Monday, July 10, 2017

What To Do When Its Your Turn (and it's always your turn)

That is a title of one of Seth Godin's books.  Seth and I go way back - he was an early blogger as was I.  We communicated a bit in those early days before he became famous.  I also met him a couple of times at YPO events.  And we traded some email over a business venture he was coaching.  He is brilliant and insightful.

Like most of his books - What to do when it's your turn is about branding and marketing.  And to some extent - being remarkable.

When I first picked it up, it looked shallow.  It is a collection of articles - most only a page long interspersed with photos, diagrams, quotes etc.   The more I read, the more I liked it and the more gems I found.  I have a short attention span.  This book lends itself to reading a few pages at a time.  There is no continuity so you lose nothing by doing this.

There is quite a bit on failure (which of course I embrace).  Only those who try win.

I liked some of the pages on obligation.  No one owes you anything.  It ties into my recent blog entry about "What will you do for Canada".

Many of the pages provoke thought.  EG

"Motivation is for amateurs"  Chuck Close

"There is no terror in the bang - only the anticipation of it"  Alfred Hitchcock

"Fear is the mind killer" Frank Herbert

"How much do you get paid to watch TV?"

"The internet means you can learn anything you want, if you are thirsty enough to do the work to learn it.  We don't need badges."

Good book.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
And for those interested in the brain:

++++++++++++++++++++++
And the grandkid pic of the week - this time with an efficiency tip included.

Elizabeth looks happy.  That must be because she does not know the next step is to go into the washing machine.  I do admire her mother for sharing my efficiency and do think it will be easier than giving her a bath - and gets the clothes clean at the same time.


Sunday, July 02, 2017

What will you do for Canada

Happy post Canada Day.

Danby has a couple of Canada Day things.  Our Canadian Translator is cute.   Would love to get that to go viral so please share it.

And this video on why we should be grateful - Danby New Canadians.  We are lucky.

++++++++++++++++
This blog post is inspired by one Randall Howard wrote here.

Canadians, and others living in Canada, have the privilege of living in a great country.  It is safe, wealthy, fair, resource rich, clean, fertile and a good place to live.  Yes, we can find many things to complain about but those are all first world problems.

Where there are imperfections and problems, each Canadian can do a small part to help fix the problem.  The message is what problem might you be able to help fix?  By help, I mean what will you give up yourself (time, money, brainpower, comfort etc) - not just complain to try to force others to help.

My experience is people who help in one area, help in others.  The person who volunteers teaching someone English is likely to also pick up trash in the street.  The person who supports Heart and Stroke is likely to support United Way.  Being a good person inspires you to be a better one.

People like to give but not when forced to.  I view tax as the ultimate charity but admit that even I feel resentful at being forced to pay when I feel it is inequitable.

I like the high school volunteer hour plan... and I don't.  There have been many studies done that show once people are rewarded financially or with credits to do something that they no longer want to do it for intrinsic reasons.  See Daniel Pink's Ted Talk.

Having such a good country and easy life can make people start to think in terms of entitlement.  And dissatisfaction that some other people have better things/treatment.  I call this comparison dissatisfaction.

My best solution to this comparison dissatisfaction is to focus on gratefulness.   What are you grateful for?  Count your blessing daily.   Give thanks for all we have been given.  From a strictly practical view, this is better for your health - less stress.  It creates happiness.

I am big on borrowing good ideas.  So "Think not what your country can do for you - think what can you do for your country".

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And of course - grandkid pics.  Notice the real baby lurking in the background.  And I included the one of her playing with a truck just so people don't think she is gender typed.  Although I do notice she seems to be way too gentle with it.  Not sure she knows at that age trucks are meant to be thrown, crashed and roughly handled.