If we eat too much at home, the public eventually will notice that our stomach sticks out like a balloon wrapped in clothes. If we drink too much in private our nose gradually turns red and becomes a warning beacon for others.

On the other hand, if we make an effort and eat and drink less in private, the public will sooner or later notice how slim and healthy we look.

Even Superman and Spiderman and the Scarlet Pimpernel cannot keep their heroic deeds entirely secret. After a while, their lover or wife and a few friends discover who they are. They sooner or later end up with a small but devoted group of fans.

Michael Angier writes in one of his perceptive articles:

"Public victories are always preceded by private diligence. By doing the things that build character we build and strengthen our self-esteem, our confidence and success."

If we practice hard in private for a martial art grading we shine in public when the day of the grading arrives. If we don't practice we fail in public or at best muddle through. We all need to do our homework.

Doing our homework usually involves keeping our promises to ourselves such as practicing ten kicks or whatever a day. If we don't keep these promises to ourselves we will lose a little self-confidence each time we fail and gradually hand over control of our lives to the lazy, comfort loving side of our natures.

The great achiever inside all of us will no longer rule. The couch potato will become king or queen.

It is much easier to keep our promises to other people since if we fail to do so, the public will soon hear about it and we will be embarrassed or even sued almost immediately.

It is more difficult to keep our promises to ourselves because the embarrassment of failure to do so takes much longer to arrive.

On the other hand if we do keep our promises to ourselves, the results can show up almost immediately. We look and feel much more cheerful and confident for a start.

What we do in secret, good or bad, shows up in some form or another eventually.

This truth is obvious but it is often forgotten. It can provide a powerful source of motivation in our search for success.

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.