Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'How Bad Do You Want It?' is the 21st in the series.

   Most people yearn for success of one kind or another. Accruing financial wealth is what is in mind with many in that respect but success can, of course, apply to many areas of life and can arrive in many forms. Regardless though of what your perception of success may be, there is one over-riding determination which applies to all endeavours - and that is, “How motivated are you in your pursuit of success?”

   A lot of words are written and spoken about motivation. It can be different things to different people, motivation comes in many guises. Yet I feel that all motivation can be boiled down to, and summed up in, one simple question – “How bad do you want it?”

   Put it this way : Imagine I were to ask you, “What is the longest distance you could possibly run without stopping, the absolute maximum you could manage before collapsing exhausted?” You give me your answer, to which I then I say, “Okay. Could you run one mile further than that if I were to give you one million dollars?” Then again I add, “And what about if I ran behind you holding a loaded gun to your head which I will fire at you if you stop?” !!

   You see, it's easy to say that you want something real bad when you're shooting the breeze with friends, lounging at home or passing time in the pub … but … when the going gets tough, do you really want that something crushingly bad enough?

   You'll often feel in life that you have nothing more to give, that you've reached your limit and can carry on no further … and yet … you have hidden reserves and strength in you (we all do) which just demands the right circumstance in order for you to find it. That circumstance can be activated in several ways, but mostly through reward and even more so through fear.

   Great achievers though do not wait for such prompts, they activate the power voluntarily. They search for and find that burning desire within themselves and plumb the depths of their very soul to bring that resolve to the surface. Then they apply it relentlessly with the same determination as the guy running for the million dollars or the one running for his life. Such titans will tell you that the best moments in their lives occur when, faced with impendiments, they reach down and find inner strength where they thought none existed.

   Can you find such motivation within you? Success - How bad do you want it? .

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT? is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'Working On Excellence' is the 20th in the series.

   Knowing that I had given up competitive sport many years previously, my near neighbour asked me, “Why then did I continue to run full blast each day up and down the mountain track behind our homes?”

   My answer was crisp and clear. “Two reasons. Secondly, if I don't run up it today, I won't be able to run up it tomorrow.” I paused to let that sink in.

   “So it's kind of self-regenerating then?” he eventually queried, then continued, “What's the first reason?”

   “The first reason,” I shot back confidently, “Is that today is the only day that I have to do it.”

   “What about tomorrow?” he immediately countered with a sly grin.

   “Tomorrow,” I said, “Will be today when it comes. But for now I only have today, so I must give it my best shot. That's what it's all about you know, giving it your best shot. Whatever your endeavour, pursuit or goal in life, there's little point pursuing it unless you give it all you've got. Also, it's destructive to delay. You must do it now. Then, when the day ends, you know you've been the best you could be. I call it 'Working on Excellence.' “

   I had my friend's attention. So I carried on.

   “Most of you want to be yourselves. You want to be liked too. You want to be the guy who is always there for others, always approachable and willing to lend a helping hand. You want to be these things but it is by no means easy. Being yourself, attending to your own needs while catering for others at the same time, is often contradictory. Like so many aspects of life it has to be worked at.

   Whenever you embark on an exceptional endeavour or mindfully set out to achieve a goal beyond what you have previously reached, you are 'working on excellence'. The question is – can you satisfy your own aspirations for yourself while also sharing your experience and assisting others to seek excellence too? The answer is 'Yes'. In fact the two go hand in hand.

   But, while you can manage to do both, don't expect to be perfect. Work according to your physical and mental state, get used to your own capabilities and let your beneficiaries take what they get. No more, no less. Let them catch a ride on your shirt tail on the understanding that they are contributing to your effort by being there. This is key – your action must not be entirely altruistic, there must be something in it for you too. The incoming support and gratefulness must balance your expended time and energy.

   While it is hard to measure the costs and returns in relationships, know that giving life energy to others is also a form of receiving energy. It is give and take within a cycle of 'working on excellence'. When you give in this way, expect a return in the form of inspiration, motivation and perspective.

   The last mentioned – perspective – can be both humbling and inspiring. Realising that your struggles on the trail of life are insignificant in the big picture is an essential start point to 'working on excellence.'

   My slog up the mountain track each day is in pursuit of excellence. I'll never catch it of course but I'll give it a good go. In the process I'll hopefully inspire and motivate others to give of their best right now, today. And then on tomorrow's today to do the same again.”

   My friend was quiet for some time. He thought long and hard. When he broke his silence it was to say, “Can I hitch a ride on your shirt tail and run up the mountain with you tomorrow?”

   “No,” I replied, “Make it today!”

WORKING ON EXCELLENCE is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'A Poor Man At The Door' is the 19th in the series.

   A destitute stranger came to my door. He asked for money. I gave him none but took him in out of the cold and fed him hot food and drink. I found a warm jacket for him and I sent him on his way with a copy of my 'Mastering The Art Of Making Money' book. I suggested that he read it.

   The following day, the same fellow returned to my house. This time he brought with him a wife and three children. Again he asked for money and clearly expected me to help him as previously. So I did. I gave him no money but took food and drinks out on a tray to them and some clothes and toys for the children too. I sent them on their way with a copy of my 'Self-Improvement Should Be Fun!' book and suggested that they read it.

   On the third day the vagrant appeared again. This time with an expanded family of twelve adults and children. They asked for money and were somewhat aggressive in insisting that I help them. I gave them no money but did feed them soup and sandwiches in the driveway. They eventually left, albeit reluctantly, and I gave them a copy of my 'Winning Big In Life And Business' which I suggested they should read.

   The day after that, I was disturbed from my work by a commotion outside my house. When I went to investigate I found a crowd of fifty or more ruffians, led by the recipient of my goodwill of the previous days, jostling on the sidewalk. They were shouting threateningly and waving placards bearing insults and demands that I give them money, shelter and food. I called the police.

   After the police had arrived, dispersed the rioters and taken the ringleader into custody, I went outside to clear up the litter left behind by the mob. Among the general debris of cigarette butts, booze bottles and human waste, I found … the tattered remains of my three books.

   In reflecting on events later, I concluded that - “If you give a man a fish he will eat for one day. If you teach a man to fish he will eat every day. But – a man who has no interest in, and no intention of, learning to fish will return for free fish every day until there are no fish left and the pond is destroyed.”

   Some months after these events, while engaged in writing 'Too Early For A Glass Of Wine?' there came a knock at my door. I thought not to answer but, after some hesitation, relented and went to see who was calling. When I opened the door, there stood a scraggy young waif. He was clearly penniless and looked in need of a good meal. But, when he spoke, he requested neither money nor food. What he did ask for both pleased and surprised me. “Can I read your books sir?” he pleaded, “I want to make something of my life.”

   I held the door open and invited him in.

A POOR MAN AT THE DOOR is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'When Was Your Best Day?' is the 18th in the series.

   Amongst the many possible answers people may give to the, “When was your best day in life?” question, all of the following would probably rank highly -

   * Births, engagements, marriages.

   * First day at school, college, graduation.

   * Winning prizes, awards, competitions.

   * First day at work, promotion, new job, retirement.

   * Outstanding vacations, good times with family and friends.

   - and a host of others too numerous to list here.

   Yet, in spite of the fact that I have experienced and enjoyed most of the above and more, none of them would be my answer to, “When was your best day?”

   No, my answer would be - “Today!”

   Why? Because all and any of such events as those mentioned are in the past. Memorable they may be but memories are all they are. They were real, I know that, I was there. But now, only the memory is in the here and now. Just like plans or ideas I may have regarding future events, they exist only in my mind. I've enjoyed many best days and, hopefully, will celebrate many more; but for now only today can be my best day.

   I awaken each day and say out aloud, “Today is the best day of my life!”, then set about making it just that. It's not about trying to better a previous day or create better experiences in it, that's not realistic. Anyway it's pointless. I only try to do my best and better my best self. My 'cheerful, grateful and helpful to others' mode kicks in straight away. It has been in automatic 'on' position for many years now. Engaging it is the surest way to being my best self. I believe it exudes my calm self-confidence and enthusiasm for life. So that's the mood which prevails.

   When I behave so in all that I think, say and do then I know that, when the time comes to lay my head on the pillow at night, I will have been true to myself. My deep inner spirit will rejoice in the kindness and happiness I have endeavoured to spread in and around me. And, if asked, “When was your best day?” I'll be able to easily respond, “Today!”

WHEN WAS YOUR BEST DAY? is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'Do You Want To Know A Secret? is the 17th in the series.

   Listen – do you want to know a secret? Then pay close attention …

   You may well have heard it said, “I don't like selling. I don't like sales people. I don't like being sold to.” You may even have pronounced it yourself. But why? I believe there are two inter-related answers. The first is that the statements reveal a lack of self-confidence in the speaker. The second is that they show a lack of understanding of what selling is.

   So, what is selling? Answer – it is a life skill. As such it is an activity which all humans (and many animal species) practice regularly. Some are better at it than others, but all humans sell. The most obvious regular example is in attracting a mate. Everyone goes into 'sell mode' when that is on the agenda! Those who work at improving their skill in this department, improve their chances of 'catching the gal or the guy'. So why not apply it to other areas of life as well?

   There persists among many the common misconception that selling is somehow 'unworthy', that it's carried out by stereotypical, fast-talking, foot-in-door, 'wide boy', market traders as often depicted in popular comedy; but that is not selling. Real professional selling is all about communication.

   Let's replace 'selling' in the opening prejudiced lines with the word 'communication' and see how that alters the whole slant of the statement :

   “I don't like communication. I don't like communicators. I don't like being communicated with.” Sounds a bit narrow-minded doesn't it? And 'silly' too. Yet that is what “I don't like selling … “ amounts to. It's not a very well thought through statement when viewed in that light. Communication, rather than implying some sort of one-sided, brow-beating exercise, is, by definition, a two way relationship. There is talking and there is listening. Good communicators listen more than they talk and that is the paramount skill of an accomplished sales person – listening.

   Let's cement the point further by replacing 'selling' in the opening lines with the word 'listening' :

   “I don't like listening. I don't like listeners. I don't like being listened to!” It gets ridiculous doesn't it? While there are shouty, virtue-signaller types and selfish boors who don't want to listen and have no intention of doing so, it's improbable that you have come across, or are ever likey to encounter, anyone who objects to being listened to. On the contrary, being listened to is what most people crave. A life-skilled, professional sales person satisfies that craving. They listen, they empathise.

   In everyday life you too can do likewise. For, “I don't like selling,” substitute, “I do like listening!” It really is that simple. A case of ... Listen, if you want to know a secret!

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET? is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'The World's Richest Man' is the 16th in the series.

   At the time of writing Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com fame is acknowledged as being the richest man on earth. Bill Gates (Microsoft), Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway), Carlos Slim (Grupo Carso), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook.com), Larry Page and Sergey Brin (both Google) are others you may have heard of who come into the reckoning. All are self-made men. That means that they possess vision, determination and self-belief. I know that fact by default because I know those are common characteristics that define all great achievers.

   I have not listed talent, genius or education as being traits these men share. Although they all may possess some or all those, they are not characteristics essential to becoming great achievers. As evidence, there are few things more common in the world than unsuccessful men with talent, unrewarded genius is almost a proverb and the world is full of educated derelicts. No, persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

   I've seen enough of these phenomena in my own experience to know the truth of the above observation but the quote about talent, genius and education is not mine. It originated from Ray Kroc who turned the McDonald's restaurant business into a worldwide empire. He knew a thing or two about persistence. He was aged fifty before he found success. I kind of like his story more so than some of the tech whizz kids in the world's richest man category. For them financial wealth often came early and with comparative ease. It begs the question – are they really rich?

   The richest guy I know doesn't own a mega corporation nor does he sell match boxes on street corners; he doesn't live in a Beverley Hills mansion, nor in a Rio favela; he doesn't drive a Rolls Royce nor a beat up Renault 4; he doesn't wear Armani suits nor charity shop seconds; he doesn't dine at the Savoy nor at the local soup kitchen.

   What he does do is live in a rustic farm villa overlooking the sea and the mountains, drive a second hand fourtrack, wear t-shirts and shorts and eat the finest fresh fish and seafood imaginable. He enjoys laughter, anonymity, a wonderful climate and much love.

   Yes - I am the world's richest man … and, if you are smart enough to know it, so too are you!

THE WORLD'S RICHEST MAN is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'The Peak Of Achievement' is the 15th in the series.

   It was cold, brisk and windless as I set off in the early morning mist from my base at the foot of the mountain towards my chosen climb to the summit. I knew to expect far less benign conditions further on but I was well eqipped with ice axes, crampons and full Arctic survival gear. I'd need them. Conditions on the summit could be subarctic and the climb particularly dangerous after heavy snow or during thaw conditions. Sure enough, the weather soon closed in. Long before I crested the ridge at the top of the gully, a full blizzard was blowing. I made it to the mountain top and snuggled down behind the boulders to hungrily devour my energy bars and hot soup. Then it was time to get off the mountain. I had no intention of snow-holing overnight in those conditions.

   I headed down towards the lower summit and its cairn which was the marker I needed to hit en route to a safe descent. In the nil visibility of the storm, precise navigation was necessary to reach it as the direct line took me close to the top of the six hundred foot cliffs and ice overhangs on my left. But, after half an hour of struggling through the thigh high snow, there was no sign of the cairn.

   I knew that I had missed it, either to the left or to the right. There was only one safe choice. I made a ninety degree turn to my right. This because, if I had missed the marker to the right, then I was not in danger of going over the cliff edge. By turning right I would be walking further from the danger. But, had I missed the marker to the left, then I was perilously close to the cliffs, perhaps already on an ice overhang and in deadly danger. So I made my right turn and slogged on. In just fifteen minutes the marker appeared. I had missed it to the left and had therefore been absolutely on the cliff edge! I probably escaped tragedy that day by just yards, maybe only inches.

   Two hours later I emerged below the snow line … into brilliant, late afternoon sunshine! It was as if the heavens were welcoming me back, assuring me that I'd not only survived but that I'd passed the test set me. It was, of course, a challenge I had willingly taken on. One which had stretched me to the limit and rewarded me handsomely because of that. The sense of self-reliance and achievement was immense.

   I'd never insist that you do as I did - but boy it's exhilarating! I do suggest however that you tackle life as an adventure. Push yourself to do more, be better. Nothing was ever achieved through being timid, through avoiding risk. Life, real life, is not for the faint hearted.

   Strike out for your summit in life. Your own peak of achievement is within you and waiting to be conquered.

THE PEAK OF ACHIEVEMENT is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'In Perfect Harmony' is the 14th in the series.

   Are you in perfect harmony with yourself and the world around you? Think about it. When the persona you display to the outside world (that's your words, deeds and emotions) differs from the promptings of your inner spirit, you will never be content or at ease with yourself. There is always pressure from life and society to present yourself differently to what your conscience tells you but it's a tendency you should resist. There may be occasions when divergence from total honesty is justified, so strictly following your moral compass can be a difficult balance at times. Nonetheless you should strive to be in harmony with it because doing so is critical to your wellbeing.

   When you see someone confident, relaxed and self-assured, content and enjoying life then it's highly likely that what you're experiencing of such a person's outward self is a mirror of their inner tranquility. Such people are at one with themselves and the world. They accept responsibility for themselves, are grateful for their existence and show compassion for others.

   On the other hand, folks who display negativity, anger and criticism show themselves to be in conflict with their deep inner self, their conscience and their inherent knowledge of what constitutes right and wrong. Their outward behaviour reveals their inner struggle. Such people will mostly blame others for their shortcomings and, in doing so, feed and perpetuate their deeper feeling of self-betrayal. They are distinctly out of harmony.

   To get in harmony with yourself it is necessary to -

   * Recognise that you are out of sync and could do better

   * Swallow your pride and ask for help

   * Accept that the help you need is not the help you had in mind when you asked for it!

   This because real help does not come as a quick fix remedy or as a handout. It comes as insistence that you face up to your shortcomings and as encouragement to help yourself by changing yourself.

   Does this ring a bell businesswise? It should. Because as an entrepreneur you may believe that you are self-reliant. Yes you are and so you should be. But you also need to be open to help along the way too. You may think that could mean getting a financial loan or some other material assistance. But I'd suggest not.

   No, the help you need is by way of encouragement and knowledge, being in possession of the right mindset and knowing how to use it. You must be rigourously honest with yourself, true to your own integrity and share yourself openly with those you do business with and the world at large. The confidence, relaxed self-assurance and sheer enjoyment of life you then experience are what removes even apparently insurmountable barriers to your progress. They melt away as if by magic. You are released to scale the heights of achievement.

   Once thus in the ascendancy further success is self-generating. Your inner spirit grows and your outward persona more and more reflects a self-assured and contented being. One that others instinctively respond to positively. One truly in perfect harmony with yourself and the world around you.

IN PERFECT HARMONY is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'Six Little Words is the 13th in the series.

   When sometimes reflecting on the paths taken, and not taken, in my life, three thoughts occur to me.

   The first is that, despite an extensive back catalogue of folly, willfulness and sheer stupidity, I harbour very few regrets.

   The second is that, if I find myself at this stage of life's journey in a shady nook by a babbling brook rather than in a monster infested dark forest, then this cheerful state has little to do with foresight on my part but everything to do with mindset.

   Alas, I could not see clearly the way ahead much of the time nor forecast outcomes. I could however choose to set my mind on a positive course. This commenced with the realisation that I was no genius. But this admission of my own ignorance marked the beginning of my wisdom!

   I saw in those who displayed the trait, that modesty is marvelous and a rare quality. As a result I determined to allow no controversy into my life nor permit others to engage me in theirs. Nor do I choose to forcefully express opinions. I feel that it matters not that others know of, or agree with, what I do or do not believe. It matters only that I honour my beliefs.

   Which brings me to my third thought - that central to what does matter is having confidence in my own integrity; nurturing, protecting and projecting it. This entails listening to my inner spirit, thinking accordingly, saying what I think and doing what I say. To keep myself on course in this respect, I have memorised and repeat aloud to myself daily, six little words which encapsulate the personal qualities I aspire to. They are -

   Duty, Freedom, Honour, Hope, Justice, Mercy  – six seemingly little words but which sum up what it is to be human.

   The values they represent are what makes those who embrace them beacons of light in a sometimes murky world. They represent everything that you should resolutely aim to be. It may seem like a tall order but exercising such integrity in your life becomes easier the more that you do it. Eventually, behaving according to their diktat becomes second nature. It's also fun and feels good!

   So, set your mind to the application in your daily life of the qualities that the six little words stand for. Happiness, success, wealth in all their forms will follow – guaranteed. Genius not required!

SIX LITTLE WORDS is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'The Flying Scotsman And Forth Bridge' is the 12th in the series.

   The massive cantilever railway bridge which stretches for over a mile and a half across the Firth of Forth just west of Edinburgh in Scotland is one of the two biggest bridges of its kind in the world, easily the most impressive and a wonder of Victorian era engineering. Over fifty-five thousand tonness of steel were used in its construction which took eight years before its opening in 1890. Often referred to as Scotland's Eiffel Tower, the Forth Bridge is, along with Edinburgh Castle, the country's most visited tourist attraction.

  The Flying Scotsman is the name given to the high speed rail service between Edinburgh and London which was inaugurated in 1924. The first locomotive to carry the name eventually went out of service in 1963 but, in 2006, the restoration of the original steam locomotive was initiated. A long ten years and over five million pounds later, the magnificently restored loco rolled out on to the tracks to a euphoric welcome from railway enthusiasts and the general public alike; a generation of whom had never seen any steam locomotive in action, let alone the thunderingly beautiful Flying Scotsman.

   Today the Flying Scotsman runs private tours all over the country and attracts tens of thousands of spectators where-ever it goes. In fact, organisers have stopped publishing its schedule, such is the clamour of people crowding to see it and bringing life to a complete standstill in the cities, towns, villages and countryside on its route.

      Nowhere was this more apparent than when the legendary loco made the iconic crossing of the mighty Forth Bridge. Over a quarter of a million people reportedly turned out to witness the unforgettable spectacle! Don't you find that incredible? You shouldn't.

   You see, not only is there a heart wrenching nostalgia among many for such treasures of a bygone era, there is also an appreciation of the beauty and grandeur inherent in them and the fact that they are the physical embodiment of what started as mere seeds of imagination in the minds of their creators. The Forth Bridge and the Flying Scotsman are proof positive to all that a man's dreams can become mammoth achievements of inspirational magnificence. They show that anything is possible. People take both comfort from that and the encouragement to strive to realise their own ambitions.

   As a boy I watched in wide-eyed awe from a ferry boat on the firth as a steam-hauled passenger train crossed the bridge high above me. Did the event motivate me to build in adulthood my own Forth Bridge of life and ride the footplate of my own Flying Scotsman over it? I like to think so.

THE FLYING SCOTSMAN AND FORTH BRIDGE is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'The Key To Happiness' is the 11th in the series.

   Most people want to be happy but often they don't know what they are looking for. So inevitably they never find it. And even if they did find it, since they don't know what they are looking for, how would they ever recognise it?

   There are those who associate happiness only with financial wealth. Their view is mistaken. Most such people truly want to be rich. Yet even those, if asked to define the exact amount of money and assets they wish to acquire and the time frame within which they intend to acquire it, will be incapable of answering. How can you get to where you hope to be when you don't know where you are going?

   This is not to say that happiness and material wealth cannot coexist in your life but you first must understand that true wealth, and therefore happiness, is an attitude of the mind. Purely pursuing money can become an obsession which prevents you from enjoying life. Conversely, living in poverty is no walk in the park either! The fact is that money is an excellent servant but a tyrannical master. So what you need is a balanced and a planned approach to achieving first, wealth in its broadest sense through happiness and second, happiness through your wealth. How to do it? There's a simple solution.

   The key to happiness is within everyone. With the key you will know without doubt if you are happy and if you are doing what it takes to make you happy. Here it is –

   Are you doing what you love doing?

   If so, then you will by definition be adding value to other people too. Doing what you truly enjoy always rubs off on others. But, if you are not doing what you love to do, then you are not happy. Do you spend your time dreaming about what you would like to be doing? Because, if you never actually do what you dream about, you are inevitably unhappy. When you never do what you really enjoy, you have given up on your dreams. Staying in work and life situations which you loathe, weighs you down, saps your spirit and does not lead to wealth, spiritual or material.

   So be brave and act. Do it now. Do not permit your fears to over-ride your dreams of discovering those things which you really enjoy. Know what you are looking for and where you are going. Find the things you love. That is the key to happiness. Wealth, in all its forms, will follow.

THE KEY TO HAPPINESS is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'The Art Of Detach And Dream' is the 10th in the series.

   If you plan to do well in life or business then you will need to be bold and take risks. There is no other way. Without adventure there can be no achievement. But, as well as attacking life with courage and drive, you need to have a defensive strategy to fall back on too; established practices to steer you through the tough times when all is not going your way.

   I learned my most effective defense from a very early age. I was quite unaware at the time of what I was doing, it just came to me and evolved naturally. But by my teen years and in later life I was fully aware of the tactic, and consciously developed, fine tuned and practiced it. I call it - the art of detach and dream.

   Like most children I didn't care much for punishment. So, when I found myself on the receiving end of a (usually well earned) beating from an angry parent or teacher, I would shut out the discomfort through sheer will power. This involved telling myself that I wasn't feeling any pain and repeating it to myself continuously until I genuinely didn't feel it. I just numbed myself out completely. In fact, I came to feel nothing.

   Not only did I shut out the pain, I mentally removed myself from the punishment altogether. I pretended that it was being inflicted, not on me, but on some other poor sod, someone I disliked; and that I was somewhere else entirely and enjoying a very nice time. This most often meant that I was playing football with my friends, frolicking in the sunshine, having fun, eating sweets or chasing girls. It didn't matter, just as long as I was not 'there' receiving the beating. Such was the success of my detach and dream strategy that it almost made being punished worthwhile. I did say almost.

   So to adulthood, life and business. There comes inevitably times when things don't go as planned and events can arise which put you in places or situations where you'd rather not be. The deaths of loved ones happens to us all. Who has not sat through a funeral service and not wished that they were elsewhere, perhaps with the deceased friend or relative and enjoying pleasant times? This is a classic moment for detach and dream. Or have you been confronted by an angry boss or relative, berating you for a perceived failure on your part which compelled you to hear through their angry rant? Or have you fallen foul of officialdom in some way and been summoned to appear for a dressing down?

   Instances such as these, and the million more times when you simply feel things getting on top of you, arise in life and place you in positions of discomfort, pain, mental anguish or unpleasantness. Somewhere that you have to be but that you'd rather not. It's in these times that you can cope by being there but by not being there; detaching yourself from the reality of the situation and 'visiting' somewhere more appealing and 'doing' something altogether more enjoyable. It's kind of pausing your world for a bit, an opportunity to step back and refresh, a 'virtual short break' if you like.

  Adopting this mindset puts you, rather than the situation or the other party, in control. It eliminates stress. It's a manifestation on your part of mental strength, resilience and being prepared. The latter, preparation, is after all the key to being one jump ahead in all situations. And even when approaching life as the adventure it should be, there is strength in having an imaginative defensive strategy to fall back on. Especially one which can take you to so many fabulous places!

THE ART OF DETACH AND DREAM is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'To Be Or Not To Be Simple?' is the 9th in the series.

   I am a great believer in simple. Simple is best and simple works. Following on from that there is no need to have complexity in your life. In fact, the more complicated your life and those people and things in it, then the less likely you are to be successful in your pursuits and endeavours and the less likely you are to experience contentment and joy. So it's necessary to expel the complex and the complicated from your life. Here's how to do it :

   Take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle of it. Now you have two columns. At the head of the left hand column write the word 'Simple'. At the head of the right hand column write the word 'Complex'.

   Over the next couple of days, weeks or months (take as long as you need, be thorough), list down in either column all those things in your life - activities, work, people, pursuits, hobbies, relationships, emotions, possessions, whatever – which you consider to be simple (as in easy to deal with, produces no stress or difficulty, are fun, light and enjoyable and benefit people other than yourself) and all those things you know to be complex (as in complicated, consume too much time, cause you unhappiness, distress, loss of esteem etc.) in the respective columns. When you are finished you will most likely find that upwards of fifty percent of your items, often as high as ninety percent, will be in the right hand, complex column. Yes, the majority of people fill their lives with complicated and therefore wasteful and unrewarding work, pursuits and relationships. But, whatever the result, the next bit is the important thing.

   Score through the complex column with a heavy black line. Better still, rip the column off and chuck it in the bin. Best of all, screw it up and burn it. Watch with joy as you see all those horrible and destructive complex matters go up in smoke. It will be like a huge release for you, a weight off your shoulders, a cleansing of the spirit.

   Now, from this day onwards, work only on doing and enjoying those things which remain in your intact left hand, simple column. These will now form the mainstay of your existence. With all the complex stuff eliminated you will now have extra time and energy and the freedom to concentrate on your simple, and therefore more rewarding, aspects of life. That's it.

   It may be that you are astounded by the sheer simplicity of what I am proposing. You shouldn't be. As I said at the outset – simple is best and simple works. To be or not to be simple is a simple no-brainer.

   Following is my own 'simple' list. It encompasses all that I set out to achieve on a daily basis, no more no less. Warning! It is ultra simple :

   * Enjoy Nature - Fresh Air, Sunshine, Flowers, Forests, Rivers, Mountains, Oceans, Wild Life

   * Appreciate and Give Thanks Daily for – Health and Fitness, Shelter and a Happy Home, Good Food, Laughter and Love

   * Be Kind and Generous to Others, Spread Joyfulness, Knowledge and Fun

   * Create Profit (a) Spiritual and (b) Financial and Material for (i) Others and (ii) Myself

   Simple, isn't it?

TO BE OR NOT TO BE SIMPLE? is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'Do You Ever Get Bored?' is the 8th in the series.

  My response to the question came by way of narrowed eyes and a scathing stare. I uttered no words. It wasn't that I hadn't heard the same asinine, “Do you ever get bored?” query before, it is just that my disappointment with those who pose the question never lessens. After several seconds of charged silence I raised my arm and, palm upturned, made a slow, indicative sweep around me.

  “Can you smell the air?” I asked, “It's fresh and clean. Do you not feel the cool caress of the breeze? It carries the scent of wild flowers and the lavender where busy bees are buzzing about their business.” I pointed out the butterflies fluttering by, the dark silhouette of the mountains above us and the sparkling emerald of the ocean below. Lastly I indicated to the table where we sat, spread as it was with fresh local produce; hams, cheeses, fruit, legumes, seafood and wine to delight any palate.

  “In your question itself, therein lies the answer,” I said. “You must look deep within your own existence in order to see with clarity why your question is senseless. Come back to me only when you understand the answer.”

  With that he left; to resume his life as one of those hollow souls whose 'boredom' is relieved only by clattering cities, chattering technology, hectic greed and the frantic wastefulness of modern society. He never did return.

  Had he done so, I would have welcomed him in and revealed to him the simple way to sift out the noisy and unnecessary from life and to concentrate on just those basic elements which really matter – fresh air, sunshine, nature, nourishment, laughter and love. He would first of course have to possess the ambition to better his life in such a way.

  He would need to understand that the answers people seek in life are most often revealed in the questions they ask. In that context, “Do you ever get bored?” is a subliminal admission of unfulfilled need within the quester. The answer to which is to create a life in which you never feel a need to ask the question!

DO YOU EVER GET BORED? is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'A Well Oiled Trigger' is the 7th in the series.

   One of the very first words I was taught in French class at school was the word élève. In English it means pupil, as in 'a school pupil'. So the word was rather appropriate in that context but that is not the sole reason that we were introduced to it early on. No, the greater purpose of our learning it was to introduce us to the accents common in the French language. In this case the acute, which tops the first letter e, and the grave which tops the second e. 

  More so than just an introduction to the accents, it was taught as a way of remembering them. Remember the word and you remember the accents, their names and which is which. Acute comes before grave alphabetically, phonetically (the way they sound) and visually, they point in towards each other. So, remembering the word élève triggers your memory in these respects. It is planted in your mind as a trigger.

  And triggers are preludes not just to memory recall but to all kinds of actions. Most golfers for instance, use a trigger movement to initiate their swing. They give no conscious thought to the swing and its various elements once in play on the course; these have been ingrained in their subconscious through constant practice. In competition they concentrate just on the trigger, then the rest follows naturally.

  In my suit and tie wearing days in business I did likewise. I planned, prepared and practiced my presentations meticulously then, when the time to 'perform' arrived, I straightened my tie and said an inward “It's showtime!” as I entered the meeting. That was my trigger – straightening my tie and repeating my simple line of encouragement. With that done I made no conscious effort to recall what I had to say or do. I just relaxed and enjoyed the moment. It worked like clockwork.

  A trigger movement, thought or words removes anxiety from your action and allows you to give every situation your best shot. So be sure that your preparation is thorough and complete then, when you 'pull' your chosen trigger, it will initiate a smooth 'swing' to whatever endeavour or performance you are undertaking. A well oiled trigger will serve you well.

A WELL OILED TRIGGER is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'Creative Solutions' is the 6th in the series.

  Creative Solutions is the name with which I christened that part of my business which undertook trouble shooting work for clients. I never considered what I did, the solutions I came up with, to be consistantly brilliant. But I did realise that I tended to think of them while others didn't. So that was the essential difference. In time I came to give thought to just what it was in my psychological make up which caused me to think in the way which I do. A bit like my creative solutions themselves, the answer I arrived at is not explosively revelationary, it is in fact remarkably simple -

  I have never lost the curiosity of childhood!

  As a four year old, I sang 'I am a little teapot' at a holiday camp talent competition. I made up some words as I went along and actions to go with them. To this day I still make up silly rhymes and jingles and sing them out loud as I go about my business. I generally convince all and sundry that I'm totally nuts! This causes some confusion. Friends and colleagues find it difficult to equate my nonsensical fun behaviour with my serious professional persona. They fail to see that my professional and junior selves are actually one and the same, that they complement each other and exist because of each other; that it's the very fact that my inner child is alive and thriving which explains just where my creative inspiration comes from.

  As an adult you tend to think in ways conditioned by upbringing, education, peer pressure, society and the culture you live in. You forget how to dream - or at least you under value it. You fail to recognise how day dreaming can create endless streams of inspiration and ideas. But when you relax and let your subconscious mind take over, and when you think as a child, then you are unhindered by those influences and restraints. You become spontaneous, imaginative and creative in your thinking.

  When you invoke your childhood curiosity, allow yourself to wonder at things and detach yourself from reality, then everything becomes possible. Even those creative solutions to situations which most other people think are not!

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories.
My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'Flirting With The Stars' is the 5th in the series.

  Michael Caine, the film star, tells the story of being seated in his own restaurant in London one evening when he was approached by a slightly tipsy diner on his way to the men's room. “I thought this place was supposed to be full of famous movie people?” challenged the man. “Well, what am I then?” replied Michael good humouredly. “You're the owner,” said the man, “You don't count.”

  “Okay,” said Michael, “Then who is that sitting at the corner table?” The man turned and stared long and hard at the gent referred to by Michael. Eventually he said, ”I don't know.” Michael replied, “That's Tom Cruise,” and continued, “Who is is that standing at the bar?” Again the man took a long and earnest look at the figure pointed out. Eventually he repeated the same answer, “I don't know.” Michael enlightened him with, “That's Clint Eastwood.” At that the man just shrugged his shoulders and tottered on to his date with nature in the gents'.

  A short time later the diner, on his way back from the men's room, again passed Michael seated at his table. This time he didn't stop but simply called over, “And there's no-one famous in the toilets either!”

  The moral of this fun story is two fold. People only see what they want to see and frequently fail to see opportunities plainly presented to them. Michael Caine, on the other hand, is famous for inevitably recognising opportunities and saying 'yes' to everything. As a result he has worked in his chosen profession of movie acting, a notoriously insecure one, nonstop throughout the years. He is also known as being a joy to work with and a stickler for detail. He prepares for all of his roles, large or small, meticulously and diligently.

  As an entrepreneur or self-employed business person you should do the same. Be alert and on the watch for opportunities at all times. The best way to do this is to have a reputation for reliability and quality of performance, just as Michael Caine does. Know yourself, your business, your industry and the people in and around it inside out. Then the opportunities will come your way.

  Also be excellent at what you do. Areas to give absolute priority to are -

  Sales - This is what brings in the money. Do your selling yourself. You're the best person for it.

  Finance - Keep tight control of your money. Personally manage it. Never let anyone else have access to your cash.

  Personnel - Delegate and employ by all means but use only people you trust implicitly. Better to employ no-one at all rather than someone you don't trust.

  Adherance to these three points is critical to your succes. Believe me, I've been there.

  I've also been to Michael Caine's restaurant. He wasn't there but Tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood were. They didn't recognise me.

FLIRTING WITH THE STARS  is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories. My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                'The Mindset Of An Entrepreneur' is the 4th in the series.

   My home town of Aberdeen in Scotland was at one time Europe's largest fishing port. Thousands of people were employed in the fish industry which comprised everything from trawlermen to dock workers to fish houses, fish processing factories and transportation. As a young kid growing up, many of my first after-school and weekend jobs were 'in the fish'.

  Quite suddenly the industry died. The fishing boats left … and the oil supply vessels moved in. Yes, oil had been discovered in the North Sea. Aberdeen would enjoy a second bonanza as the oil capital of Europe! The economy thrived and entrepreneurs formerly benefiting from opportunities created in fishing turned their attention to the big bucks to be made in North Sea support and ancillary services. I was one of them.

  My activities were actually two or three times down the line from direct oil related businesses but I was in little doubt that it was the front line exploration and pumping of oil and gas that was the prime creator of the wealth which I, and so many others, were enjoying.

  In due course my business activities took me to further flung corners of Britain, and Europe too. Many of these places had none of the wealth and attendant infrastructure which first fishing and then oil had created in the North East of Scotland. Yet I still found opportunities to create businesses. Lots of them. So many in fact that it led me to a startling conclusion.

  What I realised was this – You don't need a 'Klondike situation' in order to prosper as an entrepreneur!

  Although such a thriving scenario encourages speculation, business creation and commercial activity, that in itself is not the main source of entrepreneurial motivation. The primary driver behind any entrepreneur is the ambition to be their own man, control their own destiny and be the best they possibly can be. With that mindset you'll find opportunities and succeed anywhere!

  Entrepreneurs invent solutions, create enterprises and make fortunes everywhere. They thrive in the most improbable places. Be it deserts, jungles, mountain tops, deep seas or frozen wastes, you'll find someone profiting from an opportunity they've identified. And they'll have identified that niche from first having an enquiring and inventive mind.

  The entrepreneurial mindset is unique in that it must be creative, communicative and highly motivated to succeed, yet open to risk and failure. The key to entrepreneurial success therefore is little to do with the location of the business or the business sector. It is everything to do with the determination and the characteristics of the individual.

  Before embarking on your self-employed adventure and becoming your own boss, ask yourself - Do you possess the right mindset? – the mindset of an entrepreneur!

THE MINDSET OF AN ENTREPRENEUR  is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories. My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.                                 'Be Your Own Boss' is the 3rd in the series.

  When you first strike out on your own to be your own boss you will, in all likelihood, already know a bit about bosses from previous work as an employee. And, even though you are starting off with no employees under you, you still need to manage yourself. So what you've learned from previous bosses is going to come in handy either way.

  From a self-employed perspective it really doesn't matter if your former bosses were good, bad or indifferent. You should have learned from them all. You'll have found it more difficult to work well under a bad boss of course and yet such a boss should have taught you a lot. I see the bad boss experience kind of like an athlete training on sand dunes. It's an energy sapping grind but it toughens you up for the real event. Once you transfer on to a dedicated running surface you can go like the wind. In life all pursuits should be like that - the hard work in the preparation, the performance itself pure fun.

  One benefit of a bad boss experience is that it can incentivise you to strike out on your own; the 'I must get out of here' syndrome! Working with a good boss can also encourage you to go it alone, but in a quite different way. He will have created a dynamic and fun working environment, thus demonstrating what is achievable.

  You will never see eye to eye all the time with any boss but, while a bad boss will demoralise you, a good boss will inspire and motivate you, make you feel valued and welcome your views and input to the business. Your ideas may sometimes be at odds with his but disagreeing with a good boss is a quite different proposition to working under a bad one!

  As your own boss you must be able to take direction - from yourself! Be open to what 'the boss' says. Start from the position of trusting that you know what you're doing. You are duty bound to work things out for yourself and take responsibility for what you do, therefore listen to your inner promptings, be flexible and take criticism on board. Have total belief in yourself.

  It may not always be clear to others why you are doing things in a particular way, but outsiders can only see things from a limited or ignorant point of view. They cannot see the bigger picture. You as an entrepreneur will often be looking for some things others have not thought of, you may be intent on actions that would never occur to anyone else. You will see your affairs globally, as if looking at a map from above. No, you won't always be God (only sometimes) but you'll generally know best how you want to achieve things.

  So, be your own boss, shut out external interference. Trust your instinct and judgement to know what's right. Then most often you will be!

BE YOUR OWN BOSS  is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.

Vivid Views  is my series of articles, blog posts and press releases show-casing my work as an author and reflecting my many years in business and self-employment. They are a blend of my real life experiences, professional insights, personal views and fun stories. My hope is that in them you find enlightenment and inspiration.       'Bringing The House Down' is the 2nd in the series.

  My first experience of bringing the house down, in the theatrical sense, was when, as a four year old, I sang 'I am a little teapot' at a holiday camp talent show. I won first prize. It was both the beginning and the end of my stage career as a public entertainer. A case of coming in with a bang and going out at the top!

  The next time I brought the house down, this time almost literally, was many years later while personally removing a partition wall in my Georgian era townhouse. I proudly showed my work in progress to a structural engineer friend who, far from being impressed, was mortified by what he saw. He immediately closed down my work and the entire building. It was on the point of collapse. Two years, a multitude of architects, lawyers and builders, tons of steel girders from the foundations to the top  floor and a bank account hovering between life and death in intensive care, later, I moved back into the property, now fully reinforced and magnificently restored. My sanity is yet to experience such a rebirth. Forget nightmare. This episode in my life equated to a full blooded horror movie with several sequels and a monster that refused to die.

  The result of the experience is that today I will not even hammer a nail into a wall. It's not that the nail might bend or that I'll suffer a bloodied thumb, it's the terror that the whole wall will cave in! So I leave that work to people who both specialise in that kind of thing and enjoy doing it - the key words being 'specialise' and 'enjoy'. 

 In my school days I excelled in English literature and languages. I whizzed through my exams in these subjects without even opening a book. The subjects were easy to me because I enjoyed them.

 There were also mandatory classes each week in art, woodwork and metalwork. I gained useful knowledge about these practical disciplines but was never fired up by them. I didn't have the enthusiasm to see myself as a Picasso, Moore or Rodin. Therefore those subjects were never going to be my forte. But I did try them.

 And that's what you as an entrepreneur or self-employed business person must do. Tinker around with a number of business possibilities. Try this and that. Find out what works for you and what doesn't. Experience failure, learn from it. You'll come out the other end of the process with broad general knowledge and ability which will stand you in good stead. You'll thus be prepared to avoid the bent nail and bloodied thumb disasters and specialise in the area which gives you most pleasure and satisfaction.

 If you enjoy restoring old buildings (and earning a fortune at my expense) become an architect, engineer or tradesman. If you enjoy bringing the house down (literally) become a demolition contractor. If you enjoy performing on stage then become a singing teapot. And, if you yearn for the thrill and freedom of your own business, become an entrepreneur ... become like me!

BRINGING THE HOUSE DOWN  is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this Vivid View and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.