Lead a vivid life that does good

Month: June 2010 (Page 1 of 2)

278 |365 Energy

Huntly Power StationEnergy amazes me.

Take coal or gas and set fire to it (energy), convert that energy to electricity (energy), turn on a switch at home and the heater comes on (energy).

In the industrialised world, using unsustainable fuels were the norm. Then they built huge power stations like this one at Huntly. After all you need energy to make energy.

Nowadays we have more and more clean options like wind or geothermal, which is even more amazing.

On cold winters days like today’s. I am really thankful for modern energy.

277 | 365 Family Night

Day277.jpgWe have family night (meeting) on Sunday nights.

As you can see from the photo the kids are 100% engaged the whole time and really enjoy the interaction and discussion that we have.

275 |365 – Confidence

Day275.jpgTook J to his first school disco. He was eally shy and he reminded me of me. It was really interesting to watch him slowly build in confidence over the course of the night.

I was thinking about how confidence often comes from experience. The more you do something, the more you push into areas that are hard, the better you get at things.

I would describe myself as a very shy person, socially at least. Over the years I have pushed myself to meet new people, to ask questions and as time has gone on I built in confidence.

Realised that I will need to teach J some of these skills as it took me way to long to discover them.

273 |365 Banana’s

Day273.jpgSometimes we completely forget that we import simple things like banana’s. We purchase them with very little thought to the origin or the people who produce them.

We say we care about things like poverty or the environment, but its mainly lip service. Actually purchasing only products that make a difference for the causes we believe in. Well that’s another story.

271 |365 Model Employee?

Day271.jpgThis is Puss in boots and one of my kids stuffed toys. You squeeze it and it says statements like
“No problemo boss”
“I thought you just said we were done doin things the stupid way”
“You have engaged my valuable services”
And appropriate for the day of the photo “I hate Mondays”

269 |365 Abnormal and Non Standard

Branch of a baron treeIt’s late in the afternoon on Saturday and I head outside to hunt down the photo of the day. I chat to some of my neighbours who are washing cars and preparing for the next days travel, ‘normal things’. Then I head over and start taking photo’s of a tree because I like it’s lines and it reminds me its winter.
 
Compared to the normal things I am decidedly abnormal, nonstandard and strange. But then aren’t we all. Each one of us is created completely unique. Not one of us is normal or standard.
 
It is easy to forget that each person you meet is unique.
 
Each one has different strengths, desires, pasts and presents that make them who they are.
 
Our goals should be to value the uniqueness of individuals rather then try and make everyone normal.

263 |365 Pegs

Day263.jpgSimple in design. Functional in use. Cheap to produce and meets the users requirements.
 
My experience with IT projects over the years is that they generally lack these basic requirements. We could learn a lot from pegs.  

262 | 365 Super Coach

Rototuna GreenLast year I coached my daughter’s 8-a-side hockey team and I thought I did a half decent job given I had absolutely no knowledge of hockey prior to becoming coach.
 
This year her team has two very talented and very experienced coaches, Neil and John, who have played, coached and lead hockey for years.
 
Let me say, there is an extreme disparity between my coaching and theirs in developing the skills of the entire team. Oh, and they win more often than not.
 
It turns out that leadership skills and experience make a good coach. Not one but both. Yet often in business or other organisations we expect people to “coach” when they have little experience or leadership.
 
Little wonder the team members don’t develop.

260 |365 A New Day

Day260.jpgNot every sunrise will be as beautiful as this one.
 
Not every day will be the best day of your life.
 
But today is a new day.
 
Seize it!
 
Make the change you have always wanted to make, even if it’s only for today. And if you fail… tomorrow is a new day again and you can give it another go.
 
May your day today be beautiful and full and alive.

259 | 365 Wiping Out

Day259.jpgSometimes in life we see opportunity coming like a wave of success. Like surfing we seize the moment, drop-in and catch the wave. We are stoked because the ride is exhilarating and for that moment we feel like we have found our sweet spot.
 
Without warning, the wave changes and we wipeout as it all comes crashing down around us.
 
Then we have two options. Give up and become a spectator, or head back out for another attempt. Catching another wave will take effort, time and patience. Like most things there will be an element of being in the right place at the right time.
 
But at least you will again get to enjoy a few moments of exhilaration that those who merely watch from pier will never experience.

« Older posts