It is very easy and a lot of fun to talk about dreams and goals and a great future. Achieving these dreams is not so easy as all wise people know. We need to build our dreams on the solid ground of action rather than the shifting sands of talk. The Red Indians of America know how to summarize great truths in a few choice words.

In the perceptive western, "Broken Arrow", Cochise, the wise Apache chief, scolds the wise American scout, acted by James Stewart:

"To talk of peace is easy; to live it is not easy. Are you a child that you thought peace would come easy?"

The Italians also have a way with words. Garibaldi, the great Italian soldier and patriot said much the same thing:

"Give me the ready hand rather than the ready tongue."

Talk is easy. Planning is easy. Making promises is easy.

Doing what we say is the difficult part. Carrying out our plans is not easy. Keeping our promises is the hard part.

Recently, a top instructor in my martial art, Choikwangdo, which is based in Atlanta Georgia, spoke about how some UK instructors go to Atlanta and are so inspired that they are totally gung-ho and ready to take on the world. By the time they get back to the UK and it is pouring with rain some of the inspiration has departed!

This happens at most seminars where a great dream is promoted. Every one leaves charged up and ready to achieve their dream but unless they take action immediately and regularly the dream will soon die. Talk is cheap!

I am old enough to remember the Charles Atlas' promise. Buy his course and the next time the bully kicks sand in your face you will be ready! Many bought his course but how many practiced what he taught? The bully was still kicking sand in many faces!

We can excuse children for giving up when they discover that something is not easy and might even involve some hard and boring work.

An adult should know better and should think carefully before making any promises that involve hard graft.

On the other hand, promises can be useful as motivation to get on with doing what we promise. It is also fun to do things which we have not promised to do.

Businessmen and women who give their customers more than they have promised usually retain those customers for life. Many internet gurus sell their products together with a huge pile of bonuses.

Then they deliver more. Even after you have bought their product and downloaded the bonuses, they will send an email with more bonuses just to thank you for buying their product. These gurus know how to create lifetime good will.

"For each day of peace we will pile one stone upon another," said Cochise.

The great chief knew the value of living day by day and the value keeping score and the value of celebrating each daily victory.

Proponents of the power of affirmation and visualisation suggest celebrating in advance of the victory.

This could encourage the universe to create events which are in tune with the celebration and create a confidence in ourselves that will allow us to make full use of all our powers to help us achieve our goals.

In the end Cochise achieved peace. He knew what it would take.

It was Geronimo who continued the war.

John Watson

John Watson was born in Shanghai at the start of World War II on Dec 31st 1939

His father, a British civil engineer, was given the choice of working in the mines of Northern China for the occupying forces or going to a concentration camp. He refused to work for the invading forces.

As a result the whole family were imprisoned in a concentration camp in the middle of China in 1942. Eric Liddell (featured in the Chariots of Fire) the Scottish runner and missionary was imprisoned in the same camp.

In 1945 the family was rescued by American troops who were parachuted in. John's most treasured possession from this time is a plane made of bullets given him by one of the US soldiers. The tail parts have been lost but most of it remains. He also remembers being given a bottle of coca cola by one of the US troops and has been an addict ever since!

They moved to England and then, when John's father died, to the Isle of Man.

John went to school in the Isle of Man and then taught Physical Education at a prep school in Hertfordshire. Around this time he had three mystical experiences of contact with God.

He then studied English Literature at Cambridge University and later became an English teacher in South East London but, after 5 years, he did a diploma in Religious Studies and began teaching about religion full time.

After 33 years teaching in three London Comprehensive schools, John retired from teaching. He received several awards and commendations for teaching both religious studies and the martial arts. He still teaches martial arts after beginning training in karate at the age of 37. The style he now teaches is Choikwangdo, a brilliant self-defence and health oriented style founded by Grandmaster Kwang Jo Choi in 1987.

In his retirement he began studying internet marketing and continued his study of the psychology of achievement and self development. This has always been a key interest.

John plans on writing reports and books on both teaching and on achievement in general. He feels that many schools let their students down by not teaching enough about how to study (by using mind maps for example) and about how to set goals and how to start saving money for their early retirement!

John's main aim is to make the most of his own potential and to help others make the most of their's. He also wishes to pass on whatever he knows of the meaning of life and to discover more and share more about the truths behind the universe.