Well I never. What a week this has been. For 7 years I have been speaking and without question I always make the point in my presentations that there is

“nothing wrong with asking for help”.

This was cemented this week when I was contacted by the Bradford Telegraph & Argus to advise me that a tee shirt had been produced which included the great and good of Yorkshire on it……including that of Peter Sutcliffe. Of course I found this distasteful and told them in no uncertain term. Funnily enough they chose not to include my comments in the online story I saw the next day which I found strange.

The following day on BBC Radio Leeds I heard a representative (owner I think) of the company who designed and printed the tee shirt who was attempting to defend himself. His argument was that it was just a joke and when asked by BBC Leeds if he had considered what the women who he killed might think about the tee shirt. His reply begged belief.
“I don’t think they would be that bothered”.

I was obviously furious and I don’t think I had felt this way for many years. I was physically shaken up and I immediately contacted the individual concerned and pleased with him to reconsider. He just listened as I explained who I was and the impact of the actions of Peter Sutcliffe and how it is now being felt by my children who are beginning to ask how Grandma Wilma died. After I had spoken he told me he would think about it and text me if he changed his mind.

It was at this point that I decided to ‘Ask for Help’ by sending out and email, tweet and facebook message to everyone I know to ask them to email the company if they felt as I did to request he reconsider his design.

I can not tell you how humbled, touched and moved I was to receive hundreds of emails from those who had contacted the company to request he withdrew the tee shirt. Many went a little bit further than that but I can’t possibly repeat it here. I had emails from India, South Africa, Australia and from all over the UK.

By asking for help the company withdrew the tee shirt and are now redesigning it without Peter Sutcliffe on it.

THANK YOU

A few months later someone wrote to me to let me know that Jordan had been interviewed by OK magazine whilst on holiday and when asked what she was reading on holiday she replied that it was a book about the Yorkshire Ripper. My book wasn’t actually mentioned but as both our books were in the top 10 (me above her) at the time I felt as though she was probably checking the charts like most authors do and was interested in my book. Or maybe not, but I like to think so.

It wasn’t until a few days ago that my virtual relationship with Jordan was reignited. Last week, whilst at the National Indoor Arena giving a talk, I decided to attempt what Jordan did last year in my home town of Leeds. I wanted to beat the world record for signing the most books in an 8 hour period . For reasons that have never been explained Jordan failed in her attempt.

I was speaking at the Kleeneze Showcase event and as they had purchased 2500 copies of my new book ‘iCan’ I decided I would attempt to sign them all and beat the record. I don’t think I  appreciated how difficult the task was going to be but after 3 hours of constant signing and with no sign of much progress I began getting worried. I decided to speed things up but I have to say it really tested me. I actually began forgetting what my name was. Anyhow I persevered and just after 7pm I finally got to book 2012 and decided that during this Olympic Year it was probably a good place to collapse.

I got through 6 pen refills and surprisingly my hand felt fine. It was a fantastic achievement and I really felt as though I had completed a minor marathon. Regretfully I have to announce that due to the books not being sold at full price the attempt would not be recognised by Guinness. I didn’t care. I had still signed more books than the world record holder so personally I feel like a record holder. In fact I have inspired myself to set a world record during 2012. Watch this space for that.

How about you? How could you push yourself a little more? Could we squeeze some more from you? I believe we all have the potential to do more. Just for the hell of it, tomorrow do something that you hadn’t intended.

If you would like to purchase a signed copy of the new book or the audio version then take a look at my products page where there is a special offer right now.

We have just received news from our on the spot reporter who brings us this report live at the scene.

A number of members of the public have already been seen placing what witnesses describe as an ‘online order’ from their homes in a number of yet to be disclosed locations around the UK.

Officials have not yet confirmed the contents but it has been suggested that its 100% pure inspiration. You may recall from numerous recent items that it has become something of great scarcity of late.

This is not the first time we have featured Richard McCann. He was originally charged with being a ‘Sunday Times No1 Bestselling Author’ some years ago although details of his whereabouts since have been sketchy. Speaking in around 200 locations a year means he is extremely hard to keep tabs on.

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Earlier this year I discovered that Peter Sutcliffe would remain behind bars for he rest of his life as his appeal against his whole life tariff was unsuccessful. I was asked what my response was by Sky News and I did a live piece outside a venue I had spoken at a few minutes earlier, and believe me it was definitely outside my comfort zone.

Whilst I was there I spent some time having a chat to the lovely reporter Tessa Chapman who was interested in how I became a  motivational speaker .  She asked me for some advice as she was to give a presentation to a college in a few weeks’ time.  After I had shared a few ideas I then asked her a few questions.
I was intrigued at how she became a presenter for Sky News.  What she then told me I thought was fantastic, and I wanted to share it with you.  When she was six years of age she wrote to ” Jim’ll Fix It “.  This was a weekly programme presented by Jimmy Saville, a retired Radio DJ and TV celebrity.  I should probably explain what the show was about for any younger readers.  Members of the public wrote to Jim and asked him for help to achieve a dream or ambition that they had.  He chose half a dozen on each show to help fulfil their dreams.

Depending on what age you are, you may or may not know of Jimmy Saville and it doesn’t really matter.  What is important here is that Tessa had some idea where she wanted to be in the future and it was something that was meaningful to her.  She had wanted to read the news for most of her life, and some might call it luck that she did indeed get to read the news, but I would suggest that it’s more than that.  When we know what we want to be, do, or achieve, our brain is on heightened alert to look for ways in which we can make it a reality.

If you rang up for a pizza and the pizza shop owner asked what type of pizza you wanted I doubt there are many of us that would reply with ‘Don’t know’ or ‘Surprise me’.  But that is what happens for many people.  They go through life not knowing where they want to be and they stop in a job they hate for fifteen years.

I met a woman in York a few  weeks ago after she had sat in on one of my talks, and afterwards she told me a story of being made redundant after working for BT for  many years.  She soon discovered that it was a blessing in disguise as she wasn’t fulfilled in her job and she now works with the local authority helping young people who may have had issues to deal with in their life.  She’s never been happier.

If you were to write to “Jim’ll Fix It” who could give you anything, what would you ask for?  Go on, write it here instead…, but then write another, this time from Jim telling you that the show ended 20 years ago, but here’s what you need to do to achieve that thing…, you’ll be surprised what you might come up with.

I wrote this piece a few months ago but today with Jim’s passing I felt is appropriate to highlight at least one person who he had inadvertently inspired.

I bumped into him in my local Indian restaurant and couldn’t resist having a chat with him. Myself and my good friend Ayd Instone approached him and he gave us his take on the youth of today and how he first got started in the music business. I’ll never forget the conversation and his willingness to speak for so long to complete strangers.

RIP Jimmy Saville died 29.10.11

I noticed, as I sat in the front sitting room tirelessly trying to catch up with the influx of emails that we all receive these days, a few old photographs of what looked like the proprietor in the army around 30 years earlier.

The next day over breakfast I mentioned the photos and asked how life was compared to his time in the forces. What he came out with stopped me eating my cooked breakfast.

He said there were hard at times, fighting the IRA and whatever else was going on but

……..”even the bad times were good“. Wow! Even the bad times were good.

Its strange because even though I have had a difficult childhood, not only losing mum to Peter Sutcliffe but the hardships that followed, I am quite often thinking about my childhood with fond memories.

Even my bad times were good.

Even mums death had a positive outcome. I now have an understanding that I wouldn’t have had if it had not happened. I can now support people who have experienced what I have. That’s a gift and although its not one I would choose or wish on anyone it happened. I have a choice to either only look at the negative aspect of what took place or if I wish also look at the good to come from it.

How about you? On reflection have you had negative things happen in the past that you can now say something positive about?

Only yesterday I came across someone with the ‘Can Do’ spirit in my home town of Leeds. I noticed as I walked through the city centre a photographer snapping away at random shops. I was intrigued enough to ask him what he was up to. (I love speaking to people you know)

It turns out that Luke, who turned out to be a kind of graphic designer, was taking a photograph of what he thought was a tired looking shop front and then taking it back to his studio where he then worked his magic and then approached the shop owner to demonstrate what he was capable of. Fantastic.

He knew that business is tough right now and if clients weren’t going to come to him then he was going to go out (of his way) and go to them. I was so impressed when he told me the lengths he was prepared to go that I asked if he minded if I shared what he was doing with you. Of course he agreed. I loved his strategy. In fact he was just returning from a meeting with a popular restaurant in Leeds where he had just had a meeting showing off his ideas for them. As I often say as a motivational speaker: its not about what you cant do its about what you Can Do.

Here’s an example of what he does and click here to find out more about Luke.

Before his magic

After his magic

Well I thought I had heard it all until today. I was informed of something that had never crossed my mind before or possibly yours. I was warming up ready to give the first of 3 presentations to post 16 students in Macclesfield and I got into a conversation with Janet who was one of the Health and Beauty tutors. The only health and beauty I involved myself in nowadays was to get my hair cut every 3 weeks. I mentioned that a great hair-dresser was very hard to come by these days.  One who had an attention to detail and would ensure that all the stray hairs behind my ears are got rid of (Apologies if you are eating). She understood completely and went on to explain that when it came to health and beauty students one of the tasks that they had to carry out was to wax a persons legs. The attention to detail that she had tried again and again to get her students to carry out was to eradicate any stray hairs from the toes of their client. Wow. I had no idea that this was an issue.  She assured me it was a regular occurrence and her students fell into one of two camps: Those who would wax toes and those who turned a blind eye. Those who waxed toes when waxing a persons legs were in the minority I might add.

Now I don’t know where you are on your journey, whether or not you are in work or if you have your own business. In my opinion we each have our own hairy toes. Not literally but we do have opportunities to either go the extra mile and put everything into what we do or we can do the opposite. Just enough to get by and hope there will be no repercussions. Sadly, especially if you are in business, not going the extra mile will eventually come back to bite you on the behind when you least expect it…..or maybe your hairy toe.

Wow, as I write this the trees outside my office are being really challenged by the extremely strong gusts of winds which originated over 3000 miles away off the East Coast of the US.  Its amazing that Hurricane Katia is being felt here in Yorkshire and in many parts of the UK despite it being right in the centre of the Atlantic Ocean right now. (Did you know you can track a hurricane online now?)

It reminds of the theory I heard in the playground years ago that when a butterfly flaps its wings the impact of it can cause a disaster the other side of the planet. Now I don’t know how true that is but one thing I do know is that many of things that we do (or don’t do in some cases) can be felt 1000’s of miles away and in some cases, many years to come.

I only have to look at my mothers death and the impact that had myself and my family and how the ripples in that pond are still being felt to know how true that is.

I spoke in Edinburgh in 2006, coincidentally on the anniversary of the night mum never returned home, and this week I received a booking for Scotland that I believe came from a recommendation from someone who was in the audience in 2006. That’s 5 years later.

We have to be careful what we do, what we involve ourselves in, how we live out our lives. You never know how far the ripples will reach.

Maybe your life is ready for a metamorphosis like the caterpillar who transformed into the butterfly above.

Have you see the details of the life changing iCan Do seminar that takes place in November? Details here.

If only I had done things differently? If only I hadn’t got involved with the wrong crowd as a teenager. If only I had not been sniffing glue as a teenager and ran away from home and slept the streets. If only I hadn’t been beaten as a child. If only I hadn’t walked out of school without taking my exams and left home aged 16.   If only I had not got kicked out of the army for psychological reasons. If only I had not taken those drugs. If only I had not started dealing them and if only I hadn’t been arrested and sent to prison.  If only my sister had not killed herself 4 years ago. If only mum hadn’t got into that car that night she wouldn’t have ended up dead. 

What if all that was supposed to happen?

What if I chose this life?

What if because those things happened in that way in that order I would learn many valuable lessons that would shape my future and indirectly shape the lives of countless others?

What if the things that have happened to you were supposed to happen, that you chose this life and that the life you have right now was the one that you were destined to have this time round?

What if despite the hardship you are experiencing right now it’s here to teach you something and that you will grow because of the experience.

What if ever ones life is a case of two steps forward and one step back?

Where are you right now?

Wherever you are, maybe it’s perfect right now and all will be revealed at another time.

You can see how I did here.