Coffee with Colm aka The Coffee at Eleven Show: Recent Episodes
Colm O'Brien
Ruminations over coffee - and interviews with People Worth Meeting. Are they B2B? Or B2C? Neither - it is H2H (Human to Human)
Wait till you hear this.
I was making my bed beforegoing swimming one Sunday morning in late August, and I found myself repeatingto myself out loud (I know!) Viktor Frankl’s famous quote, “We detect, ratherthan invent, our missions in life.”
No idea what was going onfor me, but that phrase kept popping into my mind, and I kept repeating it outloud. “We detect, rather than invent, our missions in life.”
So off I go, and moored on the Shannon, right where I am so blessed to swimregularly, at the Washer Woman Bridge in Ballina, Tipperary, was this amazing126-year-old-barge, ‘Drie Gebroeders’ crewed by Hilary and the so-calledMotleys, together raising funds for mental well-being as they sail from Erne toInverness!
After my swim, I got invitedonboard for a cuppa.
I’m thinking, “We detect,rather than invent, our missions in life.”
I couldn’t ignore theuniverse, so I asked could we record an episode of ‘Coffee with Colm’, which wedid with no script, no agenda, no lighting, no planning, just a phone. Amazingly,it worked!
But then, the Universewanted us to meet - “We detect, rather than invent, our missions in life.”
What a wonderful way tostart Season 9 of “Coffee with Colm” – it’s great to be back!
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me andHilary, Dave, Conor and Brian, (some of) the wonderful motley crew of ‘DrieGebroeders’ for in your preferred way.
Stay well.
Enjoy... (I certainly did)
Lads, I’m taking a break; I’mgoing on me holliers, and putting on me own oxygen mask for a bit.
I was trying to figure out how to finish the series, and then a series (I know,right!) of happy accidents, including my usual way of recording CWC (Coffeewith Colm) failing to open on my laptop, forced me to throw myself in the RiverShannon…
…with my GoPro (a wonderfulChristmas gift from Mrs. O’B) instead.
The message is a reinforcementof POYOOMF (Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First) and offers a succinct way to usesame to enhance your life in 4 key areas, Health, Wealth, Relationships, andSpirit.
So, from the beautifulhealing waters of the majestic River Shannon, at Ballina Killaloe, direct toyou, for the last time for a while, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab acoffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way.
Stay well.
Enjoy...
This week let’s focus on Spirit - essentially YOUR relationship with YOU!
You see, self-care is not self-ish.POYOOMF is Self-care in action.
POYOOMF:
- Put
- On
- Your
- Own
- Oxygen
- Mask
- First
This 'Coffee with Colm' Classic Mini-series is a favorite of mine, and of many others. I love simplicity - I have zero interest (and even less patience) in learning the seventeen things to do to get ahead in life - so I propose 4.
The Four Areas of Focus to enjoy a fully formed life, that deserve a POYOOMF approach are:
- Health
- Wealth
- Relationships
- Spirit
We covered the first 3 over the past few weeks, this week let’s focus on Spirit - essentially YOUR relationship with YOU!
As ever, you are invited you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes as we close out our 4-week journey together to look at all four pillars
This week, Pillar 4; Spirit.
Enjoy...
There are Four Pillars to a fully formed, balanced life,each of which deserves our attention:
-
Health (covered, week 1)
-
Wealth (covered,week 2)
-
Relationships(today)
-
Spirit (next week)
Remember, to POYOOMF is to engage in Self-care. Self-care is not self-ish.
Over the last few weeks, wetouched on the first two of the Four Pillars: Health & Wealth.
This week let’s focus on Relationships.
You are cordially invited you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, andthink with me for a few minutes as we continue our 4-week journey together tolook at all four pillars
This week, Pillar 3; Relationships.
Enjoy.
To POYOOMF is to engage in Self-care. Self-care isnot self-ish.
Last week we touched on thefirst of the Four Pillars to a fully formed life, Health.
This week let’s focus onWealth.
You are cordially invited you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, andthink with me for a few minutes as we continue our 4-week journey together tolook at all four pillars
-
Health (last week)
-
Wealth(today)
-
Relationships(next week)
-
Spirit (week 4)
This week, Pillar 2; Wealth.
Enjoy...
Yours Truly
Colm O'Brien
By now you probably know I'm a proponent of POYOOMF.
- Put
- On
- Your
- Own
- Oxygen
- Mask
- First
I like acronyms (even if I have to create my own, although the grammar police will probably correct me!)I like making things simple.For me.If it helps others, great, but truth be told I do all this stuff for me. To remind me. To help me get more out of life without busting my gut 24/5/365 (I hate social media fanatics telling me I must make every waking second count!)
No. I like simple. I like effective. I like progress over time, not overnight. So, if you'd be interested in what I do that allows me make progress easily, I invite you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes as we embark on a 4-week journey together to look at the four pillars of a fully formed life.
Week one, Pillar one; Health.Enjoy...
I reconnected very happily with a friend onSaturday. Amanda Delaney visited us at PSA Ireland (Professional SpeakingAssociation Ireland) and it was wonderful to see her and have the chats -Amanda's passion for wanting to help people is palpable.
While we were chattingabout life and death (us having lost some mutual friends in recent times) andall things in between, I quoted Viktor Frankl, " We detect, rather thaninvent, our missions in life." So you can imagine my surprise (you'd thinkI'd know better by now, duh!) when, upon scrolling my back catalogue of contentto put something out today, that very phrase jumped out of the piece!
I ain't temptin' fate; it'sgoin' out!
Interestingly also, it'sbuilding on last week's POYOOMF episode, and it's pointing to a mini-seriesthat will come out over the next four weeks, reminding us all to look afterourselves. But even more than that it will tell us HOW TO.
Right. Amanda Delaney, great to see you. To all my amazing friends andcolleagues at PSA Ireland, and to all of you indeed, I invite you stick onthe kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes as we embark ona journey together.
Enjoy...
Time - The Great Leveller -In This Episode Yours Truly Uses The River Shannon To Explain.
Time is infinite.
Your time, my time, not so.
This week, I threw myselfin the River Shannon (voluntarily and safely) to draw an analogy between theinexorable flowing of the river and that of time itself using a twig to explainmy thinking.
Many people act like twigs ending up in life where life takes them; more andmore of us are beginning to realize we can direct our efforts. I think thepoint is well made, even if I say so myself.
As ever I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think (you'renot a twig, like) with me for a few minutes
Enjoy
Professionals Never Lose - They either Winor They Learn.
I’m sure you were taught, as I was, thephrase, “Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose” and yet again we were taught wrong.No more than, as we said last time on “Coffee with Colm”, Practice does notnecessarily make perfect, but practice ALWAYS makes permanent, this week we arerevisiting a CWC Classic, and reminding ourselves that the correct way to finishthis week’s sentence is…
“Sometimes I win, and sometimes I LEARN!”
Professionals NEVER lose; they win or thelearn. Amateurs lose all the time. Be honest with yourself (there’s nobodywatching) which are you? If the former, great, if the latter, decide to change.
As ever I invite you to stick on thekettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes; you have nothing tolose 😊
Enjoy
Yours Truly
Colm O'Brien
coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf#onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH#81patchworkquilts #100yearwork #themanonthetrain #coffee #vlog #podcast#sustainablebusiness #makehasteslowly #feedingjohnny #pendulumsummit#elephantintheroom #moneyistime #coaching #coachy #practicemakespermanent
Ps. To get a FREE copy of my own book “Feeding Johnny – How To Build A BusinessDespite The Roadblocks” chronicling the early years of founding and buildingour school meals business, now 21 years old, employing hundreds, with eightfigures annual revenue (audio version with Yours Truly narrating) simplyconnect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/colmobrienmotivation/
Yours Truly
Colm O'Brien
I'm sure you were taught, as I was, that practice makes perfect and yet it seems we were both taught wrong, not on purpose mind, but wrong nonetheless.
Practice does not necessarily make perfect, but practice ALWAYS makes permanent.
You see whatever you practice you get better at. As human beings, we learn to operate mainly subconsciously in terms of something we practice regularly, think driving for example.
But, unless you passed your driving test last week, how would you feel about your chances of passing it if you had to retake it in 48 hours time? I am full sure I'd fail! Why? Because my 'practice' over decades has created 'permanent' habits that I don't believe would stand up to scrutiny of a drive test professional!
There are four areas around which I suggest you consider your automatic practices:
- Your Health
- Your Wealth
- Your Relationships
- Your Spirit
I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and practice thinking with me for a few minutes.
Enjoy
Coaching - THE Quintessential 100 Year Work - Possibly the Most Important Work in the World.
Recorded ON Lough Derg (not in it this time) on my birthday - Yay, Happy Birthday to me! Level 61 andloving life - in this week's "Coffee with Colm" Yours Truly ruminates about one of his most cherished views, that we are ALL involved in 100 Year Work, for better of worse, (actually until death do us part!) whether we likeit or not.
I believe Coaching could possibly be the most important work ever - passing on learned skills to others, so that those skills and attitudes don't get lost in the mists of time.
And so our work, as coaches, is eternal!
And because I believe in Coaching so much, I want to enable more of it, thus my involvement in thestart-up, COACHY.ie
I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes from ‘The Spiritof Kilalloe’ on my birthday.
Enjoy
Caroline Rigney, a renowned Co. Limerick farmer took time out to attendPendulum Summit in January – and then to have “Coffee with Colm”.
From pigs breaking through fences, to packagingdelicious pork and bacon product for fans nationwide, to Killaloe Farmer’s Market,to forgiving ourselves and our parents, to letting go of the past, andembracing the present with one eye on the future, I had the most enjoyable coffeechat with Caroline Rigney.
I know Caroline and Joe Rigney, primarilybecause myself and Mrs. O’B are regular imbibers of their delicious (no, seriously!)fresh food at Killaloe Farmer’s Market of a Sunday.
They are a class act and to watch them workin harmony is always a treat. You join the queue (always a queue – which tellsyou something) and watch Caroline interact with her regulars, as she effortlesslyrelieves them of a few bob, while Joe cooks away in the background, turning tothe front to ask, “Salad, tomato and onion with that?” during which timeCaroline has moved on to take another order. Poetry in motion!
So, I was delighted when Caroline decided tojoin our little group of Vagabonds to attend Pendulum Summit in January.
We finally got a chance to grab a virtualcoffee together and have the chats. It was fabulous, very real, totallylife-affirming.
Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and thinkalongside Caroline (and Joe popped in for a sec, too) and me for a few minutes;you’ll fall in love with the Rigneys…
Enjoy...
A "Coffee with Colm" Special recorded LIVE while immersed in 7 degree water in the Shannon River as the sun dawned on the last Sunday of February.
My lovely Mam passed a year ago - on Feb 20th 2023 - God Rest Her.
Being an all year round open-water swimmer since2020 I was intrigued to stumble across an open-water swimming challenge called Freezebrury - to remain immersed in open water for a cumulative total of 435 minutes during the month of February, when Irish waters are at their coldest,sea, lake and river.
So I decided to accept the challenge and in sodoing raise funds for the wonderful work done by the beautiful end-of-life carers employed by the Irish Hospice Foundation.
I completed Freezebrury at dawn (on Sunday Feb25th) and recorded this episode of "Coffee with Colm" during thefinal moments of the final swim of that month-long challenge, immersed up to my chin in 7.8 degree water! I was in the water for 26 minutes BEFORE I hit record!
During this episode I share some pertinent lessons I have learned over the years to help me get more out of life.
If you'd like to find out more, stick on the kettle, grab a HOT coffee, and think with me for a few minutes.
You can make a donation here if you wish: https://hospicefoundation.ie/donate/
Enjoy...
Karen Pappin is a fellow Dub (South Side, butwe’ll let her off – although I had to address it over our coffee chat!) living in and working from beautiful Kinvara, Co. Galway.
She’s a storyteller – a Brand Storyteller - andshe came along to Pendulum as part of our little group of Vagabonds, not knowing what to expect.
The speaker that ‘spoke’ to her was not evenon her radar before she attended, and interestingly he did so through story – no surprise there perhaps?
Before the conference had even ended, Karenhad made a decision (and taken action!) to make changes in certain aspects of her life and puts those changes on public record in this week’s episode of “Coffee with Colm”.
Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and thinkalongside Karen and me for a few minutes, you’ll have a laugh, and learnsomething along the way.
Enjoy
The Biggest Challenge Most Coaches Face isFilling Your Diary.
We have the solution for you.
As a Professional Coach myself (part-time), like you, I learned that the hardest part of coaching is… prospecting… to find clients.
Coaching is not the problem, prospecting is.
When I looked around me at all the coaches I know (and know of), I realised the majority had the same problem; you and me, we would coach all day long -oftentimes evenings, and weekends - helping people with their life and businesschallenges. All you want to do is serve people with your knowledge, yourempathy, your listening skills and if only you could get them on a DiscoveryCall, you know they’d hire you.
Am I right?
So, I set about creating a team to solve the prospecting problem – and we think we may have just done that.
As Uber is to the Transport sector, and Airbnb is to the Accommodation sector, COACHY (launching May 1st 2024) is to the Coaching sector.
Currently in beta testing phase – COACHY is built solely to facilitate more Discovery Calls for you.
Embrace your inner FOMO to find out how COACHY can help you to stop selling and start serving more people in 2024, register your Pre-Launch interest here: https://adsuite.clickfunnels.com/coachy-pre-launch
Or stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think alongside young Ciaran Griffin and me for 10 minutes, and get a feel forwhat COACHY can do for you, and how you can pre-register your interest so you don’t miss out on Launch Day, May 1st 2024.
Ciaran is my fellow COACHY co-Founder along with Tim Kelly and ChristopherHeaney.
Enjoy...
Paul Massey was a retailer back in the day. Onething he insisted on was that he trained his staff what to do in the event of a robbery – no eye contact, open the till, step away, no heroes.
When two guys arrived one evening, one with asawn-off shotgun, the other with a hammer, Paul found himself instinctually NOTfollowing his own advice!
Paul is lucky to be alive. He retired fromretail shortly thereafter but has never stopped contributing.
We were blessed to enjoy Paul’s company as part of our little group of Vagabondsattending Pendulum Summit in January.
In this “Coffee with Colm” episode we discusswhat Paul took from it, and what is happening as a result. Wonderful stuff indeed.
Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and thinkalongside Paul and me for a few minutes,and get a feel for Pendulum (and maybe consider joining us next year on Jan 8thand 9th 2025 in Dublin, PM either of us if you’d like to find outmore)Enjoy
How do some people, get ahead, and many don't?
Those who get ahead in any area of life, take more shots than those who don't - simple! In so doing, they experience more rejection, and the natural outflowing of experiencing more rejection, is... more success!
I was a tad under the weather for the past week and as such missed the opportunity to have coffee with one of the Pendulum Vagabond Crew - don't worry, we've some crackers lined up over the coming weeks, this is just a blip - life throwing a curve ball.
Instead, this week I'm up-cycling a "Coffee with Colm" Classic from early on in my podcast journey.
Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with (younger) me for a few minutes.
Enjoy
Galway Girl, and Film Industry Pro, Emma Owen,had “Coffee with Colm” during the week to share her experience of attendingPendulum Summit.
It was FUN!
Then, on one of my questions, Emma began herresponse with, “Can I be a bit controversial here?” I knew right there that my answerto that question wasn’t going to matter; the train had left the station…
She also named her Standout Speaker and sharedwhy his talk had such an impact on her.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable conversationand looking back on it, it’s interesting to listen to Emma think out loud tofind the words to express what the whole experience meant to her. Great chat.
Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and thinkalongside Emma and me for a few minutes, and get a feel for Pendulum (and maybeplan to join us next year on Jan 8 and 9 2025 in the Shmoke, PM either of us ifyou’d like to find out more)Enjoy
So, a group of Business Vagabonds got together,and we went along to The Pendulum Summit 2024 to witness the 10thanniversary of its founding by Frankie and Norma Sheehan, to listen and learnfrom each other as well as from the world-class speakers on stage.
We all came from different walks of life and diversebusinesses (thus the Vagabond moniker); some small, others larger, all making adifference in their respective spaces.
We had fun. We laughed, many of us cried, allof us learned something about ourselves, but we all left The Convention Centrewith renewed sense of hope for humanity, chomping at the bit to get back towork to play our individual parts.
Over the next number of Coffees with Colm (oras we’d say on the Northside, “Coffee with Colms”) I’m inviting any of the Vagabondsthat want to, to join me for coffee and a quick chat about their experience, focussingon who was their Standout Speaker.
Nicola Connolly Byrne – EmpowermentSpecialist – is first up.
Her Standout Speaker was… (do you reallythink I’m going to spoil it? – I’d be killed!)
Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and thinkalongside Nicola and me for a few minutes, and get a feel for Pendulum (andmaybe decide to join us next year
There is a Global Pandemic affecting 1 in 4of us – Mental Health IS The Elephant in the Room.
I was blessed to attend Pendulum Summit inDublin during the week along with another 2,000 souls, twenty of whom had cometogether as The Vagabonds’ to have fun and learn and make friends over the fewdays. It was everything I expected, and more.
I was moved to action (or consideration atleast) by several of the speakers, but the one that ‘hit me’ unexpectedly wasBrent Pope talking about his mission to normalize the conversation about MentalHealth, through his organization “The Elephant in the Room”.
Brent is six foot three inches, 17 stone, thelast man you would pick out of a lineup as someone who might be vulnerable, yethe was.
When he hit rock bottom, he picked up thephone, in a last-ditch attempt to avoid the seemingly inevitable, and the guywho answered the phone saved his life (and likely thousands of lives throughBrent’s work now). Instead of answering “Hello, Samaritans.”, his first wordswere, “It’ll Be OK, Friend.”
Please, please stick on the kettle, grab a coffee,and think alongside Brent and me for a few minutes; it could make all the difference to someone you know.
You've had a car accident. They rush you to hospital. They tell you they're going to operate to save your legs.
They lie!They are in fact operating to save your life; your crushed legs are incidental (to them!)
When you wake up, they tell you you'll never walk again.You disagree! So instead, you become twice world champion!That, my friends, is the potted history of my first guest on 'Coffee with Colm' for 2024.Steve Judge joined me for coffee and to say his story is inspirational is an understatement.
What better way to kick off the new year...You know the score, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think alongside Steve and me for a few minutes.
Happy New Year.
Enjoy.
You all know Colin Farrell - Hollywood Actor, and a fellow Dub.
Colin was interviewed by Miriam O'Callaghan on the stage at Pendulum Summit back in 2019 and he lived up to all my expectations of the man; being at once a global celebrity and a humble man who hasn't forgotten his roots.
Not ugly either, it has to be said!
Anyway, I chose the podcast I created on foot of his interview with which to finish this pre-Pendulum '24 mini-series because of what Colin said. He said, "The day has yet to reveal itself."
As 2023 comes to a close, I feel Colin's words are pregnant with promise for 2024 - "The day has yet to reveal itself."
To hear the context of this phrase as well as two more life tips, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with Colin and me for a few minutes in this final episode of “Coffee with Colm” for the season.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, and in the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one!"
Enjoy
Yours Truly
Colm O'BrienPs, ONE SEAT HAS OPENED UP. I am bringing a group of 20 souls to Pendulum ’24 with a special price and all sorts of add-ons. As I publish this, 19 of 20 seats are committed! One opened up unexpectedly. If you’d like to join us, pm me - first come, first served. And no, I’m not on commission, I simply love business and I love people – why would I attend alone when I can attend with friends and fellow entrepreneurs? No better Christmas present to give yourself or the entrepreneur in your life!
coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts #100yearwork #themanonthetrain #coffee #vlog #podcast #sustainablebusiness #makehasteslowly #feedingjohnny #pendulumsummit
Ps. To get a FREE copy of my own book “Feeding Johnny – How To Build A Business Despite The Roadblocks” (audio version with Yours Truly narrating) simply connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/colmobrienmotivation/
Yours Truly
Colm O'Brien
Jim Warny is a real-life hero!
He is the Belgian-born, Cave Diver, living in Ennis, who led the Coach to safety during that tremendous superhuman effort that saw the coach and all twelve young boys rescued when the caves they entered got flooded.
He spoke from stage at Pendulum in 2019 and from his talk I gleaned some life and business lessons, which I am happy to share here as life hacks for you to consider.
Regardless of the lessons and tips, it's one cracking story!
You know the drill, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with Jim and me for a few minutes in this archive episode of “Coffee with Colm”.
Enjoy.
Yours Truly
Colm O'Brien Ps, I am bringing a group of 20 souls to Pendulum ’24 with a special price and all sorts of add-ons. As I publish this, all 20 seats are committed! However if you’d like to join us, pm me, and I'll see what I can do. And no, I’m not on commission, I simply love business and I love people – why would I attend alone when I can attend with friends and fellow entrepreneurs?
coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts #100yearwork #themanonthetrain #coffee #vlog #podcast #sustainablebusiness #makehasteslowly #feedingjohnny #pendulumsummit
Ps. To get a FREE copy of my own book “Feeding Johnny – How To Build A Business Despite The Roadblocks” (audio version with Yours Truly narrating) simply connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/colmobrienmotivation/
Yours Truly
Colm O'Brien
Fighter Jets Don't HaveWing Mirrors! Did you know that? I didn't. Sort of makes sense though. Apartfrom aerodynamics perhaps, I imagine it true that they are moving too fast incombat to have time to look behind them. Regardless, Fighter Jets Don'tHave Wing Mirrors!
Mandy Hickson, former RAFFighter Jet Pilot, was one of the very few female pilots operating at thatlevel, only the second ever female pilot to fly the Tornado GR4 on the frontline, amassing and surviving 45 live combat sorties.
And Mandy was just one ofthe amazing people who graced the Pendulum stage in Dublin in 2019.
I was enthralled.
From her story, I gainedthree tips to help me move forward with speed safely and in this week's 'Coffeewith Colm' episode, I'd like to share them with you, they are:
1.
2.
3.
To hear me recount allthree tips, and what they may mean for you, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee,and think along with Mandy and me for a few minutes in this archive episode of“Coffee with Colm”.
Enjoy
I actually can’t imagine it– and truthfully, wasn’t sure I believed what I was seeing when Nick Vujicicwas ‘placed’ on stage at Pendulum Summit in Dublin the year before COVID struck– yet there he was this tiny, incredible human confidently talking with 3,500mesmerised souls telling us to be more grateful!
Be More Grateful was the firstof 5 Tips On How To Get The Most Out Of Life; truly amazing, comingfrom a man who had a much, much tougher star than most.
To hear me recount the 5Tips, and what they may mean for you, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, andthink along with Nick and me for a few minutes in this archive episode of“Coffee with Colm”.
Enjoy
Right. Episode 2 of 6 in a Pre-Pendulum '24 Mini-series, curated by Yours Truly to allow you experience some of the world class magic, and diversity of thought that can only be found at The Pendulum Summit.This week, Marshall Goldsmith tells us why Admirals Don't Make Suggestions; in other words, Leaders - like you and me - can actually damage our organizations by opening our big fat mouths! (I know! shocked me, too!)
I'm sayin' nothin'.Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with my friend Marshall and me for a few minutes in this archive episode of “Coffee with Colm
Be ADream Doer in 2024 – Episode 1 of 6 in a Pre-Pendulum ’24 'Coffee with Colm'Mini-series
Ihad the most amazing experience during the week! I had a virtual coffee with FrankieSheahan, former Munster and Ireland Rugby Legend, laterally known around theworld for, along with his wife and business partner, Norma, co-founding The PendulumSummit – The World's No.1 Leadership & Self-Empowerment Summit, heldannually in Dublin, since 2014. What a pleasure.
Thereason I wanted to have the chat was because of how instrumental The PendulumSummit has been in my journey, both personally and professionally, havingattended in-person from 2015 through to when COVID derailed our world. I am soexcited to be heading back to Dublin on January 10th and 11th2024 for its 10th Anniversary… and it promises to be a cracker!
Inthis extended (33 mins) ‘Coffee with Colm’ episode, we cover: (with approximatetimings should you wish or need to skip. However, I recommend you don’t skip becausethen you will never know what you missed – embrace your FOMO)
· Setting thescene (0 mins)
· Frankie onwhere the idea came from (1 min)
· Frankie onwhy so early in the year? (6 mins)
· Frankie’sPendulum highlights? (10 mins)
· Frankie aboutCOVID personally? (15 mins)
· Frankie aboutCOVID for Pendulum? (19 mins)
· Frankie’s TopThree Reasons why people should go (22 mins)
· Frankie onthe Networking opportunities (27 mins)
· Frankie’s thoughtson attending alone, or as part of a group. (28 mins)
· Frankiesays, “If You’re 50:50 GO! – and makes a very generous offer (31 mins)
· How to get tickets.(32 mins)
Do yourselfa favour; stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think along with Frankie andme for a half an hour (just 2% of your day) in the extra special episode of “Coffeewith Colm”
Enjoy.
Another€750k Tax Free ONLY IF Financial Planning Is Played As A Team Sport FacingForward Ep 4 of 4
How You Can Pay Your Family To Reduce Your Tax - Ep 3/4, Paul Overy QFA FLIA has 'Coffee with Colm'
How You Can Access €2m Tax Free To Retire - Part 2 of 4, Paul Overy QFA FLIA has 'Coffee with Colm'
How To Reduce Your Taxes Forever - Paul Overy QFA, FLIA Part 1 / 4 a 'Coffee with Colm' Mini-series
What if the next person you meet led to €100 million in sales? Would you be excited? Or nervous?This week's "Coffee with Colm" retells my famous "Man on the Train" story recorded live at an Amanda Delaney 'We Can and We Will Talk' Event in Dublin in 2019.The actual Man on the Train meeting took place twenty years ago, in 2003 and I didn't know it at the time, nor even in 2019, but that one single meeting has led to an eight-figure business, employing hundreds, with sales to date exceeding one hundred million euro - and we're only getting started!Great news, not-so-great news...The great news is, there is a Man on the Train moment with your name on it out there in the Universe.The not-so-great news is around what you must do to meet it.To find out what my €100m meeting was, and what you can do to give yourself the best opportunity to bump into yours, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way…
Enjoy...
I Am Delighted To Have Just Turned 60! Here’s Why… – A Special RoundyBirthday Celebration Episode Over “Coffee with Colm”
Level 60! Woohoo. SO excited.
In this week’s once in a lifetime episode of “Coffeewith Colm” I share why I am so excited about ageing.
In only 8 minutes I ruminate on some of thelessons I have learned and share my excitement as to what I believe is to come.Stuff like:
· Levelling Up Vs Ageing
· The Speed of Life
· POYOOMF
· HWRS
· Winning The Week
· One Percent Living
· Four Over Seven
· 81 Patchwork Quilts
· Setting One Hundred Year Goals
Seriously… Soooo excited!
To find out why I am so excited about turning 60, stick on the kettle, grab acoffee, and think with me for 8 minutes in your preferred way…
Enjoy...
Recently I had cause to revisit my 'Parachute Story', reflecting on what I learned when my parachute failed as I plummeted to earth at terminal velocity (no kidding!) which is c200kmh, having exited a perfectly good aircraft two miles above the earth by choice!
Apart from the tongue in cheek insight that skydiving as a sport is a missed sponsorship opportunity for one of the nappy brands, I gained some valuable life lessons which I will take with me to the grave (and nearly did!)To find out what I learned, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, take a seat, feet firmly panted on the ground, and think with me for 8 or 9 minutes in your preferred way…
Enjoy...
What Are Your 100 Year Goals? - a Coffee with Colm Classic Revisited
"But I won't be here in 100 years, Colm." I hear you complain.
Exactly. You won't be here. Are you going to leave the world a little bit better off for your having taken up space here, or are you going to be 100% selfish and not give a damn?
Good news and bad news.
The good news is you get to decide whether you are goin to contribute or not to a better 22nd century.
The bad news is if you don't proactively choose the first option, by default you will have chosen the latter.
As always, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 10 minutes in your preferred way… (10 minutes out of 100 years, now that's not too much to ask, is it?)
Your move...
coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts #100yearworkWatch The Captioned VideoPrefer Podcast? Here’s the link…
81 Patchwork Quilts in Honour of my Mother who passed Peacefully on Feb 20th 2023 at Age 84. RIP Mam - a "Coffee with Colm" Classic (like my Mam)
Doreen O'Brien (nee Stenson) was a beautiful woman in every sense. Being named Irish Press Bride of the Month in June1961 (her work colleagues in Brown Thomas on Grafton St nominated her - fist she heard about it was when the Press called her to say she'd won!) was only the beginning.
She married my dad, Tommy, and together they raised 5 of us.
One of my sisters said she grew up believing that Mams' never got cold, hungry or tired, because if any of us was cold, we'd get Mam's coat wrapped around us, if we were hungry, she'd share what was on her plate, and if we were tired, she's sit with us so we could sleep.
She was completely happy in herself; Mam said to Aideen, my wife, that she never met anyone on life that she would want to be. There aren't many of us who can make that claim in today's InstaWorld, I fear.
In her honour, I'm reposting my 81 Patchwork Quilts vlog this week and so I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 6 or 7 minutes in your preferred way…
coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts
The Three Important Business Lessons We Can Learn from The Humble Hedgehog – a “Coffee with Colm" Classic
What do Hedgehogs do best in the world? They do Hedgehog; they don't try to be anything else.
If you want better results with less stress in your business or career, then this "Coffee with Colm" Classic episode is for you.
To find out the Three Important Business Lessons We Can Learn from The Humble Hedgehog, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 4 minutes in your preferred way…
coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts
What is your USP? Your Unique Selling Point? No, really, what is it? Do you have one? Or are you just like the business down the road, or that other one online?
If so, you’re banging your head against the wall and will most likely fail over time – probably by throwing in the towel rather than because of some catastrophic circumstance - you most likely will simply decide that all the hard work is not worth the mediocre results.
You will give up!
You can however set yourself apart, re-energize your business, can become one of the market leaders if you follow one very simple rule.
To find out what that rule is, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 6 minutes in your preferred way…
POYOOMF - Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First in 2023 - a Coffee with Colm Favourite Revisited
That went fast! January.
I'm just back from a trip to Helsinki with Mrs. O'B and some really cool people and as we took off, we were reminded to POYOOMF - Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First in the case of emergency.
So I thought I'd revisit a 'Coffee with Colm Classic' from 2028 - POYOOMF.
Do you realize you have only 48 weeks left to achieve your goals for 2023?
One way to stay on top, is to practice POYOOMF - Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First each week.
Want to be healthier this time next year? POYOOMF around your diet and exercise habits.
Want to be wealthier this time next year? POYOOMF around your earning and spending habits.
Want to be happier this time next year? POYOOMF around your relationships.
Want to be more peaceful this time next year? POYOOMF around your personal habits.
Self-Care is Not Self-ish.
To get some ideas as to how you can practice POYOOMF, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for 5 minutes by watching the captioned video below...
I don’t like Karaoke; there, I’ve said it. To me it’s a bunch of wannabes trying to live somebody else’s best life – what a waste! Be original!
A trend I’m sensing in Coaching today (whether professionally, or as a manager coaching a team) is an exponential rise in the number of Karaoke Coaches – defined (by me) as those who have nothing original to contribute – those simply rehashing others’ work, others’ ideas.
Great Coaches are like Great Chefs – there are no new food ingredients out there, just creative ways of combining them to produce something magical! In the same way there is no (or very little) ground-breaking new coaching information out there, just creative ways of combining them to produce something magical!
Are you a Karaoke Coach or not? You decide. Stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for five minutes by watching the short, captioned video...
Do you remember the movie, “The Karate Kid?” The original one was released in 1984 -just in case you weren’t feeling old! And do you remember Mr. Miyagi?
And do you remember Mr. Miyagi teaching the kid karate, by having him polish his car? Wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off? Do you? Remember?
Whether you remember or not, you can find out how you can benefit in 2023, from Mr. Miyagi’s sage advice, ‘wax on, wax off’, and to do so, simply stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for five minutes in your preferred way...
coffeewithcolm #hwrs #healthwealthrelationshipsspirit #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts
NEW EPISODE - Why I'm Only Setting Four Goals in 2023 – An all-new Coffee with Colm Episode
“Not another Goal Setting Video, Colm – give me a break!” I can hear some of you moan; ‘Hould yer whisht awhile… you see, I’m turning 60!’
Sixty! how did that happen? I’m absolutely fine about it too. I’ve come to believe that rather than ageing we are in fact levelling up in the Game of Life and therefore I am becoming more bad-ass with each level achieved! (also, I am embracing the universally accepted premise around the inverse relationship between levelling up and amount of f**ks given!)
Anyhow… Goal Setting still features even at 60. But they are fewer (like f**ks given) and more holistic.
To find out how you can set fewer - but bad-ass - goals in 2023 (and expend fewer f**ks to boot), stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for five minutes in your preferred way...
hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts
Who remembers Kevin (Macaulay Kulkin) in Home Alone? (btw it was released in 1990 - that is 32 years ago, just sayin'!) Many of us do.
Remember the scene where he's jumping up and down on his parents' bed shouting "I'm not afraid any more, I'm not afraid any more."? Well there are profound business and life lessons to be gleaned from that memorable cinematic moment; would you like to know what they are?
What if you weren't afraid any more as 2022 draws to a close and we creep towards the promising dawn of 2023, wouldn't that be nice?
To find out how you can be braver in 2023, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me (and Kevin) for four minutes in your preferred way...
hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts
I'm a Star Wars Fan, having seen the first movie in the cinema when it first came out, way back in 1977 as a fourteen year old, and then, along with the rest of the world, fell in love with the little green Jedi Master, Yoda, when he first graced cinema screens in 1980 in Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back.
There's a great scene where Luke Skywalker and Yoda, along with the adorable R2D2, are standing by the side of a swamp, and Skywalker is trying to use 'The Force' to retrieve their crashed spaceship out of the murky water. Skywalker is overwhelmed by the 'size' of the challenge, given that he had already proven that he can move stuff using 'The Force'. He basically says, 'it's all very well moving a few stones around, but this (a spaceship) is different, it's a much bigger deal' and so he'll try.
Yoda gently slaps him down with the immortal phrase, 'Do. Or Do Not. There Is No Try,' and reminds Luke that a few stones, a spaceship, there is no difference, it's only different in his mind.
What are you facing as 2022 comes to a close? What have you been trying to accomplish? Have you been trying instead of doing? What will you do in 2023?
In this week's 'Coffee with Colm' from the archives, I use Yoda's words to encourage you to reflect on where you are making excuses in your life, allowing yourself off the hook with, "At least, I tried." Can't you just hear Yoda with his condescending 'Hmmmm'.
So, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me and Yoda for four minutes in your preferred way...
“Here he comes - the man with the big kidneys.” said my mother. At first I thought she was talking about some poor unfortunate (or Telpis as they are often referred to in Limerick) and I was tempted to look behind to see who was following, and from what sort of disfiguration the poor soul was suffering? But she was talking to me about me! Her own son. Her eldest son at that!
Confused, I asked her what she meant and she explained that when she was growing up in Dublin, first in Rialto and then Coolock, the term big kidneys was used to describe someone who thought above his station, someone with big dreams. So instead of being offended, I chose to accept the compliment.
I am proud to be the man with the big kidneys. I always ask why can’t life be bigger, better, brighter today than it was yesterday? And bigger, better, brighter again tomorrow? No reason.
In this week's 'Coffee with Colm' from the archives, I encourage you to bigger thinking - not to be confused with working more, but working smarter, not harder, employing leverage, not just pure grunt.
So, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for five minutes in your preferred way... who knows, we might form the Big Kidney Clun someday.
hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts
Ever get fed up when successive idea after idea fails to materialize into the business or career of your dreams? And at the same time you see other 'eejits' (we don't say it out loud, but that's what we're thinkin, right?) seemingly killing it? Well, do you? Be honest, no one's watching.
What if I said the problem could be you?
Ouch! "Hurtful." I hear some of you whimper.
The reason the 'eejits' appear to be killing it is... wait for it... 'perseverance!'
And the reason for every idea you've tried, and there have been many is because,... you've tried and when the going got tough, you simply switched to the next great idea. and tried that. I'm reminded of, "Do or Do Not, There is No Try - Yoda"
If you are going to succeed at anything, you must stick to something!
In this week's 'Coffee with Colm' from the archives, I encourage being open to new ideas, whilst simultaneously warning of the fatal (in business terms) disease known as Magpie Syndrome, flitting from one bright and shiny idea to the next, and never committing fully to any.
You know the score, stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for four minutes in your preferred way... (no distractions mind - you can focus for four minutes, surely!)
hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #60MPH #81patchworkquilts
‘Leverage’ - The Reason Why Michael O’Leary and Sir Richard Branson Get Paid Whether They Go To The Office Or Not - A Coffee with Colm Episode From The Archives.
I had the great pleasure of being interviewed by Nicola Connolly Byrne during the week, for her Soul Chats Podcast Series. We could have chatted for hours! Nic and I grew up in the same area, five minutes (and given she’s only a young one, fifteen years) apart. We’ve both gone off on our own paths of discovery since and contribute in our own unique ways.
The chat was fascinating, not least because Nicola allowed it go wherever it needed to go and at one point I found myself talking about Robert Kiyosaki’s book, ‘The Cashflow Quadrant’, which is the most influential book I’ve read to date in terms of my business decision making.
In it Kiyosaki talks about the four players in the world of business,
· Employee
· Self-employed or Small Business
· Big Business Owner
· Investors
·
Two of these quadrants employ ‘leverage’ and two do not.
Which one(s) do you operate from?
Thumbs Up To The Problems In Life - How To Stay Focused On Your Goals
Can you see your future in 2020 vision? Do problems and obstacles knock you off course too easily and too often? If so, welcome to the club I USED to be a member of, until I discovered the power of giving a thumbs up to the problems life throws my way.
In this Coffee with Colm episode, I used the familiar term '2020 Vision' however I used it in respect to asking you do you have a 2020 Vision for your life as a whole? But because it was originally recorded back in 2017 (when my hair was darker!) I thought I would point it to a specific date in the year 2020 - and that specific date was YOUR Birthday. Clever, huh? I thought so, until I went to repurpose it in 2022!
So, shamelessly ignoring that it is out of date, I offer it to you again (because it's very good in fairness) and I ask you to consider your birthday in 2025 as you watch, listen and/or work through the visioning process outlined.
These eight short minutes could save you years in the achievement of your goals and realization of your dreams, so I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Enjoy.
hwrshour #coffeewithcolm #poyoomf #onepercentliving #fouroverseven #wintheweekwinthewar #wigwamwisdom #sixtyMPH
This is the final part in this trilogy, or mini-series if you will on How to Build a Sustainable Business.
Have you ever noticed, a three-legged stool never wobbles? Never. It's not possible. Doesn't matter what the ground under it is like, it will always sit steady - not necessarily level, but steady; we can learn a business lesson from that.
Your business, and ours can benefit by us focusing on three things, legs if you will, Brand, Systems, and People,
We looked at Brand and Systems over the last few weeks, today, let's discuss the third and final leg, People.
As always, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
A three-legged stool never wobbles, ever. It's not possible. Doesn't matter what the ground under it is like, it will always sit steady - not necessarily level, but steady. We can learn a business lesson from that.
Your business, and ours can benefit by us focusing on three things, legs if you will, Brand, Systems, and People,
The first leg is Brand - we looked at that last week. Today, let's discuss the second leg, Systems.
As always, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Enjoy.
The Three Things You Must Have To Build A Sustainable Business Part 1 - A 'Coffee with Colm' Episode from the Archives
As Carambola commences its twentieth year of business with an annual turnover of €10m, I am happy to share what we learned about building a sustainable business - by considering the humble three-legged stool.
A three-legged stool never wobbles, ever. It's not possible. Doesn't matter what the ground under it is like, it will always sit steady - not necessarily level, but steady.
Your business, and ours can benefit by us focusing on three things, legs if you will, Brand, Systems, and People, and over the next three weeks, I will discuss each in detail.
The first leg is Brand.
Per usual, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Enjoy.
Most People Do Not Want What You Have To Sell. Here's How To Turn That Fact Into A Positive - A 'Coffee with Colm' Episode from the Archives
None of us likes to hear the word 'NO'. Yet, it can be the most liberating word in the English language looked at it in a certain way.
He, she, or they who collects the most nos wins, simple as that.
Everything is a numbers game; sales, succeeding at building a business, searching for the right employee, business or life partner, inventing something, - indeed in response to a question about his missteps, Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric lightbulb, once said, “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”
Everything is a numbers game, so if you are not progressing, you are simply failing too slowly. If you want to make more sales, collect more nos more quickly, simple.
I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Enjoy.
How To Break Free From The Gravity Of Bad Habits… A 'Coffee with Colm' Episode from the Archives
What To Do When A Key Player Leaves Your Organization… A 'Coffee with Colm' Episode from the Archives
Is That Your Own Milk, Madam?" How NOT To Do Customer Care Then... How To Knock It Out Of The Park!
Someone once said, if you won a million in the lottery, you'd better become a millionaire real quick, or you'll lose it and for a while that confused me. I used think if you won a million, you'd be a millionaire, and technically that may be true in the moment, but the reality is, if you don't have a millionaire mindset, and millionaire habits, you won't remain millionaire for long. Same goes for business (or career). Unless you grow personally, and develop the habits required (by the universe) for a larger business or loftier heights on the corporate ladder, it cannot happen, and if it does by some quirk of fate, it won't last!
So, if you want more, if you want a larger business, or simply your own business, or you want the CEO chair in your company, then you must do the work - the internal work - first and then your business or job will grow to meet you, never the other way around.
In this week's reprise of an earlier 'Coffee with Colm', I explain what I did, indeed what my dad did, to put us in the way of more opportunity.
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Enjoy.
Originally recorded back in 2017, this week's 'Coffee with Colm' from the archives refers to two particular clients that were clearly annoying me - truth be told I now can't even recall who they were! But I fired them.
Now, clients are hard enough to come by, without us firing them because they annoy us, I hear some say, and while that may be true at times, we have to ask the question, 'are they worth it?' and I don't just mean in monetary terms - time, after all, is the one truly irreplaceable resource for you and me.
If working with someone is stressing you out, and you are handing over one hour of your precious, precious time to them, you'd be better off perhaps sitting overlooking water with a nice coffee in hand (one of my favorite pastimes) than having your beautiful spirit vexed as you hurtle at the Speed of Life - which is 60MPH (Minutes Per Hour) by the way - towards the inevitable!
You can always replace a client, you can never get that hour back #fireaclienttoday :-)
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
I met some people in 3D for the first time this week!
Some, I've known for years but only from the shoulders up, and up until this week, only through a video screen.
But this week, I had the privilege of attending All Ireland Business Foundation's Munster Entrepreneurs Meet-Up and Summer BBQ. It was wonderful and congratulations are due to Elaine, Kapil, Ciaran, Briga et al for creating something special through AIBF.
Nothing meaningful or sustainable happens without networking - it's about knowing, liking, and trusting someone you want to do business with - and how else are you going to do that effectively, other than networking?
Anyway, fresh from the joy of meeting friends, old and new, and making connections, I found this video in my archive, which (despite being recorded pre-covid) is as relevant today as when it was first recorded in 2016.
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
I used to be an optimist. These days I'm optimistic. Subtle difference, but different nonetheless.
Years ago, I stumbled across a story about an American POW (Prisoner of War), Admiral James Stockdale, who managed to survive more than seven years in the most horrendous conditions in the prison camps in Hanoi, North Vietnam, where he was taken when his fighter plane was shot down.
How he survived - as well as why many didn't - intrigued me and I've been living by 'The Stockdale Paradox' ever since.
To hear about The Stockdale Paradox, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Ps. Admiral Stockdale was in prison for seven years; you can benefit from what he learned in just 4 minutes here - not bad.
You have heard it said that Time Is Money, but what if it's the opposite? I believe Money Is Time!
How much does a cappuccino cost? A €3 coffee costs seventeen minutes at minimum wage* by my reckoning! And the problem is you can never get those seventeen minutes back because time is one truly irreplaceable resource available to you and me.
What can you do about it? Have a listen to find out.
I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Ps, This lesson will only cost you 5 minutes :-)
- Minimum wage is €10.50 in Ireland in 2022 - I'm ignoring tax)
I have to admit to enjoying rummaging about in my archive material and this week my attention was drawn to this one - Hedgehog For Breakfast.
Hedgehog For Breakfast is a mini-chapter in my book, "Feeding Johnny - How to Build a Business Despite the Roadblocks" and it refers to a concept I stumbled across in another book, by author Jim Collins. In it, Collins talks about the lessons we can take from being observant.
I enjoyed this one; I hope you do, too.
I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Ps. No hedgehogs were harmed in this production!
I like dipping back into the archives. It's interesting to see the same lessons are relevant over and over again. This week's 'Coffee with Colm' is timely because it's as relevant in my life today as it was when I first published it back in 2016
Life is a testing ground. That vision you have for your future will be tested, by life itself, to see are you worthy of it. Life will throw punches your way and seeming obstacles, juts to see how hard you willing to work for the vision. By learning to roll with the punches, and developing an ability to turn obstacles into stepping stones, you become lithe, yet strong, and therefore, worthy.
You also need to hang with the right people.
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes (5) in your preferred way...
One of the most influential books I've read so far has been The Cashflow Quadrant (or Rich Dad, Poor Dad 2) by Robert Kiyosaki. I had been struggling for years trying to figure out how some people got ahead, while I was caught in the trenches, batein' it out day after day for a paycheck. Around the turn of the century, Kiyosaki explained it to me.
I've never looked back.
It's not easy, but it is something you can learn to implement over time to position yourself to get paid whether or not you go to work. Intrigued?
If you are curious, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes (5) in your preferred way...
Between 2003 and 2005 our first business, a former Bewley’s Café Franchise, was failing – nothing could save it and we knew it. I wanted to crawl into a hole and say “Oh well, I tried,” but something told me to push forward. I’m glad I did.
As a result we built a € multi-million business employing hundreds of people and feeding tens of thousands of school children every day.
Perhaps you are feeling like throwing in the towel on some aspect of your life just now - maybe you should consider a different approach? Maybe pushing forward instead of pulling back is what the Universe is inviting you to do.
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few minutes (5) in your preferred way...
On Zoom, We Are All The Same Height! But We're Not. On Zoom, We Are All Nice People, But Are We?
We all struggle. This past few weeks have been challenging for me and I have had to dig deep just to stand still - have you ever felt like that?
The good news is, I managed to stand still and here I am on the far side of a fallow period, brought on by contracting COVID and then struggling to pace myself as I re-emerged into a world that appears to demand we go from zero to 100MPH in 4.3 seconds!
As I contemplated this episode, I thought I'd simply share some of the tools I use to cope.
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, and think with me for a few (6) minutes in your preferred way...
If Your Phone Was At 3% Charge, You'd Plug It In. What About YOU? Do You Recharge Regularly? POYOOMF
Yeah, it was one of those weeks where I found myself a bit bent out of shape by life so when I sat down to record the "Coffee with Colm" vlog, I found (very unusually) myself scrapping it four times and restarting. By the fifth take, and after 45 minutes of recorded material, I felt I had worked out my angst and it finally distilled into six minutes worth sharing.
I found myself 'thinking out loud' in those six minutes and drawing parallels between Russia invading Ukraine (seeking to impose their view of the world as being the only correct view of the world, on another sovereign nation) and Social Media types who come on and tell me and you that we are losers, if we are not willing to bust our gut 24/7 in the pursuit of some dream (usually represented by vast sums of wealth).
Anyway, I worked through it over a cup of coffee and was definitely less grumpy by the end. Thank you for allowing me this platform on which to ruminate.
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee, find out why I was grumpy, and think with me for a few (6) minutes in your preferred way...
Yep, you read that right. I was plummeting to earth for my second tandem parachute jump - at terminal velocity (almost 120 MPH) - when something went wrong.
Clearly, since I'm hear to tell the tale, I survived, but there were a handful of lessons I took from the experience, which I'd like to share.
In this week's "Coffee with Colm" episode, I recount the experience of both jumps, the first one being so exhilarating, it brought me back for a second, and the second where things went awry, the differences between both, and most importantly, the lessons I took on board.
As ever, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for a few (10) minutes in your preferred way...
Welcome back! Here's to 2022.
Admiral Jim Stockdale, was the highest-ranking US Officer to be imprisoned in the Vietnam War. He survived seven years of the most grueling treatment, including torture to within a hair's breadth of death on more than one occasion. He survived because he adopted this philosophy, "Never Lose Faith That You Will Prevail In The End, Whilst Simultaneously Confronting The Most Brutal Facts Of Your Current Reality".
I don't know what The Most Brutal Facts Of Your Current Reality are; I only know my own. Regardlesss, whatever they are, they can be overcome; 'this, too, will pass'.
As we emerge a bit battered and bruised from COVID and face into 2022, let's learn from Admiral Stockdale and have Faith That [we} Will Prevail In The End.
Oh. And he warns us about optimists! Intrigued? You should be.
I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
In this, the final episode of the Autumn Series of "Coffee with Colm", Yours Truly invites you to score yourself in each of the four areas, gratitude, peacefulness, groundedness and hopefulness as we catch our breath between the years. Enjoy.
How is your Relationship with a Significant Other? Your Kids, Your wider Family? Your Friends and Work Colleagues?
Great? Grand? Okay? Could be better? Different for all mentioned above? That's often the way.
Time is a-marching. If one or more needs attention, then better get to it; as Buddha responded when asked what is the biggest mistake people make in life? he said, "The biggest mistake is people think they have time."
In this week's "Coffee with Colm" I explore some ways for you to reevaluate your key relationships so you can begin to improve any that may require some work.
As always, there are no right or wrong answers, just right or wrong for you, and there is certainly no judgement in the "Coffee with Colm" series or in WIG-WAM, my hope is to simply inspire you to Think, and A.C.T. where appropriate.
Therefore, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and Think and A.C.T. around Relationships with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
Time and Money are the two elements most often cited as being in short supply for people to live the life they truly want.
And of these two, the most valuable by far is time.
Bad news, good news.
Bad news: You're not getting any more time. Sorry. I asked. I was told no.
Good news: You can change how you spend your time to allow you keep more of it for yourself and those you love. You can, at the same time invest some of this most precious resource to create more wealth! Win-win.
In this week's "Coffee with Colm" I explore some ways you can create more free time whilst simultaneously improving your financial situation now and for the future.
As always, there are no right or wrong answers, just right or wrong for you, and there is certainly no judgement in the "Coffee with Colm" series or in WIG-WAM, my hope is to simply inspire you to Think, and A.C.T. where appropriate.
Therefore, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and Think and A.C.T. Rich with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
4 Simple Things You Can Do To Improve Your Health Now
As we continue our conversation into Work-Play-Live, or Work-Life-Balance, Colm goes a bit deeper into how you can make some small changes for long-term results.
A simple exercise to allow you determine how you're doing in terms of work-life-balance
Work-Life-Balance is the new Getting Ahead. That's worth repeating - Work-Life-Balance is the new Getting Ahead.
You see, you are more than just a unit or production; you are more than just your job, your career or your business but too often we forget that fact and life gets out of kilter.
In this week's "Coffee with Colm" I ask you to think about the roles you play, the hats you wear and get you to take a stab at prioritizing those roles, eg is being an accountant actually more important than being a parent? Or a partner?
As always, there are no right or wrong answers, just right or wrong for you, and there is certainly no judgement in the "Coffee with Colm" series, my hope is to simply inspire you to think, and act where appropriate.
Therefore, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
It's great to be back.
In this Series of "Coffee with Colm" I'm expanding on my pre-covid work with new insights gleaned through lockdown, which, in the main, was a positive experience, forcing - or enabling - inner reflection for many, Yours Truly included.
The week is a perfect patch in the fabric of life, every week being exactly the same size and shape; seven days, twenty-four hours, one hundred and sixty eight hours in total. But every week is different in texture, tone and colour, some lighter, some darker, some fuller, some less so, some stressful, some joyful. Imagine fifty-two of them sewn together into a wonderfully beautiful, individual, unique patchwork quilt representing one year of your life.
In this week's "Coffee with Colm" I take that imagery and expand it to cover the eighty one years of life that someone on this side of the world is expected to enjoy on average.
Eighty-one Patchwork Quilts is all you have. How many have you discarded, thrown off the bed? What were they like? How many have you left? What would you like them to be like?
I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for a few minutes in your preferred way...
It's been a while!
COVID Lockdowns in early 2020 provided a magical pivot opportunity whereby the 'Coffee with Colm' series of weekly ruminations on all things life and business, which had been running since 2016, morphed into another 'thing' which became "The Coffee at Eleven Show".
The show took a break for summer 2021 and hasn't as yet re-emerged so whilst we figure out what to do next I thought it's time the original of the species returned for a while at least.
It's simpler too. A short video with captions and a podcast of the audio recording, reflecting the changing consumer habits around online content.
The first in the series talks about some of the lessons I learned in COVID that I am taking with me as we emerge into a post-covid reality.
One Percent Living is presented for your consideration.
Enjoy.
Season 4 finale - Episode 112
Given a month to live in 2002, still here in 2021.
After being diagnosed with one of the worst cases of Head & Neck cancer ever seen, oncologists around the world now say it has become one of the most inspirational cancer stories there is.
Survival would have been a miracle by itself, but it is now the length and quality of Liams recovery that has made this story as big as it is
Ger White, born in West Limerick, definitely won the “ovarian lottery”.
Raised in a “Rambling House” meant neighbours called each night and told stories round the fire.
She sees herself as a spiritual person, grounded and connected with life. Grateful to be married to the gentlest of men, who allows her to do her own thing! (Barry, 20 years)
Her poems cover Irish nature, Christianity, beauty, loss.
As such they align with Irish poets John O’Donoghue and Seamus O’Rourke
Published in eight anthologies,
Audio poems featured monthly in East London Radio
She encourages: “Seek the beauty in your surroundings”.
Episode 111
Emma Jane works as a senior leader in a semi-state agency. Outside of this she also runs a small equestrian farm, with her partner, at Martinstown Lodge located outside Athboy, Co. Meath.
They have established an innovative leadership and career coaching development centre at Martinstown Lodge, using the unique technique of equine supported coaching.
Emma Jane is passionate about working with people to help them realise their dreams and fulfil their potential. She is a qualified and experienced Professional Coach, qualifying from Kingstown College with two Coaching Diplomas. She has a proven track record in helping numerous people successfully develop their businesses, careers and secure new positions.
This work with the horses, where there is no horse riding involved, challenges people to think differently in a natural and safe space for learning. This is a proven effective method that gets to the core of issues powerfully and effectively. Emma Jane offers this service to other coaches and their clients, which provides an effective and impactful mechanism to gain deep insights into all aspects of their clients. This in turn helps them on their transformational journey.
Joanna Ryan_Purcell is an artist, writer and performer with a professional background in theatre. Joanna wrote her own adaptation of the Children of Lir. This is written through prose poetry and the book is illustrated with her own paintings and Joanna performs her book as a one woman show. In 2018 Joanna founded 'The Blue Door Studio', which she opened in Nenagh. This was a creative space where workshops, performances and exhibitions took place. Joanna then started organising music events called 'The Blue Door Sessions'. This has become one of Joanna's prime interests with the Blue Door.
Johann Callaghan is a bestselling Author, Speaker, Sleep Science Coach, Health & Wellness Coach and Podcaster. She has featured many times in the media; on radio, TV, newspapers and magazines and she is an award-winning entrepreneur. She is the creator of the 'Empowering Sleep Success', 12 Week Live Group Coaching Online Program. Her podcast 'Empowering Family Health' is a very successful show helping to empower parents and families all over the globe.
Nicola is a mother to four, disability advocate, entrepreneur, and down to earth, straight talking woman. Her nickname is ‘Noogle’ as in Nicola Google. She is somebody who always finds solutions and answers for friends and family – she gets sh*t done. A woman of opposites – measured, calm and laser focused, she is also spontaneous, intuitive, and trusting, and as a result accepts life on life’s terms. Described as someone with business acumen that is very targeted, she designs, plans and executes in her business life, but family and friends are her most important focus. She feels that her sense of humour has gotten her this far and looks forward to lots of adventures in her future! She joins us here to entertain us in her own inimitable style.
Episode 107 of The Coffee At Eleven Show
Join us on episode 106 of the Coffee At Eleven Show as we are moved by the dynamic young Kerry actor, writer, and activist for both Travellers and Mental Health as he discusses acting, writing, his family, and his faith
Jean Evans is an expert on all things networking. It is her passion, and one that is borne out of experience and plenty of trial and error, mistakes and mishaps. Through her blogs and social media channels, Jean shares tips, tricks, hacks and ideas on how to become an effective networker in business.
She told me, "Learning to network is a game-changer. It’s empowering, enlightening…it leads you to self-awareness which grows confidence. And with confidence I firmly believe you can achieve anything."
Join us on S4 E5 of The Coffee At Eleven Show as we hear about her globe-trotting journey to the networking expert she is today.
S4 E4 sees Author, Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist and Healer, Jacob Cooper zoom in from NYC.
Nowadays, he is a clinical social worker, certified hypnotherapist, reiki practitioner, but early on Jacob had a near-death experience that had a profound impact on his life.
He is the author of the recent release - “Life After Breath” How a Brush With Fatality Gave me a Glimpse of Immortality
Vivian McKinnon joins us on The Coffee At Eleven Show on episode 103 - Season 4 Episode 3 for one of our most powerful shows yet.
"Music Is No Weight To Carry Through Life" ~ S4 E2 of The Coffee At Eleven show with Brian Reilly
The Coffee At Eleven Show returns with Evelyn Pepperrell of Pepperrell Media Connection in the hotseat.
The Coffee At Eleven Show S3 E7
Behind The Art ~ What Inspires Helen Merrigan Colfer's Art And We Met The Wind Beneath Her Wings
"I Am Not Easily Controlled" Nadia Ramoutar Introduces The Coffee At Eleven Audience To The Concept of Partipulation
"I'm A Compassionate Coach" ~ Gillian O'Gorman Shares The Journey That Led Her To Founding The Wellness Lounge
"I Was Raised By Five Mammies" - They Taught Sharon Farrell The Importance Of Managing Credit - on The Coffee at Eleven Show, S3, Ep2
"I Don't Know What Religion God Is." This, and other gems from our favorite Granddad, James Finnegan on The Coffee at Eleven Show, S3, Ep1
What Goals Have You Set For 2121 (not a typo) The links between 100-Year Goals, Harry Potter and Ariana Grande - on 'Coffee with Colm'
Ladies and gentlemen, this week I'm building upon something that I started to talk about in late 2020.
Now that we're in 2021 and we're back yet again in lockdown, I want to reflect on some of the stuff I teach and build upon it somewhat; I believe it is more relevant than ever now.
And so I offer you three things you can do this week to kickstart 2021 and show you how you can lock your progress in!
When Covid struck us all in Ireland in early 2020 I heard it said that we're all in the same boat together. And it sort of made sense and I believed it for a while. And then as time went on, I heard somebody else say, and I thought it was a much better description, "We're not all in the same boat together, we're all in the same storm together".
And many of us are experiencing that same storm from very different vantage points. Some, metaphorically speaking, from the vantage point of a cruise liner, and others from the vantage point of, perhaps, a leaky bathtub. I think that's a very real description of what's going on in Ireland today and perhaps, in the world today.
So this week, over coffee, I'd like to discuss this and offer three things you and I can do to make 2021 better, DESPITE Covid.
You've heard it said, "Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well" and it is. But anything worth doing usually takes time to get right, to get to the point where it is done well - and therefore a Universal Law suggests it must start off badly first.
So this week, over coffee, I'd like to explain why I am wishing you make mistakes, fail early and often to get the most out of 2021.
For some I may even be giving words to why stuff has not worked out for them before now.
It's time.
Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and think with me for five minutes in your preferred way as we head into 2021 together.
Christmas can be a difficult time for some people for myriad reasons; we never really know what is going on behind a smile and some outward festive cheer and so it was that Angeline Collins Driver found herself on the Coffee at Eleven Show as the final guest of 2020 to talk about a very serious malaise in our society, suicide.
Truthfully, I wrestled with the timing around releasing this episode, given that it is 'The Holidays' but perhaps now is indeed the right time as we enter yet another lockdown as the strangest year in living memory comes to a close and a new one, showing as yet no signs of certainty, emerges on the horizon.
Angeline Collins Driver decided in 2020 it was time to tell her story, and finally do something about suicide and so founded Ohana ZERO Suicide.
She says, "Ohana means 'family' in Hawaiian. I loved the tagline from the Disney film Lilo & Stitch. Family, where no one is left behind. We all get into action when something [tragic] happens. So what about getting proactive so we can stop it before it happens and avoid the tsunami of grief?"
Angeline is convinced that action and responsibility has got to be taken by everyone in every community, in every county to stop this happening to any other family, mother, father, sister, brother, friend, colleague.
Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you take some time out over the Holidays and listen ton Angeline tell her story and find out how you can be part of a movement that is First Aid for Mental Health in 2021 and beyond.
It was hilarious! Santa Claus (the real one) popped in to the Coffee at Eleven Show for a chat just before the big day (or night!)!
We touched on the text-book perennial nature of of the Claus family business, centered on the three legs which require mastering for longevity: impeccable and unrelenting focus on Brand, Systems and People.
Then the craic (Irishese for fun) started, as adult after adult café goer lined up one after the other and 'Sat on Santa's Knee' for old times' sake. It was magical.
When all were duly seen and heard, Santa had to rush off - huge preparations were afoot; making lists, checking them twice, going to find out who's naughty or nice (are you humming yet?) - indeed one café regular had to plead his case for a transfer and may have been successful and Tim Kelly shall remain nameless.
However, in true Irish style we continued the party and went around the room to check out that essential "show us your Irish pedigree" test - the party piece! Songs were sung, poems recited, stories told, the odd tear squeaked out, and laughter, real laughter, Covid-beating laughter spread from one to the other in what one regular called, as he typed it into the Zoom chat, "THE BEST HOUR OF THE YEAR!" And Tim Kelly can take a bow for that one. Sláinte Timo.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, on behalf of Princess Shelley - aka Michelle Barry, The Monk - aka Eamonn Smith, Our Rock - aka Caterina O'Brien and our latest recruit, The Resident Pup - aka Tim Kelly I invite you to gift yourself and your families one hour over the festive season to listen to The Coffee at Eleven Show Christmas Special 2020.
Poor Martin O'Regan's Mother thought he must be up to something nefarious when he was handing her large sums of cash to 'mind' during his teen years. Of course he wasn't but the 'forever entrepreneur' has always, even from a young age seen opportunities the rest of us mere mortals miss and whilst his buddies were enjoying the craic (Irish-ese for fun), our Martin was the impresario making it all happen - for a margin, naturalment.
From those early 'Craic' dealing days, Martin has honed his entrepreneurial eye and raised his eyesight from the West of Ireland to view the entire globe for opportunity. And he found it when he founded InflightFlix International, potentially disrupting an entire industry by showcasing video destination guides at points before visitors arrive, online, onboard and on-social.
Despite the fact that the global airline industry is on it's knees, the irrepressible Martin O'Regan remains upbeat about 2021 and beyond.
Folks, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and listen to this fascinating story of building a business despite many, many roadblocks.
Poor Martin O'Regan's Mother thought he must be up to something nefarious when he was handing her large sums of cash to 'mind' during his teen years. Of course he wasn't but the 'forever entrepreneur' has always, even from a young age seen opportunities the rest of us mere mortals miss and whilst his buddies were enjoying the craic (Irish-ese for fun), our Martin was the impresario making it all happen - for a margin, naturalment.
From those early 'Craic' dealing days, Martin has honed his entrepreneurial eye and raised his eyesight from the West of Ireland to view the entire globe for opportunity. And he found it when he founded InflightFlix International, potentially disrupting an entire industry by showcasing video destination guides at points before visitors arrive, online, onboard and on-social.
Despite the fact that the global airline industry is on it's knees, the irrepressible Martin O'Regan remains upbeat about 2021 and beyond.
Folks, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and listen to this fascinating story of building a business despite many, many roadblocks.
Padraig Smith’s first company vehicle was a pushbike with a wooden pallet strapped to the back from which he sold farm-fresh eggs for IR£1 per dozen at 10% commission when he was in school.
Roll on a handful of years and he is owner and Managing Director of a €multi-million business in the continuous energy space.
Padraig graced the Coffee at Eleven Show zoom café with his presence and regaled the live audience with story after story showcasing the human side of business.
He finished by telling us what he is taking with him from Covid.
Folks, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and listen to this very human story of building a business.
Padraig Smith’s first company vehicle was a pushbike with a wooden pallet strapped to the back from which he sold farm-fresh eggs for IR£1 per dozen at 10% commission when he was in school.
Roll on a handful of years and he is owner and Managing Director of a €multi-million business in the continuous energy space.
Padraig graced the Coffee at Eleven Show zoom café with his presence and regaled the live audience with story after story showcasing the human side of business.
He finished by telling us what he is taking with him from Covid.
Folks, I invite you to stick on the kettle, grab a coffee and listen to this very human story of building a business.