Be Brilliant Everyday
We describe Be Brilliant Everyday as an operating manual for the human being. The truth is that nobody ever taught you how to think or behave, you just kind of made it up? And that’s fine. But what if there was a better way to think and behave? Our little book is about learning new ways of thinking that will energize, rejuvinate and enable you to flourish. Actually, that’s a bit of a fib? It’s not about learning new stuff, it’s about reminding you how to be your best self. If I was feeling particularly bold I would say it might even change your life. But maybe I should let the readers decide that?
Why is this the most entertaining self-help book that you will ever read?
Lots of ‘personal development’ is either too heavy, clichéd or gut-wrenchingly sickly. While we appreciate that mantras such as “live every day as if it was your last” mean well, they probably miss the point. What does it even mean? Lying in a hospital bed surrounded by 14 concerned relatives?
We set out to write something unashamedly British, with a very earthy tone. Life’s not like The Waltons. The truth is that life is exhausting. And, even worse, it’s zipping by in a blur! So our book is designed to be a bit of a time out. We wanted to write something that would make you laugh as well as think
How are people too busy being busy?
‘Busyness’ is at the heart of the book. Fast food, internet shopping, self-service checkouts, microwave meals, emails, speed dating… are just some of multitude of examples that have speeded life up. There’s even a book called ‘1-minute bedtime stories’, so you can get that particular chore over with very quickly!
We’re at the point where most people are living life fast, but are they living it well? If you think the bedtime story is a chore, then it’s time for a re-think. If you get impatient while your laptop boots up, you need our book. If you’re exhausted at the prospect of spending time with your own kids, things are worse than we thought!
We think ‘busyness’ (and yes, it is a real word) is physically and emotionally exhausting. Our point is that you can’t take the busyness away. It’s just the way the modern world is. But you can upgrade yourself so you are better able to flourish in what is a crazy world
What is a ‘musterbater’?
Most people are musterbaters. They’re at it like mad! Often on their own, in front of their laptops!
I’d better explain? ‘Musterbation’ is the elevation of things we’d like to have into things we believe we must have. So, for example, if you ask my son, he doesn’t just want the latest mobile phone, he needs it. It’s up there with ‘water’ and ‘oxygen’! My wife saw a pair of ridiculously expensive shoes in a magazine and said, ‘I have to have them.’ He eyes went all gaga and her voice exorcist deep. There was no ‘want’ about it. The language sort of implied, ‘if I don’t get those shoes I will die’.
And while we’re not arguing that ‘possessions’ are evil, our wider point is that if you list the top 10 happiest moments of your life, they won’t be ‘things’. They will be ‘experiences’. That means a new pair of shoes will bring you happiness for about an hour. Our book is about learning how to stop musterbating. It’s about being happy forever!
What are ‘mood hoovers’?
Our first book (The Art of Being Brilliant) dealt with this in more detail. The second book touches on it. Mood hoovers are people who are stuck in a rut of being negative. We’re not talking about depression, that’s different. There are no laughs in that. Mood hoovers aren’t depressed, but whining and moaning is their default position. And we call them ‘mood hoovers’ because they suck all the life out of you, leaving you feeling negative too!
And here’s a painful truth. It’s very easy to become a mood hoover. Britain is a very pessimistic society where we’re fed a diet of bad weather and terrible news. ‘Be Brilliant Everyday’ is about raising your game so that you stand out for the right reasons!
Why do you only need to be brilliant for four minutes s day?
Emotions are contagious. That means, when you associate with negative people, you end up feeling negative. The good news is that it also works the other way. So if you can maintain an enthusiastic and upbeat attitude, your brilliance rubs off on the people around you. The ‘4-minute rule’ is a phrase coined by Steve McDermott and we love it. It basically says that it takes about 4 minutes for other people to catch how you’re feeling. So the first four minutes are crucial. You don’t have to be brilliant forever, just for 4 minutes!
In short, you’re contagious! The big question is (ahem)… what are you spreading?
Can you tell us about each of your backgrounds and how your collaboration came about?
Let me make this clear… I’m the clever one (puffs his chest out with pride). A Loughborough University PhD in positive psychology don’t you know (well, nearly).
And a few years ago I bumped into another bloke called Andy. Truth is, he isn’t very clever (GCSE Woodwork, grade D) but he is very funny. So we figured if we put my clever stuff and his funny bits into the mix, we’d end up with something worthwhile
We’ve been described as the ‘Morecambe and Wise of personal development’ which we kind of like (because he’s actually from Morecambe and I’m supposed to be ‘wise’)
What is next for you both?
Plenty more writing and training! I also write the ‘Spy Dog’ children’s series for Puffin. Andy and I are putting the finishing touches to a new book called ‘The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager’ which we’re hoping will take the world by storm. Our work takes us all over the world and we’re particularly proud of the work we’re doing in schools. The earlier you learn how to be happy, confident and positive, the better your life chances!