That 'Lovin' feeling

 

                                                                                       Edition 301 Monday 28/09/2015

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,as part of my quest to be a better parent this time round I have made a promise to myself not to miss out on stuff I too easily let slide in my first crack at it.So when the chance to accompany Fletcher to the Zoo as Kindergarten ‘parent help’ came I volunteered.I took the day off work and we lined up eagerly with our packed lunch,drink,hats,comfortable shoes and gallons of sunscreen.I think I was more excited than FJJ and his buds to get there!Of course as parent help I was also responsible for another child and in our case this was Amber!Things started fine but Amber tired quickly and presented this parent help with more than a few challenges on the journey.The upshot was a cool time bonding with our son that was almost derailed by his ‘high admin’ cute girl from Moansville!

I am glad I made the effort and will never regret it even if I was in bed before Fletcher that nightzzz.

Fletcher says; my dad is cool,all my friends like him….especially Amber! Zzzzzzz wake up Dad!!

The curtain comes down on our September family birthday season with Dads birthday today 28/09. In a hilarious celebration this weekend we dropped in with a cake complete with candle and sang him happy birthday with Fletcher jockeying with him to blow the candle out.Dad blew with such gusto that he dislodged his false teeth and they shot across the table towards us and the cake!!!

Crikey it was funny,poor Fletcher didn’t know what to think and the rest of us all fell off our chairs we were laughing so much.We wont ever forget that birthday sing song with Poppa!!! Hahahaha, I am pleased to report his teeth were quickly replaced so he could enjoy his birthday cake….funny J.

What an amazing weekend, I hope you got to enjoy the sunshine and of course daylight saving….roll on Summer…cant wait.We are also loving the rugby and were absorbed by the last minute Wesh victory over England on Sunday morning…exciting times…enjoy,take care….……Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon All Blacks Vs Aussie final….get a lazy hundy on it !!!

 

 

 “To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work.”
Sister Mary Lauretta

 

I always liked the saying that goes something like this “Love your job and you will never ‘work’ a day in your life.” I reckon it is so right and it is linked to all those things like attitude,enthuisiasm etc.

I love what I do and as a result I find that love manifests itself into my day to day performance.

Instead of going through the motions I find myself noticing stuff that others don’t….like;

Someone tells me something about what they do or what they are wanting to do and I recall and refer that to others in the course of my future activity and invariably this benefits all involved.

For example I have recently introduced a number of my customers to each other to their mutual benefit from my referral. I wasn’t asked to do this but I did it off my own initiative as a ‘value add’ to both of them. This served to enhance my relationship with them and to provide additional reasons for them to deal with me rather than my competitors (BIG point of difference for me and us).

To me this is the difference between liking and loving your job and will lift you above the rest.

I know too many people who are not like this because they are just going through the motions.

They are not seeking innovative ways to be better in their role,instead they are marking time.

Problem is this becomes obvious through mediocre results and ultimately failure for team and self.

So how do we get that ‘lovin’ feeling?….by making sure you are doing something you are passionate about that’s how.If you are trapped in a job or a role you are not passionate about then you need to do yourself and your company a favour and get out of there as soon as possible.

If you are in a role you like and could easily love…then you need to use things like this ‘Upbeat’ blog to make sure you stay focused and continually challenge yourself to be the best you can be daily!

Its not easy but if you have the passion and the drive then anything is possible,check out RWC 2015!

 

“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it” Buddha

300 not out !!

         

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 300! Monday 21/09/2015

 

 

 

 

Hi,Crikey!,here we are issue 300 of ‘Upbeat’ who would have known just over six years ago when issue # 1 rolled off the keyboard?!Thanks to you all for the regular feedback and ongoing support!

I am continually amazed at the amount of things that happen to me both professionally and personally in a week. ‘Upbeat’ is my way of recording and sharing these…watch out for the book!!!

No one said being ‘Upbeat’ is easy because it isnt,it is a state of mind we need to get to and if I can assist you to do that whilst also motivating myself to do the same then together WE have achieved!

None of us know how long we are going to be around so we have to make the most of every day to ensure we make a difference for ourselves,our families and those around us daily!

The tragic sequel to last weekends drama at Muriwai is testament to this as four men were suddenly and sadly killed on Muriwai beach and wont ever return to their families!Seize the day‘Upbeat’ people!

Fletcher says; growing another 25mm in the last three months is no big deal,his short longs are now long shorts,same for the sleeves on his tops….just in time for SummerJShoes are a different story though as his feet expand in all directions to keep up with the vertical spurt!....Joy J

 

The NZ Herald has a ‘rant’ and ‘rave’ page and I love reading it so thought I would have a crack…….

Rave; Upbeat is 300 today, lets take a minute to go “Crikey” what a team effort,well done!!!

Rant;Whats with motorists who leave a massive gap in peak hour traffic….grrrr ‘gappers’!!!!!

Rave;How about the Japenese Rugby team knocking off the South Africans OMG!!...Banzai!!

Rant;There is no place for bad coffee and amateur barista’s.Get these two right and they will come!

Rave;Four Auckland seasons in a day,Millers coffee,BBQs on the deck,swimming in the local stream and running a couple of live auctions on Trademe at,life at 48 doesn’t get any better!!!

 

I hope you are all making the most of lifes simple daily pleasures,have a good one……Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon everyone who reads their ‘Upbeat’ is Scooby Doo!!!!

 

“Fall seven times and stand up eight.” Japanese Proverb

 

As I sat there watching the Japenese Rugby team play the once mighty Springboks I was reminded of a whole heap of quotes and stories about underdogs overcoming the odds.

My favourite stories are about teams with no stars beating teams full of them just like Japan did!

This was a classic example of what can be achieved with belief , momentum and luck.

It was my type of ‘boys own’ adventure story where the underdog triumphed against all odds!

When I coached junior boys rugby teams I would always let the stars go to other teams in favour of taking the kids who were discarded by other coaches.These kids were either playing the game for the first time or deemed not as good as others. I thrived on the challenge of teaching these guys the value of playing as a team, believing in themselves and making a bit of luck out of nothing!

Invariably we would improve to the point where we would beat the teams full of stars any day.

There are a lot of similarities between the sporting and business worlds .

Big corporates tend to have lots of stars (top heavy management structures) who can and do become separated from the reality of the coal face.They spend their time justifying their positions rather than contributing to the team effort. This breeds complacency and arrogance and a resentment toward them from their own team members. This can contribute to internal meltdown and losses.

Like sport, business success comes when companies work together as teams with leaders who get in and do their share of the hard yards.They identify and strengthen weak links to ensure when the heat comes on they are all in the kitchen covering and doing their bit.

I love watching these principles play out in the sporting and business arenas, still lots to learn !!

 

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt

"Footprints"

         

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 298 Monday September 7th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,having a birthday in the same week as Fathers Day is like an early Christmas as I annually succumb to the temptation on both occasions and over indulge.Unfortunately for a finely tuned athlete like me these weak moments represent a lot of extra hard yakka in the gym,pool and pounding the beach to get back on track but…you know what?….it is always sooooo worth it J.

We are so lucky we are still able to celebrate with my Dad in person on FD and my Mum a week later on her birthday….long may their good health and that special family opportunity continue.

Fletcher says; he is looking forward to joining the local BMX club who encourage kids to ‘have a crack’ from age three!…..who knows maybe Olympics 2032 here we come? As long as he gets a job to fund the investment anything is possible….anyone want to hire a three year old?Happy FD Dadxxxx

Latest PP spotted Westside, 2 BADD,Q JMPR,SLAPHA,F4TTY,MASIF,NASS T…. sorry, cant help myself.

If you found a $20 note what would you do?There was a guy in the US who did that and promptly bought himself a  lottery ticket….you guessed it he won a million bucks. So then he went on to the streets and dropped $20 bills all over town in the hope that someone else would have the same luck….cool story.

 I love my morning designer coffee and I am a loyal sole as long as I get good service but at the moment I am a café nomad. My favourite café has changed owners and the new guy burns the milk (a no no) so I am on the market wandering the Onehunga strip looking for attention and a good coffee…..someone will rescue me soon….watch this space.

I hope you had a good Fathers Day with your Dad or remembering him and the contribution he made to yours and your families lives. Have a great week ahead……….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon the grumpy man isnt a bad 2 legged step dad dog!

 

 

 

“I don’t believe in magic,I believe in hard work.” Richie McCaw AB Captain!!

 

I loved this quote when I saw it not only because I am a Richie McCaw fan but because it reminded me of my Dad who taught me the value of working hard and not to expect anything for nothing!

In a special tribute to all the Dads out there….Fletcher(see attached) gave me the following poem and I want to share it with you;

 

Footsteps

“Walk a little slower Daddy said a child so small,

Im following in your footsteps and I don’t want to fall.

 

Sometimes your steps are very fast,

Sometimes they are hard to see.

 

So walk a little slower Daddy for you are leading me.

Some day when I am all grown up you’re what I want to be.

Then I will have a little child who will want to follow me.

 

And I would want to lead just right and know that I was true.

 

So walk a little slower Daddy for I must follow you.”

 

“When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry.”William Shakespeare