Captain Fantastic

Hi,after weeks of resisting the temptation I finally gave in and bought some of the local homemade apple crumble (not as good as Mums of course) and a yard or two of hokey pokey ice cream ! Hey lets face it Ive endured a lot for a bloke lately and it was high time to spoil oneself !! The fact that this brief indulgence will add a week to my recovery exercise program was quickly forgotten as the icecream melted slowly into the steaming hot crumble hmmmmm even some left for another night …hey someone has to do it (make that two weeks exercise!). We have had a huge ruggers week…and why not we have the best teams in the world here so no reason not to immerse ourselves. It started with a special treat, tickets to a couth and cultural evening attending the play “I George Nepia” about the legendary All Black fullback and one of my favorites from the famous 1924 All Black Invincibles tour. We were then joined by Richie, Dan, Fitzy, Zinnie and Grizz (our life size cardboard ‘rent a crowd’ replica’s) to watch the current AB’s demolish and exorcise the French Tricolours and celebrate Captain Fantastic Richie McCaws 100^th game in the black jersey! Not to be outdone the mighty Warriors then snuffed out the Melbourne Storm to qualify for the NRL grand final next weekend! Crikey, life doesn’t get any better and lets face it, even if you are not into sport chances are heaps of people you know are and you can be assured on the back of these victories they will be ‘Upbeat’ just like you this week!

I hope you had a good weekend with family and friends and like me eventually remembered to put your clock forward, roll on those balmy spring and summer evenings!

Go the mighty AB’s and the New Zealand Warriors……it is our time, Cheers Jonesey

Harry the loyal ‘Upbeat’ hound also enjoyed his serving of apple crumble and hokey pokey!

“Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination”

I was inspired and motivated watching Richie McCaw play his 100^th game for the All Blacks on Saturday night. He has become a great leader in his 10 years as an All Black, most as captain. He was presented with a special cap to mark the occasion by another former captain Jock Hobbs. The thing that made this truly remarkable milestone even more so was the fact that Jock Hobbs was lucky to even be there given the battle he has been raging in recent years with dreaded leukeamia.Jock showed the same strength and determination to be present as he did when he led the All Blacks himself. I found he added emotion and humiliity to make the occasion even more memorable.When he and Richie hugged each other I doubt whether there was a dry eye the length and breadth of NZ.

I was moved to consider the importance of leadership both on and off the field.

I believe great leaders are made not born and that leadership skills are developed from a young age by the people we are exposed to. Obviously our parents have a lot to do with it as do our extended families and friends. Teachers, role models, mentors,team mates and work colleagues all play their part in shaping us as people. The sports field is certainly a great place to develop strong leadership traits that can then be transferred into the work place and community, names like John Graham, Wilson Whineray, Wayne Shelford, John Kirwan, Sean Fitzpatrick and Steve Price to name a few. The best players and /or workers don’t always make the best leaders and it does take an extaordinary amount of determination and strength to lead , mentor and be a role model to others. In my experience the best leaders are in fact ordinary people like you and me and there is no reason why any one of us couldn’t aspire to be that person,here are Dale Carnegie’s 10 ways to be a leader….1)Begin with praise and honest appreciation, 2)Call attention to peoples mistakes indirectly, 3)Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person,4)Ask questions instead of giving direct orders,5)Let the other person save face, 6)Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement,7)Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to,8)Use encouragement, 9)Make fault easy to correct,10)Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest…..We are all born with the ability to lead, the rest is hard work and good luck…Just do it!