Train smash! (Watties)

 

 

Edition 196 Monday July 29th 2013

 

Hi, I am reminded daily that ‘better does not stop’ by a sign above the motorway on my drive. This is  a good thing for me as my goal for 2013 is to ‘be better’ at everything so it is a daily call to action. I think it is important to have something like this to get us on track each day. It doesnt have to be a public sign like mine it just needs to be something that helps you maintain your focus.

As part of our recent evaluation of where we live and why we decided we needed to make sure we got out and enjoyed more of our favourite cool things we have discovered to do locally.

Crikey that doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive and as an example this weekend we introduced Fletcher to the simple magic of fish and chips wrapped in white news print paper from the local.

We spread these out at the local park with generous helpings of tomatoe sauce and enjoyed lunch out together in the sun. Anyone observing would have thought our son had cut himself rather badly given the amount of red sauce on his face and hands……all good fun and the sort of thing family memories are made of! I bet the smell of fish and chips conjures up some similar memories for you too! Simple but lots of fun, like most impromtu family stuff you tend to do. I guess the message here is don’t even think about it, just do it, those are the best times, the unplanned unscheduled picnics on the run or the newly discovered park,playground,shop,pub,vineyard,beach that are the most treasured.

I hope you got a chance to do something cool off the spur of the moment too with family and friends. We all need to make the most of every chance to do so. Have a happy and safe week ahead.

Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons have made Fletcher an honorary canine and part of the pack!

 

“Losing my anonymity in this world I think is something that I find terrifying.Alex O'Loughlin

The E learning conference I attended recently intoduced me to a novel way of being a fully interactive conference attendee without anyone knowing. Anyone who has ever attended a conference will know they can be a bit daunting if you are not into asking questions, being asked or volunteering for some scary live role play! Notice where people tend to sit in a conference room, as far away from the front as possible for fear of being asked to contribute in front of everyone.

Well your fears are over because now there are a number of websites that presenters can link to that allow their audience to interact and ask questions on line whilst they are presenting!! How cool is that and the best thing is the interaction can be anonymous…even better.

It was interesting to note that presenters who did not link to these sites struggled to get questions or interaction from the floor in person, some even being tempted to question if their audiences hearts were still beating??

Yet others who did utilise websites like www.clickmeeting.com were inundated online with encouraging comments, questions and suggestions from their audience who embraced the opportunity and anonymity it provided. I reckon the quality of the input and the questions was of a far higher standard as well.

Obviously attendees needed smart phones or a lap top to be able to participate in this way but to my surprise most had these open or connected as the conference progressed anyway!

 I realised quickly not everyone loves the sound of their own voice like me and in fact many are modest and withdrawn yet still have plenty to contribute at events like this and clearly enjoyed the opportunity to do so. Make sure you include this option or interact via it next time at a presentation!

 

“We live in an age where anonymity is growing in magnitude like a bomb going off.”

Jock Sturges

Getting uncomfortable !!

         

 

 

Edition 195 Monday July 22nd 2013

 

Hi, they say a change is as good as a holiday but when a change comes on the back of a holiday it is gold. Last week I did both, backing our Waiheke family break up with an MC appearance at a conference for a couple of days for something completely different. The combination of the two turned out to be a perfect recipe providing some time out plus plenty of new ideas, stimulus and motivation for me to refocus on what I want to achieve for the rest of this year…a timely intervention.

What a difference something like that can make, justifying my ‘never say no’ philosphy when these opportunities present themselves. Life is too short to have regrets so make sure you also take advantage of any chance that comes your way to take a  mini break or do something completely different. Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone more often!

Talking of change we have also been doing some soul searching in the last couple of weeks having been offered an opportunity to sell and start again somewhere else. It is a situation that came from nothing but one that had us asking ourselves some pretty interesting questions about why we lived where we do and if we could,would we live elsewhere and if so where and why etc? The conclusion we came to was that we didn’t realise how lucky we are to be where we are and how grateful we are for what we do have regardless of how much more work we might have to do to make it better. A useful exercise in evaluation and appreciation and maybe something we should do on a more regular basis.

Crikey, we needed some time out after that lot so we were pretty happy the weekend was a cracker weather wise so we took the opportunity to soak up some rays, stack up some ZZZZzzzzz’s and plan Fletchers 1^st birthday party !!...OMG where did that year go !!! tell me about it !!!

I hope you also had a rejuvenating weekend in the sun with family and friends, have a safe and happy week ahead. ………Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons love where they live, their home is where our heart is !!!

 

Get Uncomfortable……saw this, liked it, hope you do too…..

“There are two kinds of people, the ones who are successful and getting what they want and then there's everybody else. People wonder what the successful, wealthy people are doing at the very top that they are missing? They ask, "why are they so comfortable? I work hard, I do the right things, I'm honest. Yet they have money, security, the home, great family and I'm here struggling or just not getting there quick enough. What am I missing?"

Well I'll tell you that it wasn't until I started to do what was uncomfortable that I started seeing more success professionally and personally. I studied successful people, I still do and I notice successful people are willing to be uncomfortable. At one point or another, they were willing to put themselves in situations that were uncomfortable, whereas the unsuccessful seek comfort from all their decisions. Moving my business, staff, wife and two young daughters from Los Angeles to Miami... uncomfortable. However, I looked at it as a challenge, an adventure, a next level move.

So when you see people who appear comfortable, understand that they got there by taking risks and doing the things that rattled them until they mastered them. They got "comfortable" by being willing to be "uncomfortable." So today, take notice of the uncomfortable things that you try and avoid and instead, tackle them. Work through the uncomfortable, push yourself through and success will come.

Be great!”..............Grant Cardone

 

I read this last week and it summarised everything about what I had just done at the E Learning  conference I had just MC’ed. I got a buzz out of getting out of my comfort zone for a couple of days. I will not die wondering or ever regret making the effort to be involved. So if you get a similar opportunity,why not have a crack !!!!

Minties moment !!!

         

 

 

Edition 194 Monday July 15th 2013

 

Hi, actions speak louder than words so we took our own advice and headed to Waiheke for an extended long weekend break. Todays ‘Upbeat’ comes to you from the relaxed pen of the Jones boy after some much needed time out ‘overseas’. We are lucky that Mum and Dad had the foresight to buy a section many moons ago after falling in love with the island and under the spell of its magical, mystical powers. From humble beginnings where family holidays were spent in a caravan on the site to today where a modern home sits proudly on the same dirt we have spent many an enjoyable holiday in what has become our little corner of paradise.

I never fail to relax on ‘island time’ from the minute we step ashore till the time we leave I fall in love all over again with the island every time we visit…its that sort of place. We introduced Fletcher to the experience for the first time and he had a ball eating the east coast sand and mixing with the locals.

On the back of recent events in our lives it was just what the doctor would have ordered so we were pleased we made the effort to do it.

I have decided I want to come back in my next life as a Vetinarian or a Dentist !! after an enforced visit to both last week. I was silly enough to be tempted into the free minties on the counter of our favourite indian restaurant and paid the price literally and metophorically when the side of my tooth accompanied the rest of the gluey mint down the hatch! Nek minute…..over a grand for a crown thanks very much! In sympathy Harry thought he would get crook and after a zillion $$ worth of exploratory work the diagnosis was a tummy ache !!!....maybe he munched on the left over  minities I threw in tha garden after our night out !!! Got to see the funny side J I guess!!Crikey I must be  relaxed !! I hope you are all looking after yourselves, planning some time out and spending as much time as you can with family and friends, have a great week,………Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons wont ever admit it, but, they missed us heaps, even grumpy!

 

“Whenever I'm taking time off, all I'm thinking about is working.”Scarlett Johansson

I don’t want to go on but it is important to take time out from work as well!

My problem is that I am so immersed in my work that I rush around trying to get everything outstanding tidied up before I go,to the point where I stress myself even more. I also find it  hard not to check emails or answer my phone once I am actually supposed to be on leave !!

All this does is worry me and upsets those I am supposed to be on leave with and those I have taken leave to be with! So many of my friends and colleagues experience the same difficulties..

Whats the point of taking leave if you are not going to do just that ?? It sounds easy enough but it  I have always found it so difficult to actually switch off. I think the key is surrounding yourself with people you are confident enough in to handle things in your absence. It is also important to realise that you are not indispensable and that the business and life are capable and will go on without you!

Take it from me if you can learn to do this both you and those most important to you will be a lot happier and relaxed as a result, belive me I have ruined more holidays than I care to remember, but I am determined to get that balance back on the right side of the ledger which is a relief to my family and friends. Make sure you do the same when you are planning and taking regular leave!

“Tennis is all about mental toughness, and you have to keep your head in the game. I make time to relax away from competition pressures, travel and intense training schedules to make sure I'm looking after myself. Taking time out with family and friends helps to maintain the work-life balance everyone needs.” Samantha Stosur