Thought of the Month

Please note: These are Rob Brown ’s original work; they are designed to be shared but please acknowledge the source. If you would like to have Rob ’s Thought of the Month emailed to you each month, please join our mailing list. This is never shared with any other organization.

August 2008

• The stars are always brighter when it's dark.

Previous Thoughts of the Month

• Believe that your world is abundant and you spend your time doing well: Believe that your world is scarce and you spend your time fighting with ''the competition''. Which is best for you?

• Everyone needs a month off!

• If you think you are boring - you are bored (Thanks to Gareth Hagger-Johnson)

• When life gets tough, be tough with yourself.

• Even when it seems like there is none; there is always scope.

• It doesn't have to be New Year to make a resolution.

• Everyone you meet can teach you something. Sometimes about what to do and sometimes about NOT to. Everyone you meet can also bring joy to your life. Some when they enter and some when they leave.

• No amount of self-help books can help you more than you can help yourself.

• For people to come towards you, you have to leave them some room.

• Everything depends on your reference point (Thanks to Harry).

• Charting the most reliable course, firstly requires an accurate picture of where you are now.

• The best time to plant a tree is forty years ago.  The next best time is now.

• Believe in yourself (Thanks to all on my Boy's Own 100th course).

• Within the mundane is the profound. Watch and wait.

• If you rely totally on anything or anyone for your self-esteem, its wise to make a back-up plan now.

• You are not judged solely on what you do but how you do it (Thanks to Jonathan Perks)

• To fully embrace something new, you must give something else up

• Stakeholder management is one of the keys to real success (Thanks to Matt Elliott and James Williams)

• If you believe you can fly, it may or may not happen. What is certain though, is that you will make the most of every breeze (Thanks to Pat Carr, my trusted friend, valued colleague and complete ally)

• When things get tough with people, instead of talking about them, try talking to them

• Always trust your instincts but don't forget your experience

• A forensic analysis of the past is no substitute for putting one foot forward

• Enduring friendships are a real tonic - Pursue them (Thanks to my real true friends)

• Be proud of what you do, but never take your eye of the ball

• Make hay whilst the sun shines and hope for more sun tomorrow

• Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad

• Failure is essential feedback on the way to success

• Invest some time in hope (Thanks to my buddies in Mansfield)

• To change the future, you have to change the present.

• The only thing we can rely on is uncertainty (Thanks to David W)

• Everything contains opportunity

• The tide comes in anyway; you can choose to bathe in it or drown in it

• When you cant find what you are looking for, don't despair, try looking under your nose (Thanks to Andy G)

• When your world spins forward, sing, when it stops, reflect and when it spins backwards, use your foot as a break

• The key to any aspect of life is the same as the key to good gardening: successful planting, careful nurturing and rigorous pruning

• Even if you do nothing else in this life, treat everyone as though they matter (Thanks to Oli)

• If your investment has become worthless – invest somewhere else

• A choice is only a choice if you can see it

• Life's too short for second best

• Denial does not change reality, it simply lengthens the journey

• Forget material things - the best gift we can ever give or receive is love

• Inspiration is contagious - spread it around (Thanks to Barry)

• A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small parcel

• Self-esteem is like a swing, its great to be pushed by someone else, but we have to learn to swing our own legs as well

• To lose something precious and valuable once is a mistake, but to do it twice is careless

• A good enough today is better than a perfect tomorrow

• When you wander along a pebble beach, there are millions of pebbles. Sometimes you find one that grabs your attention. Its roughly the same shape as all the others, a similar size and colour to all the others but somehow it seems so special, you take it home and keep it. People can be like that too, when you find that special person, tell them so and treasure them (Thanks to Jody )

• None of us are ordinary - look closer

• Nothing is ever out of your league; sometimes you just have to play a few more seasons (Thanks to Danny)

• The real difference between genius and madness is how popular you are

• Life is about your values not your possessions

• Sometimes words get in the way; more often something gets in the way of the words

• Success starts with belief

• Trust yourself, do it - take a risk

• Without rainy days, flowers cannot grow - but they need sun as well!

• A single act of human kindness can make a bigger difference to someone’s life, than the acts of all the worlds’ great leaders

• Love is like the sun on a cloudy day, you don’t know when it will come or how long it will last, but when you feel it, it’s warm and wonderful

• It's often easier to appreciate the real value of something as you are about to lose it

• Things are often a lot simpler than we allow them to be

• If you’ve reached the end of your tether, take a step back and give yourself some slack

• The most incredible things can often be found in the most unlikely places

• You can always drop your anchor, even in a storm

• Dress for the job you want, not the job you've got (Thanks to Andy G)

• True love does not demand or take; rather it invites, asks, offers and gives

• The whole world is a state of mind, reality only really exists in-between our ears

• Honesty is the best policy, but tact is a good folder to put it in

• It’s not the destination that's important, it's the journey

• Self-esteem is one of the most precious commodities you can own. Don't let anyone take even one drop away from you

• A silver medal is still a medal (Thanks to Eric)

• The ball is always in your court

• Being believed in is powerful; self-belief is awesome

• Love is like a butterfly: The harder you chase it the more it eludes you and yet, if you sit still it will come and find you. If you sit very still and wait, it may even settle on you. (Thanks to Martin G)

• Do it, just do it

• You are an expert in your own life

• The biggest revolutions are those that happen in-between our ears

• Everything matters - every single thing matters

• People can only treat you as badly as you let them

• Mind the gap! (Thanks to PJ)

• Even the darkest clouds blow over eventually

• Landing on your feet requires practice at jumping

• It's not the choice that matters, it's the choosing

• If we spent as much time feeling positive about getting older, as we do trying to stay young, how different our lives would be

• If all the world’s a stage and life is just a play upon it - get me two seats in the stalls!

• If you're going to have it - have it all