Andy Collier, nic-named “Candy” has had a life changing, positive influence on me.

Candy has finished several ironman, run in hundred mile races, and finished a triple ironman, just to name a few…

Unquestionably, his actions and support encouraged me to stop sitting around talking about what I’m gonna do … and just go out and do it.

He played a key role in challenging me to do 7 ironman in 7 days across the 7 Emirates of the UAE
(my 2011 personal challenge which I will attempt at the end of November)

Candy works for a global private equity firm, and lives in the middle of London – yet he still finds the time to run/train 30-40 miles straight several times a week.

Imagine running 30-40 miles consecutively, “several times a week” in the middle of London.

Anyways…

Several months ago, a TV program in the UK heard about Andy’s training routine, and contacted him to do a special program on him, his traininig and his “fuck it -just make it happen” attitude…

Apparently, during the first meeting with the TV producer, Andy and the film crew discussed camera’s and filming, etc
(Andy’s other hobby is photography and one of the camera men had the same camera he owns)

According to Andy, during his 30 mile run later that eveing, he started to think about making a short film himself …

The next day, he went onto Amazon and ordered a few books on “how to” make a short film/short movie.

Andy told me he bought (on Amazon) and read 26 books on how to make a short film….

He read 26 different books to learn as much as he could in order to be able to successfully, achieve his new goal of creating a short film.

For the past couple of months, Andy wrote, produced and is directing his first short film – a film he has entered in the Sundance film festival.

Personally, I have zero interest in making a movie, or a short film – however, I find Candy’s “fuck-it, just make it happen” attitude very motivating.

Seriously ….

Think about this guy who lives in the middle of London, works 8-10+ hours a day, runs 30-40+ miles “several times a week,” and yet still makes time to learn how to produce and direct a short film –then creates a film good enough to be entered in the Sundance film festival.

It’s that idea I keep discussing and challenging those around me to think about:  “some people sit around and talk about what they’re gonna do, while others make it happen.”

Next time you tell yourself you don’t have time to go out and (at least try) to achieve your dream or goal…

Think to yourself:  “but I have to make it happen…”

A teaser from Andy’s short film:
Visit him on facebook:  www.facebook.com/pages/web/158361594225964
To find out more about this film:   www.indiegogo.com/WEB-1

Adam made a great point today – he commented how “make it happen..” has become a cliché, something people say just to say, with no conviction whatsoever.

Kind of like “drive safely..” or “I’m praying for you…” things people say just to say, without really thinking about it.

The “make it happen” I refer to has nothing to do with material wealth.
For me – “making it happen” means experiencing life to its fullest.

A few examples which I have highlighted in this blog:

• Since 1997, Jason Gorud and I have a dinner club.
  Although he lives in Singapore and I live in Dubai/France, we travel the world to meet up at least once every 3 months to have a “Friday Night Dinner.”  I am meeting him in New Delhi for an FND in a few weeks.
  We have experienced a Friday night dinner in many countries, at several of the world’s most famous restaurants.
• Romain (naseba’s IT director) and I go on a trip once year focused on Adventure.
  Since we started this club, we have visited Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Libya and soon we will go to Pakistan.
  (these trips are not expensive)
• Sophie and I take one week a year to experience somewhere new – last year we went to Cuba.

(I mention the above examples is to highlight inexpensive ways I enjoy experiencing my life)

Recently, I was interviewed by a reporter from the Gulf News who asked what is my ultimate goal in life.

As I answered, I thought back to a few years ago when I would have said “to make hundreds of millions of dollars.”
This is still a goal, however, my main focus and ultimate goal in life is to experience it to the fullest.  Ideally, at the same time having a positive influence on the people around me.

I try to encourage my family and friends, including everyone at NASEBA to set goals and dream — and do everything possible to achieve them.

To help motivate people at naseba to do something exceptional in their lives, we are doing a challenge which is not related to business, but will have a positive impact on the employees and the company.

NASEBA ROLEX Explorer Challenge

Over the following 6 months:
effective from May 15^th until December 5^th

The NASEBA employee who accomplishes the most exceptional achievement outside of work from the period between May 15^th – Dec 5^th will win a Rolex Explorer watch.

All naseba employees have the same opportunity to win this challenge –  on Dec. 10^th until December 12^th people will vote on naseba facebook who was the most exceptional.

The challenge is for any employee who works with naseba from at least May 15^th…
(thus people recruited over the next 30 days will count towards being eligible)

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A few great examples of people at NASEBA making their life happen in 2010 (the ones I know of):

• (pictured at the top of todays blog)  Durga, Neelesh, Suresh, and Burka took a week and rode motorcycles from Manali, India through Kashmir to Ladakh, “Riding the Himalayas” — across the highest road in the world.  (please visit naseba facebook to read more about their adventure – its incredible)
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladakh
• Andrei lost 60 KG in 6 months – although he lost his weight just prior to joining naseba, it’s a great achievement which has ultimately changed his life for the better.
• Adam Fletcher summited the highest treking mountain in the Himalayas.
• I swam the English Channel.

Even if you don’t work at naseba, think about how you and your friends can support each other to go after your dreams – and do something exceptional.

Don’t just go through your life existing.
Make your existence happen.

I am in Milan today – I flew in yesterday afternoon for a dinner last night, and then a meeting today.
After my meeting this morning, I spent the day walking around Milan, the weather was perfect.

I have been to Milan many times, but for some reason today was more enjoyable than most because I wasn’t thinking about what I was going to do tomorrow, or what I did yesterday … I just enjoyed the present and the simple pleasure of walking around the streets of Milan..

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Too many people go through life living in the past.

Too many people go through life just “hope-ing” for a better future… without putting in consistent effort to make their future happen.

Too many people focus only on the negatives of the present.

“it’s cold…”
“I’m tired..”
“there’s a lot of traffic…”
“the car in front of me drives like an idiot…”

I read a great quote today by a talented man…

I’ve been living my whole life thinking about how good my life was going to be in the future, and how shitty my life was in the past, so i was always pissing on the present.

Too many people can relate this comment…

Make your life happen.

Recently, Charlie Sheen’s despicable behavior earned him the title “twitter champion of the world,” the person with the most twitter followers.

It’s incredible to think that we live in a world today where millions of people are keenly interested to follow the every word of a man with a character like Charlie Sheen.

Imagine the massive negative influence this person is having on millions of people…

How many kids/people (mainly in America) are emulating Sheen’s behavior because they think he looks cool?

Think about the negative consequence Sheen’s influence can have on just one young student’s life/future …all the students who are excitedly, trying to be like Sheen – thus, have no respect for authority…

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Once upon a time, a person’s character was defined by his actions; spoken words, and by the way he/she lived their life.

This was back in the day of “sir and ma’am…”  when the expression “a man of character” meant something…

…back in the days when doing good was still given preference over feeling good.

Instead of sitting around moaning and complaining…
Instead of being brought down by those around us…
Instead of stealing from ones brother…
Instead of cheating on ones wife…
Instead of wasting ones talent…

Reflect on the person you are today, and the person you want to become.

Toward the building of character…

Education, enviornment, family, friends, all play an important role in the building of one’s character …

but at the end of the day, our character is defined by the choices we make.

I lived in Japan for 5 ½ years and loved living and experiencing the world of Japan.

I have many friends who live in the Sendai area which was wiped out by the quake and the tsunami.

My thoughts and prayers are with my friends, as well as the 100,000s of families who are hurting today.

With the risk of this being a ”cheesy, motivational blog entry…”

As you watch the horror on CNN, think about your own life – are you living it to its fullest?

Are you using your talents and abilities to their fullest?

Are you a great, honorable person?
Are going after greatness?

All of us can be better  –better friends, husbands, wives, employees, etc…

Don’t waste your life floating through it waiting for tomorrow to begin…

Make today the first day in the rest of your life.

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