Say you what you want about the Tiger Mom, but damn her daugheris smart...
http://tigersophia.blogspot.com/2011/06/well-look-what-cat-dragged-in.html
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Political Fact Checking
So anyone who reads this blog knows thst I believe participation in your local political systems is very important. Getting involved locally is not only more "hands on" than listening to pundits and the media rant and rave about the President, Congress, etc, it is also the only real place ou can make the difference with your participation. A major roadblock to local participation is finding information about what is happening in your State. A few states are lucky enough to have a state Politifact-check to use to help sort theology the rhetoric and facts. I highly encourage the use of this website for State information. Unfortunately not States are available, but please use if they are!
It is also useful for national topics as well! I am using the new Application for iPad and android they released recently and find it ver convenient to look up hot topics such as comments from 2012 candidates.
It is also useful for national topics as well! I am using the new Application for iPad and android they released recently and find it ver convenient to look up hot topics such as comments from 2012 candidates.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Trust #30 - Speak Less by Laura Kimball
What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know I. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
I once received a fortune cookie that read: “Speak less of your plans, you’ll get more done.” What’s one project that you’ve been sitting on and thinking about but haven’t made progress on? What’s stopping you? What would happen if you actually went for it and did it?
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I guess after all the musing I have done on this quest regarding my desire to start my own consulting business, moving away from that seems odd here. But in fact, reinventing my career is not a trivial project! However, in looking at my Evernote projects ( a favourite app of mine, which I highly recommend. Too bad I can't create a hyperlink on this damn iPad...) I see that "learn portrait photography is the project that has been on my to-list the longest. why? Hmm... Well, for one thing, I HATE having my own picture taken. It's a fact that can be by sampling from family albums and seeing a severe drop off about the age of 13. So the idea of taking portraits is not appealing personally. But I see that there is a lot of useful value in having this skill. Especially with Natalie who tends to be goofy in about 90% of the photos I take of her now. I do realise that this photography skill, while it seems straight forward, does in fact require more set up, more thought into the subject positioning, lighting, background. Pretty weak reason.
So, if I figured this out and actually worked on this, I guess there is nothing to fear. Just hasn't Ben a priority due to my distrust of this type of photography. It feels less real to me I guess.
Sigh... I guess Natalie's photograph will finally get taken this year...
I once received a fortune cookie that read: “Speak less of your plans, you’ll get more done.” What’s one project that you’ve been sitting on and thinking about but haven’t made progress on? What’s stopping you? What would happen if you actually went for it and did it?
--------
I guess after all the musing I have done on this quest regarding my desire to start my own consulting business, moving away from that seems odd here. But in fact, reinventing my career is not a trivial project! However, in looking at my Evernote projects ( a favourite app of mine, which I highly recommend. Too bad I can't create a hyperlink on this damn iPad...) I see that "learn portrait photography is the project that has been on my to-list the longest. why? Hmm... Well, for one thing, I HATE having my own picture taken. It's a fact that can be by sampling from family albums and seeing a severe drop off about the age of 13. So the idea of taking portraits is not appealing personally. But I see that there is a lot of useful value in having this skill. Especially with Natalie who tends to be goofy in about 90% of the photos I take of her now. I do realise that this photography skill, while it seems straight forward, does in fact require more set up, more thought into the subject positioning, lighting, background. Pretty weak reason.
So, if I figured this out and actually worked on this, I guess there is nothing to fear. Just hasn't Ben a priority due to my distrust of this type of photography. It feels less real to me I guess.
Sigh... I guess Natalie's photograph will finally get taken this year...
Trust #30 - Facing (and Fearing) by Dan Andrews
Greatness appeals to the future. If I can be firm enough to-day to do right, and scorn eyes, I must have done so much right before as to defend me now. Be it how it will, do right now. Always scorn appearances, and you always may. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Trusting intuition and making decisions based on it is the most important activity of the creative artist and entrepreneur. If you are facing (and fearing) a difficult life decision, ask yourself these three questions:
1) “What are the costs of inaction?” I find it can be helpful to fight fear with fear. Fears of acting are easily and immediately articulated by our “lizard brains” (thanks Seth) e.g. what if I fail? what if I look stupid? If you systematically and clearly list the main costs of inaction, they will generally overshadow your immediate fears.
2) “What kind of person do I want to be?” I’ve found this question to be extremely useful. I admire people who act bravely and decisively. I know the only way to join their ranks is to face decisions that scare me. By seeing my actions as a path to becoming something I admire, I am more likely to act and make the tough calls.
3) “In the event of failure, could I generate an alterative positive outcome?” Imagine yourself failing to an extreme. What could you learn or do in that situation to make it a positive experience? We are generally so committed to the results we seek at the outset of a task or project that we forget about all the incredible value and experience that comes from engaging the world proactively, learning, and improving our circumstances as we go along.
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1) I am not going to list all here, I have already done that in my journal. I will summarise by saying that it is clear to me thst the benefits of moving forward with a business of my own, wifey my own strategies and objectives far outweigh the fears. The biggest fear is that I am taking on something way too big for me to accomplish on my own, but maybe that me and I have to use the support of some smart people to really get going!
2) I want to be someone who is dependable. I want to be trusted. And I want to be independent. I am not currently all of Rhodes things. In fact, at this particular moment sitting here ts morning drinking my tea, I see that I am not any of those three things. Better get cracking on this business plan.
3) Failure could still result in me lining what it takes to start my own business. I maybe have gaps in thst knowledge (else why did I fail?) but I would have added to my own knowledge of what it takes. I also would have a better understanding of my own skills and strengths. This is of benefit when trying to match up to a company for employment.
Trusting intuition and making decisions based on it is the most important activity of the creative artist and entrepreneur. If you are facing (and fearing) a difficult life decision, ask yourself these three questions:
1) “What are the costs of inaction?” I find it can be helpful to fight fear with fear. Fears of acting are easily and immediately articulated by our “lizard brains” (thanks Seth) e.g. what if I fail? what if I look stupid? If you systematically and clearly list the main costs of inaction, they will generally overshadow your immediate fears.
2) “What kind of person do I want to be?” I’ve found this question to be extremely useful. I admire people who act bravely and decisively. I know the only way to join their ranks is to face decisions that scare me. By seeing my actions as a path to becoming something I admire, I am more likely to act and make the tough calls.
3) “In the event of failure, could I generate an alterative positive outcome?” Imagine yourself failing to an extreme. What could you learn or do in that situation to make it a positive experience? We are generally so committed to the results we seek at the outset of a task or project that we forget about all the incredible value and experience that comes from engaging the world proactively, learning, and improving our circumstances as we go along.
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1) I am not going to list all here, I have already done that in my journal. I will summarise by saying that it is clear to me thst the benefits of moving forward with a business of my own, wifey my own strategies and objectives far outweigh the fears. The biggest fear is that I am taking on something way too big for me to accomplish on my own, but maybe that me and I have to use the support of some smart people to really get going!
2) I want to be someone who is dependable. I want to be trusted. And I want to be independent. I am not currently all of Rhodes things. In fact, at this particular moment sitting here ts morning drinking my tea, I see that I am not any of those three things. Better get cracking on this business plan.
3) Failure could still result in me lining what it takes to start my own business. I maybe have gaps in thst knowledge (else why did I fail?) but I would have added to my own knowledge of what it takes. I also would have a better understanding of my own skills and strengths. This is of benefit when trying to match up to a company for employment.
Trust #30 - Dreams by Michael Rad
Abide in the simple and noble regions of thy life, obey thy heart. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Write down your top three dreams. Now write down what’s holding you back from them.
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1) achieve career goals (though recently I feel I have changed these goals) Preventing: Ao bit of fear of achieving that success is holding me back. My mind is whispering "what then?". The most important thing for me is to define what I want to be when I grow up.
2) Retiring to a place in St. Maarten. It is one of my favourite places on earth. In fact, I wish we had the ability to visit at least annually. Preventing: Living in Asia makes it difficult to visit. And I also fear that having such a place may be better served as a dream rather than a reality. what if my expectations for what living there would be like is not what reality brings me? Alas, I think the answer here lies in simply making this a priority in terms of travel. I certainly could visit this summer, albeit without Tom.
3) Ability to express myself easily through some medium. I truly understand the benefits of using the Whole Brain, but find it uncomfortable and more than a little embarrassing at my attempts to express my feelings inside through something such as drawing, music, or even photography. Preventing: embarrassment at my attempts. I also believe that this expression should not be so difficult as to eliminate the benefits! I think that of all the ways I have tried to achieve this dream, I must continue to work at my photography. Especially by extending into the post processing world and turning the pictures I take into the art I see.
Write down your top three dreams. Now write down what’s holding you back from them.
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1) achieve career goals (though recently I feel I have changed these goals) Preventing: Ao bit of fear of achieving that success is holding me back. My mind is whispering "what then?". The most important thing for me is to define what I want to be when I grow up.
2) Retiring to a place in St. Maarten. It is one of my favourite places on earth. In fact, I wish we had the ability to visit at least annually. Preventing: Living in Asia makes it difficult to visit. And I also fear that having such a place may be better served as a dream rather than a reality. what if my expectations for what living there would be like is not what reality brings me? Alas, I think the answer here lies in simply making this a priority in terms of travel. I certainly could visit this summer, albeit without Tom.
3) Ability to express myself easily through some medium. I truly understand the benefits of using the Whole Brain, but find it uncomfortable and more than a little embarrassing at my attempts to express my feelings inside through something such as drawing, music, or even photography. Preventing: embarrassment at my attempts. I also believe that this expression should not be so difficult as to eliminate the benefits! I think that of all the ways I have tried to achieve this dream, I must continue to work at my photography. Especially by extending into the post processing world and turning the pictures I take into the art I see.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Invent the Future by Cindy Gallop
A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
My favorite quote of all time is Alan Kay: ‘In order to predict the future, you have to invent it.’ I am all about inventing the future. Decide what you want the future to be and make it happen. Because you can. Write about your future now.
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I want my future to be filled with opportunity. And I can't wait for this happen, I have to make it happen. It is all about giving myself choices to make. Every day I get the chance to make these opportunities. After making a major life changes (like a move to a foreign world) you realise that you can have the future you deserve!
My future includes making a new career for myself. I hope that this opens up all the opportunities I want. I want to use these opportunities to get into areas that I am passionate about. Areas that I am not an expert in, but hope to help make a difference. Of course that is a sign of getting old, wanting to make a difference in the world. But alas, that is where I am in the road of life! I hope that my future is part of a bigger future where tolerance is master, where all children have an equal opportunity for a positive life, and Americans worry less about Sarah Palin running for president and more about educating the future generations on what America was founded on.
I'm excited!
My favorite quote of all time is Alan Kay: ‘In order to predict the future, you have to invent it.’ I am all about inventing the future. Decide what you want the future to be and make it happen. Because you can. Write about your future now.
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I want my future to be filled with opportunity. And I can't wait for this happen, I have to make it happen. It is all about giving myself choices to make. Every day I get the chance to make these opportunities. After making a major life changes (like a move to a foreign world) you realise that you can have the future you deserve!
My future includes making a new career for myself. I hope that this opens up all the opportunities I want. I want to use these opportunities to get into areas that I am passionate about. Areas that I am not an expert in, but hope to help make a difference. Of course that is a sign of getting old, wanting to make a difference in the world. But alas, that is where I am in the road of life! I hope that my future is part of a bigger future where tolerance is master, where all children have an equal opportunity for a positive life, and Americans worry less about Sarah Palin running for president and more about educating the future generations on what America was founded on.
I'm excited!
Trust #30 - Wholly Strange and New by Bridget Pilloud
When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name;—— the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Can you remember a moment in your life when you had life in yourself and it was wholly strange and new? Can you remember the moment when you stopped walking a path of someone else, and started cutting your own?Write about that moment. And if you haven’t experienced it yet, let the miracle play out in your mind’s eye and write about that moment in your future.
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I am lucky enough to have experienced this recently. Our decision to move to Shanghai and the subsequent transition offered an excellent opportunity to re-experience simple things, like grocery shopping. There were so many changes that first year and I remember being both excited and slightly unsure about the future. I hope I can continue to remember the feeling of anticipation of the future. For the first time in a long time, my next 5 years was not clearly laid out in term in terms of promotions, new assignments, and different roles. And guess what. All has turned out well. Well, mostly. The challenge in this is that it requires a certain level of change in your life. You have to accept that many aspects of your life will need to adapt to these changes. Of course I feel some trepidation regarding a future that is not always in control, but adapt, I MUST!
Can you remember a moment in your life when you had life in yourself and it was wholly strange and new? Can you remember the moment when you stopped walking a path of someone else, and started cutting your own?Write about that moment. And if you haven’t experienced it yet, let the miracle play out in your mind’s eye and write about that moment in your future.
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I am lucky enough to have experienced this recently. Our decision to move to Shanghai and the subsequent transition offered an excellent opportunity to re-experience simple things, like grocery shopping. There were so many changes that first year and I remember being both excited and slightly unsure about the future. I hope I can continue to remember the feeling of anticipation of the future. For the first time in a long time, my next 5 years was not clearly laid out in term in terms of promotions, new assignments, and different roles. And guess what. All has turned out well. Well, mostly. The challenge in this is that it requires a certain level of change in your life. You have to accept that many aspects of your life will need to adapt to these changes. Of course I feel some trepidation regarding a future that is not always in control, but adapt, I MUST!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Trust #30 - One Thing by Colin Wright
Do your work, and I shall know you. Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Take a moment, step back from your concerns, and focus on one thing: You have one life to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. Sounds simple, but when you really focus on it, let it seep into your consciousness, you realize you only have about 100 years to get every single thing you’ve ever wanted to do. No second chances. This is your only shot. Suddenly, this means you should have started yesterday. No more waiting for permission or resources to start. Today is the day you make the rest of your life happen. Write down one thing you’ve always wanted to do and how you will achieve that goal. Don’t be afraid to be very specific in how you’ll achieve it: once you start achieving, your goals will get bigger and your capability to meet them will grow.
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The pressure is killing me! Actually, this is easy.
I want to cycle from London to Inverness, Scotland. By myself.
Long story about why, but this has been near the top of my bucket list for awhile. So how? Well, timing is the biggest problem. When? I want to wait until Natalie is bit older. I nee to be gone for about 14 days total and would like to wait until she can help Tom take care of here. So I think I have a few years. But not sure that this is what Mr. Wright wanted me to do on this assignment. So here are the specifics...
1. Get in shape - need to be able to ride 560 miles. 60 a day. 10 days. 6 months of serious training. 6 months to prepare for serious training. So a year.
2. Research the potential bed and breakfasts for sleeping. Lots of options, need to have a rough plan of schedule to do this.
3. Refresh bicycle maintenance techniques. Been a long time since I had to change my own tires!
4. Book travel and bike rental.
5. Kiss the family goodbye and go!
Take a moment, step back from your concerns, and focus on one thing: You have one life to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. Sounds simple, but when you really focus on it, let it seep into your consciousness, you realize you only have about 100 years to get every single thing you’ve ever wanted to do. No second chances. This is your only shot. Suddenly, this means you should have started yesterday. No more waiting for permission or resources to start. Today is the day you make the rest of your life happen. Write down one thing you’ve always wanted to do and how you will achieve that goal. Don’t be afraid to be very specific in how you’ll achieve it: once you start achieving, your goals will get bigger and your capability to meet them will grow.
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The pressure is killing me! Actually, this is easy.
I want to cycle from London to Inverness, Scotland. By myself.
Long story about why, but this has been near the top of my bucket list for awhile. So how? Well, timing is the biggest problem. When? I want to wait until Natalie is bit older. I nee to be gone for about 14 days total and would like to wait until she can help Tom take care of here. So I think I have a few years. But not sure that this is what Mr. Wright wanted me to do on this assignment. So here are the specifics...
1. Get in shape - need to be able to ride 560 miles. 60 a day. 10 days. 6 months of serious training. 6 months to prepare for serious training. So a year.
2. Research the potential bed and breakfasts for sleeping. Lots of options, need to have a rough plan of schedule to do this.
3. Refresh bicycle maintenance techniques. Been a long time since I had to change my own tires!
4. Book travel and bike rental.
5. Kiss the family goodbye and go!
Trust #30 - Alternative Paths by Jonathan Fields
When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name; the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
The world buzzes about goals and visions. Focus. Create a vivid picture of exactly where you want to go. Dream big, then don’t let anything or anyone stop you. The problem, as Daniel Gilbert wrote in Stumbling Upon Happiness, is that we’re horrible at forecasting how we’ll really feel 10 or 20 years from now – once we’ve gotten what we dreamed of. Often, we get there only to say, “That’s not what I thought it would be,” and ask, “What now?” Ambition is good. Blind ambition is not. It blocks out not only distraction, but the many opportunities that might take you off course but that may also lead you in a new direction. Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.
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A few days behind due to flight back to the US! Busy, busy, but found some time to get caught up. Was able to spend time on my "quest" ( I am quoting as I am struggling to find a good name for what I am doing!). Alternative paths? Quite a few I think. I am laying out not just the obvious services and skills, but a few I might be able to hone with a little effort. I see one of the biggest challenges to success is going to be to be focused on a specific set of activities. Build on those successes and then expand. I also recognise that i need to talk through my ideas on this new business with some potential smart clients! I have been out of touch for a couple of years. Whew. I have to get all of these thoughts down on paper. I have a lot of thinking and analysing to do this summer!
The world buzzes about goals and visions. Focus. Create a vivid picture of exactly where you want to go. Dream big, then don’t let anything or anyone stop you. The problem, as Daniel Gilbert wrote in Stumbling Upon Happiness, is that we’re horrible at forecasting how we’ll really feel 10 or 20 years from now – once we’ve gotten what we dreamed of. Often, we get there only to say, “That’s not what I thought it would be,” and ask, “What now?” Ambition is good. Blind ambition is not. It blocks out not only distraction, but the many opportunities that might take you off course but that may also lead you in a new direction. Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.
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A few days behind due to flight back to the US! Busy, busy, but found some time to get caught up. Was able to spend time on my "quest" ( I am quoting as I am struggling to find a good name for what I am doing!). Alternative paths? Quite a few I think. I am laying out not just the obvious services and skills, but a few I might be able to hone with a little effort. I see one of the biggest challenges to success is going to be to be focused on a specific set of activities. Build on those successes and then expand. I also recognise that i need to talk through my ideas on this new business with some potential smart clients! I have been out of touch for a couple of years. Whew. I have to get all of these thoughts down on paper. I have a lot of thinking and analysing to do this summer!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 12 #Trust 30 - Surprise by Ashley Ambirge
I will not hide my tastes or aversions. I will so trust that what is deep is holy, if we follow the truth, it will bring us out safe at last. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Think of a time when you didn’t think you were capable of doing something, but then surprised yourself. How will you surprise yourself this week?
Think of a time when you didn’t think you were capable of doing something, but then surprised yourself. How will you surprise yourself this week?
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Since after today my week will be filled with at least 5 days of jet lag, I might accomplish more or less than a normal week! However, I really want to work on a strategy and plan to get this potential new opportunity started. My mind is forming a big to-do list, but I haven't had the right amount of effort concentrated on how to get this information focused. I hope the new keyboard for the iPad (thanks Tom) makes it easier to type for long lengths of time!
Day 11 #Trust 30 - Fear by Lachlan Cotter
These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Is fear holding you back from living your fullest life and being truly self expressed? Put yourself in the shoes of the you who’s already lived your dream and write out the answers to the following:
Is the insecurity you’re defending worth the dream you’ll never realize? or the love you’ll never venture? or the joy you’ll never feel?
Will the blunder matter in 10 years? Or 10 weeks? Or 10 days? Or 10 minutes?
Can you be happy being anything less than who you really are?
Now Do. The Thing. You Fear.
Is fear holding you back from living your fullest life and being truly self expressed? Put yourself in the shoes of the you who’s already lived your dream and write out the answers to the following:
Is the insecurity you’re defending worth the dream you’ll never realize? or the love you’ll never venture? or the joy you’ll never feel?
Will the blunder matter in 10 years? Or 10 weeks? Or 10 days? Or 10 minutes?
Can you be happy being anything less than who you really are?
Now Do. The Thing. You Fear.
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Fear of making bad decisions is hard for me to overcome. Especially by Day 11 of this project! But on I plod! I feel that the last question, can I be happy being anything less than who I really am, is a timely question. I have learned through the stripping away of career responsibilities that while I am not defined by the career my work efforts gave me, I was complete. The problem solving, the analysis, the logical organization of tasks. That really makes my mind happy. Without this type of activity, I feel disconnected and slightly spacey. I think the challenge that I am now facing is how to add back the activities I loved and NOT add back the aspects that carried too much stress along with them.
If I take this on and FAIL, at least this year, it won't matter. So, tick-tock, let's see what I can done this summer...
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day 11 #Trust 30 - Divine Idea by Fabian Kruse
Imitation is Suicide. Insist on yourself; never imitate. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Write down in which areas of your life you have to overcome these suicidal tendencies of imitation, and how you can transform them into a newborn you – one that doesn’t hide its uniqueness, but thrives on it. There is a “divine idea which each of us represents” – which is yours?
Write down in which areas of your life you have to overcome these suicidal tendencies of imitation, and how you can transform them into a newborn you – one that doesn’t hide its uniqueness, but thrives on it. There is a “divine idea which each of us represents” – which is yours?
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20 days left? Harder and harder. Though this is not that difficult. I have been feeling this imitation feeling for awhile. Well, I did take a break from this behaviour by NOT WORKING for a year. But not sure that this was the method that Mr. Emerson would suggest we utilize to eliminate imitation. No worries, I HAVE A PLAN!
I spent a lot of my career working with Business and IT executives. I was lucky enough to work with many, many intelligent individuals. How to align IT to business goals. How to ensure IT supports the business directions. How to ensure spending on IT is appropriate and value-driven. Years spent trying to ensure that technology was supporting the business. Looking at IT Benchmarks and aligning to the companies that were spending the "right" amount on IT. Imitation. Not innovation. Imitating the best companies. Not creating new models or changing the paradigm.
Since I have put myself out on the limb and committed myself to doing something on my own, I see that eliminating imitation from this new self-reliant direction will by definition make me both happy and successful. Of course I am a huge Seth Godin fan (or I wouldn't be participating in this #Trust30 project!), and one of his favorite quotes of mine is "We succeed when we do something remarkable." And isn't this only possible if you choose not to imitate? So, I am going to take on IT Business Alignment. I want to transform this into Business Alignment and eliminate the need to classify with the Information Technology in front of it. It doesn't make sense. We do that because that is what most executives ask for. So, I don't need to detail it out here. But I do think I might have found a way to get really excited about the opportunity I am now publicly committed to.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Day 10 #Trust 30 - Your Personal Message by Eric Handler
To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is burning deep inside of you? If you could spread your personal message RIGHT NOW to 1 million people, what would you say?
What is burning deep inside of you? If you could spread your personal message RIGHT NOW to 1 million people, what would you say?
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Fellow Americans: Get involved in your local government and really understand how democracy works on a LOCAL level. Forget the "national politics" for a bit (please stop saying Weiner Gate) and focus on your core values and how that impacts your participation on a Democracy. Spend less time watching the pundits telling you what to think and more time reading and learning on your own. If you can't find the right information to read and learn, demand it! If your local zoning board is making crazy decisions, get involved and attend the meetings. Eliminate the labels that people want to put on you (Liberal, Republican, Conservative, Tea Bagger) and instead voice your own needs. Get involved!!! Help others get involved!
(Hmmm... That kind a came from nowhere. Just sat down and type. I think I have to consider my passion about this as I am contemplating my own business...)
Day 9 #Trust 30 - Afraid to Do by Mary Jaksch
The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word, because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loath to disappoint them. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Emerson says: “Always do what you are afraid to do.” What is ‘too scary’ to write about? Try doing it now.
Emerson says: “Always do what you are afraid to do.” What is ‘too scary’ to write about? Try doing it now.
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Scary to write? Not my views on living here in China or on what it means to be an American. No problem expressing frustration or happiness to be a Mom. But there is one thing. And that is the fear of what happens next year when we move back from Shanghai to the US next year. So here goes....
Natalie will have lived half her life here in Shanghai on September 16, 2011 (yes, we have it on the calendar titled "Natalie's Half her Life Day". Her Mandarin, while not as progressed as it should be having a 40 minute session every day, is passable. Tom's doing some work that he really enjoys (I will hesitate to say love) and has had great opportunity to learn. And I... Well, I have accomplished a lot of things here during the last 4 1/2 years. Speaking another language, taking time away from my career to spend with Natalie, working at Roche Diagnostics for two years. So, we should be glad we had this opportunity, right? Well, somewhere along the way it stopped becoming an opportunity and became our way of life. So we don't finish one chapter and start the next, we changed the book.
So now when we leave, we have to re-establish again. But it won't be re-establish. It will have to be a re-invention. I fear that our family is not ready for that. It's like a big pile of dirty laundry and some you sort into the machine wash pile and some you sort into hand wash. Some things can be washed with others, some have to be separated And there is always a single sock or a pair of underwear that has seen it's better days that needs to go into the trash. Our family has to do that before we move back. And I am a bit worried about how the sorting will leave us feeling. What didn't we accomplish? What changed for the better? the worse?
I see that the best thing to do is to 1) recognize the concerns 2) put a plan together to eliminate the unknowns and fear and 3) be willing to take the risk that the future might actually work out without me worrying about what needs to be done now. I mean, I am going to be "Self-Reliant" in 21 more days, right?
So, I guess that this isn't quite as bad as I thought.
Daily Picture Project - Day 171
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. The end is here. Wow, 171 days of getting up, dressed, fed, and a picture before rushing out the door. More reflection later...
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| "Happiness hit her like a train on a track Coming towards her stuck still no turning back" --Florence Welch, Florence and the Machine |
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Day 8 #Trust30 - Five Years by Corbett Barr
There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions, so they be each honest and natural in their hour. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
What would you say to the person you were five years ago? What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years?
What would you say to the person you were five years ago? What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years?
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To the person I was 5 years ago:
Why are you spending so much effort on your career? What is the objective of your efforts? Promotions? Money? Recognition? Figure that out before you spend more time building without a plan.Take time and evaluate the decisions you are making. Invest more effort in your relationships with friends and family. Might want consider studying Mandarin in case you agree next year to quit your job and move to China!To the person I will be in 5 years:
I'm proud of your decision to take life on in a more direct manner. You made some mistakes at the beginning, but your mistakes helped you determine the right paths to take. Your success has allowed your entire family to evolve towards the type of people they want to be. You need to keep looking at the goals and adjust them as you change. Your continued investment in yourself is key to ensuring your enabling your own satisfaction the best of your ability. Good thing you learned your Mandarin characters since that best selling business book you want to read on the Kindle is in Mandarin!!!
Daily Picture Project - Day 170
LAST full day of school! And we finally got to a project that she has wanted to do since day #23! We had great fun today and now am thinking that it was a great experience. One more picture to add...
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| "The Lizard was keeping late hours and his eyes seemed even more buggy than usual." |
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Day 7 #Trust - Dare to be bold by Matt Cheuvront
Our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlour soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Next to Resistance, rational thought is the artist or entrepreneurs worst enemy. Bad things happen when we employ rational thought, because rational thought comes from the ego. Instead, we want to work from the Self, that is, from instinct and intuition, from the unconscious.
A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. Its only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.” - Steven Pressfield, Do the Work
The idea of “being realistic” holds all of us back. From starting a business or quitting a job to dating someone who may not be our type or moving to a new place – getting “real” often means putting your dreams on hold.
Today, let’s take a step away from rational thought and dare to be bold. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue? Write it down. Also write down the obstacles in your way of reaching your goal. Finally, write down a tangible plan to overcome each obstacle.
The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?
“Next to Resistance, rational thought is the artist or entrepreneurs worst enemy. Bad things happen when we employ rational thought, because rational thought comes from the ego. Instead, we want to work from the Self, that is, from instinct and intuition, from the unconscious.
A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. Its only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.” - Steven Pressfield, Do the Work
The idea of “being realistic” holds all of us back. From starting a business or quitting a job to dating someone who may not be our type or moving to a new place – getting “real” often means putting your dreams on hold.
Today, let’s take a step away from rational thought and dare to be bold. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue? Write it down. Also write down the obstacles in your way of reaching your goal. Finally, write down a tangible plan to overcome each obstacle.
The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?
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Wow, this one is hard. I have always prided myself on being realistic and now I find that being unrealistic is the key to greater success. Since being realistic is what has allowed me to live life without REGRETS, I am very hesitant to take this on. BUT, these 30 days are supposed to be about pushing yourself to be self-reliant so here goes...
I have always wanted to have my own company. However, I am VERY risk adverse and can think of MANY reasons why this won't work. I always was employed full-time before and didn't have time. I lacked the necessary entrepreneur spirit. I lacked a clearly defined market. Well, a lot of those roadblocks do not apply anymore. As a part of this quest to discover my self-reliant inner self, I need to at least put a plan together and take some risks. Even as I look to go back to work, I can use my 'free time" to put this plan together. So more on the specifics later.
Daily Picture Project - Day 169
Down to the wire. Just a few days of pictures left. Tom brought interesting items back from the US this trip. This was Natalie's favorite (except for the 16 boxes of Macaroni and Cheese).
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| "Monchichi Monchichi" |
Monday, June 6, 2011
Day 6 #Trust 30 - Come Alive by Jonathan Mead
Life wastes itself while we are preparing to live. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you had one week left to live, would you still be doing what you’re doing now? In what areas of your life are you preparing to live? Take them off your To Do list and add them to a To Stop list. Resolve to only do what makes you come alive.
Bonus: How can your goals improve the present and not keep you in a perpetual “always something better” spiral?
If you had one week left to live, would you still be doing what you’re doing now? In what areas of your life are you preparing to live? Take them off your To Do list and add them to a To Stop list. Resolve to only do what makes you come alive.
Bonus: How can your goals improve the present and not keep you in a perpetual “always something better” spiral?
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I am sitting here entering Girl Scout registrations into the database. I'd have to admit that this is NOT something I would add to my To Do list if I had one week left to live. But that seems too contrite. I have one week before I leave Shanghai for the summer. Admittedly this is not the same as one week to live, but I do have a limited amount of time before I go. I have to be selective about what is going to get done before I go.
If I think about how I chose my goals right now, I see that when I eliminated most of the "career" goals from my list, I filled it with this things that I thought or hoped might make me come alive. Many of those things have not done that. I should probably not be so hard myself. Trying something new may or may not be required to "bring me alive" to still be satisfying. However, I do see that a good cleaning of my goals this summer will be very valuable to me.
So, here is what I moving to my STOP list today:
- Watching television - sorry Spartacus: Blood and Sand has to go...
- Reading mediocre novels
- Eating Papa John's Pizza
- Buying any more crap at the Fake Market
- Reading more than 15 minutes of news video about Chinese doing crazy things like crashing cars on purpose and holding children at knife point to get out of traffic tickets (must be the dry weather as is seems China has more than their share of CRAZY going on right now)
- Moving my piles of junk from one room to the other - I am tossing this stuff into a box and assuming if I need something EVER I will sort through it then.
- Making my bed - wait I already did that a year ago, I just want to validate the reason was that it didn't give me life
- Arguing with Natalie about what she is wearing
Good list. In terms of the bonus, I actually feel that MOST of my goals are about the present and not enough are focus on long term happiness. So I have to think about that for a while.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Day 5 #Trust 30 - Travel by Chris Guillebeau
If we live truly, we shall see truly. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Not everyone wants to travel the world, but most people can identify at least one place in the world they’d like to visit before they die. Where is that place for you, and what will you do to make sure you get there?
Not everyone wants to travel the world, but most people can identify at least one place in the world they’d like to visit before they die. Where is that place for you, and what will you do to make sure you get there?
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Wow, I've seen a lot of places I wanted to see while living here in Asia. I really want to visit Russia, specifically St. Petersburg. I've read several books about the history of this city and have always wanted to visit the scene of Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov's great nihilism. To get there I have to sacrifice at least another vacation if not several! Plus, the logistics of getting there is not simple. This summer I should complete the plans and book if for October holiday.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Day 4 #Trust 30 - Post-it Question by Jenny Blake
That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Identify one of your biggest challenges at the moment (ie I don’t feel passionate about my work) and turn it into a question (ie How can I do work I’m passionate about?) Write it on a post-it and put it up on your bathroom mirror or the back of your front door. After 48-hours, journal what answers came up for you and be sure to evaluate them.
Bonus: tweet or blog a photo of your post-it.
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Well, that puts it out there anyway...
The question: How can I get back to work?
Friday, June 3, 2011
Day 3 #Trust 30 - One Strong Belief by Buster Benson
One Strong Belief by Buster Benson
It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?
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It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?
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I believe that you cannot live your life with any regrets. If you make a decision and there was a better way to make that decision, you learn from it. You cannot regret that you made the decision you made. I believe that failure is OK and should be embraced, avoided.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Day 2 #Trust 30
Today by Liz Danzico
Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. The force of character is cumulative. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
If ‘the voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks,’ then it is more genuine to be present today than to recount yesterdays. How would you describe today using only one sentence? Tell today’s sentence to one other person. Repeat each day.
Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. The force of character is cumulative. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
If ‘the voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks,’ then it is more genuine to be present today than to recount yesterdays. How would you describe today using only one sentence? Tell today’s sentence to one other person. Repeat each day.
Hmmm.... Not as easy. Here is my sentence.
Today I will conquer the schedule and social challenges that lie ahead with regards to the TRUE outcomes I want to achieve.
Self Reliance Day 1
Gwen Bell – 15 Minutes to Live
We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
You just discovered you have fifteen minutes to live.
1. Set a timer for fifteen minutes.
2. Write the story that has to be written.
So here it goes. The story that needs told is about the transition that I have put myself through. I thought at first that this transition was due to living overseas and away from my family. But over the last few months I have realized that the transition is a result of my questioning everything that I believed made me happy. My daughter, the love of my life and best friend, my career. Until the last few years, I have accepted the idea that if I worked hard enough and long enough that I would succeed and BE HAPPY. But is that true? When I started questioning that truth I found cracks. And the cracks became holes. Holes that are now very difficult to fill. But I am not a quitter so I have spent some time thinking about how I got here and why what I thought would make me happy is not.
We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
You just discovered you have fifteen minutes to live.
1. Set a timer for fifteen minutes.
2. Write the story that has to be written.
So here it goes. The story that needs told is about the transition that I have put myself through. I thought at first that this transition was due to living overseas and away from my family. But over the last few months I have realized that the transition is a result of my questioning everything that I believed made me happy. My daughter, the love of my life and best friend, my career. Until the last few years, I have accepted the idea that if I worked hard enough and long enough that I would succeed and BE HAPPY. But is that true? When I started questioning that truth I found cracks. And the cracks became holes. Holes that are now very difficult to fill. But I am not a quitter so I have spent some time thinking about how I got here and why what I thought would make me happy is not.
So what have I found?
I found that going to a job every day to make money to spend doing things to make me happy does not make me happy. Lesson #1: Work every day at something you love. It is a simple value proprosition: if the cost of making money outweighs the benefit, you will not be happy. Nothing enlightening in this statement other than no matter how many times you are told this, you still have to make decisions which support it.
On being a good mother. When Natalie was born, I wrote a new #1 Life Goal: be the best Mother I could be. And I think I have done that. I have shortcomings, but I know that I give it my best almost every day. BUT... I never considered the cost of this goal. To be the best mother I had to give up time for self reflection on my own happiness. Not completely, but enough. I traded true happiness for other, more superficial happiness replacements such as Girls Trips and Nights Out (don't despair BFF's, I still love you). But I lost the ability to look inside myself and find my own happiness. I have had to share that and weigh it against the GOAL. Recognition of this is was fundamental for me. Now I have to fix it...
Last, I had to assess what happened to my Best Friend, who for so long was the love of my life as well. I lost that when I quit working and had to DEPEND on my Best Friend for everything but childcare. I see now that this is related to the first two revelations. It is my last HAPPINESS BARRIER to deal with. Focus Shelly...
Daily Picture Project - Day 167
Finished Clue. Thanks goodness. Spent 3 minutes this morning looking for a stand in for a monocle. Geesh.
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| "Colonel Mustard in the Conservatory with the Candlestick" |
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
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