Below is part one of my interview in Los Angeles with my friend the musician Lorne Cousin. Lorne has an amazing band out here in L.A. called “Dram”. The band fuses traditional Scottish pipe music with a techno dance beat.

What I love about Lorne’s story is how his life changed in an instant when two different paths crossed and he made a decision to follow his passion for music. A  “chance” encounter with Madonna changed the direction of his life – and I am reminded that  luck is when preparation crosses the path of opportunity. Luck is always around us just waiting for a chance to appear.

As a coach I  help people to plan their journey to the top, often that works and sometimes it appears to happens as if by magic. But, it is not magic, or the myth of the overnight success. You do what you love, practice your art , and be open to creating the future you desire.

Remember Luck = Preparation + Opportunity

As Gary Player said “The harder I work the luckier I get”

Coaching Points

• Follow your Passion
• Be open to Opportunities
• Be great at what you do

P.S. I will be taking on 4 new coaching clients early in 2010 for an intensive 1 year coaching programme. Contact me directly at Donald@zonedinperformance.com if you are interested. A place on the programme is not guaranteed and I will be working with people totally committed to creating the “WOW LIFE” they desire and acting fearlessly to make their vision a reality.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” – Marianne Williamson

Self-Confidence! It’s one of those things that even the best of us struggle with at times. We can often get down on ourselves and literally tear strips off ourselves.
But that’s never the way to go!
During times like this, we often feel as we did back when we were growing up. As teenagers in particular, we were more concerned about fitting in with the crowd, rather than going out and really doing what we want.
But now that we’re mature adults…(well sometimes )
…it’s time to have  confidence to do what we want in life!
Now whether you’re sixteen or sixty, this can be hard. We often fall into two traps:
1. That of not believing in ourselves; and
2. That of worrying about what other people think.
So! How do you get around these two traps and avoid getting stuck altogether?
Easy! We need to tackle each one and look each of those two traps fair and square in the eye.
You ARE brilliant!

Each human being has their own brilliance – the ability to go and create the life they want. The ability to CREATE all of those really great things they want out of life.
Life is favourable to us and ready to help us once we decide what we want, focus on the outcome as though it has already happened – and go for it!
We are brilliant because we have the ability to create our own reality and our outcomes.
Remember the quote I shared the other day with you by W. Clement Stone: “Whatever the mind…can conceive it can achieve.”
So replace those words of, “I can’t do it! It’s too hard!” to, “I can do this, I will get there”
And as for what other people think of you…
…WHO CARES! All that matters is what YOU think of YOU!
It’s YOUR thinking – YOUR thoughts – that create your reality. What other people think about you has no power whatsoever.
So do not feel limited by what other people say and think.
Remember that you are BRILLIANT – and believe it at all times!
Just recently I read a superb quote by Dr. Daniel Amen, as published in Jack Canfield’s book, “The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.”
The quote is actually called the 18/40/60 Rule and it goes like this:
“When you’re 18, you worry about what everybody is thinking of you; when you’re 40, you don’t give a darn what anybody thinks of you; when you’re 60, you realize nobody’s been thinking about you at all.”
So there you go!
One of life’s greatest mysteries unraveled right before your eyes, right here!
Your thoughts and your thoughts alone are the ONLY ones that have power of you. So remember your brilliance. Believe it at all times…and go for whatever you want in life with REAL confidence!

Action Project:

1. Remind yourself of at least 3 times you allowed yourself to shine and write these times down
2. From how you feel when you “shine” write down 3 goals, dreams or projects you would love to achieve
3. Choose to start and make one inspired action today to start your journey

Further Reading:

• “Instant Confidence”  Paul McKenna
• “You Can Have What You Want” Michael Neill

When you feel GREAT about your goal, you go a long way to materializing it!
There’s a great quote that was in that famous film and book, “The Secret” that was spoken by W. Clement Stone when he was alive. He said – and it is quoted in “The Secret” that,
“Whatever the mind…can conceive it can achieve.”
Now what an amazing, amazing quote that is!
If we can actually see an outcome – no matter how great or out of this world it is – in our minds, then we can actually achieve that in REAL LIFE!
That’s because we are emitting if you like – energy – that attract to us the circumstances and the people that help us bring that wonderful visualization to life but more importantly we notice opportunities to provide great service to others !
The more amazing and passionate we feel, the stronger that magnetic energy…
Now that’s got to give you something to get really, really excited about!
Feeling great about a goal isn’t just nice warm and fuzzy feelings. It’s actually a very powerful and real force that brings everything we need into our lives, to turn our goals into realities!
So pay close attention to all those wonderful goals you have…and feel great about them, and most importantly take action on them now! Because when you do that, an amazing journey unfolds!

Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it. People come to be builders, for instance, by building, and harp players by playing the harp. In the same way, by doing just acts we come to be just. By doing self controlled acts, we come to be self-controlled, and by doing brave acts we become brave.” Aristotle

How can you be brave today ?

Sometimes modern life with its pace, demands and the expectations we place on ourselves can lead you to seek in the future something that is available in the present. And I dont know which “state” you would like more of now, love, happiness, freedom but what I do know is that they are all there within you as you read this blog.

Coaching question: What do I love to do that brings me alive ?

Further Reading: “Suffering is Optional” Cheri Huber