Wednesday, 19 March 2008

Life Law No 5

According to Dr Phil, people do what works. At some level or the other we do things because they work, i.e we associate some kind of payoff to every behaviour, even negative ones. Some of the payoffs may not be easily identified, they may be unacknowledged, even denied, but they no doubt shape and control our behaviour.

So bottom line: find the payoff- manage or control the behaviour. Life is managed not cured.

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

On the way to Somewhere

I have just finished reading Caroline Ahern's A Place Called Here, where the owner of missing person's agency goes missing herself. She find herself in a world where missing things and people inhabit and because she had chosen to have little connection with family and friends no one was unduly worried when she went missing. Except for a man whose brother she had promised to help find.

A good read, the book at the end says 'we all get lost once in a while, sometimes by choice
sometimes due to forces beyond our control.....But regardless, always we are found'

I think being found is a deliberate choice that we make, as did this character who refused to believe like the others living 'Here' that she should stay.

Hansel and Gretel left breadcrumbs so that they would be traced, so do we whether consciously or unconsciously. We drop off something of ourselves in the people we come in contact with so that one day when we have lost our way, they can find us and bring us back.

Monday, 17 March 2008

Personal Branding

My understanding of branding is knowing who you are, what you stand for and to have something that others associate you with. This is the same for companies; the yellow M is all over the world and it signifies among other things happy meal and fast service.

Who do you say you are? That is the starting point before we talk about who others believe you to be.

Think about your personal brand today. Ask and answer the question; ' what do others associate me with?' Am I fun, great to be around or moody and really miserable? Am I someone who keeps their word, and has integrity or do I keep letting others down? Am I a good friend, a dedicated member of staff, a great boss?

What is my personal brand....?

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

Mind Map

I have been asleep, hiding firmly behind the shutters of my mind. I cower at the slightest movement that goes past my window, willing the world away and refusing to wake and engage. Gradually, friends, family and other stimuli cajole me from my chosen hibernation, willing me to yet again reenter life.
And so I gradually awaken my mind, stiffened from being in the same position of inactivity. Having being away for so many weeks, I need guidance, direction, a map of where I should be going.

I start here, writing to you my friends who have patiently waited for me to emerge. I acknowledge my absence as cowardice, when things get hectic, the mind wanders going off in its own particular journey, but fortunately finds its way back.

And how have you all been....?

Saturday, 22 December 2007

The paradox of time.

Wow, where has the time gone? I haven't been blogging for over a month now.

Life is busy. Sometimes a bit too busy for all those 'inspirational', or funny messages that my email contacts send. I don't always read them, often deleting them as soon as I see there is no personal greeting from a friend (I hope you lovely people who send me said emails are not reading this!)

I am however glad that I opened this particular one as I thought I would share it with you the rest of the world. How long have you got?

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We've added years to life not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people .... Who cares?

George Carlin