude and the design and create your ideal life ethos which I live my life by and have had private conversations with some users about it also. I cannot overstate its importance, at least in my own life, and how valuable it has been to me in getting the best out of my life, moving forward without regret and in the right manner. Influences and, indeed, INFLUENCERS, are so incredibly critical to progression, either forwards or backwards. Is backwards progression? Hmm, maybe regression is a better word. One can be influenced positively or negatively; The choice is always in the hands of...Well, you.

I suggest finding some positive-influencers and influences...I know it works as I am testament to the power of it. Seek concepts that value-add your life, personally and professionally and eliminate negativity. That's your enemy and it needs to be crushed without mercy. That's my suggestion. Or...Not. The choice, and subsequent results will be your's to own.

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