London 2012 has been a real lesson in self-belief.  Inspiration has come in many forms from the London 2012 Olympics and as I write this, the Paralympics are beginning and I’m already motivated by the short films and interviews on the “Super-Humans”.

Like most of the country and a huge number of people on Twitter, I have been inspired and enthralled by Team GB and their determination and success at London 2012.  I have been gripped by Olympic Fever and even got my bike out to go and watch the road race in Bushy Park.  Their total commitment to their sport, their goals, their Olympic Dreams, have created a feel-good factor nationwide and a sense of Team Spirit that is infectious.

How often do you find yourself lying awake at night, or waking in the early hours, dwelling on something that’s worrying you? Going over and over in your head all the options and possible outcomes, seeing blocks and obstacles in your path. This is a choice. The issue may be a very real one, but choosing to hang on to it in this way, to allow it to disturb your sleep, your well-being, that is a choice you are in control of.  You can choose to take control.

According to a poll carried out by Smarta (http://www.smarta.com/ ) of small business owners, the 60 most inspirational entrepreneurs of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee are topped by Sir Richard Branson.  No real surprise there.  Some of the other names on the list may be less familiar to us, though we probably know their brands well.  All the names on the list have several things in common – success, determination and vision included. And they are all trailblazers.  They all established their brands in new, genuinely innovative ways.  They dared to forge ahead when their peers simply stood by watching (and often criticising) sure in their self-belief, confident that there was a new way.

As a Mentor and Motivational Speaker, people expect me to – motivate them.  They tell me I lift their spirits, allow them to look at things in a new way, see new possibilities for their future.  That’s a big ask.  As a Mentor or Coach, you are giving a huge amount of energy to motivating others, so ask yourself; who is motivating the motivator?

Effective Choices require good foundations if you are going to stick with them and generate results. Here are my top 6 tips on make the right business decisions.