A powerful force for good

I hope this will empower others with the support of our man Desmond Tutu, whose 90th Birthday I was lucky to attend before he passed. It was amazing to see him chatting and laughing away with his good friend the Dalai Lama. A real testament to this simple fact;

Why we may have different views, different religions, and ideologies, good people working together in collaboration with shared values, are a powerful force for good, so ..

NEVER BACK DOWN IN PURSUIT OF YOUR IDEALS.

Personally, I decided to create and live by an all-consuming ideology of Positive Transformation, bringing everything that I decided matters to me, self-development, creative development, and the development of relationships, into a single point of focus while striving to positively impact the lives of a billion people through trusted collaborations with individuals, businesses, other charitable initiatives, and Governments.

It is a funny thing when you put everything that really matters to you all under one single point of focus, creating your own hierarchy of needs, and getting real clarity on a vision for the future. Very quickly every step, decision, and action becomes laser-focused on what really matters, and is fueled by an unimaginable passion. It is also really quite amazing how many fewer fucks I give about opinions or the actions of the people that think they have some meaning to me, when I am consumed by a deep connection to a higher power and purpose that is driving me every minute to be more, find more, and do more!

The way I see it, things are like this. Our lives are our choice, and our mission having decided what matters to us individually, is all that matters. We all get to decide what our life purpose is, simply by deciding what matters, what steps am I taking toward my vision today, removing everything that doesn't matter to me from my mind, my decision making, and every area of my life. Period. And then doing it all again tomorrow, the day after, and forever more, writing about it all as I go, as it is simply what matters to me and what I love to do in life.

It doesn't matter what age you are, where you are, or what you have, or don't have, all that matters is what you decide matters to you now, today, and then regardless of whatever forces start to rise around you in support of opposing agendas, having the force of will, and courage of conviction to make it happen, no matter what. JUST FIND A WAY OR MAKE ONE!

The story following is from Desmond Tutu, a constant inspiration to me, and to the millions of others whose lives he changed before he died, continues to change even after passing, and now hopefully also empowering you today, with and a nugget of brain food for daily life.

The former South African archbishop Desmond Tutu used to famously say, “We are prisoners of hope.” Such a statement might be taken as merely rhetorical or even eccentric if you hadn’t seen Bishop Tutu stare down the notorious South African Security Police when they broke into the Cathedral of St. George’s during his sermon at an ecumenical service. This is a short narrative of the dramatic story of his response which can teach us so much about the power of hope and direction, being committed to an ideal, never backing down, and how to be joyful and happy while doing it.

Desmond Tutu stopped preaching and just looked at the intruders as they lined the walls of his cathedral, wielding writing pads and tape recorders to record whatever he said and thereby threatening him with consequences for any bold prophetic utterances. They had already arrested Tutu and other church leaders just a few weeks before and kept them in jail for several days to make both a statement and a point: Religious leaders who take on leadership roles in the struggle against apartheid will be treated like any other opponents of the Pretoria regime.

After meeting their eyes with his in a steely gaze, the church leader acknowledged their power (“You are powerful, very powerful”) but reminded them that he served a higher power greater than their political authority (“But I serve a God who cannot be mocked!”).

Then, in the most extraordinary challenge to political tyranny I have ever witnessed, Archbishop Desmond Tutu told the representatives of South African apartheid, “Since you have already lost, I invite you today to come and join the winning side!” He said it with a smile on his face and enticing warmth in his invitation, but with clarity and boldness that took everyone’s breath away.

The congregation’s response was electric. The crowd was literally transformed by the bishop’s challenge to power. From a cowering fear of the heavily armed security forces that surrounded the cathedral and greatly outnumbered the band of worshipers, we literally leaped to our feet, shouted the praises of God, and began…dancing. (What is it about dancing that enacts and embodies the spirit of hope?) We danced out of the cathedral to meet the awaiting police and military forces of apartheid who hardly expected a confrontation with dancing worshipers. Not knowing what else to do, they backed up to provide the space for the people of faith to dance for freedom in the streets of South Africa.

For me personally in life, I draw great strength from such situations as I develop my own ideal for Positive Transformation, in a failing society having a catastrophic effect on our planet, I believe we must be creating Brighter Better Futures through collaboration and sustainable business practices at scale, positively impacting the lives of one billion people within 50 years, changing society, and our attitude to the planet. Hopefully, but not essentially, before the end of my time here on earth.

While I may be long way from achieving my dream, and while it is easy to mock a spark that is not yet a flame, I have started, and I fully intend to finish. In my life to date, when I decide to put a foot on the mountain, I am going to the top, even if I have to die trying.

With so much wrong in the World, why would anyone just settle if you don't like the way things are? Worse still, continue contributing to a broken system that is killing us all?

I am completely aware that to many people, I am a crazed delusional lunatic that has lost his mind and should just accept the world as it is. They (whoever they are) are wrong. I am ruthlessly focused on an ideal and will never stop or back down until it is achieved. Living in chaos while finding a way to be calm, powerful, and relaxed in moving forward is what I love. It's what I live for! I find great joy, power, happiness and fulfillment in overcoming challenges.

Also, to be honest, there is no greater joy in life than doing what everyone tells you can't be done, simply being engaged in the process, riding the emotional roller coaster of life, and driving at my own defined purpose is far better than actually crossing any finish line.

Ultimately there is no finish line anyway, there just isn't, not even death but that's a subject for another time. The wilder the storm, the more energy I derive from it to push myself through. And make no mistake, I will have a crazed smile on my face while I enjoy hanging on to life!

A thing that seems to have been lost by people that I speak to and read about, is that they seem to care far too much about all the noise in the world. When it comes to your vision, nobody has to see it while it manifests, other than you. IT IS YOUR VISION.

More importantly, you don't have to care about who believes in you either, you need to believe in yourself and be your own cheerleader when inevitably it all gets too much for those who just can't operate outside the box. Staying within the lines, upholding the average, and being comfortable is the main stream of mediocrity, and it's really hard to pick up the shovel, dig your own path in life, and be the fool for everyone, before you get to be the master.

The thing is, if you live your life your way, with no regrets about the process, the decisions you made, and the principles you lived for, you win. Everything else is simply the opinions of people who just don't matter to you. Funny how easy it is to attach meaning to the opinions of people you don't know, and yet your own views, from the person that all of us place a lot of importance on, "ourselves", those views are simply not implemented. Why?

Just ask anyone on their deathbed. There are many books on the subject of the regrets of dying people, have a read, it's enlightening. If I had my time again I would do even more that people told me I shouldn't do, like now for example, I will be speeding up my efforts for Positive Transformation.

There will be no slowing down, no backing down, and I will be making certain that I do far more that I am told I shouldn't, by those that have never really lived for an ideal, or actually done much of anything to be different in their own lives.

I believe we need a better vision, and people need to be working far more closely together to create brighter better futures delivered through collaboration.

A collaborative mindset is needed now more than ever, that widens the impact of existing brilliant initiatives, while also connecting people of power and influence to the vision, creating a sustainable impact on our lives, and a better way for humanity to live.

I simply will just not accept things as they are, blindly following the blind and seeing more of the same shit, putting lipstick on a pig doesn't make the pig smell any better. I mean just look at the political landscape right now, why do we keep following blind pigs who occasionally come up with a truffle, while it is true, even a blind pig finds the occasional truffle, it should be obvious that the pig never has, and never will, turn these truffles into a delicious Michelin star meal. It just isn't happening!

So going back to Desmond Tutu and wonderful people like Sir Ken Olisa OBE, I hope that they, along with other powerful role models for a better world, will empower people to see the blind pigs for what they are, stop following the status quo, and start creating brighter better futures through Positively Transformational Initiatives all around the UK, leading to national and then global collaborations.

We are all one, we are all human, and we are all facing a very challenging future. I say, regardless of our different views, different religions, and varied ideologies, good people working together in collaboration with shared values, are a powerful force for good, who can make Positive Transformation a reality, creating Brighter Better Futures for humanity.

The Positive Transformation Initiative and THE CLUB OF DOING WELL, DOING GOOD is my evolving contribution to creating brighter better futures for individuals, businesses, and charities. Combing networks of networks, and working with those I truly respect, people that have actually achieved something that others thought impossible.

Positive Transformation is my vision for change, delivered with people just Desmond Tutu and our Patron His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant and Chair of London Business, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, along with many others that I know, can hear the music before it plays.

SO REMEMBER THIS ON YOUR JOURNEY;

NOBODY CAN STOP WHAT THEY DIDN'T CREATE, SO NEVER STOP, NEVER QUIT, AND NEVER EVER BACK DOWN FROM THE PURSUIT OF YOUR IDEALS.

The ultimate goal for me is to fuel my own creativity, learn and develop myself while cultivating a fulfilling existence. In doing this and removing some of the bullshit that negatively impacts our minds in daily life, I hope to support better brighter futures for everyone on a journey of Positive Transformation, Growth, & Personal Development.

Get in touch with me via the Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to share your little nuggets of wisdom and your personal stories of BEING RELENTLESS, BEING YOU, and how you are creating an OPPORTUNITY MINDSET on your own exciting life journey of Change, Positive Transformation, Growth, & Personal Development.