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    The Great Gordino Newsletter - Issue 322 - Mon 4th Jul 2005
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    Archive Issues online at - gordonbryan.com/archive

    Hi There,

    As we nudge into July, I hope you are well.
    Happy 4th July to all you American readers, and to the rest of
    you - Happy Monday!

    Yesterday I reached 39, and the Big 4-0 is looming ever larger!

    Wimbledon finished yesterday, with Roger Federer winning for
    the third year running.
    I normally like to write about Wimbledon, and last year I
    featured the amazing story of Maria Sharapova.
    This year there was a noticeable difference to her - she acted
    like a Champion.
    She was expecting to win, and her opponents knew they were in
    trouble.
    One goal achievement theory I always remember, and still use to
    great effect, is this one - to imagine you are someone who is a
    success at what you are trying.
    When it was first told to me, the example was if you are a
    sprinter, imagine you are Linford Christie (100m Olypmic gold).
    So, if you play tennis, imagine you are Maria Sharapova.
    I used that theory all the time in my entertainment auditions,
    imagining I was various famous entertainers, and the air of
    confidence they would have held, became the air of confidence I
    had.
    It really does work.
    Well, all except that time I tried the long jump - I imagined I
    was Dwight Phillips, the current Olympic Champion.
    Obviously imagination isn't enough, because on that occasion I
    twanged a hamstring and collapsed into the sand pit...

    Back to Maria Sharapova - she lost to the eventual champion,
    Venus Williams.
    That's another story, as Venus won her 3rd Wimbledon, having
    come through years of injury and personal problems, including
    the murder of a sister.
    It wasn't easy for her to come back, and in the final, she beat
    Lindsey Davenport, another former champion.
    It was the longest women's final in history, a close 3-set match,
    with both women giving their all.

    Another goal achievement point well worth making - both of
    them got to the final after years of dedication, but one of them
    had to lose.
    There was no guarantee of success for either, but *neither*
    would have won without the effort!

    The richest sportswoman on the planet?
    The afore-mentioned Maria Sharapova.
    The richest New Zealand sportsman?
    Michael Campbell, who won the US Open golf.
    The funny thing is, the previous New Zealander he overtook was
    also involved in golf - Tiger Woods' caddy!

    On Saturday you may have seen the Live 8 concerts around the
    world, to raise awareness of the poverty issues in Africa, and to
    put pressure on the G8 leaders to make changes when they
    meet this week in Scotland.

    I was lucky enough to be at the Live Aid concert in 1985, and
    thoroughly enjoyed sitting in a comfy chair with a drink in front of
    the TV for this event (c'mon, I am 39 now!)

    It's not a good sign that 20 years after Live Aid, we still need to
    raise awarenesss of the problems in Africa - 50,000 people dying
    a day.
    Can you imagine 50,000 dying daily in America, or Europe?
    Would we act then?
    You bet we would, but in Africa, there seems to be a barrier.

    I think the main problem is a guilt hangover from the colonial
    days, that we don't want to be seen as interfering.

    In fact, a lot of people argue that it's precisely the interefering
    that has caused the problems, and that we have to carry on
    interfering!

    Firstly, we handed over independence in a hurried and slap dash
    manner, allowing corrupt regimes to take hold, and to this day
    they still soak up huge amounts of money, knowing that they
    don't have to worry about their starving people, because 'the
    west' will help out.
    The argument goes on that we either need to get rid of these
    corrupt governments, or we need to stop giving aid, to allow the
    countries to stand on their own feet.
    Trade is another huge problem, with Japan, America and Europe
    all having trade barriers in place which stop the African countries
    from trading their way out of poverty.

    It's a hugely complicated situation, and it's very easy to say, as
    many do, that these types of concerts and events are just naive,
    that they won't make any difference.

    I don't think I agree, because that's like saying 'oh, its' too
    hard, let's just not bother!'
    We should bother, precisely because it *is* hard, because it
    needs doing.

    The Live 8 movement has a website where you can add your
    name to the campaign, to try and persuade the world's rich
    countries to help.
    You can sign up at:
    Live8Live.com

    Ok, that's it for today, and here's a summary of the points I
    touched on -
     - Imagining you are a success at what you do can help you
    become that success.
     - There are not normally guarantees, but if it's your passion,
    you do it anyway.
    - The Live 8 event was organised in 8 weeks, when people said it
    couldn't be done. What can you achieve in the next 8 weeks that
    others might call impossible?
    - America was lucky when it became independent from Britain
    229 years ago. It kept the ideals and structures we had in place.
    Corruption could have taken America the same way as Africa,
    and we should help those countries that need it.

    'Til Next Time,
    Health and Happiness,
    Gordon
    email me at gordon@gordonbryan.com - you'll have to copy and paste
    thanks to the idiot online spammers!



    
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