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

Monkeying around

         

 

 

Edition 192 Monday July 1st 2013

 

Hi, I try to swim 1 km at the public pool close to work every day if I can. It is great exercise and it is a welcome break from the office or the field if it can be worked into the day. Sometimes the pool is busy and I have to share a lane with a local or like minded athlete! This can test the patience at times but it goes with the territory so best to live with it. Sometimes I get grumpy with slow traffic in my lane like the other day when a female gold card holder was wasting space in lane 2! I got annoyed and was just about to be rude when this delightful lady introduced herself to me. Her name was Cathy and she and her husband of 55 years are regulars. She told me she stays to the left in her lane in the pool (just like on the road in her car!) and she knows how to handle Gen Y would be triathletes like me, with charm and class. She tells me she is affectionately known at the pool by all staff and regulars as “Cathy lane 2” for obvious reasons so get used to it fit and faster guy.

Moral;don’t be grumpy or too quick to judge a book by its cover,thankfully the world is full of Cathys.

We are all walking around like zombies with sleep deprivation at the moment as Fletcher continues to battle bronchialitis combined cruelly with the arrival of more teeth L. Thank goodness for panadol, red wine, crock pot comfort food, the log burner and the ruggers on telly and his bullet proof Mum!!

I hope you are all looking after yourselves, relaxing, and spending time with family and friends when you can.

Have an eventful and happy week ahead  ………Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons, Dogs 101; We bark, its what we do,OK?, so get over yourself!!

 

 

“At this point, I feel like I can allow myself to be goofy and take more risks, and even if I do fall on my face, I know it's not the end of the world and at least I tried to do something different.” Dave Franco

 

We have been talking to a prospective customer for a long time trying to secure their business. As a result of this there is nothing they don’t know about our business and vice versa.

Unbelieveably last week we were invited to do yet another presentation to their procurement committee. Apparently our competitors had insisted on this and been invited to do the same.

Well,I was over it and decided it was time to show them something they hadn’t seen, rather than have them keep guessing, yes ,it was time to remove all doubt!!

Time to be a bit goofy, certainly different and leftfield but also something that would make us stand out from the rest !!!

Yes folks,time to dress up as a Gorilla and present our team like never before.

I hired a Gorilla suit, stocked up on bananas and drove across town in the Gorilla car much to the amusement of my fellow motorists and pedestrians who noticed…it was hilarious fun.

Picture a boardroom full of dryish analytical accountant/procurement types waiting to grill us and dissect yet another meaningless power point presentation and then…. in bounds a man in a Gorilla suit handing out bananas to all present before presenting our bold new start up environmental solutions company who is now playing hard ball in the big kids sandpit!

I think we struck a chord by presenting a unique approach consistent with some exciting new info further demonstrating our commitment to recycling, sustainablility and innovation.

Will it be good enough to win the business?, who knows,only time will tell but one thing is for sure, it was certainly different!!.....see attached photos. Why not have some fun doing something similar!!

 

“I think you can have moderate success by copying something else, but if you really want to knock it out of the park, you have to do something different and take chances.”

Lee Ann Womack

"Could do better"

 

Hi, we attended a family mid winter Christmas party which included turkey ,ham on the bone, special festive deserts,lots of Christmas decorations and even guests in costumes complete with party hats and flashing lights! It was indeed a festive occasion which was cool but I couldn’t help be reminded 1) How fast half the year had disappeared, and 2)How little time there was left till the real Christmas!!....and yes the shortest day (official half way mark) was last week so downhill from here?

It is a time to reflect quickly on where the first half went, how you are tracking toward the goals you set yourself for 2013 and post evaluation what adjustments if any you need to make to ramp it up or get back on track J.

My all enveloping simple goal for 2013 was to ‘be better’ at everything. On reflection I have tried to remember to apply this during the year to date however there have been too many times where I havent and I have susequently been average or worse than normal. Definitely not good enough but after an honest self analysis I managed to give myself a reasonably satisfactory 6/10 in the ‘being better ‘ stakes. Like too many of my school reports the verdict “could do better” rings true.

With this in mind I have decided to take some time out to read more and try to get home from work a bit earlier to spend more time with Fletcher before he goes to bed. I am happy to report I have made a positive start and look forward to adding more self improvement ideas each week. If I can achieve that it will be 26 new and ‘better’ things I will do before end of year Christmas!

Talking about books I picked up Bill Cosby’s book entitled ‘Fatherhood’ and couldn’t put it down it is such a funny read. I am so enthralled I have shared a segment in the sizzle section below for your amusement. Speaking of Fatherhood, I am so proud to tell you that Fletcher has bypassed the crawling stage and is full on walking around the house now. Ok, there is the odd wobble, crash and cry but we are more or less walking…..well at least that is what I have told anyone who will listen !

I didn’t want to be a  parent who does nothing but rave on about their kids achievments but Crikey!!!

I hope you all had a cool weekend doing the same or impressing your family and friends with your brilliance!! Have an awesome and safe week ahead………Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons are the best welcome home after a tough day,unconditional love

 

“Whats in a name?” Bill Cosby

“Always end the name of your child with a vowel,so that when you yell the name will carry. A nervous Mother needs an ‘o’ or an ‘I’ or an ‘e’ because they last long enough to get their kid home for his beating.

“My own Father violated this rule by giving me a name that ended in ‘t’ but you have to admit this name was an exception. He called me “Jesus Christ” . Often he turned and said to me “Jesus Christ”.

My brother also had a name that ended in a consonant: “Lookdammit”. Addressing the two of us, my Father would say, “Lookdammit,stop jumping on the furniture ! Jesus Christ , cant you ever be still?”

My Father however did sometimes get me and my brother mixed up. One day when I was out playing in the rain, he came to the door and said “Lookdammit.”………..And I replied, “Dad Im Jesus Christ.”

In spite of these names for my brother and me my father did try hard not to curse, an effort that sometimes rendered him semi articulate. Having to squelch the profanities that he dearly wanted to lavish on me reduced him to saying such things as , “If you ever…..because youre a….and Ill be…..because its just too…….and Ill swear Ill…..” For many years , in fact I though my father was a man unable to complete a sentence. I made him swallow curses like after dinner mints.”

 

Reading is cool, especially when you find a book like that makes you smile a lot…..try it !!!!

 

“I'm not sure if my parents had me because they loved me, or because they wanted someone to watch their other children.” Bill Cosby

Adrenaline

         

 

 

Edition 190 Monday June 17th 2013

 

Hi, adrenaline pumping excitement, competing for the best spots and the best stuff, pushing,shoving, jockeying, knowing where and when, seizing the opportunities then and there, no place for the weak or the procrastinators.…….yes folks the bi annual inorganic waste collection is back in Onehunga and local residents are not disappointing with the selection they are placing on the kerb! Trash to treasure and exciting times for those like me who lick their lips in anticipation of such times….such fun !! I am only sorry I wasn’t able to devote more time to this last week! I was also gutted I was unable to fit a classic old wooden ladder in my car, I had big plans for that ladder! I guess I was always destined to work in the waste and recycling industry having been a  keen ‘step toe’ apprentice in my younger days! Dad being the perfect role model/mentor with a big shed full of treasure he had collected over many years all ready and waiting for the day it would ‘come in handy’!

As you know I drive a marked car and as a result my driving has attracted more than a few comments from those who have felt the need to comment unfavourably. I am pleased to say there have not been any comments for a while because this has actually improved my attitude and my driving habits!! This is the very reason that I shared the love with another marked car driver recently. I was annoyed at being tailgated so changed lanes but in doing so noticed others in front of me suffered a similar fate…..so I noted the details of the company and called them to comment. I am hopeful the driver will benefit as I have from the feedback J .Even though my driving has improved I did still manage to write off my car recently  hmmmm, fresh start,new car, new habits!

We have been hunkered down in front of the fire this weekend as Fletcher battles his first case of man flu. I hope you all had a relaxing weekend spending time with family and friends.

Have a great week ahead………Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons took full credit for the record golf ball haul from two dog walks this weekend. Negotiations are progressing on the revenue split from 2^nd hand ball sales!

 

“Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman - not the attitude of the prospect.”

W Clement Stone

When is enough enough??? We all have our breaking point when we have to make that call!!

I was referred to a consultant anonomously by a friend (loose definition). We met once and agreed there was probably something he could do to assist me with some personal matters including trusts and insurance.

This guy was a reasonable rooster and we got on well enough although I made it clear that whilst there was some things I needed to get sorted,they were not my immediate priority nor things I needed to have urgently attended to …..well I thought I made that clear…apparently not it seems.

I have been regularly bombarded with texts and emails for a follow up meeting to the point where I have tried to set a second appointment but for one reason or another not yet been able to make it.

Still the emails and the texts keep coming to a point where I had to call “enough is enough” and line this guy up to say “back off buddy!!!”......sometimes you have to do that right??!!

It is important we all realise that people we interact with all have a point we cant push them past.

No matter what line of work we are in or in our dealings with people privately none of us know the pressure people we talk to daily are under. It is important therefore to remain empathetic, professional and objective at all times rather than being too pushy. I admit it is a thin line between being too pushy and not enough but that is where we need to read the signs and back off if required.

The lesson for me here was timely as I seek to close a couple of deals,don’t get too excited and always look for the signs that you may be pushing too hard.Don’t blow the adrenaline rush,easy tiger!

 

“For every sale you miss because you're too enthusiastic, you will miss a hundred because you're not enthusiastic enough.”Zig Ziglar

sales surfing !!

         

 

 

Edition 189 Monday June 10th 2013

 

Hi, no matter how hard you try to brace yourself for bad news it always knocks you around. Sometimes you get advanced warning sometimes it comes out of leftfield, both suck although I guess as they say “ as long as neither kill you they will always definitely make you stronger!!”

On this occasion we received some advanced warning when there was no heartbeat at our first baby scan recently. We were hopeful that it was just a case of being a week or two too early but the prognosis wasn’t good and a week later we were saddened to have our miscarriage confirmed L. This is one of lifes experiences or moments of truth and we accept that it certainly goes with the territory especially at our tender age!. Production and design are eager to have another crack however they recognise that the Project Manager has the final say and respect that it will be a week or two before a decision is made on project 2!!

On the happy positive side Christine will make a quick and full recovery, Project 1 continues to thrive clocking up 10 months on Sunday, Dad is alive and recovering strongly at home, yes as always we have a lot to be thankful for!

Following hard on the heels of Dads recent near death experience we have had a roller coaster ride in the last few weeks testing our inner strength and reinforcing our belief in family. I know I say it all the time but there can be nothing more important or central to our existence, embrace it always.

Be kind to family and friends and have a great week , Cheers Jonesey!!!!!

 

Harry and the Hendersons can do no wrong , ever, no matter how hard the grumpy man tries to frame them for wrong doing. Their message,if you cant beat us ,joing us old boy grrrr.

 

“One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.” Michael Korda

 

Good sales people are like good surfers, they feel the momentum and go with it.

I am not a good surfer but I am a good salesman and last week I caught a wave with huge momentum that I was able to use to carry me into and through the whole of last week.

You see I identified an initial opportunity to recycle some materials out of a large office building and the wave of materials to recycle grew from there to the point that we are looking at recycling nearly 90 % of the materials from 23 floors of an office tower and it doesn’t stop there…..theres more !!!

The 23 floors are then going to be refurbished and the company doing that work also want to recycle as much of their waste materials as possible !!! who do you call?,……us because they were referred by all the other contractors who are using us on the project.

 

But wait theres even more…..the organisation moving in to the new refurbished building needs a recycling and waste system for their new building and employees, guess who they are talking to….yep us !!!

 

Why did all this happen???, good luck?, fate?,prayer,good looks, good management, all or none of these??.....no it all happened because the momentum was gained with an initial cold call query and through a series of additional questions and heaps of initiative turned into a cascade of one off and permanent business opportunities that have been turned into profitable revenue. Want to know the best thing?.....not a competitor in sight because of the trust engendered by coming up with a different approach and innovative solutions. It didn’t seem that hard to do this once on a roll , I think the hardest thing to do is to think up a different solution, once you have that you are on the wave!

“Commitment is the ignitor of momentum.” Peg Wood