We get what we focus on

After a most inspiring London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony on Friday many tweeted their congratulations to all involved. Many like me blogged about it and I know a day hasn't gone by since when I've not spoken, blogged or tweeted about it with others inspired and with pride and positivity.

It's a pity therefore that the next day the tweets changed from general positivity to negativity. We Brits started to do what we do best and moan and notice all that went wrong rather than what was going well. Although I'm sure with the medals starting to come in for Great Britain that may change.

I just wish we'd all remember 2 things:

* We get what we focus on, and
* The golden ratio for effective and long lasting relationships is 5 positive interactions to 1 negative interaction - see John Gottman here on YouTube explaining more.

Every night from 2100 for an hour the lighting of the London Eye is reflecting the % of positive Olympic London 2012 tweets from within Great Britain for the day. So here's hoping that the London Eye remains over 84% illuminated to continue to keep alive the hopes, dreams and possibilities of the world which came together in the opening ceremony and continues to be represented by the Olympic Cauldron.

Alison Smith
The Purchasing Coach
Sowing the seeds for positivity within your purchasing team

PS I promise not to write anything negative for another 5 blogs :-)

London Eye Picture Source: bbc.co.uk via Alison on Pinterest

Anything is possible

I've put the above picture in my Anything is possible board on Pinterest because it is.

For me what happened at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics is a great reminder that next time we have a creative and yet possibly a little too out there idea, not to make assumptions about whether others will accept it or not and to simply put it forward.

I'd hazard a guess that a larger majority of people would have discounted suggesting the idea to the queen of her meeting James Bond and seemingly going for a skydive. Yet someone did and she said yes and it went on to being one of the surprising highlights of the evening.

Next time you get a creative idea just remember ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Alison Smith
The Purchasing Coach
Sowing the seeds of potential in purchasing in your organisation

Picture of the Queen, James Bond and Corgis Source: bbc.co.uk via Alison on Pinterest

The Legacy of Olympic Pride

There are many aspects of last nights Olympic opening ceremony that I enjoyed.

What had me being most proud to be British was the Queen, James Bond and corgis - truly inspired and said what it means to be British. Mr Bean helped - so too the Drs and Nurses of the NHS.

What had me being proud to be a member of the global community was the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. It symbolised so much about how this world could be if only we: 

• Supported our young people and believed in them
  
  Source: guardian.co.uk via Alison on Pinterest

• All contributed our light not our darkness
  
  Source: bbc.co.uk via Alison on Pinterest

• Come together to celebrate our diversity and believe in the synergies available in our collaboration
  
  Source: businessinsider.com via Alison on Pinterest
• Focused on unity and peace and not conflict

Source: businessinsider.com via Alison on Pinterest

Here's hoping it's not just for 2 weeks.