Dear PB Readers,

I always believe you learn more about a person during a setback or loss than you do a victory. Coming up short on a business venture, sporting goal or a relationship is a great opportunity to learn about you. I see two distinct groups of people emerging from setbacks. Group one are those people who quit as soon as things get tough or they are handed a number of consecutive setbacks. If they get cut or turned down they accept that feedback as the gospel and they give up hope and quit. The second group of people I see are those who fail on reasonably regularly, but use each setback as a learning opportunity and come back more prepared the next time they have a chance.

Senior business investors often look for young entrepreneurs, who have previously tried, failed and are coming back for a second or third attempt at a business venture. Those who have had a goal, come up short and are dedicated enough to try a second or third time are just the kind of people that coaches, laboratory directors and business investors are looking for. This past week I was in Penticton, British Columbia running a training camp with my elite athletes. Apex Mountain is one of the toughest bike climbs in the world. From downtown Penticton to the top of the mountain and back is a tough 100km ride. The toughest part of the ride is over 20km with no leveling of the elevation and average grade of nearly 9%. Earlier last week my group tried their fitness against the enormous mountain. One by one my athletes hit the crest of the mountain. With red faces, legs burning and sweat flowing from their exhausted bodies they each had a big smile of satisfaction. One of my junior girls was the only athlete in the group that didn't get the satisfaction of getting to the top of the mountain. This hill is no piece of cake and many great athletes twice her age have come up short climbing Apex Mountain. While I couldn't congratulate her on successfully reaching the top of the mountain, I did let her know how proud I was for her great effort.

The final day of our training camp I was driving my van down the steep mountain-side back toward Penticton. After a hard week of training, I gave the athletes a well deserved morning off training and I fully expected them to sleep in late and relax. With the morning sun just starting to rise on Apex Mountain I was taken back to see a red and white jacket from my C3 Club working feverishly up the mountain. Just 1km away from the top of the climb, the young junior who had failed to reach the top of the mountain earlier in the week was using her "optional free-morning off" to make a second attempt at the reaching the peak. While most teenage girls I know would rather be out partying late into the night and sleeping until noon, this Ontario teenager got up at the crack of dawn on her last morning in Penticton (by herself) to re-test herself and see if she could learn fro her pervious mistakes. I have seen this teenager win numerous races over her career, but I learned more about her this past week after she failed to get to the top of the mountain then I ever did during her many victories.

Welcome to our 255th consecutive weekly newsletter. Each week our goal is to challenge you to look at one of our stories or ideas and see where you might improve your own life (or perhaps help improve that of another). Our goal is to help you see why some ordinary people are able to do extraordinary things. Please keep signing up your friends and family to our newsletter and providing us with your new contributions, stories and ideas. Send all contributions to barrie@personalbest.ca and check our site at www.personalbest.ca. Have a great week!

AUG 29th PB HIGHLIGHTS

* NORMAN VINCENT PEALE'S QUOTE ON NEVER GIVING UP
* STEVE GOODIER'S LIVING A FOCUSED LIFE
* ELEVATED BODY TEMPERATURE ONE KEY TO LOSING BODY FAT
* WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY?
* AUDREY HEPBURN "WHAT MAKES A BEAUTFUL WOMAN?"
* GET INVOLVED IN YOUR LOCAL TERRY FOX RUNS IN SEPT
* ORDER CARON SHEPLEY'S POWER YOGA FOR ENDURANCE ATHLETES
* BARRIE BACK IN THE OFFICE ON TUESDAY

NORMAN VINCENT PEALE'S QUOTE ON NEVER GIVING UP

"Lots of people limit their possibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself this is too much for me. It's no use. I can't go on. If you do you're licked, and by your own thinking too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on."

STEVE GOODIER'S LIVING A FOCUSED LIFE

How many of us live life with "no apparent purpose...lagging behind...idly spending time...delaying" and generally "walking about aimlessly"? In other words, does your life lack a clear direction, focus and purpose? It is a mistake to think that moving fast is the same as actually going somewhere. And it is also an error to believe that doing many things is as good as doing the right thing. People who are the most satisfied with their lives actually go somewhere because they spend more time doing the right things.
News commentator Dan Rather had a vital question he asked himself several times a day. Largely because of this one question, he became one of America's leading journalists. Rather wrote the question on three slips of paper. He kept one in his billfold, one in his pocket, and one on his desk. The all-important question he constantly asked himself was this: "Is what you are doing now helping the broadcast?" If the answer was yes, then he continued with his work, project or idea. If the answer was no, then he stopped what he was doing and put his efforts into something else. He discovered years ago that if he did not focus his time, he would end up in a job that under-utilized his potential.

What if you were to ask yourself such a question several times a day? You might ask, "Is what I'm doing now helping me succeed?" Or, "Is what I'm doing now helping me reach an important goal?" Or, "Is what I'm doing now helping me grow?" Write the question you choose on small slips of paper or on the back of a business card. Carry it with you. Post it on your desk. You might even affix it to a conspicuous spot inside your car. Read it several times a day. That one question will focus you. Before you know it, you'll find yourself actually headed in the direction you want to go. And even if you never fully arrive, it will be a glorious trip!

ELEVATED BODY TEMPERATURE A KEY TO REDUCING BODY FAT

I often run into ex-collegiate swimmers at the pool who are ten to twenty pounds overweight. Even with the extra bodyweight, these ex-swimmers can still swim fast and have a stronger then average cardiovascular system. "Why can I swim two miles a day and still be chunky?" they ask me. The answer lies in the core temperature that athletes are able to achieve while exercising. The temperature of virtually all swimming pools and lakes are cooler than the swimmer's body temperature. During swimming, athletes lose energy from their bodies up to 20x faster than in moist hot air and the brain becomes stimulated to eat and replace the energy lost in the water. During running, cycling or soccer in the heat, the brain simply wants to cool down and shuts down the eating stimulus for 60-90 minutes. My triathletes have known for years that after a hard track workout they rarely want to eat but finish a hard morning swim workout and they want to clean out the entire refrigerator. The moral of the story is that if you want to lose weight, you are better to do exercise in a warmer environment than in a cooler one.

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY?

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome! For many years I have had digestive problems. Often within the hour of eating most meals I have digestive problems. As a "caregiver" I have spent most of the last decade worrying about my athletes and not focusing on my own health. Fortunately for me, my wife has my long-term health as one of her priorities and this past week she set me up on a 15 day detoxification and cleansing. Our environment is filled with hundreds of toxins that continually bombard our bodies. Think of toxins as drops of water being poured into a glass. When you are younger the many toxins start to accumulate in your body, but often don't cause an "overflow on you immune system. As you age (usually in your 30's or early 40's) your immune system can no longer handle the accumulation of the many toxins and various forms of disease and "un-wellness" begin. Depending on your age, you could likely benefit from a Detoxification. Cleanses are well researched and the benefits have been documented for decades. I have chosen a modest DeTox focusing on the body's seven channels of elimination (liver, lungs, colon, kidneys, blood, skin and lymphatic system). I will give periodic reports over the next few weeks of any real or perceived benefits (and possible negative side-effects) of a two week cleanse.

WHAT MAKES A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN?

Audrey Hepburn wrote it when she was asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later. For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

TERRY FOX RUNS COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER

Need a goal to motivate yourself? My all-time hero is none other than BC's Terry Fox. Each September more Canadians participate in a Terry Fox Run then any other mass participation event in Canada. If you want to make an even bigger impact, contact your local Terry Fox Run and agree to help volunteer and organize the event. As a past Terry Fox organizer I can tell you there are few things more rewarding. Get your entire family, class or office involved as a volunteer, participant or sponsor/donor.

CONSIDER CARON SHEPLEY'S POWER YOGA FOR ENDURANCE ATHLETES

While I am biased because she is my wife, I don't get tired of hearing people tell me how much Caron's DVD has helped their sore back, their weak flabby stomach and their overall posture. To order Caron's DVD go directly to her website at www.bluedogyoga.com or email Caron@personalbest.ca

BARRIE BACK IN THE OFFICE

While it's been a long haul I will be back in my Caledon based office by Tuesday, August 30th and promise to work on outstanding emails, calls and letters by the end of the week! Thanks for your patience while I have been traveling.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON.