One of the fabulous books that I received for Christmas was the beautifully titled `Everything I've Ever Done That Worked' (Hayhouse 1-40190340-1). In it Lesley Garner describes her resource book of tools and techniques that she has used in moments of stress, panic and delight - all of which worked beautifully. She then shares many of these techniques in the hope that they will help us to live even more successful and fulfilling lives.

This book has inspired me to take more notice of the things that I do that only work. In other words, what are the things that, when I do them, guarantee success? There are things in work and play - approaches that I can always rely on to make good times even better and others to help make challenges easier. In the words of Jack Black “they only work”.

Over the next few months, I'll be sharing the tools that never fail me when I'm in my training role. While some will be straightforward, and the type of thing that lots of you do, I hope that many will offer a new insight, a different approach or even just remind you of the things that you've forgotten work for you.

Here are my top ten training tools or techniques that only work:

1. Outcomes, outcomes, outcomes
2. Manage state transitions 
3. Positive emotion increases learning 
4. Question, question, question, question 
5. Designing in the right place 
6. Eating and sleeping 
7. Make it bigger 
8. Less is more 
9. Listen to yourself 
10. If it's not working do something different 

I'll be expanding on them over the coming months but perhaps, even as you read this list again, it'll remind you to start to use a technique that you've stopped using, or to re-learn a technique that's escaped from your conscious memory.

This week's call for action…

• Re-read my top ten again. Even before you get more detail on each, are there any that you know will help you if you started doing them again? If so, start immediately.
• What is your top ten? Write them down; simply list the things that always work when you do them. Start with training tools or techniques and if it helps do it for other areas of your life.
• As I explore my top ten in more detail, notice which you can apply to improve your results even further.