Have you ever wanted to be a writer? Sitting in your cottage in Cape Cod, looking out over the ocean, drinking a steaming hot cup of coffee...
We can't all have that life, but we all can be published! How? www.lulu.com is a publishing on demand company. What does that mean? Let's say you write your novel - Belly Button Lint Versus The Modern Computer. It's a masterpiece of literary merit, but unfortunately, only one member of the Belly Button Lint Fan Club buys your book. No problem. Lulu will only print and ship one book. You have become a writer! No need to publish hundreds of books and store them and get stuck with copies you cannot sell.
For those of you who cannot think of a subject matter to write, here are my suggestions (please include me in your preface):
-The all cabbage diet - lose weight and friends at the same time.
-How to win friends and influence poodles.
-The beginners guide to finishing last, the first time.
-Elevators for Dummies (Special Up & Down Edition).
-How to make vinegar from good wine.
-Shaving your back - Please!
-Cat juggling for beginners.
-101 things never to swallow.
-How to lose everything and ruin your life - The guide to Country Music.
-Redneck etiquette.
-How to double your speeding fines.
-How to reverse the effects of fast food - Eat slow!
-My mother was a giraffe, and I have a sore neck.
Write, you can't go wrong!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Will the "Zidane" replace the handshake?
Doctors warn that the new trend in French handshakes called "The Zidane" is increasing the traffic in local hospitals.
"We are seeing an increase in broken ribs, concussions, and loss of memory following the world cup." , said Doctor Bagette.
It seems the French have embraced the new trend, and given up on the traditional handshake, the double sided non-contact cheek kiss, and even French kissing altogether.
In parks around Paris, young lovers are found unconcious after trying to "Zidane" at the same time, resulting in parks filled with the head-injured lovers.
We are already seeing the effects of all the concussions in linups at coffee shops. "The clients just stare at the cashier and forget what they wanted to order, causing huge linups.", said local coffee shop owner, Lex Presso.
"We are worried about the elderly, as their vision is not as sharp and often completely miss their mark and fall, breaking a hip.", commented Senior Oldman at a local retirement home.
On the positive side, sales of neck braces have increased!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Take the Zero Inbox Challenge
How many emails do you have in your inbox? I'm sure it is quite a few.
Inspired by Merlin Mann's site 43 Folders, I took the challenge. Merlin's site is about personal productivity or life hacks as they are called. What is a life hack? If you think of a computer hack and apply it to your life, you get the general idea. Think Atkins Diet: You eat a certain type of food, avoid others and you lose weight...in effect hacking your body. It could be a lifestyle hack, such as doing the dishes while you are taking your bath to save time. I don't really recommend this, but if you do, just don't tell your guests about it.
We all get swamped with email, and it is so easy to let it pile up. I myself have over 10 email addresses with all the podcasts, blogs, corporate, and personal emails.
There are some great articles on 43 Folders to help you out: Click here
I myself use flags in Outlook to tag messages I need to access, but file them out of my inbox right away.
You should also check out the Getting Things Done plug-in for Outlook. It has some pretty cool features, such as a snooze option (you can make the email go away for a day or so and it will come back in your inbox).
What is in it for you? A feeling of Zen. You feel like you are on top of things. It really lets you concentrate on the important tasks.
It takes effort to do that initial cleaning and organizing, but it is worth it.
Inspired by Merlin Mann's site 43 Folders, I took the challenge. Merlin's site is about personal productivity or life hacks as they are called. What is a life hack? If you think of a computer hack and apply it to your life, you get the general idea. Think Atkins Diet: You eat a certain type of food, avoid others and you lose weight...in effect hacking your body. It could be a lifestyle hack, such as doing the dishes while you are taking your bath to save time. I don't really recommend this, but if you do, just don't tell your guests about it.
We all get swamped with email, and it is so easy to let it pile up. I myself have over 10 email addresses with all the podcasts, blogs, corporate, and personal emails.
There are some great articles on 43 Folders to help you out: Click here
I myself use flags in Outlook to tag messages I need to access, but file them out of my inbox right away.
You should also check out the Getting Things Done plug-in for Outlook. It has some pretty cool features, such as a snooze option (you can make the email go away for a day or so and it will come back in your inbox).
What is in it for you? A feeling of Zen. You feel like you are on top of things. It really lets you concentrate on the important tasks.
It takes effort to do that initial cleaning and organizing, but it is worth it.
How Soccer's World Cup Can Set You Free
(Guest Blog from my business coach - Jamie Broughton)
"To get where you want to go, you can't only do what you like."
~Peter Abrahams, South African novelist Tell Freedom, 1954
Soccer is a game that's often played just outside my office window. I'm quite fortunate to have a view that looks out onto nothing but green - lots of big trees, grass and, the best part of all, a small soccer field near a school.
At recess, the field is flooded with kids doing all kinds of things. Some are cartwheeling or practicing nifty dances. Others have plunked themselves down on the field and are picking dandelions, minding their own business. Some are even playing soccer, kind of.
It's a bit of a "no-rules" soccer they play. There are goal posts, sometimes, though rarely any out-of-bounds markers. The kids run all over the place, even scoring from BEHIND the goals. You should see the constant debates about what's in or out. It's hilarious.
Some of us view "rules" and "structure" as something to avoid. Rules imply a lack of freedom, or being told what to do in some way. These people value spontaneity or creativity and don't want it squashed. In fact, most of us have the need to operate without rules at some time or another.
The problem is, unharnessed "freedom" can become a jail in and of itself.
Imagine playing competitive soccer in an environment without those pesky "rules." Pick the ball up with your hands? Sure! Out of bounds? What's the point, we play where we want. Rugby-type tackles allowed? Why not, it makes you tough. Two teams? Naw, too constraining. Goals posts? Forget it. I'll never "miss the net" if we don't use one.
It would be anarchy. You'd spend the entire game looking over your shoulder. Once you got the ball, you wouldn't have freedom at all. You'd be more worried about getting clobbered from behind, let alone knowing who to pass it to or where to run with it.
You'd constantly second-guess you were making the "right" decision because, really, you don't have a clue about where you're going. Also, there would be so much "interpretation" about the rules along the way, the game would be stalled by continuous debate.
Where's the creativity and freedom in a game like that? There isn't any.
Structure can be good.
Coaching Fieldwork
The international players in soccer's World Cup are some of the most physically gifted people on the planet. When they play "inside" the rules of soccer, they are free to produce often jaw-dropping play. [some World cup photo of two players battling it out or something…]
Appropriate structure has the potential to help us create our own version of jaw-dropping work, whatever that may be.
Here are some examples of supportive structure that allows you to focus on "playing your game" vs. worrying about HOW it's being played.
1. Declaring what game you're playing to others around you. Are you playing soccer or hockey? If you don't declare the game to the other players, they won't know how to support you. A clear outline of the game you're playing is key; otherwise, many will be "picking flowers" unaware of what you're up to and getting in the way.
2. Setting objectives of the game. What are you trying to accomplish, really? Product X out the door by Y date with Z quality rating? Twenty-five new customers by September 30? Without clear objectives, you'll always second-guess your decisions because you haven't done your thinking up-front about what's important.
3. Agreeing about how we'll play the game together. How will we conduct our team meetings? What do we do when there's a disagreement? Do you get a "yellow/red" card? What "positions" are each of us playing or responsible for? If we're unclear here, we'll constantly look over our shoulders or cover for others unnecessarily.
4. Implementing processes to keep us on track. How do we create a system that lets us know whether we're off course? What milestones do we need? What reminders need to be in place? Like referees, you want a system you can trust that allows you to focus on the game.
Do you sometimes feel paralyzed about what to do next because you've got so much going on? Creating a "World-Cup quality" system to support you can be one of the quickest routes to producing jaw-dropping work.
Check out The Productivity Toolkit and see why people are getting excited about the new-found freedom they get from the program. We've already started filling the Fall Session and spaces are limited.
By Jamie Broughton of Footprint Leadership. Please visit Jamie's web site at www.Footprint.ca for additional leadership articles and resources for new and emerging leaders.
© 2006, Jamie Broughton
"To get where you want to go, you can't only do what you like."
~Peter Abrahams, South African novelist Tell Freedom, 1954
Soccer is a game that's often played just outside my office window. I'm quite fortunate to have a view that looks out onto nothing but green - lots of big trees, grass and, the best part of all, a small soccer field near a school.
At recess, the field is flooded with kids doing all kinds of things. Some are cartwheeling or practicing nifty dances. Others have plunked themselves down on the field and are picking dandelions, minding their own business. Some are even playing soccer, kind of.
It's a bit of a "no-rules" soccer they play. There are goal posts, sometimes, though rarely any out-of-bounds markers. The kids run all over the place, even scoring from BEHIND the goals. You should see the constant debates about what's in or out. It's hilarious.
Some of us view "rules" and "structure" as something to avoid. Rules imply a lack of freedom, or being told what to do in some way. These people value spontaneity or creativity and don't want it squashed. In fact, most of us have the need to operate without rules at some time or another.
The problem is, unharnessed "freedom" can become a jail in and of itself.
Imagine playing competitive soccer in an environment without those pesky "rules." Pick the ball up with your hands? Sure! Out of bounds? What's the point, we play where we want. Rugby-type tackles allowed? Why not, it makes you tough. Two teams? Naw, too constraining. Goals posts? Forget it. I'll never "miss the net" if we don't use one.
It would be anarchy. You'd spend the entire game looking over your shoulder. Once you got the ball, you wouldn't have freedom at all. You'd be more worried about getting clobbered from behind, let alone knowing who to pass it to or where to run with it.
You'd constantly second-guess you were making the "right" decision because, really, you don't have a clue about where you're going. Also, there would be so much "interpretation" about the rules along the way, the game would be stalled by continuous debate.
Where's the creativity and freedom in a game like that? There isn't any.
Structure can be good.
Coaching Fieldwork
The international players in soccer's World Cup are some of the most physically gifted people on the planet. When they play "inside" the rules of soccer, they are free to produce often jaw-dropping play. [some World cup photo of two players battling it out or something…]
Appropriate structure has the potential to help us create our own version of jaw-dropping work, whatever that may be.
Here are some examples of supportive structure that allows you to focus on "playing your game" vs. worrying about HOW it's being played.
1. Declaring what game you're playing to others around you. Are you playing soccer or hockey? If you don't declare the game to the other players, they won't know how to support you. A clear outline of the game you're playing is key; otherwise, many will be "picking flowers" unaware of what you're up to and getting in the way.
2. Setting objectives of the game. What are you trying to accomplish, really? Product X out the door by Y date with Z quality rating? Twenty-five new customers by September 30? Without clear objectives, you'll always second-guess your decisions because you haven't done your thinking up-front about what's important.
3. Agreeing about how we'll play the game together. How will we conduct our team meetings? What do we do when there's a disagreement? Do you get a "yellow/red" card? What "positions" are each of us playing or responsible for? If we're unclear here, we'll constantly look over our shoulders or cover for others unnecessarily.
4. Implementing processes to keep us on track. How do we create a system that lets us know whether we're off course? What milestones do we need? What reminders need to be in place? Like referees, you want a system you can trust that allows you to focus on the game.
Do you sometimes feel paralyzed about what to do next because you've got so much going on? Creating a "World-Cup quality" system to support you can be one of the quickest routes to producing jaw-dropping work.
Check out The Productivity Toolkit and see why people are getting excited about the new-found freedom they get from the program. We've already started filling the Fall Session and spaces are limited.
By Jamie Broughton of Footprint Leadership. Please visit Jamie's web site at www.Footprint.ca for additional leadership articles and resources for new and emerging leaders.
© 2006, Jamie Broughton
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Bill Gates Leaving Microsoft in 2 years
Bill Gates will move to the Gates Foundation full time in 2 years.
Since Microsoft has become some sort of mythical giant, here are my recommendation for a replacement.
Disney's own Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse has had a drop in popularity as of late. How many movies has he starred in lately? His residual checks must not adequitely cover his cheese addiction. Since mice and computers go together, plus it would really piss off Steve Jobs if Mickey left Disney, I think it is a win-win for both Mickey and Microsoft.
Just add the ears to the Microsoft Logo and you can market that baby all day long. Mickey Microsoft T-Shirts, hats, lawn furniture, ice cube trays, and the list goes on...
While they are at it, they can get Goofy also and he can serve up the crash messages. "OOOps, I Goofed up! Reboot."
read more | digg story
Since Microsoft has become some sort of mythical giant, here are my recommendation for a replacement.
Disney's own Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse has had a drop in popularity as of late. How many movies has he starred in lately? His residual checks must not adequitely cover his cheese addiction. Since mice and computers go together, plus it would really piss off Steve Jobs if Mickey left Disney, I think it is a win-win for both Mickey and Microsoft.
Just add the ears to the Microsoft Logo and you can market that baby all day long. Mickey Microsoft T-Shirts, hats, lawn furniture, ice cube trays, and the list goes on...
While they are at it, they can get Goofy also and he can serve up the crash messages. "OOOps, I Goofed up! Reboot."
read more | digg story
Have fun with Google Earth.
Most by now have installed and played with Google Earth. How about visiting some interesting spots around the globe! This website gives you the coolest places to go on a virtual trip. Pack light!
http://www.googleearthcoolplaces.com/
read more digg story
http://www.googleearthcoolplaces.com/
read more digg story
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