KEEP GOING

I am now nearly 5 weeks into my advanced training programme for the London Marathon which takes place in April next year. This is my second marathon; I am so excited to take part and also to raise money for my chosen charity Alzheimer Scotland.

I am training 6 days a week and it is a tough challenge. This morning I went out for my usual run but today I took a different route – I wanted to tackle a couple of hills to build up my strength and endurance. Needless to say I struggled running up the first hill and I really feared running up the final hill before heading home. I was psyching myself up as I approached the bottom of the long hill and to be honest I was really dreading it, my legs felt heavy and tired. Just at that moment a voice from behind me shouted “KEEP GOING” – I looked to my right and there was this cheery smiling cyclist, passing me by, giving me some much needed words of encouragement. I smiled back at him as if to say THANK YOU, that was all I needed – those two simple words catapulted me into another gear and I was doing a Sylvester Stallone in the film Rocky, running up the stairs to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art – now famously known as the “Rocky Steps”. My local hill to which I refer, well, I have now renamed it “Clarabelle’s Hill” it sits on the Bellshill Road heading into my home town of Motherwell – and it is to me, one tough cookie. But this cookie ain’t crumbling, “Keep going, keep going, keep going”, I repeated the cyclist’s words in my head and I embraced his words encouragement with open arms until I reached the top.

I just wanted to share that moment of today with every one, because we all can offer real words of encouragement to others around us – when I ran the New York Marathon in November 2007 I was completely uplifted by the thousands of cheering crowds as I chased my dream of completing the 26.2 miles through the wonderful city.
Think about who you can offer your words of encouragement to today – it just may give that person the kick start they need to make a positive change in their life. Who would benefit from your “keep going” chants? – I believe they will be very grateful, just like I was today. Thank you Mr Cyclist unfortunately I couldn’t keep up with you to offer you my personal thank you.

TREASURE CHEST HUNT

Passion

I have had my own rollercoaster of a year but to be honest I didn’t expect it to be any different. I have faced many personal and professional challenges on my new business journey but the most amazing thing is that what comes with the lows is some major and I mean MAJOR highs filled with magic, inspiration and an explosiveness of heartfelt and courageous spirit. That, my precious friends, is what I call a true treasure chest of passion.

We all have that treasure chest of passion that makes us feel alive, in the moment and embracing every opportunity that comes our way. Sometimes it takes a while to find your own treasure chest but I believe it is there calling upon you day by day - you just need to silence yourself from within and quietly listen. Visualise your very own treasure chest right now, bursting at the seams waiting to be discovered. Take a look inside it, What burning desires fuel your motivation?, What is your inner passion saying to you? Go on, I dare you, move a little closer, take a deeper look inside, breathe in its energy and allow it to flow through your body urging you to take that first brave step towards positive change. You’re smiling now because I know you see it, feel it and want to be it.

New Year

Well you can you know, make a pledge for 2010 to search for that treasure chest and don’t stop until you find it. But that is not where the story ends, that dear people is just the beginning of A WONDERFUL LIFE.

Go get it!!

Engaging Your Audience

How do you communicate internally and externally with your stakeholders?
Well, one effective way is to have a regular Company Newsletter or eMagazine that will:

Capture the minds of your readers,
Engage their interest,
Get them involved and;
Let them know what is happening now and your future business plans.

Give your stakeholders something to be a part of and feel proud of. Get them talking excitedly about your business success.

Below are my top tips to creating a great Company Newsletter/eMagazine content:

Identify your target audience.

Clarify the purpose of your eMag

Ensure it is well presented with a good layout.

Ensure the content meets with the vision and mission of your business.

Clearly identify who will confidently produce your Newsletter on a regular basis.

Measure the cost/benefits of doing this in-house or outsourcing. Choose what best fits with your Organisation.

Identify how you will get staff and other stakeholders involved in the design and content?

Ensure the content of your Newsletter fits with the culture and climate of your Organisation.

Ensure you give your stakeholders what they want to read.

Ensure your stories are interesting, fun and encourages positive employee relations.

Include all stakeholders in your Newsletter/eMagazine—don’t make it only attractive for a selected few to applaud themselves.

Encourage reader feedback to continually develop your content.

Set up a Newsletter Working Group and ensure all stakeholders are represented.

Make it part of a wider internal/external Communication Strategy—this is just one of the many ways to encourage employee voice.
Murray People helps Organisations develop an effective Communication Strategy that will encourage employee engagement OR if you wish to outsource the creation of your Company Newsletter/eMagazine we can do that for you too. Please e.mail Claire Murray at, claire@murraypeople.com for further details.

A Christmas Poem

Christmas is a happy time there’s lots of chocs and merry wine.
And even if it doesn’t snow there’s cheery Santa singing HO HO HO.

It’s a time full of sparkle and glitter and joy.
It’s a time when grown ups be a a girl or a boy.

Dancing and singing to that karaoke tune whilst frost glistens and shimmers under the Christmas night moon.

So let the magic of Christmas rejoice in you, pull the Christmas crackers and shout out ‘WOO HOO’.

It’s a joyous occasion for loved ones to share ,
a time for giving and showing you care.

Little Robins with their red breasts come out to play,
‘we wish you a merry Christmas’ their sweet chirps say.

And the ones who can’t be with us on this Christmas Day,
Today your thought of more than ever in a very special heartfelt way.

Embrace the celebrations and enjoy the fun and laughter,
I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy ever after.