The Best You May 2014

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THE BEST YOU TRANSFORM • INSPIRE • MOTIVATE • ENRICH • EMPOWER • ENJOY MAY 2014 / PRICE £3.99

DEREK MILLS on the missing link between you and success

ROCKING FOR GOOD Roger Daltrey and Teenage Cancer Trust have done it again

PHIL JACKSON

THE REASON WHY HE IS THE BEST COACH THE NBA HAS KNOWN

WRITE A BOOK

PITCH PERFECT

SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE

GERRY ROBERT SAY A BOOK IS THE BEST MARKETING TOOL

THE PITCH DOCTOR GUIDES YOU TO THE PERFECT PITCH

ARE E-CIGARETTES THE FUTURE OF SMOKING

ALSO: YOUTUBE STARS - GETTING FAMOUS USING THE INTERNET

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APRIL 2014

CONTENTS

REGULARS

5 EDITOR’S LETTER

Bernardo Moya welcomes you to the latest issue of The Best You

18 WE SUPPORT… Sport Relief – Comic Relief’s brand new initiative

29 BOOK REVIEWS We review some of our favourites – a small selection of what’s available

58 THE BEST YOU DIRECTORY Find the best coaches, trainers and practitioners here

60 ACHIEVE QUIET SUCCESS

22 JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS WE PROFILE PHIL JACKSON, ONE OF THE NBA’S GREATEST ASSETS

Minimalism expert Robin Sharma says success flies under the radar

FEATURES

22 JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS We profile Phil Jackson, one of the NBA’s greatest assets

26 CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR Bernardo Moya chats with Michael Jacobsen about his creativity in business

INNER YOU 10 THE MISSING LINK

Derek Mills says the thing standing between you and success is standards

12 TOTAL DREAM RECALL

According to Craig Sim Webb, you have to recall your dreams to understand them

ENJOY LIFE

16 THE BEST FESTS

16 THE BEST FESTS IT’S FINALLY FESTIVAL SEASON! WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVALS

It’s finally festival season! We look at some of the world’s greatest music and arts festivals

19 IT’S THE GOOD NEWS

With so much of what we read in the papers being negative, The Best You is bringing you some good news

20 NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

We interviewed Rolf Dobelli on cutting down on your daily news to enjoy life

THE BEST YOU No. 18 · April 2014 · Year 2 · EDITOR / PUBLISHER Bernardo Moya · DEPUTY EDITOR Zoë Henry · ASSOCIATE EDITOR Matthew Wingett · PROOFREADER Bryan Szabo · COPYWRITER Aaron Wells GRAPHIC DESIGN Joanna Frackiewicz · NEW MEDIA Allan Banford TECHNICAL CONSULTANT Martin Carter · ADVERTISING advertising@thebestyou.co · The Best You Corporation LTD 5 Percy St. · London, United Kingdom, W1T 1DG · Tel: +44 (0)845 230 2033 · www.thebestyoumagazine.co

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APRIL 2014

CONTENTS

LIVE LOVE LEGACY

36 ROCKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Teenage Cancer Trust has done it again, raising remarkable funds through their concerts

38 SLAM DUNK SUCCESS Stephen Simpson profiles arguably the greatest basket baller player of our time, LeBron James

40 WHAT DOES IT TAKE… …to be a poker player? We chat with poker player and media personality, Liv Boeree

FEEL & LOOK GOOD

44 “HEALTHY” SNACKS YOUR TEETH HATE

36 ROCKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE TEENAGE CANCER TRUST HAS DONE IT AGAIN, RAISING FUNDS THROUGH THEIR CONCERTS

Henry Clover from Denplan says we need to change our snacking habits

46 SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE? Richard Russell from Diamond Mist gives the lowdown on e-cigarettes

WEALTH & RICHES

50 PUTTING HERSELF FORWARD

Bernardo Moya chats with Etta Cohen, founder of Forward Ladies

52 WRITE YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS Best-selling author Gerry Robert says the best marketing tool is a published book

54 PITCH PERFECT Paul Boross, aka The Pitch Doctor, talks us through making the perfect pitcht

56 THE ROCKY ROAD TO SUCCESS The Best You looks at some historical figures who didn’t have success handed to them on a silver platter

21 CENTURY LIVING ST

64 STREAMING STARS SOME OF THE BIGGEST STARS WHO GOT THEIR BREAK THROUGH YOUTUBE

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62 BEWARE THE CATFISH

Internet dating has spawned a new type of con artist – the catfish. Jess Fletcher explains

64 STREAMING STARS Kelsey Anderson looks at some of the biggest stars who got their break through YouTube

THE BEST YOU

EDITORIAL

DO YOU GET THE

SUPPORT YOU NEED? However tenacious you are, however flexible and focused and the rest of it, there will be times when what makes the difference to achieving what matters is the backing you get from the people in your life.

Your vision is just that – yours. Vision takes passion, and when you are dedicated to making your vision a reality, it is important that your passion be your driving force.

Not everyone will get it, and you need to accept that’s the case. Sometimes you may be surprised by the fact that those who are closest to you don’t support your vision.

If you know people who are consistently putting down what is important to you, maybe it’s time to reassess what each of you gets from that relationship.

A sceptic can be a good person to have around, but there can be occasions you realise it’s time to go your separate ways, and wish them well.

For every person who leaves your life, you create space for someone amazing to enter it. You’ll be surprised how often that happens, and how often you’ll get the chance to support someone you’ve admired for their ambition, their talent, their zeal, when they falter along their way. But keep in mind that you can’t please everyone all the time, so make sure you put the happiness of the most important person in your life first – you.

Our vision at The Best You is focussed and expanding.

We have put together an app that features the highlights of what we have been doing for the past year and a half, which you can download from the app store. And because we have such great interview content, we are releasing the interviews as podcasts. Then of course, there is this issue, which is packed with great articles from the likes of Marisa Peer,

Dr. John Demartini and Ariana Huffington.

The bottom line? We’re here for each other. The hand we reach out to someone when they’re having a bad day is the same hand that picks us up when we’re not hearing the news we’ve been angling for.

Play that role for others, and you’ll know what it’s like to receive support too, when you need it.

The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning."

– Ivy Baker Priest

BERNARDO MOYA,

Editor-in-Chief Follow me: @Bernardo_Moya

WE WANT YOUR STORIES The Best You is all about inspiring people. If you have a tale to tell that you think will help someone become the best they can be, please tell us.

video slider gallery

3600 gallery Hotspot

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THE BEST YOU CONTRIBUTORS

DEREK MILLS

CRAIG SIM WEBB

is a dream analyst and author pioneering lucid dream research at California’s Stanford University and Montreal’s SacreCoeur Hospital. Craig is an invited expert for major motion pictures, fortune 500 corporations, and over 1000 international media.

is an international inspirational speaker and mentor. Author of The 10 Second Philosophy, he teaches how to connect with one’s TrueSelf to set life ‘Standards’.

As ‘The Standards Guy’, he continues to revolutionise inspirational thought.

@derekmills1

is an internationally recognised authority on communications and presentation who appears regularly at international television and media events. Paul has worked with many public figures such as Sir Richard Branson, Ainsley Harriott and Sky newscaster, Dermot Murgnahan.

@PaulBoross

is the best-selling author of The Millionaire Mindset and a marketing speaker. Over 3 million people have attended his live seminars. He is also the publisher at Black Card Books, an entrepreneurial book publisher helping companies use books as marketing tools.

@gerryrobert

@DreamMaestro

PAUL BOROSS

GERRY ROBERT

RICHARD RUSSELL

moved into the burgeoning e-cigarette industry after a career in the music industry.

He has become an expert in tobacco alternatives. With a passion for safe smoking substitute, he is seeking stricter regulations on electronic cigarettes.

@richierussell

HENRY CLOVER

is deputy chief dental officer at Denplan, the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist. A dentist for 17 years, Henry joined Denplan’s Professional Services team in 1998. He is at the forefront of private dentistry, liaising with more than 6,500 member dentists.

JESS FLETCHER is a South African digital content manager living and working in London.

With a background in online advertising, she knows a thing or two about social media and the dangers of cyberspace.

@jess_ct

@Denplan

ROBIN SHARMA

is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc., a global consultancy with a single focus: to help organisations develop employees who Lead Without a Title. SLI's clients include many of the best companies on the planet such as Starbucks, Nike and The Coca-Cola Company

@_robin_sharma

STEPHEN SIMPSON

is a medical specialist, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, bestselling author, and elite performance coach.

He regularly appears on TV and radio, and his clients include leading names from the world of sport, business, and the entertainment industries.

@dr_sr_simpson

The Best You is published by The Best You Corporation Ltd, 5 Percy Street, W1T 1DG. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect The Best You Corporation Ltd, policy.

The Best You Corporation Ltd accepts no responsibility for views expressed by its contributors.

Advertisements and reader offers are not endorsed by The Best You or The Best You Corporation Ltd.

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FAN OF WHAT WE DO? DO YOU WANT TO?

Wehave havesome someamazing amazingand andpriceless priceless We rewards we know you will love andwant. want. rewards we know you will love and ReadMore.

More.Support Supportus usand andwhat whatwe wedo do Read with our Crowd funding project with Bank with our Crowd funding project with Bank toThe TheFuture.

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THE BEST YOU INNER YOU

THE BEST

YOU

Connect with the wonderful, special and powerful inside.

Learn new ways to get your mind and body in balance, bringing out the rich core of your being. Discover the secrets that will enable you to take charge of your inner life and become The Best You.

Life Without Limits

TM

UP YOUR VITALITY Dr Pedram Shojai from Well.org makes some suggestions to get those spirits up

YOU ARE WHAT YOU REMEMBER Memory expert David Thomas says visual games will help improve your memory

WWW.THEBESTYOUMAGAZINE.CO | 9

INNER YOU DEREK MILLS

THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN YOU & SUCCESS We've been told that we must set goals for happiness and success, but think carefully for a moment. Most people, the world over, don’t achieve their goals. Why does this approach fail for so many people? Derek Mills, the Standards Guy, attempts to answer this question.

L

ife is short, so there is no point in sticking with systems that don't work. I'm privileged to have been able to mentor and speak around the globe, helping others massively increase their happiness and success in all areas of their life by utilising the “missing link” to success in life and business. I was the original guinea pig of this social and business experiment.

Rather than focusing on longterm goals, it's about living by

daily standards from within you or your business—living by them one day at a time. These daily standards take you to, and keep you on, the path to success. Goals, by definition, are future based; they promise success and happiness “one day”. For so many of us, though, that day never comes. Living by daily standards, however, brings out the best you and brings you happiness in the here and now.

In this practical philosophy a standard is a basis, criterion, level, quality, or rule set from

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Living by high daily Standards helps keep us authentic. Others see and feel that authenticity.

They feel a better connection to us, our company, our products and services.”

DEREK MILLS

INNER YOU

We in the free world create our own lives by our daily standards

within and adhered to today— just today, and from today, one day at a time.

PERSONAL STANDARDS After a lifetime of struggle and debts, using the new practical philosophy of standards, in three years, I went from being depressed and broke, working 15-hour days, six-day weeks, to becoming a multimillionaire working three and a half days a week. Most importantly, because standards helped keep me understand my truest self, I became happy immediately.

Standards are a now experience, a now activity, and they affect our business and us in the immediate present. Raising the standards in one area of our life affects everything else.

THE 7 KEY AREAS FOR YOUR STANDARDS REVIEW • Personal health and fitness • Environment (internal attitude and external circumstances) • Relationships • Family • Emotions • Career • Time Every single one of us can set new, higher daily standards

in some or all of these areas.

New daily standards, set from within, have the potential to profoundly change us.

RECOGNISING AND UTILISING STANDARDS IN BUSINESS Learning how to set, adopt, and articulate our daily standards is vital because it enables us to take the next step, which is to become conscious of another's standards.

Consider successful corporations like Porsche, Walt Disney, Chrysler and Axa. All are now “standards” companies.

Lets suppose that you work in the fields of sales, coaching, or consulting. Once you know your clients’ standards, you are streets ahead of any competitor.

In business interactions, utilise some or all of the following four points: • Identify the client’s relevant standards. This is your moment because the prospective client wouldn’t be sitting with you if they had another relationship or connection that already matched their standards.

• Pinpoint expectations and help the client identify any past pain experienced as a result of their standards not met being by a previous supplier. Draw out

Happiness is a now experience.

where specifically the client’s standards were previously breached and also identify how and when they’ve had their standards met.

• Ask them about their standards (basis, criterion, levels, qualities or rules) so you can prove to them you’ve identified and can match their expectations.

Where there is an acceptable match to your standards, proceed.

• Meeting another's standards generates an extraordinary amount of good will. Stick to mutually agreed standards in any relationship. Remember, goals alone don't work.

This practical philosophy is not just about business success. We can each set new standards in other key areas of our life. For many, a great place to start is health and fitness, or relationships.

The missing link between you and your success is daily standards. Here is a quick standards reframe that you can use today: • Review and realise your standards in key areas of your life • Release the standards that no longer serve you • Reset new standards that honour and serve you, ones that allow you to honour and serve others • Recommit to your new standards and stick to them just one day at a time When living by daily standards, we change.

When we change, everything changes for us. Join the Standards Revolution: Stick to your new higher standards long enough to notice what such a change can do for you.b

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INNER YOU CRAIG SIM WEBB

TOTAL

DREAM Your dreams can be a spring of creative inspiration to help you create new artistic works, solve problems at work and in your relationships, heal emotional wounds and even physical illnesses.

Craig Sim Webb from DREAMS Foundation gives you some tips to help you recall your dreams.

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RECALL

CRAIG SIM WEBB INNER YOU

L

earn new skills, explore the vast inner realm for greater spiritual fulfillment, and all the while, allow you yourself to explore and have fun during the third of life that we all spend asleep. If these possibilities sound interesting, don’t just take my word for it. Begin better to remember your dreams tonight and start experiencing for yourself the fascinating adventures and powerful hidden benefits your subconscious is trying to offer you every night. Here are proven techniques for recalling more dreams within a week or less.

The main barrier to recalling and benefiting from dreams is that waking and dreaming memory aren't connected nearly as well as they could be with greater intention, practice and focus. Making a relatively consistent effort to remember and especially to record your dreams will help your waking mind align and integrate your dream experience. It's also an excellent way to increase imaginative and intuitive capabilities, which are both intimately connected with dreams. This alone should provide strong incentive.

It’s important to want it: First and foremost, you must feel that it will be useful or even valuable to you. Without this intention, motivation will soon disappear. More importantly, this desire acts as a subjective magnet, which draws your dreams into memory.

Focus and attention: Understand that dream recall is an inherent, natural human trait. That is why young children are quite in touch with their dreams, as are many native cultures, some of which encourage the sharing of dreams with each other daily and the basing of important life actions upon the guidance to

be found in the dream world.

Dream recall is like a mental muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.

Without exercise, it may shrink, but it is there if you decide to work it out again. So if your recall is poor, trust that it will come in time, and the trust itself will actually help since expectation is a powerful subjective tool.

Bedtime practice: Before sleep, reread your dream journal entry from the night before (some people like to read a few nights’ worth). This allows you to begin to connect with your dream memory.

It is also an opportunity to interpret your dreams and spot connections to the day's events. Then, as you go to bed, clearly request (rather than command) yourself to remember any dreams when you awaken in the morning or during the night, especially ones that would be beneficial to you. Also, remind yourself that it's a simple, natural process that happens by itself anyway. You can also suggest to yourself to spontaneously awaken when you need to without using an alarm, since any strong external perception such as a loud noise can inhibit recall. This method works well with practice, but you may initially wish to set your alarm for 15 minutes after your suggested wake-up time, just to be safe. Whenever you awaken, keep your eyes closed (or shut them if already open) and remain as motionless as possible. If you find that your body has shifted since waking, return your body to the position it was in when you first woke. Gather as many images, impressions, feelings, or body sensations or waking thoughts as you can. A helpful technique is to think of it like fishing. Gently, cast out your intention to remember a dream, and wait a little to see

OPPOSITE Gaining confidence means doing something scary

We and our decisions both would be well served to take some of the famed detective’s advice

OPPOSITE Gaining confidence means doing something scary

what comes. As soon as you get anything, no matter how brief or vague it may seem at first, rise and immediately record (or write, draw, paint, etc.) it in a journal. You'll be surprised at how much more you remember as you begin taking note of your dreams.

Be playful, patient and persistent: Although most people start having success within the first week or two, dream recall is a mental exercise that may require some getting used to. Try to maintain a relaxed and playful attitude of looking forward to your dreams while being willing to let them come all in good time. Trying too hard or being too serious can be limiting factors. Dream recall and motivation tend to come and go in natural cycles.

They can also be affected by what else is going on in your life and how much sleep and exercise you get. Once you begin a period of focusing on recall, stick with it for at least a few days. Exercising your mind in this way for consecutive nights can have a compounding effect.

A weekly study group with a shared interest in dreams is unmatchable for sustained motivation, inspiration and plenty of intriguing surprises and insights. b

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NLP TRAINING INNER YOU ALEXANDRA TRUTA

with RICHARD BANDLER Co-Creator of NLP

in London MASTERCLASS

with RICHARD BANDLER

8th May 2014

INTRODUCTION TO NLP

An evening with Richard Bandler 9th May 2014

LICENSED PRACTITIONER OF NLP 10th – 16th May 2014

LICENSED MASTER

PRACTITIONER OF NLP 11th – 19th October 2014

Book today on +44(0)207 927 6500 www.nlplifetraining.com info@nlplifetraining.com 14 | WWW.THEBESTYOUMAGAZINE.CO

THE BEST YOU

ENJOY LIFE

THE BEST

YOU

Laughter, humour, travel, love - these add the sparkle that make life worth living. Climb a mountain, give to others, start a family, embrace life. What are the things you wish you had done but haven’t yet? Life is no rehearsal - find ways to enjoy it, whenever you can!

Life Without Limits

TM

THE BEST FESTS

It’s finally festival season! We look at some of the world’s greatest music and arts festivals

IT’S THE GOOD NEWS

With so much of what we read in the papers being negative, The Best You is bringing you some good news

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

We interviewed Rolf Dobelli on cutting down on your daily news to enjoy life

ENJOY LIFE

BUCKET LIST

THE BEST FESTS T here are a lot of perks to the summer months. There’s the warmer weather, of course, the great markets, the street performers, and then there are the music festivals. Music festivals have been around since the flower power era, but they have

come a long way since then.

From informal gatherings in fields, a la Woodstock, they have morphed into welloiled machines with decent toilets (sometimes) and cash machines. Most countries offer an array of festivals over the summer, but these are the ones that are really worth the trek.

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL Glastonbury, or Glasto to the well-seasoned festivalgoers, is a five-day music festival that takes place in Somerset, England. In addition to contemporary music, the festival hosts dance, comedy, theatre, and other arts. It is organised by Michael Eavis on his own land. Most of the festival staff are volunteers, helping the festival to raise millions of pounds for good causes.

Duration: 25 – 29 June 2014

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Part of enjoying life is living for the moment, so don’t wait until you’re on your deathbed before you make a list of what you should’ve done. Life is happening now, so start ticking things off that bucket list.

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer. Though technically not a music festival, the Edinburgh Festival will definitely have sufficient entertainment for music fans, as well as theatre, comedy, dance, fine art, and so much more. And for those who like to live on the edge, there is the Fringe.

Duration: 8 – 31 August 2014

BUCKET LIST

LOLLAPALOOZA Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock and hip-hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups.

Conceived and created in 1991 by Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza ran annually until 1997 and was revived in 2003.

Duration: 1 – 3 August 2014

COACHELLA Coachella is a music and arts festival, founded by Paul Tollett, organised by Goldenvoice, and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It features many music genres, including rock, hip-hop, and electronic music. The festival takes place over two three-day weekends. The 2014 lineup was announced in January, and tickets sold out in less hours.

Duration: 2015 dates to be announced.

BURNING MAN Described as an experiment in community, art, radical self-expression, and self-reliance, Burning Man is an annual, week-long event held in in Nevada. It begins on the last Monday in August and ends on the first Monday in September. Its name comes from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy, which is set alight on Saturday evening.

Duration: 25 August – 1 September 2014

ENJOY LIFE

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST South by Southwest, which is shortened to SXSW by the cool kids, is a set of film, interactive, and music festivals and a series of conferences that take place every year in Austin, Texas. Launched in 1987, it has continued to grow every year, and is the largest music festival of its kind in the world.

Duration: 13 – 22 March 2015

SÓNAR Sónar is a three-day electronic music festival founded in Barcelona in 1994 by Ricard Robles, Enric Palau and Sergi Caballero. Last year, four festivals took place, each in different cities: Barcelona, Tokyo, Osaka, and Reykjavik. The festival has been divided into two parts since its inception.

Sónar by Day and Sónar by Night.

Duration: 12 – 14 June 2014

SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS An annual Australian music festival held near Byron Bay, New South Wales. Jointly created and promoted by the Village Sounds and Secret Service music companies, it began in 2001 as a one-day gathering to cater to Australia’s winter season. In 2002, it expanded into a two-day event. Currently, the festival hosts 30,000 revellers over a three-day timespan.

Duration: 25 – 27 July 2014

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WE SUPPORT Sport Relief The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games took place from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd March 2014, and this year, for the first time ever, the great British public could make every mile count by running, swimming or cycling their way to raising money.

W

e It shaped up to be an unmissable weekend with events taking place around the country and at the magnificent Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The public warmed themselves up to walk, jog or run one, three or six miles at events around the country.

Sainsbury’s are at the heart of Sport Relief again this year, helping to put on the first ever Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games and selling the official Sport Relief goodies. Their employees are going all out for us too with some fantastic fundraising to raise even more life-changing cash. We can’t thank Sainsbury’s enough.

People took the plunge across the UK and swam 1.5km, 2.5km or 5km at Swimathon pools. Others got on their bikes and cycled 3, 25 or 50 miles in London, Manchester and Glasgow.

There was fun and games all over the box too this Sport Relief, with an amazing line up of top-notch TV. The BBC

treated the nation to a super special night of Sport Relief TV including an Only Fools and Horses sketch and a Strictly Come Dancing special. Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan, Claudia Winkleman, Jack Whitehall and Clare Balding joined other top presenters to host a starstudded show packed full of fun.

Davina McCall went the extra mile in Beyond Breaking Point on BBC One. She ran, swam and cycled across the UK – all in the name of Sport Relief. Songs of Praise marked this year’s Sport Relief with a special edition featuring some well-known faces. Also, on Sunday 23rd March, Alex Jones and Matt Baker presented highlights of the country’s first ever Sport Relief Games, live from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Half of the money raised by the public for Sport Relief is spent on grant making in the UK and half on grant making across the world.

Comic Relief’s vision is a just world free from poverty. We work towards this by funding

Sainsbury’s are at the heart of Sport Relief again this year, helping to put on the first ever Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games and selling the offcial Sport Relief goodies.

a vast range of issues. In the UK we support many different types of projects from young people facing homelessness and families living on the breadline to older people living with abuse. Internationally, the projects we fund range from those bringing an end to female genital mutilation to improving the lives of adults and children living with HIV and AIDS. b

For more information, check out: sportrelief.com

OTHER WORTHY CAUSES WE SUPPORT Teenage Cancer Trust

Katie Piper Foundation

Children Of The Night

www.teenagecancertrust.org

www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk

www.childrenofthenight.org

SMA Trust

War Child

The Children’s Trust

www.smatrust.org

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www.warchild.org.uk

www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk

THE BEST YOU

THE GOOD NEWS

ENJOY LIFE

The news we read in the newspapers and see on the television is so negative that it can often feel like the media is conspiring to get you down in the dumps. That’s why The Best You is bringing you snippets of good news.

Prank it forward

T

raditionally, 1 April, or April Fool’s Day as it is known any many countries, is a day filled with lies and deception.

But this year, one waitress in Los Angeles was pranked in the best way possible. In a spin-off of the “pay if forward” movement, a YouTube partnership decided to “prank it forward” and give Chelsea Roff the “best shift ever”. Having battled with an eating disorder earlier in life, Chelsea dedicates all her time outside of the restaurant to helping others with similar

disorders through yoga, which she said changed her life. Easing into the best shift of her life, Chelsea received a $1,000 tip, followed by vouchers for a trip abroad. Next up was an offer for her dream job, and a brand new car. Hidden camera’s captured Chelsea’s disbelief during the day, and the cherry on top was a visit from an old friend who helped her through her hard time. Get the tissues out for this one – it’s a tearjerker. Watch the video here: http://tinyurl.com/onwjm9r

LIFE BY CHOCOLATE

T

here have been various news reports over the years about dark chocolate being good for you, from warding off hard disease to various types of cancer.

However, a recent study shows that eating a small amount of dark chocolate in moderation can also decrease your chances of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes – diseases which both

stem from excessive sugar intake. Researchers at Virginia Tech found that a particular type of antioxidant called flavanol, which is found in cocoa, can prevent excess weight gain and lower blood sugar levels in mice, even while they consumed a high-fat diet. According to Andrew P. Neilson, cocoa is one of the most flavanolrich foods around. It has several different kinds of these compounds, so

Neilson’s team decided to separate them and test each individually for health benefits. The scientists fed groups of mice different diets, supplementing high-fat diets with different kinds of flavanols.

A particular compound called oligomeric procyanidins kept the weight of the mice down, and also improved glucose tolerance.

IN TRANSIT

In California, a state known for people driving everywhere, residents have decided to embrace more environmentally friendly forms of transport.

The percentage of California residents walking, biking, or using public transportation for typical daily trips has more than doubled since 2000, from 11 per cent to 23 per cent.

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ENJOY LIFE

THE BEST YOU

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

We have known for a while that bad news doesn’t do us any good. But according to author and entrepreneur Rolf Dobelli, the medium that most news is delivered to us in is the problem. We interviewed him to find out more.

R

olf Dobelli’s perspective could be linked to that of Marshall McLuhan – the medium is the message – and according to Dobelli, the medium isn’t great.

During the 21st century, with news so instantly available in newspapers, on television and online, we are constantly being distracted by events that are of no relevance to us. In an article for The Guardian, Dobelli said, “If you read the newspaper for 15 minutes each morning, then check the news for 15 minutes during lunch and 15 minutes before you go to bed, then add five minutes here and there when you’re at work, then count distraction and refocusing time, you will lose at least half a day every week.” This may seem like news digestion has gotten particularly out of control during the digital era, but Dobelli tells us that it has always been a problem.

“The news was bad before the digital era, but it became even worse in the digital era because once you have hyperlinks, you don’t stay with the theme. Research has clearly shown you will not remember text with hyperlinks as well as a text without; just because it takes you away from the focus area.”

Despite the parallels between Dobelli and McLuhan,

and despite Dobelli’s views of the media, he does not consider himself a media theorist, as McLuhan was. “I’m just practical man and regarding the news, I realised that news is for the most part bad for you, and that’s why I’m staying away. I don’t pretend to predict how the news is developing or how media is developing. Nobody really

MAIN PICTURE Rolf Dobelli believes that a constant stream of news is irrelevant

OPPOSITE PAGE Reading the news has become part of our daily routine

understands the Internet and therefore social media, so I’m not a theorist at all; I’m just a practical person.”

In the time of WikiLeaks and a push for transparency, it seems like Dobelli is advocating pretty much the opposite. But when asked if he feels that people like Assange and Edward Snowden are trying to move the world in the wrong direction, he is surprisingly supportive of these whistleblowers. “They’re great,” says Dobelli. “Investigative journalism is really, really helpful and that’s what they’re doing. These are leakers, but then also the second part is investigative journalism.

Eventually the media needs to pick up on these things. Totally relevant for democracy. Very relevant for a healthy society.

Again, a WikiLeak news snippet is worth not much, but the whole story of WikiLeaks and the whole scope of what has been tracked and why is a story that has to develop within, at least, in five pages, if not ten pages. Classic news formats can’t deliver that. Classic news formats can’t explain the generators of events.”

While Dobelli is adamant that snippets of news are bad for you, and being obsessed with staying on top of what is happening around the world is irrelevant to your life,

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books and long articles that use investigative journalism is where we should direct our attention. These will give you enough perspective to be able to appreciate the current world, historical fiction or a film based on historical events.

“I decide what I would like to know and I actively go after that piece of information. Be it through books, or talking to experts who really know, or by long articles,” says Dobelli. “I don’t need newspapers so I can enjoy movies or novels about a certain theme. Staying away from the news torrent makes

you a little bit a-social, but it’s effective. You can’t talk about the latest little video clip that has been shown on CNN last night if you haven’t seen it, but when I talk to friends who have seen it, they talk to me about it, so I learn through the real social networks by true friends about certain events. So, yeah, it makes you a little bit a-social, but in a good way,” he laughs. “That’s why I say read long articles and books about these things. It’s not whether you know it today or a month from now. I can wait and read about it in half a year and then

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I decide what I would like to know and I actively go after that piece of information.

Be it through books, or talking to experts ”

ENJOY LIFE

I understand the war in Syria. I don’t have to have it right now.”

We all have limited time on this planet, and the amount of time you spend on chasing the latest news is really up to you.

“Assume the world is double the size,” says Dobelli. “We would probably have double the amount of news. Would you consume double the amount of news? Probably not. Most people allow themselves to be bombarded with news whether something is relevant or not. It’s just that amount of time you fill and it’s basically entertainment.” b

The Best You website is packed with loads of great books, DVDs, CDs, downloads, free articles and reports.

Check it out now: www.thebestyou.co

Life and Laughing

By Michael McIntyre

Dear Fatty

By Dawn French

They Did You Can

By Michael Finnigan

Michael’s story is riveting, poignant, romantic.

l Chronicles

l

l

the hilarious rise of an unstoppable woman.

How to achieve what you want in life with the help of your heroes

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COVER STORY THE BEST YOU

It might be unusual to think of an international sports coach for one of the world's most successful basketball teams as spiritual, but that is exactly the case for

Phil Jackson

JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS

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A

s the coach for the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers during the period of both teams' apparent invincibility, there's no doubt Jackson brought a unique and highly effective approach to both teams. His role wasn't only to think about on-court strategy, but also to work with the personalities of some of the highest powered sportsmen in the game, including Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

It's a rare skill to combine game strategist and psychologist, but that's exactly what enabled Jackson to take his teams to "11 rings" – or 11 NBA championships.

Jackson makes no bones about his belief that the game of basketball is as much a spiritual discipline as a physical sport. As he puts it: “Transforming a group of young, ambitious individuals into an integrated championship team is not a mechanistic process.

It’s a mysterious juggling act that requires not only a thorough knowledge of the time-honored laws of the game, but also an open heart, a clear mind, and a deep curiosity about the ways of the human spirit.”

He often speaks about the game using spiritual metaphors.

Jackson notes that winning a "ring" is the symbol of status and power in the NBA, but it is something more than this as well: “On a psychological level, the ring symbolises something profound: the quest of the self to find harmony, connection, and

OPPOSITE Gaining confidence means doing something scary

OPPOSITE Gaining confidence means doing something scary

COVER STORY

wholeness. In Native American culture, for instance, the unifying power of the circle was so meaningful that whole nations were conceived as a series of interconnected rings (or hoops). The tepee was a ring, as were the campfire, the village, and the layout of the nation itself - circles within circles, having no beginning or end.”

It's not the language normally associated with the high-adrenaline world of basketball.

Jackson could easily have turned away from spirituality.

Born in Deer Lodge, Montana in 1945, he was raised by parents, both of them evangelical ministers, who wanted their children to follow in their footsteps. Like his two brothers and half-sister, Phil found the life they offered in the remote part of Montana where they grew up smothering.

His mother, he recalls, was an old-fashioned fire-andbrimstone preacher, while his father was more the man connected with others. While they had a large and extended group of people around them – a definite positive for someone who would need to handle all sorts of different personalities in the context of the baseball coach – their austere religious beliefs were, Jackson felt, deeply oppressive.

There was no real relaxation time. Phil's mother, who believed idle thoughts to be the Devil’s playground, endeavoured to fill every minute of the family’s life with devotion to God. Hence ,no television, no radio, no comics, no dancing, and no socialising with friends at the local canteen. On Sundays, he would go to church twice – once in the morning to hear his father preach and again in the evening to hear his mother.

Childhood was not fun. Jackson later said he is

COVER STORY THE BEST YOU convinced that the unconscious is at its most creative when the mind is allowed to relax, run free, and find its own way around a problem. That often means sitting and doing nothing – something his mother could not abide.

By his teens, Jackson was driving his energies into sports.

His brother Chuck suggests that sport was the only activity in which the Jackson children could be involved that allowed them to do the same things as other kids.

Spotted by talent scouts at high school, Jackson was taken on by the New York Knicks after university, and went on to become a well-liked player who played on two NBA championship winning teams between 1967 and 1980.

Jackson's world view developed all this time. Having been raised on a literal reading of the Bible, his mind was opened at college to other possibilities. He changed his degree from Political Science to a combined degree in Philosophy, Psychology and Religion. He was drawn to Buddhism, Eastern and Western religions, and he began to put his own experiences in perspective. He recalls overcoming his problems with religion a few years after becoming an NBA player.

"One summer in Montana,

I recruited a neighbour, Ron Fetveit, who was an observant Christian, to help me fix my leaky roof. While we were repairing shingles, we got into a long conversation about spiritual matters, and I confessed that I had a difficult time relating to his faith because of my childhood experience. 'I know where you’re coming from,' he said, 'but you know, there is no such thing as a grandchild of God. You are not your parents. You need to develop your own personal relationship with God.'" OPPOSITE Gaining confidence means doing something scary

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Phil took up meditation, t’ai chi and yoga, learning to still the mind and become more focussed. He also became fascinated with Native American spritual practice.

After retiring from playing and taking various coaching jobs, Jackson was hired as assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls, eventually graduating to head coach.

It was here that he brought together his experiences of spirit and of the practicalities of the game to weld together a winning team.

Heavily influenced by the The Triangle Offense, the game play taught to the Bulls by assistant coach Tex Winter, Jackson sought to adapt it to become fluid reactive rather than reducing it to a series of set plays.

To bind the team together, he introduced meditation sessions before practice. He even had the team playing in total darkness to make them more aware of what was going on around them.

His aim was to mould the team into something more than a collection of individuals, and he was inspired by the groundbreaking book, Tribal Leadership,

by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright.

The book lays out five stages of tribal development, from collective negative view of the world, through levels of self-belief and ego to a final "rare stage characterised by a sense of innocent wonder and the strong belief that 'life is great.'"

In practice, this meant getting the team to see the bigger picture and to appreciate that there are times that the ego of the individual is less important than his role in the group – a tough lesson for young men brought up in the United States in the late 20th Century to take on board.

Jackson found part of the way to do this was through recourse to Native American culture, such as

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showing them the television series The Way of the Warrior in order to look at how other cultures solved problems.

For the same reasons he would invite different speakers to address the team. Guests included a nutritionist, an undercover detective, and a prison warden, all of whom showed the team new ways of thinking about difficult problems Over time, he had his successes.

Michael Jordan, a player with extraordinary personal ability, learned to become a better player by allowing others in the team to shine. The same is true of the struggles Jackson had with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal when he moved to the LA Lakers. Though a tougher journey in many ways, Jackson persevered and succeeded in welding together a team from a group of very strong, and often rival, egos.

Throughout his career, Jackson has studied the individuals he coached closely to identify what personal skills they lacked in order to make them more rounded, mature individuals. For some this meant giving them clear direction, while for others it was a matter of standing back and allowing them to find their own way.

As part of that development plan, each summer he would give team members their own personalised reading matter. For one it might be Zen and the Art of Motorcyle Maintenance, for another it was Way of the Peaceful Warrior, while for a third it would be Beavis and Butthead: This Book Sucks.

Many times Jackson had to be mindful of his own behaviour, learning how to stay focussed on the things that animate him while letting anger and negative thoughts go. At the same time, he has recognised that anger itself is a useful energy provided

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COVER STORY

MICHELLE OBAMA AT A GLANCE

We and our decisions both would be well served to take some of the famed detective’s advice Ame re aus opos aus? Abena, ut OPPOSITE aGaining confidence means doing something scary

it can be harnessed effectively.

He sought consistently in his 30 years as a coach to apply Buddhist techniques and principles to the sport that he thinks of as far more than a game.

The results of what appear to be such unconventional approaches speak for themselves. Jackson, with 11 NBA Championships to his credit, is regarded as one of the top 10 greatest basketball coaches of all time. He won the respect of his players and, with each of his championship teams, he moulded an assortment of individuals into a united, indomitable force. As such, his life's work is well worth studying and learning from. b

 Born Michelle Robinson on 17 January 1964 in the South Side of Chicago  Her dad worked in the city water plant while mum looked after her and her brother at home  The parents emphasised education, sacrificing their personal comfort to give their children opportunities  By sixth grade she joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary school  She excelled academically and went to Princeton University  Was always willing to respectfully challenge authority  Shocked by the wealth of fellow students at Princeton, she often felt that she didn't fit in there  Graduated with honours with a degree in Sociology and African American studies  Went on to study law at Harvard Law School and graduated cum laude in 1985  Participated in demonstrations at Harvard advocating the hiring of professors from ethnic minorities  Began to work for Sidley and Austin and excelled in the law firm.

She was tipped for huge success in the private world  Mentored Barack Obama at Sidley and Austin, and refused to go on a date with him, but she changed her mind when she saw him give a motivational talk to a crowd of predominantly black single mothers on Chicago's South Side  Left private practice to work for the council on community projects  Married Obama in 1992 and had two children with him: Malia Ann and Natasha  Played a strong role in promoting her husband's US House and Senate campaigns  Was extremely supportive during Barack Obama's presidential campaign  Has sought to counter childhood obesity by supporting the Let's Move campaign in the US  A strong advocate for LGBT rights, and strong opponent of all forms of discrimination  The world's first black first lady, she is a living embodiment, alongside her husband, of the American Dream.

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COVER STORY THE BEST YOU

THE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR

Michael Jacobsen tells The Best You about his brand of entrepreneurship.

Although the millionaire businessman comes from a showbiz background (his father promoted large-scale concerts in Australia when Michael was a boy), his first calling was business.

S

trongly influenced by a teacher at school who was also a successful businessman, Michael Jacobsen sought his advice when he found himself struggling for money at university.

He was soon trading shares and monitoring his profit margin while attending lectures. No surprise that, after university, he went on to pursue a full-blown career as a stockbroker.

His exposure to company reports and meeting numerous people from big business boards gave him an insight into the deep workings of business. He had a skill for making money easily, but, after four years, he realised he was also a people person. So he turned himself from a stockbroker into an entrepreneur. As a ‘business angel’ he realised his family's entertainments business was a great place to invest.

Ten years ago, he bought the rights to Dirty Dancing, scoring a worldwide hit with the show. Pre-performance sales for the London show were the highest on record, and, after a decade, Dirty Dancing continues to play to full houses in London's West End. Today, Michael and his family also run numerous entertainment venues across Southeast Asia, many of which they built themselves, from 2,000 to 30,000

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We and our decisions both would be well served to take some of the famed detective’s advice

seaters.

Never one to stay still, he brings his boundless energy and vision new ventures. He has published a book, The Business of Creativity, which reveals how to combine entrepreneurial spirit with the arts. He also recently founded the Global Entrepreneur's Academy which helps overseas entrepreneurs enter the London business scene.

Michael and his companies have also been involved in promoting concert tours featuring performers like Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand as well as Fame The Musical and Disney Productions including The Lion King.

So what makes an entrepreneur?

"Generally I think with every entrepreneur I’ve ever met, be they small, medium or large, they're not doing it for the money. They're doing it because they’ve got a vision and a passion. Using those two things to create a product or service which is adding value to somebody’s life, then

THE BEST YOU

COVER STORY

that becomes magnetisable", he says.

In many ways, he sees the entrepreneur as the person who lights the fire then leaves it to others to tend.

"To do all that, and to sit on top of it, to conceive – that is what an entrepreneur does. Someone then manages it and takes it to the next step, that’s what the management team does. But the entrepreneur sees all that and basically incubates the baby, gives birth to the baby and conceives the baby. That’s what an entrepreneur does."

For him, the entrepreneur is central to the success of a country.

"Entrepreneurs give rise to small business, which in just about every economy around the world – certainly the UK and most other western economies – small businesses is the life blood of those economies. It’s not the big businesses, you know, half of which pay tax offshore with ridiculous complicated arrangements. It’s the people who are doing the hard yards every day; they're the nuts and bolts of most economies."

So, having moved to the UK from Australia, does that mean that ‘UK plc’ is a good place to do business?

"To me, the UK is certainly one of the hotbeds of entrepreneurialism in the world. There’s enormous support and enormous resources available, from government levels and all different private, public and social enterprise."

In fact, for Michael, London is more than a place to do business.

It's also a place where his people skills swing into play.

"What strikes me is that, certainly for me who loves business and loves dealing with entrepreneurs, being able to be in this market and work with an advisor, sit on boards and talk to entrepreneurs, it’s like being in Disney Land. Because you can really just engage with people, engage with their businesses, hear their stories.”

And what of their stories? Michael is fascinated by hearing how entrepreneurs decided to leave their jobs to fulfil their dreams, or how they're holding down a job to get an idea off the ground after hours and managing their life at the same time.

"All of these things are just not easy. It’s a lot easier to go and get a good job, get a salary and go home at 5 o’clock and just have a happy life. It’s easier, but if you're an entrepreneur, that’s not an option. There is only one option in your life and that’s to do what came into your mind and what came into your heart, whatever that idea is. It’s like an athlete running a race or an actor or anything else, where you're dealing with people with extreme passion", he says.

He compares the hard graft of the entrepreneur with the same dedication and mental tuning put in by Olympic athletes: "It’s the same with entrepreneurialism. There’s a long journey, and it involves a lot of psychology and business, particularly at the early stage. But even at the later stages, there’s so much psychology involved in it, and getting your head around things, and having the right mindset, and the right frame of mind."

Drop that mental framework for even a moment and you can find yourself overwhelmed by bills, meetings, a tidal wave of emails and admin while you're trying to innovate. "All these things just can become too much”, he says. “People can get consumed by negativity and then they don’t perform. So it’s a hard journey for entrepreneurs."

Thankfully, in the UK, Michael says that the Government is extremely supportive of business. It makes a difference and means that, for those seeking to start up who've maybe been made redundant or are fresh out of college, now is a great time.

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COVER STORY THE BEST YOU So, besides vision and passion, what advice does he give those wanting to start out in business? The first thing is to get others involved, especially to attract resources and know-how.

"You need to articulate and pitch for investment and get other people engaged in your idea, so you need to use your charm and your enthusiasm. It’s amazing how that acts as a powerful magnet.

People want to help, they want to donate their time, and they want to donate their services."

Another piece of the jigsaw is to get advice.

"If you can’t afford advice, that’s fine. Go to a government agency or to a social enterprise or to Startup Britain and get free advice.

You can find an uncle who’s got a business, who sold a company, or a long lost auntie who knows something about business. But you’ve got to get some sort of advice, some sort of sounding board."

Picking your adviser is important. They have two main roles, Michael explains: "It doesn't have to be somebody who is an expert on everything, because nobody is. Someone to bounce ideas back and forth; someone who’s gonna give you a sanity check about your ideas, but also give you positive support and encouragement. It’s terribly difficult to sit in your home, in your kitchen, or in your garage, or in Starbucks or wherever you want to sit just with your laptop and create."

And, as Michael said from the start, as a "people person" he knows the power of collaborating with others.

We and our decisions both would be well served to take some of the famed detective’s advice Ame re aus opos aus? Abena, ut "Creating is not a singular thing. The innovation comes out of your mind, but ultimately you’ve got to get that energy out there and bounce it around with other people—at least one other person to really start to manifest that into a business."

MICHAEL JACOBSEN AT A GLANCE  Born in Australia, where he attended a private school that drew students from many walks of life  Born into a family involved in show business and enter tainment, but inspired by a teacher, Mr Backslang, to have an interest in business  Unsatisfied with bar work, started dealing shares while studying for a business degree  After graduation, worked as a stockbroker, but, after four years, realised he needed a more people-centred job  Became a ‘business angel’, offering investment to start-up businesses  Began to see investment opportunities in his family business  Lost £10 million on a deal due to taking bad advice.

He is very clear that you need to get the right adviser!  With his family interests, has built entertainments venues across Southeast Asia, including 30,000 seaters  Has promoted tours including performers like Barbra Streisand, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen.  Promoted the massive hit stage shows of Fame The Musical and The Lion King  Brought the Dirty Dancing stage show to London's West End 10 years ago.  Now runs the Global Entrepreneur's Academy, which helps introduce foreign entrepreneurs to the UK  Is a multi-millionaire with many different businesses.  Now they are running courses, events and lectures to give people the skills they need to leave their corporate lives.

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THE BEST YOU

BOOK REVIEWS

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Great reading, viewing and listening to empower, entertain, enrich, delight and enhance. The Best You rounds up classics and new books and media products that will make a positive difference in your life.

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Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.”

– P.J. O’Rourke

BOOK REVIEWS

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THE BUSINESS OF CREATIVITY

BY MICHAEL JACOBSEN

Would you like to earn a living following your creative passion and doing what you love every day? This book will show you how. In The Business of Creativity, Michael Jacobsen draws on his rich experience of owning and operating global entertainment businesses to provide the practical guidance that creative start-ups need to get going. His two key mantras are that each business needs a vision, mission and values, and that the route to success is to observe those who have been successful in your sector and to model their approach. As well as explaining exactly how to do this, he covers the business essentials that all creative entrepreneurs need to consider. The creative sector is worth £36 billion a year to the British economy; it is big business and the opportunity is there for entrepreneurs in creative industries to start up and build successful businesses. But bridging the gap between creativity and commerce can be difficult - some see a conflict between artistic integrity and a profit motive, and how exactly do you take your spare room creative enterprise to the next level?

A great guide for anyone thinking about embarking on their entrepreneurial journey.”

– Andrew Humphries

30 | WWW.THEBESTYOUMAGAZINE.CO

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BOOK REVIEWS

PLAY MAGIC GOLF

BY STEPHEN SIMPSON

Prepare for a magical journey at the speed of light to steal from the world of hypnosis, meditation, Zen, NLP, universal laws, and quantum energy. You are guaranteed to be a better golfer, and will enjoy more confidence off the course too. Non-golfers have used these tools to create richness in their lives too.

Dr. Simpson’s methods have been used successfully by tour players, and helped them win tournaments, as well as by club golfers of all ability levels. Almost all the top players have mind coaches, and recognise the critical role they have played in their success.

Mind coaching is not for those who lack mental strength; it is for those who have already proven their resilience in golf, or in any other area of their life. Successful people are not afraid to discover just how much higher they can climb. Before you commit to discovering just how far you can take your game, ask yourself: - Am I really ready to experiment with new ideas, knowing they have worked for others?

- Am I frustrated that I do not have more to show for my efforts so far? - Am I ready to say ‘Enough is enough, it is time for something different?’ This is the third edition of Play Magic Golf, and builds on the successes of the first two editions, and the feedback and results obtained by its readers.

Simpson uses his experiences away from golf and transfers them into the golfing world.”

– Golf Monthly Magazine

WWW.THEBESTYOUMAGAZINE.CO | 31

BOOK REVIEWS

THE BEST YOU

THE ART OF THINKING CLEARLY

BY ROLF DOBELLI

Have you ever invested time in something that, with hindsight, just wasn’t worth it? Overpaid in an eBay auction? Continued doing something you knew was bad for you? Sold stocks too late, or too early? Taken credit for success, but blamed failure on external circumstances? Backed the wrong horse? These are examples of cognitive biases, simple errors we all make in our day-to-day thinking. But by knowing what they are and how to spot them, we can avoid them and make better choices - whether dealing with a personal problem or a business negotiation; trying to save money or make money; working out what we do or don’t want in life, and how best to get it. Already an international bestseller, The Art of Thinking Clearly is essential reading for anyone with important decisions to make. It reveals, in 100 short chapters, the most common errors of judgement, and how to avoid them. Simple, clear and always surprising, this indispensable book will change the way you think and transform your decision-making – at work, at home, every day.

A Swiss novelist and successful entrepreneur reveals the secrets of perfect decision-making.”

– Marie Claire

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THE BEST YOU

BOOK REVIEWS

THE PITCHING BIBLE

BY PAUL BOROSS

Every product started as an idea, a thought in someone’s mind. Thousands or even millions of people had the same idea, and one of those ideas became a reality. Not because it was the best idea, but because its creator had the courage and confidence to share it. It wasn’t necessarily the best idea. It was the best pitched. This book is called The Pitching Bible because it contains everything you need to know to develop your skills as an engaging and compelling presenter. It won’t teach you how to design computer slides because they are not the pitch.

You are the message. You are the product. You are the pitch. By reading, and taking to heart, these principles, you will be better at what you do. These seven secrets are the distillation of Boross’s years of frontline experience. He discovered the hard way what works, and after spending many years training and coaching people in developing the perfect pitch, it’s time for him to share these secrets with you. This book will not make your ideas any better. It probably won’t make you have your ideas any sooner, although with more confidence, you might well find yourself pitching your ideas much sooner than you would have done. This book will definitely help you to get your ideas across more effectively, and because of that, this book contains the Seven Secrets to your competitive advantage.

The clever structure of the book makes it perfect for less experienced pitchers as well as more experienced.”

– P. Heaney

WWW.THEBESTYOUMAGAZINE.CO | 33

BOOK REVIEWS

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ELEVEN RINGS

BY PHIL JACKSON

During his storied career as head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson won more championships than any coach in the history of professional sports. Even more important, he succeeded in never wavering from coaching his way, from a place of deep values. Jackson was tagged as the “Zen master” half in jest by sportswriters, but the nickname speaks to an important truth: this is a coach who inspired, not goaded; who led by awakening and challenging the better angels of his players’ nature, not their egos, fear, or greed. This is the story of a preacher’s kid from North Dakota who grew up to be one of the most innovative leaders of our time.

In his quest to reinvent himself, Jackson explored everything from humanistic psychology and Native American philosophy to Zen meditation. In the process, he developed a new approach to leadership based on freedom, authenticity, and selfless teamwork that turned the hypercompetitive world of professional sports on its head.

Jackson writes a convincing revisionist take, in which he emerges as an excellent coach.

Highly readable.”

– The New York Times

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LIVE LOVE LEGACY THE BEST

YOU

What do you want to be remembered for? What are your relationships like with those around you? How does life treat you - and how do you treat your life? There is so much good in you.

Enrich your life with the passion you feel and the connections you make.

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ROCKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Teenage Cancer Trust has done it again, raising remarkable funds through their concerts

SLAM DUNK SUCCESS

Stephen Simpson profiles arguably the greatest basket baller player of our time, LeBron James

WHAT DOES IT TAKE‌

...to be a poker player? We chat with poker player and media personality, Liv Boeree

LIVE LOVE LEGACY TEENAGE CANCER TRUST

ROCKING for a GOOD CAUSE Back at the helm of Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall, Roger Daltrey CBE, announced this year’s stellar line up for the shows, which took place from 24 to 30 March 2014. The line up included The Cure, Suede, Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini, and more.

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T

eenage Cancer Trust patron and The Who frontman, Roger Daltrey has been the driving force behind the concerts, which have raised over £17million for young people with cancer since 2000. The 2013 shows, which were guest curated by Noel Gallagher, were sold out, and Noel is back on board this year, helping Roger put together a fine week of shows with an eclectic mix of exceptional artists.

The Cure made a welcome return to the Royal Albert Hall following their acclaimed 2011 show, playing a full three-hour show on two consecutive nights. They also raised money for the charity on Record Store Day 2012 by releasing ‘Friday I’m In Love’ on a limited edition

7’’. Bandleader Robert Smith said: “The Cure are once again delighted and honoured to be playing the Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Ending the week of shows on Sunday 30 March, Suede performed their hugely acclaimed second album, Dog Man Star, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its release. Suede credits their performance for Teenage Cancer Trust in 2010 with getting the band back together.

Brett Anderson said, “It’s great being involved with Teenage Cancer Trust again. It’s a fantastic charity and we have a proud history of involvement with them. The gig we did for them at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010 was possibly my favourite ever show in 25 years of playing live.”

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST

Two-time BRIT Award winner and recipient of an Ivor Novello Award, Ed Sheeran’s debut album is now certified six-time platinum in the UK. Sheeran said: “When Noel asked me to play last year I couldn’t as I was touring Australia. I promised him and Roger that if they wanted me another time, I’d be there, so here I am! I’m the same age as some of the people the charity helps and it’s a real honour to be asked. I hope we raise lots of money and awareness for Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Paolo Nutini, whose new album, Caustic Love, is slated for release in April, also wowed the crowds. Paolo said: “This is an important cause and should have the support of as many people as possible.

Roger called and kindly invited me to be a part of this year’s Teenage Cancer Trust gigs. And when Roger calls, you simply say: ‘Yes! When d’ya need me!’”

As previously announced last year, OneRepublic headlined on Thursday 27 March. OneRepublic took the world by storm in 2007 with their debut release ‘Dreaming Out Loud’. Their recent single, ‘Counting Stars’, was number one last autumn for numerous weeks and is taken from OneRepublic’s third studio album Native.

Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall wouldn’t be complete without an evening of comedy. This year saw Jason Manford hosting, joined by the superstar talents of John Bishop, Micky Flanagan, Patrick Kielty, Rob Beckett, and Hal Cruttenden.

Jason Manford said: “I love these Teenage Cancer Trust gigs. They stand-out, not just because the atmosphere is always amazing, but also because of the young people with cancer I’ve met through being part of these shows for a number of years and visiting several of the charity’s specialist wards. They totally inspire me every single time.

It’s a great night with a stonking line-up. Buy your ticket now!”

Roger Daltrey was thrilled with the whole affair. “This is our fourteenth year at the Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust”, he said, “and I’m very happy to be back after handing the reins to Noel Gallagher for a year. The money raised is invaluable in helping young people with cancer, and in return for the public’s hard earned cash we put on some very special shows. This year The Cure and Suede return to play for us. How great to have Paolo Nutini, who was a teenager when we first started these shows. Even nearer to the age group that we serve is Ed Sheeran performing songs some of which were written when a teen himself.”

LIVE LOVE LEGACY

We and our decisions both would be well served to take some of the famed detective’s advice Ame re aus opos aus? Abena, ut ABOVE We live in a world of multitasking and making the most of every minute

MAIN PICTURE Those of us with busy city lives should pause for thought

MAIN PICTURE Those of us with busy city lives should pause for thought

The music and comedy shows are Teenage Cancer Trust’s flagship annual fundraising event. The money raised makes a massive difference to the lives of thousands of young people with cancer across the UK. As the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting teenagers and young adults with cancer, Teenage Cancer Trust relies on donations to fund a range of services that aim to improve their quality of life and chances of survival. All proceeds from the shows go towards providing this specialist care and support for young people with cancer.

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LIVE LOVE LEGACY THEBESTYOU

K N U D M A SL SUCCESS LEBRON JAMES is widely considered to be one of the best, if not the best, basketball player active in the game today. He slam-dunks with ease and makes shooting from the threepoint line look as easy as breathing. Dr. Stephen Simpson looks at what separates LeBron from the other ball players.

L

eBron James’s many achievements include winning two NBA champion titles with the Miami Heat. His move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to Miami in 2010 was controversial, but the change of scenery paid off for James – financially and professionally – when he led them to consecutive NBA titles in 2012 and 2013.

His playing form and leadership skills during this time convinced the experts: James is the best active player in the world. His is frequently compared to basketball legends like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Many feel that he is better than both.

His playing brilliance, warm personality, and stable personal and family life, have won him both respect and numerous lucrative endorsements. This has made him one of the highest paid athletes in the world, earning an estimated $56.5 million in 2013.

To the surprise of those not familiar with the world of basketball, many also consider James as one of America’s most disliked athletes. This dislike is linked to the manner and timing of his controversial move to the Heat in 2010. Loyalty is prized more highly in basketball than in many other sports, and Cleveland fans filmed themselves burning his shirt in disgust at his perceived disloyalty.

What makes LeBron James the best? You do not become the best by accident.

There are thousands of good basketball players, hundreds of great ones, but only one can be the best. The difference between the great players and the best in any sport is wafer thin. “The best” entails an exquisite balance of body, mind, and soul.

James is certainly an outstanding athlete, but he does not take this for granted. He knows how much hard work and preparation is required to maintain peak fitness.

Like all athletes, he is also acutely aware of how fragile optimum fitness can be. He has already suffered episodes of recurring lower back pain, and has

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THEBESTYOU designed a rigorous programme of ice treatment, stretching, yoga, and massage that has proven effective so far. He follows this programme several times a day, and on long flights will perform his stretching exercises hourly.

James also illustrates perfectly the connection between emotions and peak performance. If emotions are negative or unstable, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find the zone by having your head in the right place.

This is perfectly illustrated by the uproar that followed James’s decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for Miami Heat in 2010. The move affected him deeply, and James’s demeanour changed.

The ready smile was replaced with an angry glower. His form suffered too, as authenticity and balance is everything to peak performance.

In a Sports Illustrated interview in 2012, he explained how he was able to return to his winning ways. He told himself, “This is what you love to do and you’ve been doing it at a high level for a long time, and you don’t really need to change anything.

Just get back to what you do and how you play, smiling all the time and trying to dominate at the highest level. Do it with joy and do it with fun and remember that not too long ago this was a dream for you.

Playing in the NBA was the dream.

Don’t forget that again.

Just go out and

LIVE LOVE LEGACY

We and our decisions both would be well served to take some of the famed detective’s advice Ame re aus opos aus? Abena, utAque dent rest, officia delitatius volut venetur? improve.”

James was able to correctly identify that his negative emotions were affecting his form, and, indeed, his whole life. Fortunately this period of black moods was relatively short. James was able to move on, exert control over his emotions, and his form returned.

Other mental qualities that have made James so resilient, especially in times of adversity, include unshakeable self-confidence, a willingness to embrace criticism, and a grounded approach to dealing with pressure. He possesses the confidence that comes from knowing that if he follows all his key processes, the results will surely follow, and so he does not need to be worry about them.

The final ingredient needed to create James’s genius was luck – more specifically,

to have three special friends in high school, all of whom shared his obsession with playing basketball. They were Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, and Willie McGee. Talent hotspots in sport are a recurring theme, and not just in basketball.

LeBron James is living proof that talent on its own is not enough to perform at the highest level. It also requires massive commitment, time, mental strength, the best coaches, the best playing partners, and a healthy share of luck. James knows that this peak-performance cocktail is tenuous. As a result, he treats every day that he plays basketball as though it were his last, revelling in the simple joys of his game.

Perhaps you too have the potential to be the best in your chosen field?

Follow at least some of James’s success strategies, and the results that follow might just surprise you.

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LIVE LOVE LEGACY THE BEST YOU

TO BE A

poker player?

Part of being the best you can be is focusing on what it takes to get there. We’re continuing the “What does it take…?” column, which looks at this aspect of being the best. This month, we’re chatting with poker player and media personality LIV BOEREE.

ever hope for.

HOW DO YOU BECOME A POKER PLAYER? I learned to play on a TV show that took complete beginners and taught them how to play Texas hold ‘em, the most popular variant of the game. I was fresh out of university and was at a loss at what industry to move into. Fortunately, I loved everything to do with poker and started doing some reporting and TV presenting, along with playing whenever I could.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A POKER PLAYER? The freedom it gives me. I can pretty much choose whenever I play and therefore get a lot of time to dedicate to my other goals and passions such as TV presenting, science and adventuring. I also love the incredible friends I’ve made from it. I have the most fascinating, open-minded, international group of friends I could

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IT’S BEEN SAID THAT POKER ISN’T GAMBLING BECAUSE IT’S A GAME OF SKILL. THERE’S A REASON THE SAME PEOPLE ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES EVERY YEAR. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS STATEMENT? Poker involves both skill and luck, so yes, it is a form of gambling that you can use skill and theory to capitalise on opponents’ inferior skills. In regards to the World Series, anyone can enter it. However, you will often see similar faces appearing due to these players being more skilful than the average contestant.

BASED ON THE FEW POKER CHAMPIONSHIPS I HAVE WATCHED, IT SEEMS TO BE LARGELY A ‘MAN’S GAME’.

WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

THE BEST YOU

LIVE LOVE LEGACY

Poker is for anyone that loves competition, challenging decisions, and adrenaline. There are more and more women learning and doing well in the game each year – it’s just that old social tendencies take a while to balance out. When poker first became popular in the 1970s and ‘80s, I believe that women were perhaps discouraged to play. But as gender equality increases in society, more women who enjoy a challenge have taken up the game. I think poker will become much more mixed over the next ten years.

WHICH LIVING PERSON DO YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY? I can’t pick out any one person over others. I have huge admiration for those who dedicate their lives to advancing humanity, particularly in respects to our treatment of the planet and finding ways to live in harmony and respect of other species. Those who are constantly fighting to provide cleaner, more sustainable energy and put their selfish desires aside for the betterment of everyone.

WHAT’S YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT BEEN? Career wise, winning the European Poker Tour in Italy in 2010. However, I’m learning that my proudest achievements occur whenever I realise there’s something that I want to change about myself and actually fully succeed in doing it. Fixing the leaks in thinking and behavioural patterns that we all have, for example. It’s a constant work in progress, but when you or others notice positive change can be a great moment.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? When I was really young, I wanted to be horse. When that didn’t work out, I went for something a little more realistic such as an astronaut or fighter pilot. Then I wanted to be a tornado chaser and study storms, and then an astronomer. That lead me to go and study my degree in astrophysics – something I enjoy hugely.

WHEN LAST DID YOU SEE THE SUNRISE? Sunday, after a long online poker session.

HOW DO YOU RELAX? Sports and running around in nature mostly. I love anything outdoors – especially in the mountains. It’s a shame we don’t have more of them around London. I am also a big party animal. I love to dance and get lost in good music.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR? Bringing happiness, understanding, and rationality to people’s lives.

That would be awesome.

HOW DO YOU APPLY YOUR POKER SKILLS TO YOUR LIFE AWAY FROM THE TABLE? I’ve learned that sometimes, no matter how great you play or how optimally you’ve created a situation, the cards just don’t go your way, and you have to accept that. It’s slowly teaching me not to stress about the things you truly can’t control or influence – something that definitely applies in many parts of life.

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LIVE LOVE LEGACY ONE PLUS ONE

THE BEST YOU

FEEL & LOOK GOOD

THE BEST

YOU

Life Without Limits

TM

Feeling good about yourself makes the joy shine from your eyes and your skin. It makes others respond to you in new ways and it gives you a whole new outlook on life. Looking good draws others to you and enhances your life in ways you haven’t yet imagined. It’s great to find new ways to feel and look good now!

SNACKS YOUR TEETH HATE

Henry Clover from Denplan says we need to change our snacking habits

BSMOKE WITHOUT FIRE?

Richard Russell from Diamond Mist gives the lowdown on e-cigarettes

FEEL & LOOK GOOD HENRY CLOVER

‘HEALTHY’ SNACKS YOUR TEETH HATE Think back to the last snack that you ate – did you choose it for its low fat content, nutritional value, or just because you fancied it? Chances are, you probably didn’t think about your teeth.

Henry Clover from Denplan says it’s time that changed.

I

n a national survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Denplan, the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist, only 28 per cent of adults said they usually consider their oral health when they choose their snacks, potentially putting their teeth at risk.

There are two things to consider when you snack: what you’re eating and how often. Every time you eat or drink something sugary, the bacteria in your mouth produce acids that attack your teeth. Your saliva will naturally neutralise acid within an hour to help protect your tooth enamel, but your teeth can only withstand a few of these acid attacks a day before the enamel becomes damaged, which may lead to tooth decay. Continual snacking or “grazing” puts your teeth at risk. To help avoid this, it’s important to choose tooth-friendly snacks that are kind to your teeth in between meals, as well as reducing the overall number of times you snack each day. Three main meals a day and two snacks in between are ideal.

While most of us probably recognise that cakes, biscuits, sweets, and fizzy drinks are not tooth-friendly snacks, there are also some “healthy” snacks that can be bad for your teeth that might surprise you.

Most dentists would agree it’s important to choose snacks that are at once healthy for your body and teethfriendly. There are a lot of “healthy” snacks that are actually packed with hidden sugar that might not be so great for your teeth.

“Healthy” dental offenders:

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HENRY CLOVER

FEEL & LOOK GOOD

DRIED FRUIT From a nutritional point of view, dried fruit is often thought to be healthy snack because it’s low in fat and 100 per cent natural, but many people are probably unaware of the effects it can have on your teeth. Dried fruits contain natural sugars – fructose and glucose – and although these naturally occurring sugars are better for you than highly refined sugar, they can still cause tooth decay if snacked on frequently.

In terms of your oral health, there is little difference between snacking on raisins and jelly sweets or caramels – they’re both sugary, and their sticky texture means that they cling to teeth for a long time. For example, a standard 14-gram pack of raisins contains two teaspoons of sugar, which is probably a lot higher than most people realise. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy dried fruit, though – just keep it as part of mealtimes rather than as a snack.

Snack swap: In between meals, swap dried fruit for whole fresh fruit; snacky vegetable sticks such as carrots, cucumber and pepper; and nuts.

SMOOTHIES AND FRUIT JUICES While it’s true that smoothies and fruit juices contain nutritious vitamins, they are very high in natural sugars and acids and can be harmful to your tooth enamel if consumed frequently between meals. Some supermarket smoothies contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar per 250ml serving, which is actually higher than full sugar cola. Only one small 150ml glass of juice per day counts towards one of your “five a day”, so you’re much better off eating whole pieces of fruit and gaining the fibre value. If you’re giving fruit juice to children, always dilute one part juice to one part water and only offer it during mealtimes, in moderation.

Snack swap: In between meals, swap juices and smoothies for water and milk to drink, and eat whole fresh fruit to gain the full nutritional and fibre value.

CEREAL BARS AND YOGHURTS Many foods, such as cereal bars and flavoured yoghurts, are marketed as low fat but can contain very high levels of added sugar. We found one fat-free brand of yoghurt that contained a heaping five teaspoons of sugar per 150ml serving. It’s always important to check the label, even on low fat foods.

Snack swap: In between meals, swap snacks with high amounts of added sugar for natural or Greek yoghurt with a mix of fresh berries stirred in, such as blueberries.

For more information, check out: www.denplan.co.uk

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FEEL & LOOK GOOD

RICHARD RUSSELL

SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE?

F

rom pipes to paper, tobacco has been a seemingly unshakeable vice for centuries.

Sixty years ago, it took its place as the must-have fashion accessory and was even considered healthy. It wasn’t until 1957, when researcher Richard Doll established the link between tobacco smoking and cancer, that attitudes started to shift. A widespread advertising ban was set in motion in November 2002, antismoking campaigns replaced pro-tobacco propaganda,

and by 2007, smoking was outlawed in enclosed and public places – leaving smokers out in the cold… until now.

2004 saw the release of the e-cigarette, the answer to many smokers’ attempts to cut down and quit. Spreading over continents, from China to the US and eventually the UK, the “vaping” craze soon took hold, and the use of the discreet tobacco alternative soon became commonplace in pubs and on previously unbearably lengthy train journeys. E-cigarettes not only

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It wasn’t that long ago that doctors were actually prescribing cigarettes. The health sector has done a total 180, but that doesn’t stop people from being addicted to nicotine.

Many smokers trying to kick the habit need to replace cigarettes with something, but are they just replacing one evil with another? Richard Russell investigates.

offered smokers a lifestyle that they were forced to give up after the smoking ban, but also a healthier and safer substitute, which allowed them to regulate their nicotine intake.

Fast forward to 2012, and e-cigarette sales are up 340 per cent. As education surrounding the dangers of smoking and tobacco increased, smokers appeared to take conscious action in cutting down the risks of cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, smoking causes more than four in five cases of lung cancer, and is by far the most important preventable cause of cancer in the world.

Not only was it discovered that 48 per cent of ex-smokers in 2013 used e-cigarettes to help them quit, but a further 31 per cent used them to reduce their intake of tobacco, showing that we are taking active steps to curb our national tobacco addiction.

However, as vaping became more prevalent, the lack of

RICHARD RUSSELL knowledge surrounding the long-term effects of smoking e-cigarettes emerged and EU regulations tightened. When Brits were asked if e-cigarettes should be banned in various places, over 80 per cent of people responded that they should be banned on public transport, 71 per cent said a ban should extend to pubs, and more than half even claimed they would like to see them banned in the street. Already, several train lines, cinemas, pubs and coffee shops have put private bans on e-cigarettes.

One set of concerns has to do with safety and standardisation.

The UK body that oversees the regulation of medicines, the MHRA, says e-cigarettes currently available do not meet appropriate standards of "safety, quality and efficacy".

Speaking for the e-cigarette industry, Richard Russell from Diamond Mist, interestingly supported these concerns, saying that, “it seems counterintuitive but we are absolutely in favour of stricter regulation.

At the moment, the e-cigarette market has many ethical companies operating within it, but there are also plenty of cowboy operators and we believe the public will continue to not have trust in our products while these companies exist.”

Skeptics and pressure groups have voiced further concerns over the influence e-cigarettes have on children and how it “glamourises” smoking. Be that as it may, findings from a 2013 study by ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) revealed that children who have heard of e-cigarettes believe correctly that they are less harmful than cigarettes (74 per cent) and over half of 16-18 year olds knew that they contained nicotine.

Is our society preventing the development of something that could reduce the rate of smoking-related cancer, or are we taking the necessary precautions to protect our nation from dangers that are unclear? With e-cigarettes

FEEL & LOOK GOOD

being the most popular nicotine product in 2012 (beating patches, gum and inhalators), the evidence shows that the former may well be true.

The confidence e-cigarettes are giving smokers to quit is undeniable, but the question of their long-term safety still hangs heavy in the air.

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THE BEST YOU

WEALTH & RICHES

THE BEST

YOU

Life Without Limits

TM

Wealth [n] “happiness,” also “prosperity in abundance of possessions or riches” from Middle English “wele”, meaning “well-being”.

Riches [n] “valued possessions, money, property,” Making money and bringing greater wealth to EVERY area of your life...

FEAR OR FREEDOM Best-selling author Dr. John Demartini looks at the most common goals and what gets in the way of achieving them

FEELING THE SQUEEZE John Fairhurst from Payplan says it’s time to get your finances in order

THE SOLOPRENEUR MINDSET It’s scary starting a business alone. Natalie Ekberg has a checklist of what you need to do it

WEALTH & RICHES DR. JOHN DEMARTINI

PUTTING HERSELF FORWARD

W

hen Etta Cohen realised her marriage had come to an end, her future

looked bleak.

"My son had just had his second birthday and my daughter was six. It was not easy. I had to sell my home and I was left with a huge financial debt," she remembers.

Yet there is no doubt in her mind that her decision to divorce was right. "It was one of the best decisions of my life."

That decision came in 1988, after she had been trapped in an unhappy marriage for 15 years.

"From day one it was the biggest mistake I ever made," she affirms. Marrying in 1973, she bowed to societal pressure to stay in the marriage, though she knew things weren't right.

"There was a sense of duty and stigma and all those kinds of things. It actually destroys you as an individual. There comes a day when something happens, maybe something small, but it's the straw that breaks the camel's back. It was the best day for me, because that was the day I started to live."

Her life experiences gave Etta the insight to see what

Benardo Moya talks to Etta Cohen, and finds out how she founded Forward Ladies, and has become a beacon for woman entrepreneurs countrywide.

support other women needed.

Etta grew up in Yorkshire in the 1960s, the daughter of a small businesswoman and a father who was a "hard grafter". She was not academically gifted, but worked hard.

"I struggled with science and maths, I was never a great writer, so English wasn't that good either," she recalls. One subject did leave a lasting impression. "I loved History. I

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just love anything to do with, you know, where we've come from, why things happened." It was an inspiration to Etta, and it encouraged an enquiring mind in her.

That's why, after going to teacher training college she took up a role as a teacher, working for 20 years in the inner city in Leeds.

"I met some amazing young people, some of them I'm still in touch with now.

What you had there was the

DR. JOHN DEMARTINI

real spark and fire – feisty young people who because of their circumstances and their background were written off before they came to school. We should all be looking to help and support other people and that's what I liked to do and what I do today."

There's no doubt that her own background and experiences inspired her to help women in the years after she left her work as a teacher. She worked with the Development Agency supporting women in the Yorkshire area who wanted to go into business as part of the state-funded Forward Yorkshire initiative.

After the funding looked like it was going to dry up, in 2000 Etta set up her own business – Forward Ladies.

"It's all about supporting women. Whether they’re in employment, whether they’re in business, whether they’re a student, whether they’re starting a business, it doesn’t matter where they are. We don’t judge anybody, but we help them with training,

through mentoring, through introducing them to role models, through speakers and celebrating success through awards."

Etta explains that Forward Ladies is all about giving women opportunities, not to a template, but by helping them find what success means for them. She adds: "I think, for me, that’s absolutely key because at different stages in my life, success looked different. It’s different now than it was when I was homeless with two babies.

Success was feeding them every night, now they’re grown up, success is making Forward Ladies a success. So what we say is wherever you are on your journey, whatever challenges you’re facing, you’ll go through different chapters and success will be different.

We don’t judge that."

As she explains, not every woman wants to be on a Board.

Some want to run a small business from home, others want to work part time. "That’s fine," she says with a smile.

WEALTH & RICHES "We can help you get there, we can train you, we can support you, we can get you mentors, we can listen to your stories, we can put you in the company of likeminded women where you can share and support one another."

It's a growing success.

Currently Forward Ladies covers Yorkshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire, the North West, the East Midlands, London and parts of Scotland. In the next few years Etta plans for the company to be UK-wide - as well as having connections overseas.

With well over 13,000 women signed up and engaging, from major corporations small businesses and individuals, Forward Ladies is a fabulous opportunity for women to work together, learn from each other and succeed. All from the brain of someone who struggled herself at school and has a burning desire to help others get on.

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WEALTH & RICHES NATALIE EKBERG

WRITE YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS It has been said that everyone has a book in them. This usually refers to a novel or a memoir, but what about writing a book solely for marketing purposes. Self-publishing a book is one of the best ways to increase your profile, explains Gerry Robert.

W

hen you become an author you instantly gain several advantages to help you promote your business. I'm not talking about trying to write a "best seller" or being the next JK Rowling or John Grisham.

I’m not talking about even selling the books, I’m taking about using it as a marketing tool; self-publishing a book for one purpose and one purpose only that is boosting sales and income.

A BOOK GIVES YOU CREDIBILITY People who have published a book are perceived as experts. Prospects see your name and face on a book cover and in our culture, you are viewed as credible and as an authority figure.

Plain and simple, the more

credible you are, the more sales you will make. Why? Because people will trust you more.

A BOOK GIVES YOU FREE ADVERTISING Despite popular opinion to the opposite, radio stations, TV shows, magazines, newspapers are looking to give you free publicity. They start every day with an empty page and they want to give you exposure. And who gets that exposure? Published authors!

The value of this seems obvious but when you are visible and people see you on TV or hear you on the radio, it helps your business.

A book has given me over £5 million of free advertising.

A BOOK HELPS YOU DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF FROM THE COMPETITION There are thousands of people who offer what you offer. Why should they buy from you?

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Competition is stiff today!

Imagine this; an estate agent is making a presentation to the owners of a nice house worth over £2 million. Of course, they will likely interview several agents before granting the listing to one of them.

Before leaving, our imaginary agent says something like "Mr. Jones, I know and fully expect you will speak with several agents before making this important decision. Can I ask you to do just one thing before making that decision?

Please read the chapter in my book entitled ‘How to Find an Estate Agent You Can Trust?’

Then he autographs a copy of his book for the homeowner.

What has just happened to his competition? Obliterated!

A BOOK OPENS DOORS Christian Warren wanted to meet CEOs of large enterprises to offer his unique Internet architectural services. The

NATALIE EKBERG

WEALTH & RICHES

THE BEST

problem is that CEOs don’t speak to IT people.

But how could he get in? Well, he writes a book entitled Running with the Rhinos, a book on leadership. It's a topic of great interest to his target audience. Now, before making a sales call to the CEO he sends them a copy of this book along with an autograph, which includes the following:

YOU

Life Without Limits

Dear Mr. CEO My mentor told me that I should give my book to the hundred most positive people in this city, I hear you're one of them. Enjoy the book!

Yours truly, Christian Warren A book attracts prospects Instead of cold calling or any other outdated rejectionbased strategy, why not make the people who are likely to buy your product or service come directly to you?

How do you do this? Do what Rozieta Shaary did. Every week she would advertise her practice with an ad that cost £1,500. She would typically receive 15 to 20 calls every time that ad ran. After attending our seminar, I suggested she publish a book and offer it for free in her advert. The result?

She consistently got 500 phone calls from the same £1,500 ad.

If you want to become a magnet to prospects… Write a book!

Last Can month you believe we saw that The the Wolf next ofissue Wall is already Street May? grace We the find it silver hardscreen, to believe so we as well, thought but just that because now time wasis a good running time away to have from an in-depth us doesn't look mean at itswe're leading not man, busy Leonardo putting together DiCaprio. a So great he isissue March's for you. cover star!

With Gail Kingbury as our We've new also contributing got some great editor, tips from we are bestselling getting author some Thomas real quality Gagliano content. about This recapturing issue it wasintimacy Ariana inHuffington, your relationship. and we're And we sure get that back next to profiling month'ssports contributor greats. will be on the same Allhigh this and standard. so much more. Looking forward to it. www.thebestyoumagazine.co WWW.THEBESTYOUMAGAZINE.CO | 53

WEALTH & RICHES NATALIE EKBERG

PITCH PERFECT

W

Pitching is becoming increasingly important in almost everyone’s working life, says Paul Borros, aka The Pitch Doctor, whether it’s pitching to new clients, for investment or a new job. In theory, pitching is one of the easiest activities in business, yet it is often the most vital as well. One mistake can make all the difference between success and failure.

hile business people pitch in a huge variety of situations, what is always constant is the element of human interaction. Regardless of the product, the level of investment, or the importance of the client, the same basic principles are the keys to success. I’ve put together ten of my own tips for you to help you enjoy more success in pitching:

ARE YOU NERVOUS? Being nervous is a good sign. It means that you’re connected with what’s really going on, and it’s certainly better than arrogance. Don’t worry about breathing exercises or icebreakers, as the most likely cause of anxiety isn’t what’s happening but what you’re imagining – or fearing – will happen. Change that mental image to something neutral: an audience interested in what you have to say, willing to listen, and able make a fair decision.

FOCUS ON THE RIGHT GOAL. Ask your colleagues what their pitching goals are and they might say, “To win the deal.” This is a completely unrealistic goal, because you can’t control the client’s decision, and you can’t control your competitors. Instead, refocus on a goal that is totally under your control, such as “Get my message across and check that the audience understands it.”

WHEN DOES THE PITCH BEGIN? SHIFT THE BALANCE. Human interactions have a balance of power – or at least we often think that they do. We might put an important client on a pedestal, and a junior buyer we might view as less important, but take away the situations and uniforms and you’ll see that we’re all equal. A pitch isn’t an opportunity to impress someone important; it’s an opportunity to form a balanced, equal, and fair business relationship.

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Your pitch doesn’t begin when you think it does; it begins the moment that the audience first commits to hearing your pitch, because that is the point at which they begin to form their opinions of you. The way that you write your invitation, the way that you walk into the room, and what you say as you’re getting ready sets the stage for the pitch itself.

NATALIE EKBERG

UNDERSTAND WHY YOU’RE THERE Many pitchers, especially nervous ones, think that they are pitching to convince the audience, to persuade them. In fact, the audience has already made a decision about you, and the result is that you are standing in front of them. Therefore, you are not there to convince them of anything; you are there to fill in the gaps and reassure them that the decision they have already made was a good one.

RESEARCH To a professional audience, nothing is more frustrating than someone who hasn’t done their homework. The Internet is overflowing with information about companies and individuals, and to even spend ten minutes researching your audience’s business, competitors, history, and goals is an investment that will tell your audience that you’re interested in them and you have tailored your pitch to their needs.

WEALTH & RICHES

STOP SELLING Make your pitch and then shut up. So many people repeat themselves or continue selling, becoming more and more desperate and making the audience more and more resistant. The silence is not yours to fill, so keep quiet and let the customer think over what you have presented to them.

FOLLOW UP The pitch begins long before you stand up, and it ends long after you have left the room. A well-delivered pitch will continue to echo in the customer’s ears long after they’ve left the meeting. A follow up letter is an absolute must. Keep it short, one page maximum, and use it to reiterate the main messages of your pitch. Sign off by clearly and concisely asking for what you want.

AVOID BENEFITS Oddly, when you speak about benefits rather than features, you break rapport.

Clearly convey specific, key features and ask your audience what the benefits are for them. Features are objective, benefits are subjective, so make the most of that distinction.

ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT So many people say that they are pitching to inform or help your audience. That’s not true. You’re pitching because you want something. You know it, and your audience knows it. Having the courage to ask for what you want will earn respect from your audience, and having the common sense to realise that they are giving you their time because they already know what you want shows that you respect them.

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WEALTH & RICHES

THE ROCKY ROAD TO SUCCESS

DAVID WEIR

DREW BARRYMORE

WHEELS UP

DOWNSIZING DISTRACTIONS

I have never seen myself as disabled” David Weir was born with a barrier: from birth, he was not able to use his legs, due to a rare spinal cord condition.

But as a youth in Wallington, Weir hit the ground running, so to speak. He became an accomplished wheelchair athlete at an early age. When he wasn’t competing in junior events, such as the London marathon, which he won seven times, Weir was honing his own brand of persistence and work ethic, which he applied to the problem of schools’ lack of wheelchair athletics.

David Weir’s first appearance on the international stage came when he was 17 at the 1996 Summer Paralympics Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Subsequently, counting burnout and lack of motivation as reasons for taking a break from the professional athletic life, Weir later returned to competition with a vengeance at the Summer Games in Athens, Greece, where he picked up two medals.

The Beijing and London games collectively yielded eight medals for Weir, six of them gold.

He has cited his coach, Jenny Archer, as a big influence on his career, as well as his three children. In 2013, Weir was appointed Commander of Order of the British Empire for his contributions to athletics.

Not content to settle down, David Weir has spent his life wheels up.

I want people to love me, but it's not going to hurt me if they don't.”

An objective observer might think that Drew Barrymore was born with the proverbial silver spoon in her mouth. She is a member of the legendary American stage and screen family, the Barrymores, yet she has forged a path uniquely her own, both on screen and off of it. She began her acting career with some truly memorable roles in films such as E.T. and Firestarter.

A Hollywood lineage combined with extremely early success as a child actor led to problems in Barrymore’s formative years. She was smoking cigarettes and doing hard drugs by the age of thirteen. After multiple stays in rehab in her mid-late teens, she began to act out her demons on the silver screen. As she began to grow into her twenties and remained mentally stable, Barrymore ceased acting out for the sake of attention and recommitted herself to her craft. Amidst a string of critically acclaimed and popular films such as Boys on the Side and The Wedding Singer, Barrymore shored up her act even further, forming her own production company, Flower Films. After settling down in a happy marriage and giving birth to a daughter, Drew Barrymore has proven that putting the past to bed and living a balanced, well-rounded life, is possible, even in the midst of the Hollywood spotlight.

• “MOST OF US FALL INTO A DEPRESSION AT THE SLIGHTEST INCONVENIENCE. DAVIS WEIR IS PROOF THAT THE MIND IS YOUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL.”

• " BEING A SUCCESS EARLY IN LIFE COMES WITH PROBLEMS; PROBLEMS THAT MANY DON’T OVERCOME. BARRYMORE IS AN INSPIRATION TO MANY.”

– BERNARDO MOYA

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– BERNARDO MOYA

THE ROCKY ROAD TO SUCCESS

WEALTH & RICHES

MARY SHELLEY

SYLVESTER STALLONE

PHILOSOPHER AND MONSTER MAKER

ONE FIGHTING CHANCE

Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”

Born in London in the late 18th century, Mary Shelley’s life began in tragedy. Her mother passed away from childbirth complications when Shelley was eleven days old. Philosophically advanced for his day, Shelley’s father, William Godwin, would make sure that she knew her late mother well. Both of her parents were philosophers, educators, writers, and feminists. Godwin was constantly in debt, but his trailblazing philosophical and political works were so popular in the philosophical movements of the day that he was often bailed out of debt by more financially successful patrons and peers.

As a result of this unstable ground, Mary and her sister were sent to stay with family friends for extended periods. It was at on one of these visits that her true thirst for knowledge and love of words began to flourish.

She became romantically involved with the radical poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, from whom she would later take her married name. Percy had learned the writings of Mary’s father and had become friendly with the family.

In 1816, the couple travelled to Lake Geneva, and out of this creative sojourn, Frankenstein was born. Mary Shelley was in the company of great thinkers, writers and activists her whole life. Yet, more than any of them, her timeless creations – Frankenstein and his monster – have proved to be the ones most truly immortal.

• "MARY SHELLEY PAVED THE WAY FOR MANY LITERARY WOMEN, OVERCOMING PERSONAL TRAGEDIES AS WELL AS THE PREJUDICES OF HER TIME.”

Success is usually the culmination of controlling failure.”

Born in 1946, Sylvester Stallone has been called Sly for as long as he can remember – an appropriate nickname considering how much he has embodied the trait throughout his film career. His father came to America from Italy in the early 20th century, and his mother hailed from Ukrainian-Jewish and French origins. He spent his formative years in New York City, but spent his high school years in Philadelphia. After some early film work in less-than-savoury roles, his career changed almost overnight when, born out of his desperate circumstances, he wrote the script for, and starred in Rocky. He went on to earn simultaneous Oscar nominations, for best screenplay and best actor. Through the 1980s and ‘90s, Stallone kick-started hugely successful film franchises such as Rocky and Rambo. At the same time, he was taking a physical beating, accruing several injuries over the years that he has since covered up with meaningful tattoos he proudly sports on screen.

However, through the heartache of failed marriages and the deaths of close family, Sylvester Stallone has never been one to waiver when it comes to optimism.

Reinvigorated after the success of The Expendables, he finds himself once again at the helm of a hugely popular Hollywood film franchise, and he’s not looking back.

• “A TRUE HOLLYWOOD SELF-STARTER, SLY STALLONE IS PART OF A DYING BREED OF ACTION HEROES. HE HAS OVERCOME GREAT HARDSHIPS AND DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED.”

– BERNARDO MOYA

– BERNARDO MOYA

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THE BEST YOU DIRECTORY The Best Professionals in Personal Development

UNITED KINGDOM

SPORTS THERAPISTS AND NUTRITIONISTS

Dr Stephen Simpson: NLP, Hypnotherapy, and Havening Email: doc@drstephensimpson.com Website: www.drstephensimpson.com clients include leading names from the world of sport, business, and the entertainment industries.

Shayna Schulman: Attitude adjuster and flexibility enhancer Email: Shayna.s@virgin.net Phone: +44 (0) 208 960 7715 Licensed trainer, coaching, consulting, yoga, nutrition

NLP TRAINERS Tina Taylor: Licensed Master Trainer and Practitioner Email: kay@the-me-group.com Phone: +44 (0) 7946 351640 Website: tina@tina-taylor.com Tina’s experience allows her to create and provide some very unique coaching services from stopping addictions to pregnancy and pain control.

Ulrika Shaw: Coach, Thrive consultant, hypnotherapist and NLP trainer Phone: +44 (0)7810 556029 Email: enquiry@shawmind.co.uk Website: www.shawmind.co.uk Are you suffering from anxieties or depression? Maybe you’re struggling with bad habits such as overeating or smoking? I help people overcome anything that holds them back!

Geoff Rolls: Corporate Coach, NLP Trainer, Kinesiologist Email: geoff@geoffrolls.co.uk Phone: +44 (0)7905 056 513 Website: www.geoffrolls.co.uk Learning and development, NLP Trainer, TFH Kinesiology Instructor

June O’Driscoll: Exec Coach, Business Coach, Trainer Email: june@thoughtitude.co.uk Phone: +44 (0)7876 657 8055 Website: www.thoughtitude.co.uk NLP, Coaching and Hypnotherapy Training School and Consultancy

LIFE COACHES Dr Andrew A Parsons: Mindfulness, Resilience and Finding Clear Purpose Phone: +44 (0)7854 029 268 Email: aaparsons@reciprocalminds.com I am Neuroscientist, Executive Leader and Credentialed Coach. I support people build awareness and make changes for success

Dustin Vice: Personal and Business Development Coaching Email: dustin@alliancecoachingsystem.com Website: www.alliancecoachingsystem.com Professional Coaching, Coaching Business system for professional coaches

Gail Cherry: Torchlight Coaching Email: gail@torchlightcoaching.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0)1143 489 161 Website: www.torchlightcoaching.co.uk I help people at a profound level with their personal and professional development. Together, we work on your ‘self’ to be the best you.

Ruth Hepworth: Life Coach Email: ruth.hepworth@ntlworld.com Phone: +44 (0)1252 655 849

Those Life Consultant Guys: Coaching, Seminars. Business, goal setting and more.

Website: www.thoselifeconsultantguys.com A coaching company who pride ourselves in helping you live your best life; every day, through one on one sessions and seminar programmes.

Laura Spicer: Improve your public speaking skills and gain confidence Email: laura.spicer@gmail.com Phone: 01752 361 576 Website: www.laura-spicer.com The only accredited Sound Practice Trainer for the Society of NLP

Edson Williams: Life Coaching Email: edson@leadbyexample.com Phone: +44(0)7867517777 Website: www.leadbyexample.com skype: leadbyexample I specialise in leadership development and mastery and sport coaching

David Owen: Life Coach & NLP Trainer Email: bestyou@excel-yourself.com Phone: 07900 243494 Website: www.excel-yourself.com NLP Master Practitioner, Hypnotherapist and Alexander Teacher with 23 years experience.

Stop smoking, slimming, phobias, relationships, stress, confidence, self-esteem.

PHOBIA SPECIALISTS John Vincent: Public speaking without fear Email: John@JohnVincent.tv Website: www.johnvincent.tv

Phone: +44 (0)7808 545 421

Paul Wright: Phobias, Anxieties, Panic Attacks Email: paul@phobiagone.com Phone: +44 (0)203 086 8444 Website: www.phobiagone.com

NLP THERAPISTS / HYPNOTHERAPISTS Linda Cameron and Gail Walshe: Inspire For Impact Email: say-hello@inspireforimpact.com Phone: +44 (0)845 601 7567 Website: www.inspireforimpact.com NLP Trainers, NLP Master Practitioners, NLP Life Coaches, Hypnotherapists

EUROPE

Debbie Williams: Birmingham NLP Practice Group Website: www.debbiewilliams.co.uk Phone: +44 (0)121 241 0728 Life coaching, public speaking, sports coaching, all eating disorders, emotional mastery, OCD, stopping blushing, cocaine addiction, binge drinking.

NLP TRAINERS

Pasquale Acampora (Italy): Master Trainer and Mental Coach, NLP, Team building Website: www.blackship.it Phone: +39 (0)335 70 99 000 Pasquale’s key areas are sport and business, he has worked with top athletes and multinational companies.

Alessandro Mora (Italy): Sport Coaching Email: a.mora@ekis.it Phone: +39 (0)522 337 611 Website: www.pnlekis.com NLP, coaching and team building applied to sport and business all over Italy

Xavier Pirla (Spain): NLP Master Trainer and NLP Coach Email: kay@the-me-group.com Phone: 91 002 84 44 (Madrid) Website: www.the-me-group.com 93 193 6449 (Barcelona) NLP, NLP Business Applications, Coaching workshops and Consultancy

Aleksander Sinigoj (Slovenia): Mastermind Academy Email: info@itnlp.com Website: www.aleksandersinigoj.com Leadership, Motivation, Sales, Business NLP

If you’d like to be featured on this list, please contact us on 0203 011 0866 or email advertising@thebestyou.co Visit www.thebestyoudirectory.co for more personal development professionals.

TOP TIPS ROBIN SHARMA BELIEVE IN YOUR POTENTIAL

DO WHAT YOU DO BEST The best way to get more done is to do a lot less. I know I’ve been on this learned minimalism kick for the past few years, but I’m getting it at a whole new level now. On this trip, I noticed a woman carrying a handbag made by a famed watchmaker.

This firm makes genius-level watches, but their handbags are grotesque. They seem to have forgotten what they do best, which has led them down the path of destroying their brand and alienating their customers. So, to get more done, say no to most of the fantastic opportunities that are presented to you but are not in your sweet spot.

TIPS TO BE

Your belief about your potential determines whether you’ll express that potential. It comes from every possible influence: our parents, our teachers, our friends, television, every book we’ve read, and every place we’ve been. They all come together – subconsciously – to form our personal story. And here’s the powerful idea: we always behave in a way consistent with our self-identity.

What we think about our potential determines whether we take steps to fully express it or whether we leave it lying on the table as unfulfilled promise.

QUIETLY

SUCCESSFUL

While on his tour, spreading the Lead Without a Title message that’s grown into a movement, Robin Sharma has learned a lot. Please allow him to share four of the finest of the lessons with you.

STAY POSITIVE SET MASTERY GOALS The nature of the goals you set is massively important. Goals based on looking better than others deliver less motivation and persistence than goals based on trying to improve your performance. So set ‘mastery goals’ versus ‘ego goals’. Setting goals based on your ego is a recipe for disappointment as there will always be someone prettier than you, more stylish that you, or richer than you. But if you set goals to improve your performance, you will be so pleased with your progress that it will not matter what your ego thinks.

Optimism isn’t some soft concept for weak people. It’s an absolutely essential element for anyone in hot pursuit of elite performance and professional mastery.

Here’s my point: we often tell ourselves we’ll cultivate optimism once we become successful, but recent research confirms that developing optimism leads to success. Optimists have been shown to have greater mental focus, more energy, better creativity, and more stamina when things get hard. It’s a cycle of positivity that is tough in the beginning, but you’ll find it much easier to keep going once you gain some momentum.

THE BEST YOU

21ST CENTURY LIVING

THE BEST

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The pace of change can sometimes bewilder, but it can also give amazing opportunities to meet new people, discover new things and thrive. Bring out the best in you by discovering the latest innovations that will put you ahead of the pack.

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BEWARE THE CATFISH

Internet dating has spawned a new type of con artist – the Catfish. Jess Fletcher explains

STREAMING STARS

Kelsey Anderson looks at some of the biggest stars who got their break through YouTube

21ST CENTURY LIVING

JESS FLETCHER

BEWARE OF THE CATFISH According to Jess Fletcher, there’s no denying it: we live in a digital age. These days, nearly everyone has a website, or a Twitter profile, or a Facebook account. In this online world we live in, a new term has been coined.

Ladies and gentlemen, beware of the catfish.

A

catfish is a person who creates a fake online persona.

There are a few reasons why being a Catfish would be attractive.

For example, a person who is lonely or in some way socially stunted may create an alter ego, through which they can live out the type of fantasy life that may be out of reach to

them in the real world. Some of them seek out friendships, others, romances. Some Catfish even profit from people they’ve been speaking to on social media by pretending to be ill or in some way down on their luck, conning money out of people to help with their supposed cancer treatment or to pay their bills after they’ve lost their job.

You may be asking how

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MAIN PICTURE Internet dating is an inviting option for introverts

OPPOSITE BELOW Ariel Schulman and Nev Schulman produce the show, Catfish

could anyone be so gullible that they would allow themselves to be taken advantage of like that.

Unfortunately, it seems to be surprisingly common. The term ‘catfish’ comes from a 2010 feature-length documentary of the same name. The film follows Yaniv ‘Nev’ Schulman, a 24-year-old New York-based photographer who believes that he is developing an online friendship with a beautiful, shy young woman called Megan, even beginning to fall in love with her. But aspects of Megan’s life seem questionable, and as some simple online snooping sheds more and more light on her lies, Nev discovers that Megan is really Angela, a married, middle-aged woman who gave up a career to care for her husband’s severely disabled sons. Angela created Megan as a way to escape from a life in which she feels trapped.

The documentary was screened at Sundance Film Festival and was such a success that Nev now hosts a spin-off show, dedicated to helping people find out if their online friend or love interest is all that they appear to be. And, you guessed it, most of the time they are not. In the two-season history of the show, only a handful of the relationships have progressed beyond the initial meeting. Women, who for

JESS FLETCHER

months had thought they were talking to men, were actually, it turned out, talking to other women. Some catfish even turned out to be people that the victims knew in their real day-to-day lives.

As crazy as it sounds, it seems that it is possible to become close to and even fall in love with someone you’ve never met. In the advent of online dating websites, it’s even become somewhat of the norm to meet new people online. But that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Despite best intentions, it is entirely possible to let down your guard when you feel comfortable enough with someone you’ve been talking to for a while.

And if it can happen to anyone, it’s becoming increasingly important to protect children and impressionable young adults from becoming victims.

The following three suggestions should help.

INVESTIGATE Despite the dangers catfish pose to Internet users, there are fantastic tools available that can help you check references.

If you’re talking to someone you’ve never met, there’s no shame in Googling their name, making sure that they are really

employed where they say they are, or running their photo through a Google image search.

Don’t think of it as dishonest - think of it as protecting yourself. You’ll be surprised by how much you can find out on your own.

INSIST ON PROOF OF IDENTITY There’s no need to be demanding about this. Simply suggest a video chat over Facetime or

21ST CENTURY LIVING

ABOVE LEFT Always insist on a video chat if you start dating someone online

ABOVE RIGHT Tell your friends that you are using online dating. A second opinion always helps

Skype. If they are who they say they are, they should have no trouble making this happen. If you feel the person is making excuses for too long - their webcam is broken, or there are always people around - you’ve got a right to be suspicious.

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL In the world of Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, it’s completely normal to be “friends” with someone you don’t know. It’s important to educate kids and teens about the dangers of speaking to new people online. Complaining about their parents and the amount of homework they have is one thing, but if they’re being coerced into handing over credit card information, or even sending explicit pictures of themselves to the cute guy who’s a friend of a friend, that’s another matter entirely.

As long as the Internet exists, catfish will be negotiating its waters. As long as you and your loved ones are aware of the dangers, you can rest easy. b

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21ST CENTURY LIVING

KELSEY ANDERSON

STREAMING

STARS

There are many YouTube sensations out there, but how did they pull it off? The power of social media is still proving that an unknown artist can seek and find fame via YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Kelsey Anderson has some examples.

I

t’s quite simple really: someone stumbles upon a video that they enjoy, and share it with their friends.

The average Facebook user has 245 friends, while the average Twitter profile has 126 followers. All it takes is one friend to share a video, and it can quickly spread like wildfire through Facebook and Twitter feeds. Some videos can reach millions of views in just days.

The following artists have found fame and fortune from their YouTube and social media sites. All of them are successful in unique ways, and if you haven’t seen their videos yet, take a look. You’ll soon see why these went viral and jumpstarted their careers.

JUSTIN BIEBER TOTAL VIDEO VIEWS: 2.3 BILLION Though many people criticize pop-idol Bieber, one cannot deny his singing capabilities.

On January 19, 2007 a 12-year old Bieber posted his first video on his YouTube channel, ‘kidrauhl’. One year later, he posted soon-to-be viral video of himself covering Chris Brown’s ‘With You’. This is the song that catapulted his career by capturing the attention of Scooter Braun, a marketing executive. After flying Bieber

out to Atlanta, GA to sing for Usher, the teenager was signed to Raymond Braun Media Group.

The rest is history.

YouTube URL: http://tinyurl.com/m5vf2do

GREYSON CHANCE TOTAL VIDEO VIEWS: OVER 100 MILLION This 12-year-old boy from Edmond, Oklahoma posted a video of himself singing ‘Paparazzi’

by Lady Gaga. Within months the video had gone viral, and Ellen DeGeneres flew him to LA to be on her talk show. This cycle of events led Chance to sign a record deal and release a CD within the year. Now, the 15-year-old’s music tastes are changing, but his fans are still right beside him.

YouTube URL: http://tinyurl.com/mhtudlc

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The average Facebook user has 245 friends, while the average Twitter profile has 126 followers.

All it takes is one friend to share a video, and it can quickly spread like wildfire

THE GREGORY BROTHERS TOTAL VIDEO VIEWS: 275 MILLION The Gregory Brothers are a little unconventional in their video productions. They began by releasing ‘Auto-tune The News’, in which they would take otherwise dull political speeches and events and add auto-tuned music, making the politicians seemingly dance and sing.

When this side of their business began to grow, they began taking already-viral videos, and creating an auto-tuned musical version. Some of the most famous videos include: ‘A Song by Charlie Sheen’, ‘Oh my Dayum’, and ‘Double Rainbow Song’. At the 83rd Academy Awards, The Gregory Brothers were asked to create a short musical to be aired during the program.

This video was a hit, and even earned them an Emmy nomination in 2011.

YouTube URL: http://tinyurl.com/5tmzz32

KELSEY ANDERSON

KARMIN TOTAL VIDEO VIEWS: 200 MILLION

MARIA ARAGON TOTAL VIDEO VIEWS: 150 MILLION

Karmin is a rap-pop duo that met while attending school in Boston. As it turns out, Amy, the female portion of Karmin can rap very well, making waves with her cover of ‘Look at Me Now’ by Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Wayne in 2011.

Quickly after this video went viral, they met with huge promoters like Ryan Seacrest and Ellen DeGeneres and released ‘Brokenhearted’ in 2012. This song was a commercial success, and landed on the US pop.

YouTube URL: http://tinyurl.com/7ym5wz5

Maria Aragon is a YouTube and Twitter sensation. She got her start by recording covers on her YouTube channel, but wasn’t getting much traction until Lady Gaga herself tweeted out her video link. With Gaga’s 52-million followers, Aragon’s viewership increased by 11 million in the first week. Since her online debut, she has enjoyed a fruitful career, taking advantage of the advertising industry and recording commercials for The Gap and HTC mobile phones.

YouTube URL: http://tinyurl.com/n9g9uqb

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REBECCA BLACK TOTAL VIDEO VIEWS: 200 MILLION

The power of going viral is clearly seen in these examples.

Their success – or at least fame - proves that there is power in pressing that ‘share’ button on Facebook.

Rebecca black became something of a household name in America after she debuted ‘Friday’ in 2011. Black’s mother paid Ark Music Factory to produce and release a video of her daughter, and it quickly went viral, reaching over 167 million views. While this song is neither creative nor melodic, this threw Black into the spotlight, and she continues recording today, hoping to catch a record deal.

YouTube URL: http://tinyurl.com/3b6g7nl Each of these artists has spent varying amounts of time in the spotlight, but without the use of YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to share their songs, who knows if they would have been discovered. The power of going viral is clearly seen in these examples.

Their success – or at least fame - proves that there is power in pressing that ‘share’ button on Facebook. It rocket-launched these stars’ careers, and there is no doubt there will be others to follow. b This article is courtesy of Optima Worldwide www.optimaworldwide.com

RECOMMENDED READING How they started: Digital

By David Lester

How 25 Good Ideas Became Spectacular Digital Businesses l

The Best You website is packed with loads of great books, DVDs, CDs, downloads, free articles and reports.

Check it out now: www.thebestyou.co

The Guide to Social Media

By Sean Mahoney

Getting Started with Facebook, Twitter and Google+ l

Know Me, Like Me, Follow Me

By Penny Power

What Online Social Networking Means for You and Your Business l

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