Deirdre Ward’s Post

I don’t know about you, but I always thought swimming was a pretty basic skill One that you learnt as a kid and then had for life, but I was SO wrong… Recently I’ve been in Australia, visiting friends and family and working away in the sunshine And being by the beach, of course, I just ran straight to the sea for a nice swim “Nice swim” It should have been better labelled “I’m glad I survived swim” lol Because my basic swimming skills were no match for the 10ft Aussie waves This little English girl had never heard the words “duck dive” before So I naively jumped into the sea And came out a sand-covered, hair everywhere, drowned rat It would be fair to say I needed a couple of lessons to take on these waves and actually enjoy it After a lot of practise, I can now conquer the waves totally solo and it’s actually been a super fun challenge But it did make me think Even seemingly simple skills - like swimming Have huge differences in skill levels And that’s the same in business There’s the starter level of creating content and emails - the “being able to swim” That will get you by Occasionally bringing you a few sales But then there’s the advanced level of content - the “10ft wave level” That floods your inbox with ready-to-buy, qualified customers Skyrocketing your sales and ability to scale But to get to that next level it takes… 1 - bravery to even show up and try to get better And 2 - practice and perseverance To keep on going whilst you’re getting bashed around with low engagement And it feels like no one cares about what you have to say Just like those waves hitting me over and over again felt But there is a quicker route to mastering the waves and your next level of content in record time You get a pro to teach you the best way to do it Now for me and the waves, the pro that taught me was my Aussie bf But for you and your content, I’m happy to see if I can be the expert to help you If you're after some advice on what you should be thinking about in your strategy To hit your next business goals Or you know you need some help to conquer your content and emails Just drop me a DM and let’s have a chat to see where you’re at and how I can help

I don’t know about you, but I always thought swimming was a pretty basic skill One that you learnt as a kid and then had for life, but I was SO wrong… Recently I’ve been in Australia, visiting friends and family and working away in the sunshine And being by the beach, of course, I just ran straight to the sea for a nice swim “Nice swim” It should have been better labelled “I’m glad I survived swim” lol Because my basic swimming skills were no match for the 10ft Aussie waves This little English girl had never heard the words “duck dive” before So I naively jumped into the sea And came out a sand-covered, hair everywhere, drowned rat It would be fair to say I needed a couple of lessons to take on these waves and actually enjoy it After a lot of practise, I can now conquer the waves totally solo and it’s actually been a super fun challenge But it did make me think Even seemingly simple skills - like swimming Have huge differences in skill levels And that’s the same in business There’s the starter level of creating content and emails - the “being able to swim” That will get you by Occasionally bringing you a few sales But then there’s the advanced level of content - the “10ft wave level” That floods your inbox with ready-to-buy, qualified customers Skyrocketing your sales and ability to scale But to get to that next level it takes… 1 - bravery to even show up and try to get better And 2 - practice and perseverance To keep on going whilst you’re getting bashed around with low engagement And it feels like no one cares about what you have to say Just like those waves hitting me over and over again felt But there is a quicker route to mastering the waves and your next level of content in record time You get a pro to teach you the best way to do it Now for me and the waves, the pro that taught me was my Aussie bf But for you and your content, I’m happy to see if I can be the expert to help you If you're after some advice on what you should be thinking about in your strategy To hit your next business goals Or you know you need some help to conquer your content and emails Just drop me a DM and let’s have a chat to see where you’re at and how I can help

Next week I’ll be taking park in Swim Serpentine and have the pleasure of swimming in the Serpentine Lake in Hydepark. I could think of a few better ways to spend a Saturday, rather than swimming around a lake in London full of bird crap, but here we are. To top it all off, I have a love hate relationship with swimming. When I’m in a lovely heated pool, with lane markings and clear visibility to see the bottom or what’s in front of me - I could swim forever. Swimming in open water event is a completely different ball game. You cant see anything, it’s cold and smelly (usually), you occasionally get a kick or punch from someone else either side or behind you and the biggest anxiety trigger for me, you can’t just stop and stand up. So despite being a relatively strong swimmer, for me this is more of a mental battle than a physical one. I’ve had countless panic attacks in the open water, trouble sleeping the night before, lots of negative self talk and thoughts. I know what you’re all thinking, pick a different sport, it’s not for you. Whilst all of the above are plenty of reasons to not do this event, they are the exact reason I sign up. Completing something you were petrified of doing or never thought was possible is a feeling that’s hard to describe. It’s priceless, no amount of money or anything you can buy can replace that feeling. It also serves as a reminder that sometimes it’s good to do things that make us uncomfortable. Whether it’s making that cold call, delivering a presentation or public speaking. It’s not going to kill you, but it will make you stronger and give you experience in what’s it’s like to push through those situations. I always wonder if I’ll ever crack this fear, but I’m not sure if you ever do or you just get better at coping with the tricks your mind plays on you. I recently read a post on a similar topic that said, fear is part of being alive, so do it scared anyway. And that’s exactly what I’ll be doing next Saturday. Swimming around a lake, questioning my abilities and convinced I might drown if I panic. But experience has taught me that none of this has ever come true, so I’ll use this as a reminder on the day and I’m sure next Monday I’ll be blessing your LinkedIn feeds with more celebratory post swim pics! Signing off with some wise words from my colleague Annie Tripp - “The comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there” Happy Friday All! #anixety #goals #comfortzone

🏅 Think Like an Olympic Gold Swimmer🏊♂️ Olympic gold swimmers know the power of a microsecond. Similarly, don't take two steps when you can take one. Stay focused and swim in your lane. This mindset helps maintain efficiency and ensures you focus on what truly matters. It’s all about maximizing your efforts and using your time wisely. Keep swimming towards your goals! Today, an interesting situation occurred at our company. A very persistent individual was so insistent that a Zoom meeting was scheduled to present a system. Here’s the thing: we already have a similar system in place that the company has no plans to change. Now, let me share my thoughts on this. If you are paid X per hour, you are essentially wasting valuable resources by being overly accommodating, without considering the importance of your own time or the other person's time. It’s far more efficient to be polite but firmly refuse such meetings. If you’re going to give your time away for free, ensure it’s for something truly worthwhile — like spending time with your children or enhancing your health. Time is a precious resource and should never be taken for granted. Use it wisely because each interaction should be meaningful and worthwhile. Don’t forget: you might just expire before you realize it. To encourage this mindset, we’re introducing the "One Touch Wonder Award" at our company. This award will be given to the individual who can streamline administrative tasks the fastest, embodying the spirit of efficiency and effectiveness. Let’s keep swimming smartly, optimizing our time, and celebrating those who excel in this arena!

Swimming in a pool: Tame. Swimming in the ocean: Wild.   When we reach the shipwreck, the captain drops anchor. The boat bobs in the choppy turquoise ocean, off the Bermuda coast. “Listen up.” The captain glowers. “I need to ask some mandatory questions.” “Question 1: Can you swim?” “Question 2: Can you float?” “Question 3: Are you comfortable in water where you can’t stand?” After each question, we murmur yes, a dutiful chorus. Regardless, we’ve already signed waivers releasing the company from liability. “Question 5: Do you know your own limits?” “Question 6: Will you stay within those limits?” “Last question,” the captain says. “Do I need to take off my pants?” Silence. I’m confused. Then I understand. He means will he need to dive into the water to rescue anyone. “No,” we say. “Good.” The captain smiles. “Now get in the water.”    🏊♂️ 🤔 ✍ Want the full story? Check out “Swim Practice” on Substack. https://lnkd.in/evEWc6r4 Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost to your network and follow me Keith Meatto for more. #writing #swimming #work #vacation #health #wellness

I noticed that I always follow my boss’s orders or attend events for friends and family—even if I don't feel like it. But what about the promises I make to myself?   If I say, "I'll go swimming from today," often, I go; often, I don't.   But why do I break the promises made to myself?   Is it that I don’t value my own words, or I don’t care about my well-being, or am I just too lazy?   I am pretty sure that you can relate to it, isn’t it?   I realized this recently, and I started respecting my words and valuing myself. No matter how tired I am after work, I go for a 45-minute swimming session.   This isn’t some big change that I have made in my life, but a small and consistent step.   And here’s how I did it: 💡 Set Clear, Achievable Goals: I began by setting a clear and achievable goal for myself—45 minutes of swimming, three times a week. 💡 Create a Schedule: I blocked out specific times in my calendar for swimming, treating these sessions like important meetings that couldn’t be missed. 💡 Hold Yourself Accountable: I started tracking my progress in an app. 💡 Reward Yourself: After each swimming session, I allowed myself a small reward :) Confidence comes from within. By keeping my own promises, I build a strong foundation of self-trust and respect.   When you keep promises to yourself, you start to believe in your own abilities.   Think about it!

I was hit up by a friend last week – his swimming had plateaued, and he was exploring the idea of finding a coach. He understood he was not a young chicken any longer, but he still wanted to brag a little, especially as he had thrown out a challenge to his brother in-law for the ocean swim series next summer. I have decided to share my suggestions, as you may be in the same situation as Tom. My thoughts - It is a very crowded information world from many online options. Working with a qualified coach will provide individual advice and guidance to meet your specific goals. Everyone's goals are different, and generic online workout and technique tips often yield varied results. Investing in a coach provides you with: Personalised training – occasionally this may mean less water-time. Technique improvements – Technique is king in swimming well. With an inefficient technique, no number of extra laps will give you the results you are striving for. A balanced workout schedule – its not about pushing you to exhaustion each time you’re in the pool. Accountability - it's easy to skip workouts when you are swimming your own. Having a coach or being part of a swim squad keeps you accountable to show up, and in most cases this environment naturally lifts your swimming to the next level. A professional coach will often go beyond fitness. They will be supporting your physical and mental well-being. And as said to Tom, try it out for a month to see if it's right for you. Within a month you’ll know if it is a good fit. You can choose the frequency of coach guided sessions based on your goals and budget and be prepared to pay good dollars. The best adult coaches I know are well worth the investment. Good swimming everyone. #swimcoach #swimming #swimpeople #swimpeoplespeak #adultswimming #oceanswimming

Startip #53 🏊 Do what you don’t want to do…you might just enjoy it 🏊 Every Tuesday night, I go swimming after work. Now I have never been a swimmer. In fact I went through 4 or 5 swimming teachers when I was a kid and I just couldn’t get the hang of it. 😩 That’s not to say I can’t swim, I was just never going to be an Olympic contender! 🥇 So you may ask, why do I going swimming? Well it’s certainly not something I wanted to do in my spare time, but after hammering my legs and back over the years from running 🏃, my body can’t take lengthy runs anymore, and so I have taken up swimming to help with fitness, to take the pressure off my joints, and because it’s quite frankly good for you. Go back a few months and I used to dread my Tuesday nights. Okay I’m not going to lie, my swimming takes place indoors in a 25 metre pool, so I’m hardly suffering in shark infested freezing open water, but that’s not the point. I was soooo bad, that to swim 25 metres took it out of me. My breathing was a mess, I constantly got water up my nose, and it all seemed too hard. So I found myself spending the hour looking at the clock and wishing the time away. And as that hour rolled by, it was literally the happiest time of my week, because it meant I didn’t have to swim again for another week. Well fast forward a few months, and I have stuck with it, persevered and I have actually started to enjoy my time in the water 💦 Now I’m still not a great swimmer, but I no longer get water in my nose, I no longer dread Tuesday nights and I now think about how many laps I need to get through before I can get out of the pool. I’m currently on a minimum of 50 laps within the hour and my best is 62. To think, I have gone from around 20 laps to 50+, and instead of wishing the time away, I’m washing my stress away. It’s like an hour of mediation, with no mobile phone interference and only calming thoughts - perhaps due to my failure to grab my phone and tap into social media. So, why am I telling you all this? Well, it’s simple. Sometimes we do things we don’t want to do. Things that make us feel scared or anxious, or are simply outside our comfort zone. Well I say f*%k it. Just do it anyway. Keep pushing through, tackle it head on, and it will get easier. And well, you never know. You might start to enjoy it! So whatever is stopping you doing what you don’t want to do, just do it - Sorry Nike 😆. But yeah, just do it. And then do it again, and again, and again. Suddenly it won’t be that bad. #pushingthrough #dowhatyoudontwanttodo #justdoit #startips #startupadvice #lazaruslegal #riseabove

Have you ever been drawn by the water? 🌊 I used to be terrified of deep water. As a child, I witnessed a tragic incident where someone drowned and never came back, leaving me with a lifelong fear. Growing up, there were no swimming pools in my area, and eventually, I gave up playing sports altogether. 🏊♂️ Recently, a new swimming pool opened in my neighborhood, and I decided to confront my fear head-on. Learning to swim was challenging, especially with my childhood fear looming over me. At the beginning, I often felt like I was drowning. One day, my coach asked me to jump into the middle of the pool without my floater. 😨 I was scared, but I did it. That moment taught me one of the biggest lessons of my life. I know it might sound like a cliché motivational quote, but here’s what happened: When I jumped into the middle of the pool, I got exhausted quickly. However, if I had stopped swimming, I would have drowned. So, I had to push myself to reach the edge of the pool and save my life. 💪 This experience made me realize that in our professional and personal lives, we often feel exhausted and tempted to quit. But if we push ourselves a little further, we can reach our goals. 🏊♀️ Now, I enjoy swimming, diving, and more. Swimming has become a source of freshness and a way to alleviate my anxiety. 😌 --- PS: I'd love to hear your experiences with swimming! Feel free to share your stories in the comments. And if you have any tips on how to get rid of a swimming tan, please share those as well! 🏊♂️🌞 #OvercomingFears #SwimmingJourney #NeverGiveUp #MentalHealth #Wellness #PersonalGrowth #Motivation #ConquerYourFears #KeepPushing #SwimmingLife #AnxietyRelief #FitnessJourney #HealthyMind #WaterTherapy #SwimToSuccess #DiveIn 🏊♂️🌊🏖️🌞💪😌

𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 You don't have time to think when you swim in order to get it right. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 I challenge this belief! It can seem like there's a lot going on when swimming Arms working furiously, legs sinking not to mention trying to fit a breath into your stroke You're trying to swim correctly You're worried about how you must look to others You're not achieving all your swimming targets You're criticising yourself stroke after stroke 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 You extend your stroke by leaving your arm outstretched for longer You use your leading arm as a keel for greater balance You use your kick for balance instead of kicking for power You use the power of the Glide to give you the time to take that breath You develop your own style so that you no longer try to swim like someone else You use conscious control to prioritise your enjoyment of the sensations from the water instead of focusing on performance targets You inhibit those self-judgemental thoughts about how far and and how fast you need to swim  - and decide to 'make every swim an experiment' 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Change your inner monologue by learning to Live Every Stroke Develop a Whole Body Movement Awareness to swim with your whole body  Become at one with the water through Mind Body Water Unity Develop your own swimming style for freedom from expectation and judgement - Get Swimming Freedom Learn to SwimHappy to encourage a love of swimming Challenge more of your limiting swimming beliefs  𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 You have a long, powerful, graceful stroke and you glide through the water with time to think and breathe.  You breathe when you want to and incorporate your breath into your body rotation.  Your conscious control means that you're prioritising those thoughts that will enhance your connection to and awareness of the water. @simonholliday #mindfulness #mindfulswimming #swimming #alexandertechnique #expandingawareness