Change your Mind - The Horrors

'Mindset' is a concept that's been around since the early 1900's, according to Wiki. It's a word that's become part of my daily vocabulary when speaking with clients and I thought I'd investigate the philosophy behind the terms 'Fixed' and 'Growth' Mindsets, as I try and evaluate my own 'Mindset' traits.

However, I'm a bit confused to which 'Mindset' set I belong to. You see, I believe I'm in the intersecting part of a 'Venn Diagram of ‘Fixed’ and Growth Mindset' where the two circles intersect, if that makes sense.

To help clarify things, I looked to the expert in the 'Mindset' field - Professor Carol Dweck. Her primary research is in motivation, personality and development and speaks volumes - if I had the right 'Growth' Mindset, I could read all about it in her 2006 book 'Mindset: The New Psychology of Success' but as a ‘Fixed’ Mindset non-reader, I was a bit at a loss but luckily Wiki helped again...

Dweck states that there are two categories (Growth Mindset versus Fixed Mindset) that can group individuals based on their behaviour, specifically their reaction to failure. Those with a 'Fixed Mindset' believe that abilities are mostly innate and interpret failure as the lack of necessary basic abilities, while those with a ‘Growth Mindset’ believe that they can acquire any given ability provided they invest effort or study. Dweck argues that the ‘Growth Mindset’ will allow a person to live a less stressful and more successful life'.

Now, as soon as I see 'Failure', I immediately identify with the ‘Fixed Mindset” character trait as the 'F' word (Failure not ****) is like Kryptonite to my inner soul. Yet my ‘Mindset’ isn’t so myopic that I don’t believe that investing effort and study won’t bring results – well apart from swimming or triathlon as my mindset has been ‘Fixed’ by having the same buoyancy qualities as a house-brick. But then again, I’m pretty much stress-free and have had enjoyed many successes over the years which swings me back into the ‘Growth Mindset’ group.

So you can see why I’m confused. Or perhaps it’s how we like to label people nowadays and maybe I’m just someone that you can’t label. Or group, or even want to group. And maybe you are the same? No-one needs to be anything really – you just need to know who you are, where you are going and what’s needed to get you there.

And that’s all that matters…

1,044 Marathons, 244 Ultras, 9 Guinness World Records & 15 Marathon des Sables

More than this - Roxy music

Lyrics:- 'There was no way of knowing' - Ferry

Song Choice:- I loved Roxy's 1982 album 'Avalon' when it came out and 'More than this' has always been one of the highlight tracks on it in my opinion.

It more than highlights my thoughts on an action packed weekend both in the running world and also in the world of professional sport. You see, I love watching the British Grand Prix and the Wimbledon Finals as this is where dreams are made and careers are made or destroyed by a either a split second or the thickness of a white line. Sure, the rewards are massive but the honour is always greater. Federer and Hamilton  are most worthy winners eh?

It pushes me on to try and deliver in my own world, look at my own shortcomings and drives me on to make my own successes more satisfying.

Ask any runner what their favourite race is and they'll probably tell you it's one they've won or one where it's been a personal best - One where they've given everything and  run their absolute fastest. For instance I wouldn't trade my 3:24:21 marathon PB for anything as it was a real landmark day all those years ago in back in 1996.

The thing is, twenty years on, I therefore have to consider where I can still achieve things and feel the same feelings of achieving 'personal bests' that I did back then.

Well that comes down to how hard you push yourself. How high you set your bar. How much you are prepared to go 'More than this' or more than what you are giving things right now.

You might think that what you are doing is more than enough. The interesting thing is, if you were to find another gear and get your head down, you'd find out that you'll surpass all of your wildest dreams and expectations and be great than you'd ever think you could be.

Looking at folks results over the weekend whom I coach, they are discovering just that.

And if you are struggling, give it a they as you'll only know if you do...

Amen.

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,592 Days' Alcohol Free - 438 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir

Location: Caerdydd, Cymru

Undo - Grey's Anatomy

'There's no 'Undo' button. There's only hoping we can learn, we can change. Right? We can do better'. - Meredith Grey

Today's Choice:- I find some great 'Soundbites for Life' in the strangest of places sometimes. Grey's Anatomy has been a firm favourite boxed set in the Coleman Household for 13 seasons now. Over the years, it's creator, Shonda Rhimes has conveyed a complete spectrum of medical and ethical scenarios and has deliberately heavily featured characters regardless of race or sex that can convey the messages and life-lessons  her audience can easily engage with. If you've never seen the show, it's well worth a look and most heartwarming at times.

At the start of each episode, there's a narration usually by lead character, Meredith Grey. The 'Undo' comment above is in one such narration that really caught my attention when I saw the show..

You see, if like me you design your own newsletters and website content, have you ever considered during that creative process just how many times you hit the 'Control + Z' keys? Without the 'Undo' facility it would be virtually impossible and the occasional 'Control + S' keeps what we've designed safe as there's nothing worse than things crashing unexpectedly.

Without those commands, the whole process would be a nightmare, just like it is in real life where the 'Control + Z' simply doesn't exist.

I mean,what things would you 'Undo' if you had the chance. Not the big ones, the massive life bloopers we all have rattling away in our cupboards or the accidents that by no fault of our own gave us the fright of our lives at one stage or another. Yikes, I can remember a couple of bicycle fails that really smashed me up at the time which I would have instantly 'Undone' - Then again forty years on, you'll never see me on a bike so I must have learned something from hitting the front of that Austin Maxi!

Therefore, perhaps have to 'Learn' rather then 'Undo' and Meredith finishes this episode by saying 'What's done is done. But the future is ours to choose.' 

So choose wisely folks...

Amen.

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,590 Days' Alcohol Free - 436 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir

Location: Caerdydd, Cymru

Always in my Head - Coldplay

Lyrics:- My body moves, goes where I will – Berryman, Buckland, Champion & Martin

Song Choice:- On a day that I’ll see Coldplay at the Principality Stadium in Caerdydd, it seems only right to choose one of my favourite Martin penned tracks. Hopefully I’ve picked one that reflects how I feel today as I sit on the train, London bound on the 0512hrs ‘Red-Eye’, ready to engage in being ‘Awesome’ rather than ‘Average’ at Threshold Sport’s first ‘Net-Walking’ event.

‘Always in my Head’ is yet another example of Chris Martin’s enduring magical songwriting genius which has produced hit after hit and success after success for nearly twenty years. As a modern-day ‘Rock Band’, their continued success is unparalleled.

So why is that? And why do I think it’s relevant to me and today’s blog?

Well, I was asked to ‘Distill’ my ‘Mindset’ as part of a ‘Personal Development Programme’ that I’m on right now. Getting this down on paper in one sentence or soundbite, is proving virtually impossible as it’s a totally natural process that’s hard-wired into my DNA – but I’m going to give it a real go. It’s going to take me a few days to compose and I’m going to need Lady C’s help to get it just right for sure.

And that’s where Coldplay come in. I mean I’m not Chris Martin but in their analogy what makes Coldplay, Coldplay? – Hmm, well that’s simple, it’s a blend of Chris Martin’s ability, musicality and personality supported by the rest of the band and a producer and engineer that can take that ability and give it the 100% Elite Star-Quality we have become used to.

At the heart of things, Chris Martin’s ‘Unique’. And I can’t quite put my finger on quite what it is as he’s not an outstanding vocalist or performer but somehow there’s a ‘Magic’ and ‘Stage Presence’ that’s infectious. Maybe it’s his enthusiasm that’s the key to their success and I wonder what his ‘Mindset’ might be as they start developing ideas for their next album.

Has he ‘Distilled’ his ‘Mind-set’?’ or is it just hard-wired into his DNA too?

Maybe it’s something you’ve either got or you haven’t. I mean what is the ‘Magic Sauce’ that makes things happen? Means that you never give up, that people find intimidating, that drives you on at all costs, that if you could bottle it would be worth millions…

Well that’s my mission to find out, articulate and deliver. Something I’ll be considering of course when I’m watching Coldplay tonight as the core-elements of my ‘Mindset’ are ‘Always in my Head’.

Amen

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,587 Days' Alcohol Free - 435 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir

Location: Caerdydd, Cymru

Ship to Wreck - Florence and the Machine

Lyrics:- 'Did I drink too much, am I losing touch?' - Welch & Hull

Song Choice:- Now I'm not the biggest 'Florence and the Machine' fan BUT this is an awesome opening track from her 2015 album, 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'. There's a great 'Live' performance that goes with it too if you are interested - how she didn't get electrocuted I'll never know.

It's a great tune though and you see, it's easy one for me to connect to on listening to the songs lyrics, as I see other folks daily actions and reactions arising from the 'Kryptonite' that daily drinking and weekend binging brings to their lives.

Now I'm not one to stand and preach about the pros and cons of alcohol - it's just that I personally didn't know where the 'Off-Switch' was where drinking was concerned and felt  I'd be better off without it in my life or I'd be simply DEAD if it was. What other people do with their lives? Well that's their business and it's their choice of course.

However, I get a really interesting reaction when I ask my clients as part of their journey's with me, if they could abstain from drinking booze for just 12 weeks to see if they are better without it.

Nearly always they say 'Yes'... Some with a qualifying 'I've wanted to quit/cut down for ages', or 'this will be good for me' and 'if it's part of the plan, of course'. It would appear that 'Wrecking your Ship' when you have someone to report to, is a whole lot harder to do as ' Failure with me isn't an option'.

So why's it an option when you are out there battling the world on your own?' - I've always wondered at that one...

Anyway, if you are thinking about going AF for a day, a week, a while, a weekend, 12-weeks or for LIFE. I'm always here to help and totally get how hard it is etc. BUT I totally get how bloody brilliant it is not to have been  'Wrecking my Ship' in over 23 years.

Amen

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,582 Days' Alcohol Free - 430 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Crystal - New Order

Lyrics:- 'We're like Crystal' - Gilbert, Hook, Morris & Sumner

Song Choice:- Wow, I've been blogging for over 13 years now - and on this site, with over 1,000 posts covering my thoughts, feelings and exploits for the last five years. 

For those of you new to my world, the idea of the music accompaniments came about from a) that I simply love music and it's been a real theme 'For Life' since I was a teenager and b) a track that I'd listened on that particular day that was relevant to what had occurred in 'Coleman-World'. Back in 2004 when in I started blogging, on the way from London to Lisbon, Tears for Fears was a real favourite and looking back over the months it's interesting for me to see how my tastes and phases have changed.

I'm not sure if I've ever chosen 'Crystal' by New Order before - I know I've chosen other tracks of theirs but this is probably their best offering post 'Blue Monday'. The Album version is a cool 6.51 minutes and here it is from 'Glastonbury' in 2005 with a very low slung Peter Hook Bass which is simply 'Awesome'...

Anyway, the idea is that you might blow the dust off the track yourself, take a re-listen and enjoy some of the same feelings I get from listening to this kinda music when I'm out and about.

You see, after a long day out with our new #Average2Average Group at Stepnell in Rugby, I was pounding the streets and Lady C was hammering the exercise bike making sure we practice what we preach at 10.30pm. Cardiff at that time of night, especially in Canton where we live, is really quiet and there are only a few people out getting some late night supplies from the nearby Tesco Mini-Market, (some in a relative state of unsteadiness and some a looking a bit angry). I must say, it did make me feel a little intimidated, as you never know who's who out there and Lady C was better off on the exercise bike at home. 

And that's where 'Crystal' hit my ears drums and made me realise how like Crystal we are and no matter how 'Strong' we can appear and just how 'Fragile' we all really are. I did then wonder what I was frightened of as I could have easily out-run anyone I met so that felt good especially as at this time last year I was waiting to go back into hospital in a state of 'unsteadiness' myself!

So be strong today in whatever you are undertaking and be safe about it too. Enjoy 'Crystal' as it's a great track to build your day on and in my case 'My Blog'.

Amen.

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,582 Days' Alcohol Free - 430 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Don't give hate a chance - Jamiroquai

Lyrics:- 'And who's right and who's wrong' - Jay Kay

Song Choice:- I always loved Jamiroquai and I really love this track. Level 42's Mark King would be proud of the bass line and there's a definite groove within the track that I love to listen to when I'm 'Running' - even when I'm 'hating' it.

Well when I say 'Hate', it's not really 'Hate' is that's a very strong word and it wasn't the 'Running' I was 'Hating' last night, it was my legs inability to move at anything above a snail's pace. Yep, the Guillain-Barré Syndrome is still affecting me and it's monochromatic 'Rubbish/Great' - Runs on consecutive days scenario lives on and does drive me a little potty if I'm being honest.

Maybe, if I wasn't me and I was someone who was less extreme and more 'toned-down', I'd have given up by now. But then that isn't me and even on a Sunday that Frank Spencer would have been proud of, the GBS Kryptonite suddenly disappeared and I enjoyed a couple of speedy miles in the bright sunshine this afternoon.

You see, it would have been only too easy not to have even tried to run at all today with all that negativity surrounding my thoughts. It did however prove to be the perfect 'Antedote' to the corrosion that disappointment can often bring and I for one have no room left for that in my world.

So, my 'REAL' message is don't give 'ANYTHING' a chance to steer you away from your goal or from what you believe or who YOU are.

There are far too many 'Average' people out there to blend into if you want, but it's far better to keep trying to be 'Awesome' at everything you do - as you will if you want it enough.

Amen

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,579 Days' Alcohol Free - 427 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Short and Sweet - David Gilmour

Lyrics:- 'Building a Vision New' - Gilmour & Harper

Song Choice:- This is one of my favourite 'Gilmour' tracks and I bought it on release back in 1978. I had the 'Promotional Poster' on my wall from WHSmith's Record Shop in Stratford-upon-Avon for years as a sign of being a 'True Fan' and nearly 40 years on, I still am.

I love the 'Short and Sweetness' of the song and what it stands for.

You see, today has been one of those 'Short and Sweet' days as we started our #Average2Awesome Programme with Stepnell Ltd - a Building and Construction company, in Rugby. The 'Short and Sweet' bit comes to mind from the time we get to spend with each of the individuals where following our introductory workshop, the candidates give us their 'Elevator Pitches' into why they should be included in the Programme.

It's amazing what we learn and what's shared in such a 'Short and often Sweet' conversation  with relative strangers. Cutting to the Chase is SO refreshing and I always come away feeling very privileged to be invited into someone else's world.

I just know they are going to be a great group to work with and I'll keep you posted on their progress.

The Lyric - 'Building a Vision New' seemed most apt today as that's what A2A is all about I believe...

Amen

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,575 Days' Alcohol Free - 424 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Burning Rope - Genesis

Lyrics:- 'You must blaze a trail of your own' - Banks

Song Choice:- Yikes, it's 39 years since I saw the mighty Genesis 'Bandwagon' at Knebworth on Midsummer's Day, way back in 1978. Huge, on-stage, mirrors reflected a row of Boeing 747 landing lights into the night and took my appreciation of the band way past 'Eleven'. From their 'And then there were three' album, the lyrics of 'Burning Rope' have always projected a vivid image of an escapologist dangling by a thread as the flames eat away at his 'lifeline'.

I'm therefore not too sure how much of a 'Dare-Devil' I really am, as it's something I would never, ever consider undertaking and yet I'm encountering more and more people who live life with the same level of 'Risk Factor' as Houdini.

Sure there's 'Risk' associated with everything we do, and being an avid 'Googler' I tried to check out how many people had died dangling from a 'Burning Rope' in the UK last year... 

Ok, it's a bit macabre but I was actually side-tracked and astonished when I saw the '% Cause of Death as men's ages increases. The stats are shocking and a real eye-opener...

It would appear that if we are lucky enough to get to your teens and early 20's then we are more likely to kill ourselves in accidents or by our own hand and failing that, in middle age all of our poor past behaviour will come back and haunt us with major cardiac problems and finish us off in our 50's-70's. Pass 80, and then you'll most likely have Alzheimer’s and won't give a shit about much anyway, which made me think even harder about making sure I get the most out of the life whilst I still have my health and my marbles.

You see, it's just as easy to be 'Awesome' than 'Average' at anything. It doesn't necessarily have to take any more time than it does already, you just have to do it better - and increase your desire for Awesomeness.

I'm lucky, I meet lots of 'Awesome People' and my task now I feel is to keep them being 'Awesome' rather than let the flames burn through their 'Rope of Averageness'...it's going to be one hell of a journey - for them AND me...

So please start the process off and have a Great Monday and give it all you've got eh? No one cares who came second you know...

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,572 Days' Alcohol Free - 421 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Gold Rush - Danny Byrd (feat. Brookes Brothers)

Lyrics:- 'I knew where I was going has forced my directions' - Byrd

Song Choice:- I spent yesterday coaching my latest #Average2Awesome Group at Stepnell UK, a building and civil engineering business headquartered in Rugby. And, as the weeks unfold I'll write more about my work with them and the journey of discovery the 12 candidates will be undertaking with me. 

It’s always good for the ego of course to speak to a fresh group of people about my life adventures and achievements – for me though that’s just my history which I’ve lived a thousand times over and yes, I’m proud of my work but the fascinating part of my first A2A talk is always where I turn the focus back on the audience and start to understand the personalities in the room, their needs, the way they interact with each other and their direction.

'I just spoke my mind' - Byrd

You see, I knew where I was going on my journey when I set off headlong on 5^th January 1994 – it’s been well document and luckily, I’ve never looked back but the journey for my #A2A Stepnell People has yet to unfold. For me it feels like I’ve just been given a favourite ’Boxed Set’ to watch, with a plot that will twist and turn and a hero that will of course save the day in the final episode. It's really exciting and as in all of our previous A2A's I'm looking forward to getting to know the strangers I met this morning.

I came away feeling very buoyant and ran my old ‘Cross Country’ course in Stratford-upon-Avon on the way home in the searing heat of the day and ran only a couple of minutes slower than I did back in 1994 when I first started running when I was 31 so that made me feel quite ‘Awesome’ rather than ‘Average’. That's when I listened to the above track. It's really worth a listen if you are out there pushing yourself.

It’s really ‘forced my direction’ and my advice today is - If you are currently being diverted from the path by folk, you know the ‘Failure Enablers’ and the ‘Energy Vampires’ we all interact with on a daily basis, don’t even listen – don’t waste your time telling them to ‘b***** off’, just get your head down, keep the faith and be the ‘Awesome’ person you want to be TODAY and FIND a direction to follow as the direction isn’t going to FIND you. I can tell you that one for sure...

Amen.

Rory Coleman - 994 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,568 Days' Alcohol Free - 417 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales