Enigin scam paign blog

Learning the Banjo (or an idea from an Enigin employee on how to carry on regardless!!)

My Father taught me to never turn my back on a challenge or try to run away from one,  a bit like our collective mindset here at Enigin. If you do, that challenge will grow in stature and, like a greasy wall leaning towards you, be almost impossible to summit.  But, if from somewhere within, you can summon the courage and tenacity to stand tall and meet its advancing menace without fear of failure, you will have succeeded.  If this philosophy is subscribed to, even in ultimate defeat, you will have triumphed. You would have learned more about yourself for at least trying than if you decided to run at the first available opportunity.  Never run away or turn your back on anything. Never!!!!!

Challenges and an individuals attitude towards success can vary, for some it is career, money, kudos etc, etc. For others, it is the simplest things that present the more interesting and rewarding outcome.  For me, like all of humanity, I have many challenges that I am trying to overcome, some sub-consciously and on an every day basis.  These challenges are fought without prior thought or planning, a certain automation kicks in every morning when I wake and the day’s attempts to succeed will begin.
Now, let me tell you, I am most certainly not musically minded, nor do I come from a family of musical geniuses (is that a word?) or maestros.  I have not got one musical bone in my body.  I simply have no natural aptitude for playing instruments (of any kind).  “But Ben, I hear you cry in astonishment, you surely jest with us, we have heard rumour that you partake in the regular playing of the BANJO!!!!!!”
Darn it!! Well, with cover well and truly blown let’s get it right.  It’s a Short scale Irish Tenor Banjo to be correct, but who really cares! When played it sounds like something Grandpa Whetus would play out on his porch, whilst rocking on his old Maple rocker with Rex his faithful Hound Dog nestled by his feet on those too hot to sleep, Tennessee nights…….  that all to clichéd sound drifting out through the night into the Cajun hills. Get the picture!!!!! Good, I was beginning to exhaust my creative mind!!!
Anyway, the point to this entire ramble is that I do play the “Banjo”.  Or at least, more appropriately, I try to play.  I am not by any means, nor will I ever be, the next Earl Scruggs (don’t worry, you wouldn’t understand!!) but I don’t really care, I’m proud of where I am in the pecking order. I’m proud because I keep trying.  I can play to a fair standard I suppose and could probably get away with a little bit of busking (providing I didn’t have to sing) and yes, the layman out there would probably think I sound OK.  But the fact still remains that I am not now nor have I ever been a naturally musical person.  I have never had the urge to play any other kind of musical instrument, not even the guitar.  I didn’t even “Do Music” at School.  The fact is that I picked up a Banjo when I was around 14, made an awful racket and, to put it simply, didn’t give up! (The challenge)
Now, I wouldn’t say that I am successful in playing the Banjo, I wouldn’t be so self appreciating, but I would say that I have been successful in trying, if that makes sense!  In my humble, Joe Bloggs opinion, you can only achieve true success, by accomplishing a long serious of failures (and trust me, I’m still failing). Sure, there are perceived exceptions, people are sometimes deemed to have achieved success in their life’s when actually they have achieved nothing, they’ve done nothing more than get lucky!!  The achievement (sadly something the afore mentioned wouldn’t be able to appreciate) comes when that long series of failed attempts, reaches the point where success is inevitable.  How many bum notes do you think Mozart wrote and played before he could truly say he had succeeded in writing any number of his classics.

All I am trying to say in a roundabout way is this.  If you would like to feel sense of true achievement, first you have to try. You have to steady your nerve, take a deep breath, stand tall and square up to the challenge ahead, proud of the knowledge that it takes courage.  Just like Enigin Distributors, recognise it as something that you are going to meet head on and dig your trench for the coming battle.  When your respective horns are locked, the true battle will commence, you will be tested, you will fail at first, you will want to give in to that feeling of being beaten, to quit, DONT………get your head down, roll up your sleeves get back on you feet and keep trying, you must keep trying.  People do not ultimately fail in achieving success; they simply stop trying to overcome the challenge.  Try asking some of the most successful Enigin partners!

Anyway, what do I know?  I have a nice tankard of Gumbo on the porch and Rex is warming my Maple rocker.  Now……where’s my Banjo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click here for 'Dualing Banjos'

How start a week the Enigin way

Click the picture

The first day of training is one of the most exciting days in my working month.  It is the pinnacle of a lot of mountains that have been climbed, traversed, ascended and conquered.  For many, it will be the very beginning of a new, exciting chapter in their lives and for me…..well I am just proud to a have been able to help them on the way to maximising their potential.  The whole team here at Enigin HQ work so hard to make sure that the this first fledgling day is as inspiring as it should be for our Partners.

What am I talking about you may well rightly ask at this point.  Well, I am a business manager with Enigin PLC and we help business professionals and entrepreneurs break into the ever growing energy saving industry.  My remit is to recognise potential within the circa 3500 or so enquires we receive every month, assess their capabilities and then, subsequently, recommend to my Directors who we should be spending time with.

I typically arrive at the office around 0800 and, more often than not on the first day of training, don’t leave until well into the evening.  We will usually have around 30/40 people from around the world, whether just visiting for one of our Open Days, or starting out on their first day of training and they all need to have quality time spent with them to ensure that they are receiving only the best treatment possible.  After all, when individuals are making a commitment to visit us from countries like Mongolia, New Zeal and, USA, Australia, Far East, India to name just a few of our representative countries, we need to make them feel as special as we can.

Generally speaking, I am still ‘buzzing’ well into the next day such is the powerful nature of that first introductory day.

Anyway, I just took a few moments to fill you in on what’s happening with me and if you would like to know more about the Enigin opportunity, you can always contact me at Enigin by visiting us at www.enigin.com.

By for now.

P.S.

Little Lottie is doing well but unfortunately, doesn’t seem to have the capability of sleeping!!!!!!!

My favourite poem (it will help with trying acheiving your goals! )

I am not a huge fan of poetry (my Enigin colleagues will testify)but I can appreciate heart felt words when I read them.  Too much literature is written these days for monetary gain only.  Too little is published that was really written with intent to stir mind and soul.

I came across this poem a long while ago and it is still by far and away my favourite piece of poetry.  It was written by a chap called William Ernest Henley. Henley became a victim of tuberculosis at the age of 12. In spite of this, in 1867 he successfully pressed on to pass the Oxford local examination as a senior student, something that he was told he would never achieve. His diseased foot had to be eventually amputated directly below the knee; his Doctors said that the only way to save his life was to amputate. Henley persevered and survived with one foot intact. He was discharged after 8 years in hospital in 1875, and was able to lead an active life for nearly 30 years, despite his disability. With an artificial foot, he lived until the age of 53. “Invictus” was written from his hospital bed during his most torrid time.  It was not written for commercially orientated reason, but more from a passion for providing evidence of his never give up attitude.  You may find it inspiriting.  I certainly do.  Try putting on your desk top as a screen saver, or printing it out and having it somewhere to hand.  refere to it when time are bad and you will find an inner resolve.

We don’t have a library of motivational literature at Enigin HQ, we are all too motivated in ourselves, but maybe there is room for me to suggest that we start thinking about putting one together.  Food for thought!!

Invictus

William Ernest Henley.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

5 goal setting tips from an Enigin employee

The days here at Enigin have slipped away from me at the rate of…oh lets say one a day!!!!!!  Joking aside, It has been a while since my last post, but not for lack of good reason.  I have been away from the Enigin offices for two weeks due to the arrival of my third Daughter.  I now have three girls all under the age of five.  If you add my wife to the equation that leaves me in a major minority.  Lets just say that I am considering moving to the Enigin offices.  We have a shower, kitchen, comfy lounge and facilities that many would die for.  Again, I am joking!  However, it is fair to say that Enigin have a superb Headquarters and whilst I don’t wish to sound like a ‘home dodger’, it is a pleasure to be able to work in the kind of environment that I do.

Anyway, enough rambling, there was a reason why I started committing finger to keyboard and it was connect to my last post.  It is all well and good me preaching the virtues of Goals, but that is of little use without some tips and ideas to get you started on your way.  Now, there are literally thousands of books devoted to self help, mentoring , life coaching etc etc.  But I have listed my top five tips for wannabee goal setters.  See how you get on!!! and by all means, please contact me to let me know how you get on.

1. Specific, realistic goals work best. When it comes to making a change, the people who succeed are those who set realistic, specific goals. “I’m going to recycle all my home rubbish” is a much more doable goal than “I’m going to do more for the environment.” And that makes it easier to stick with.
2. It takes time for a change to become an established habit. It will probably take a couple of months before any changes — like getting up half an hour early to exercise — become a routine part of your life. That’s because your brain needs time to get used to the idea that this new thing you’re doing is part of your regular routine.
3. Repeating a goal makes it stick. Say your goal out loud each morning to remind yourself of what you want and what you’re working for. (Writing it down works too.) Every time you remind yourself of your goal, you’re training your brain to make it happen.
4. Pleasing other people doesn’t work. The key to making any change is to find the desire within yourself — you have to do it because you want it, not because a girlfriend, boyfriend, coach, parent, or someone else wants you to. It will be harder to stay on track and motivated if you’re doing something out of obligation to another person.
5. Roadblocks don’t mean failure. Slip-ups are actually part of the learning process as you retrain your brain into a new way of thinking. It may take a few tries to reach a goal. But that’s OK — it’s normal to mess up or give up a few times when trying to make a change. So remember that everyone slips up and don’t beat yourself up about it. Just remind yourself to get back on track.  People do not fail, they simply stop trying!