The Optimum You

By Duncan Christie-Miller

Everyone wishes to achieve their best possible results. Everyone is unique. The Optimum You guides you through a series of actions, behaviours and thoughts which will help you to achieve your own, unique potential.
The Optimum You presents you with short, readable chapters, each containing relevant nuggets of Duncan's hard won experience. Readers are presented with inspiring thoughts and actions which when applied as a whole will give each person their own path to personal happiness and fulfilment.
Your mind, body and spirit will be uplifted by this book. You will become The Optimum You.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Release date: May 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781800469037

Duncan Christie-Miller

Duncan Christie-Miller is an ex-Royal Marine and successful businessman. He is the author of Integrated Intelligence – a concept of business and personal development based on his military, commercial and academic experience. Duncan also completed two successive Marathons in the Sahara Desert in 2019 in aid of Parkinson's UK.

Book preview

Ltd

Contents

Section 1 Getting Started

•Introduction To The Optimum You Personal Bests and Resolution

Section 2 Self-Awareness

•Positive Attitudes

•Objectives, Aims, Targets and Success: Oats

•Self-Authorisation

Section 3 The Developing-Self

•Motivation

•The Happiness Equation

•Fear and Self-Confidence/Self-Image

•Coaching and Self-Coaching The Oscar Method

•Positive Assertiveness Using Orbit Effectively

Section 4 Reviews

•Reviews

•Progress Review

Section 5 Optimising Personal Performance

•The Gift of Feedback

•Applied Concentration

•Best of Friends Your Brain and Body

•The Meaning of Success

Section 6 Team Work and Leadership

•Milk and Truly Great Teams

•The Leadership Paradox

•The Trusted Leader

Section 7 Creating the Impressive Optimum You

•Your Best Just Got Better

•Positive Presentations

•Active Listening

•Good Manners

Section 8 Using Wisdom Wisely

•Wisdom Is…

•Common Sense

•Good Intentions

Section 9 Handling Life’s Challenges

•Conflict Management The Mirror Technique

•Positive Stress Management

•Working Well From Home

Section 10 The Optimum You Final Review

•The Optimum You Final Review

About The Author

A Tribute in Admiration

Section 1

Getting Started

•Introduction to The Optimum You

•Phase 1 : How to Use The Optimum You to Achieve the Very Best Results

•Phase 2 : How to Maximise the Results of Phase 1

•Some ideas to Motivate you and help to maintain momentum

Introduction To

The Optimum You

Personal Bests and Resolution

The Optimum You is designed to help you to unlock your latent talent and thus achieve significant personal results.

There are many publications and programmes which offer to help you become the equivalent of a Superhero. I take a different view and believe that what is realistic, achievable and practical is to aspire to be the best YOU can be – The Optimum You. Thus, you are not compared or measured against other people – only against yourself.

All of us have latent talent. There are many reasons why we do not use our talents fully. Perhaps we fear failure, are inherently averse to change or feel that we do not have the right to achieve our potential. Sometimes, in addition, there is considerable peer or family pressure not to change and so become different. It is possible that no-one else has recognised that you do have latent talents and opportunities for development have been missed. Perhaps it is you that has not recognised your potential up until now.

HOW TO USE THE OPTIMUM YOU TO ACHIEVE THE VERY BEST RESULTS

Each reader will be different and have highly personal needs in their quest to become The Optimum You. One person may prefer to peruse the whole book thus gaining value from the momentum it generates. Others may prefer to dip in to the different subjects as they are immediately relevant and thus helpful.

Whatever you decide to do, I believe that it should be done according to your own PLAN. Indeed, this is in itself an important lesson in becoming The Optimum You. You need to prioritise, to decide WHAT you want to achieve and HOW to do it.

However, experience shows that a two-phase approach has many advantages. Phase 1 is my recommended sequence in which I have selected a series of learning lessons that when taken as a whole will give you the very best platform for success. Phase 2 is markedly different – at that stage you will be much more in control of your quest, have a clearer picture of WHAT and HOW and thus be able to determine your own way ahead. In Phase 2 you make the decisions – you are in control.

PHASE 1 : SUGGESTED READING SEQUENCE TO ACHIEVE THE VERY BEST RESULTS

Start with

Section 2 : SELF-AWARENESS

•Positive Attitudes

•Objectives, Aims, Targets and Successes: OATS

Then move onto

Section 3 : THE DEVELOPING SELF

•Motivation : The 5 Rs

•Fear and Self-Confidence/Self-Image

Section 4 : REVIEW

Then

Section 5 : OPTIMISING PERSONAL PERFORMANCE

•Best of Friends -Your Brain and Body

•The Meaning of Success

Followed by

Section 6 : TEAMWORK and LEADERSHIP

•The Leadership Paradox

Continue with :

Section 7 : CREATING THE IMPRESSIVE YOU

•Positive Presentations

•Active Listening : GLASS RIMS

Followed by :

Section 8 : USING WISDOM WISELY

•Wisdom Is…

Culminating with :

Section 9 : HANDLING LIFE’s CHALLENGES

•Positive Stress Management (Parts 1-3)

Concluding with

Section 10 : Final review

PHASE 2 : BUILDING ON PHASE 1 RESULTS

Phase 1 will have given you a platform on which you can build. You will now be in a position to make your own selections which parts of the Optimum You should be read. This Phased approach is very practical and gives each reader a sense of progress plus self-determination. These are vital aspects of your successful quest to become The Optimum You.

So, now please select your own, personal Phase 2. You will need to re-assess your PLAN, revise your Objectives and timescales. It is a positive to write down your Phase 2 reading sequence including where you want to use the Review(s).

SWOT

A SWOT is the analysis of your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Just write down all that you know and understand about these four categories. Then you can identify what your OBJECTIVES are – what it is that you are striving for and to be.

Then write down HOW you will achieve these Aims. Now you have a PLAN covering WHAT and HOW.

MAINTAINING MOMENTUM

AND MOTIVATION

This journey is unlikely to be easy. The way to maintain momentum and motivation is by using the power of REWARDS. It is up to you to work out when and how you reward yourself and for what degree of success and fulfilment.

ON YOUR OWN?

Many people will find that having support from family, friends and a team will act as a motivation and as a form of discipline. Some will prefer to act alone.

COACHING AND EXPERT ADVICE

If you can find a Coach who is truly experienced and wise, then please use all the advantages offered. I would certainly recommend the use of an appropriate Coach if you are fortunate enough to locate the right person.

PRESSURE

You will be subjected to a number of pressures. If the process you are embarking upon is too complicated and stressful, it is unlikely that you will persist. Peer pressure, financial pressure, time pressure, family pressure and work pressure will all provide opportunities for you to quit. Be prepared for this and use your Resolution not to give in.

KEEP A RECORD

It is very useful to maintain a combination of a progress log and a diary. These also assist when you are conducting a Review of progress.

REVIEWS

A Review is designed to give you feedback. Try to schedule a Review every two weeks.

BEST USE OF TIME

Apply yourself at your optimum time of the day. Try to work in short bursts of twenty to thirty minutes. You achieve much more that way. More than likely your efforts to change will have to take place alongside other activities. This reinforces your need for Resolution and self-discipline.

RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT

Please do not stint yourself on the selection of resources and equipment. You may well have to invest in a Coach, books, IT and other equipment at some expense.

HEALTH

You have embarked upon a journey of considerable intensity. You will be demanding more from both your brain and your body. It makes sense to eat well, exercise appropriately and sleep soundly, thus helping your brain and body to work effectively over a long period.

STEP-BY-STEP MAINTENANCE PERIODS

You will need to build into your plan that there will be periods of maintenance and comparative inactivity. These will provide refreshment and will de-stress you. You should welcome them, knowing that