Buzz Lightyear rules!!!!

                                                                                     Edition 291 Monday July 20th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,being a parent is rewardingly exhausting!,being a solo parent is exhaustingly rewarding!The proof of that pudding became reality this last weekend as I flew solo (temporarily)with our energy battery preschooler!Christine seized the opportunity to gain more search and rescue quals whilst for me it was another chance for quality full on time with our son……yes exhaustingly rewarding!zzzzZZZZ

Fletcher says; whilst plenty of game time at the local BMZ track was cool,the highlight was undoubtedly second helpings of hokey pokey icecream in front of Disney movie Toy Story 2!

In fact he reckons Dad might have enjoyed the exploits of Woody the Cowboy and Astronaut Buzz Lightyear in that movie more than he did….(and he would be right….check it out sometime!!).

I scoffed and said I would never use it however I am a regular user and proud of it.Yes my two speed  heated carseat is getting a work out on these cold mornings!I would be lost without it!

Continuing on my good samaritan roll I met a foreign chap with a limited command of the Queens english last week.Seems he knew enough to tell me he had a flat tyre but did not have a jack or a wheel brace(how does that happen?).Anyway even though I was pressed for time I willingly assisted by providing my jack,wheelbrace and labour(as if I was going to stand there watching and waiting for him to figure out how to use it!).Two greasy black skinned hands later I bid him farewell after trying to explain that the toy space saver spare he had wasn’t designed to drive any further than the nearest tyre shop with!I felt good for helping but couldn’t help thinking he was still an accident waiting to happen!I shouldn’t say but he was on his way to an Auckland house auction….LOL!!!

Great to be watching the mighty All Blacks again as they build toward yet another Rugby World Cup campaign.Some early morning fireside tea and toast  sessions and plenty of good footy to come,YAY !

I hope you are safe,well,’upbeat’ and happy. Have a great week………………….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon the toy dogs(especially slinky)in ‘Toy Story'were legend!

 

 

“If you try to follow everyone else's mold, you'll probably fail at some point because God created us uniquely for a reason.”Queen Latifah

Comfort zones are overcrowded motorways or parking areas for the complacent and arrogant.

That’s why we need to challenge ourselves to get outside them because that is where the fresh air and open highways are.

So I have done just that in the coming week and will be extending myself to perform on three different stages as a Master of Ceremonies for a conference, an awards dinner and a grand opening!

Crikey I cant believe it myself but all three have fallen on the same week which is even more of a challenge in itself to manage my time professionally and productively.

Two other ‘P’ words also feature prominently those being planning and preparation. There is no doubt that the key to success in all three roles will come down to how well I have done these two!

As you will know my ‘modus operandi’ is ‘never turn down an opportunity’ but no one ever told me what to do when I got offered three in one week so I accepted them all!!!

On top of that Ladies and Gentlemen yours truly will be attempting to also do my own job as well....I feel like one of those daredevil performers where they then say,folks this is risky,best you don’t try it.

Instead of being worried I am excited about stepping out of my comfort zone and having a crack at something I know many others would hesitate to do. It is a thrill and I cant wait to feel the fear and do it anyway and do it well because I know I can and I want to prove it to myself and others.

That,Ladies and Gentlemen is what adrenaline does when it pulses wildly through your veins.It thrusts you into the limelight you normally shun or avoid. Hero or zero it is entirely up to you and there is a thin line between the two. How big will you play?....dont die wondering…I wont be!!!!

 

“We need role models who are going to break the mold.” Carly Simon

Faves!!

         

 

 

                                                                                       Edition 290 Monday July 13th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,as you all know,for me,being well behaved for at least 110kms too and from work everyday has its challenges.I have had the odd complaint from my fellow motorists however I am pleased to report driving a marked car continues to make me a better driver!I was however, alarmed to read some negative comments recently about the ‘Green Gorilla’ on our community facebook page!!Clearly there is more improving to be done and I am determined to clear my name which can only be a good thing!

Wait till they get a load of my new UPBE4T plate about to hit the road (nice and politely of course!!).

Fletcher says; Being the tallest nearly three year old kid at his mates four year old birthday party on the weekend was pretty cool….clearly his Mums genes kicking in early,enjoy it while it lasts mate!!

Funny file……saw a guy waiting to turn on to the highway last week who had obviously forgotten to take his wheelie bin off his towbar at the top of his drive!!!Also, thought I had lost my wallet while parked in Onehunga the other day….after abusing everyone who had ever lived in the area since it was settled and cancelling all my credit cards etc I noticed the wallet nestled in the gap between the bonnet and the windscreen!!My sincere apologies to the honest citizens of Onehunga for ever doubting you….yes I felt terrible and more stupid than normal!

Clear,crisp,sunny winter days as good as any in summer combined with a birthday party,a visit from Nana and Poppa and fish and chips amongst the vines at Matua Vineyard were some of our favourite things this weekend!No matter what you have to do around the house and property it is important to work in some faves,weekends are for living too,make sure you plan to get out and have some fun!!

Loving the school holiday traffic flow, hope you are cool too, have a great week…….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon dogs should have birthday parties as well(see photo)!

 

 

 

“If you want to stand out from the crowd, give people a reason not to forget you.”

Richard Branson

 

Auto messages can bring out the best and worst in people!

Take phone voicemails for example,some messages go on forever and don’t do a lot to inspire people to want to leave a message or even worse want us to call them back at all!

A voice mail or email/text/foot note are all excellent opportunities to add value to our contact with friends, family or business associates.

I have tried to do something a little bit different on my voicemail message. Firstly I have attempted to keep it as brief as possible(hard for me) and to try to relate it to what it is I do (save the planet!!:)

You know if you are on to something when people A)leave a message and B)comment on your message on theirs! I get a least a comment a day from people re my message which I believe makes me stand out from the mediocrity of most voice mails people encounter.

For me its about being different and getting that difference across to callers withourt being too smart!

I also customize the footnote on my phone email message regularly and receive positive comments daily to my advantage as a result of making the effort to do so.

Recently the CEO of a large organization was so impressed with my simple message that she adopted it herself!

This message and the discussion about it between us did more for our business relationship than a couple of meetings had previously.

Small stuff like this can make a noticeable difference,its about having the courage to give it a crack!

Being a bit different can be scary but its worth it if it makes you stand out from the crowd!! Go On !!

 

“Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out.” Jon Bon Jovi

Auckland STAR !!!!

                                                                                       Edition 289 Monday July 6th 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi,on the back of my challenge to you last week to do something spontaneous and randomly kind for someone else we came home to discover a container full of kindling and pinecones! We can only assume it was one of our ‘Upbeat’ readers taking up the challenge.Thankyou whoever you are for your kind thoughts and generosity,it was just as big a thrill to be on the receiving end this time!

Fletcher says; he has never seen such big pinecones it seemed a shame to burn them so he built a ‘sky tower’ out of them instead!Budding Conservationist or Engineer or normal almost three year old!

I managed to get my ears sorted and like my knees it was quite simple.Once I could hear I decided to heed the advice of others this time and have a couple of weeks away from the pool!

Yes it is doing my head in however as a highly tuned athlete I have decided it is for the best!I have also heard I will have to acquire a blow dryer to dry my ears after each swim in future.This could be difficult to explain away to the boys at the pool??Hair dryers not normal blokes gym bag kit!!

I went to a funeral last week and couldn’t help reflecting on my own life as you do.I even thought about what my own funeral would be like,is that wrong?...crikey I wasn’t hanging round to find out!!

So…after promising ourselves some timeout for far too long we finally got round to using Mum and Dads Christmas voucher at a local winery estate!Fletcher had a blast with his babysitter and we savoured the time to just be together as a couple without child!We have promised each other to date more often!!One of my favourite moments was opening the car door for my wife like the old days!

What about the footy final!! Crikey it was a cracker!!….go the Landers!!!Be sure to keep an eye or ear out for the All Blacks versus Samoa live from sunny Apia Wednesday 2pm!!

I hope you are having a good time being ‘Upbeat’,keep up the good work…….Cheers Jonesey!

 

Harry and the Hendersons reckon being overlooked as Fletchers babysitters was ruff!

 

 

Some ex paper delivery boys include,Walt Disney,Bob Hope,Bing Crosby,John Wayne!

 

In the last week I have heard on three separate occasions how important people I have been talking to considered having a paper run was as a kid!

It was an interesting coincidence and one I could totally relate to having been both an ‘Auckland Star’ and a ‘Royal New Zealand Herald’ delivery boy. At one stage I did both at once and like my colleagues believe it was the best possible start one could want to a working career.

For me it an early introduction to the disciplines and responsibilities required as an employee in the real world.As a paper boy or girl you needed to be on time and accurate or you would be responsible for letting your employer and customers down.

For me it was much more than that,I got to read the news before anyone else ,I was so up to date with current affairs it was unbelieveable.I also met a lot of local people and earned extra money doing other jobs around the neigbourhood that came as a result of being a reliable and ‘Upbeat’ paper boy.I did extra paper runs when kids were away and was able to associate that the harder I was prepared to work the more I could earn!I was also promoted for the first time in my work career and learned that whilst hard work earns more money it also earns promotion and recognition.I remember this being a good feeling and one I decided I wanted to pursue more of in my work career.

So it was with fondness that interest that I recounted with others this week past experiences as  paper boys and the positive effect we felt that had on our work ethics and careers.Its not a bad thing to be reminded of your ‘grass roots’ as an employee or employer!It is easy to lose sight of the basic principles that make us the person we are.Reflecting on these from time to time is useful and enlightening…I recommend it!!

 

And some more…Dr Norman Vincent Peale,Harry S Truman,Dwight Eisenhower,

Ed Sullivan, Dr Martin Luther King, Herbert Hoover.