As the sun sets on the biggest celebration Vancouver's ever seen my thoughts are returning to the Olympic bobsled competition I watched recently in Whistler. Run like hell for up to 50 meters, hop in, head down and then, if you're the guy in back, you're only role is to brake. The person whose … [Read more...] about Bobsledding – brake or steer? You can't do both
Curious definition of stress
I went to a talk at my kids' school the other night about drug abuse prevention. Interesting material and great presenter. One of the things that caught my attention was the presenter's definition of stress. Before I tell you what it was, what's yours? Definition of stress that is. The … [Read more...] about Curious definition of stress
Fail forward
When Albert Einstein was asked what the best source of invention was he replied 'mistakes' (as heard on Terry O'Reilly's Age of Persuasion). The only time we don't make mistakes is when we're sleeping (found on an IKEA postcard). Why then do we deny mistakes? Cover them up? Hide from them? Are … [Read more...] about Fail forward
Leaving behind Tim Hortons at the Olympics
This is the view that greets me most mornings as I start my volunteer shift as a NOC assistant for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Tim Hortons on the sidelines. Cups of caffeine left behind, lined up along the garbage can, as we weave our way through security into the athlete's village. No liquids … [Read more...] about Leaving behind Tim Hortons at the Olympics
Best case scenario
"Your mind will automatically go to the worst case scenario. So practice the best case scenario." Wise words from my massage therapist. I love when my attention is caught and held by something that shakes up my preconceptions. That highlights patterns of thinking that I wasn't aware of. When my … [Read more...] about Best case scenario
Start small & think big; creme brulee over soya sauce
A taste of two worlds. And a time honoured lesson. I was trying to put soya sauce on my sushi the other day and having a devil of a time. The little package of soya sauce didn't have a small pre-cut in it designed to make it easy to open. While yesterday my taste buds were watering in … [Read more...] about Start small & think big; creme brulee over soya sauce
Myles Horton & the Olympic Flame
Myles Horton was a famous adult educator in the Appalachian mountains. He rode the rails with the hobos and learned valuable lessons from them, lessons that I'm applying during my volunteer work at the 2010 Olympics. Fire was valuable to the vulnerable men who hitched a ride by train. Fire kept … [Read more...] about Myles Horton & the Olympic Flame
Stress relief a la country music & dill pickles
In my last post I talked about my first day on the job, doing job training for developmentally delayed adults when I was 17 years old. I learned a lot about expecting the unexpected there. From helping an elfin older lady named Cookie do up her bra to customizing stress relief. Stress. It's a … [Read more...] about Stress relief a la country music & dill pickles
My extended quirky to do list part 7 – to'odle
My last 6 posts describe an extended, quirky to-do list tool that I use in my corporate training (click here to download a copy for you to use). It has 5 parts: - to do, to continue doing, to stop doing, to not do, to done (no, the last one's not a typo) (here's a description of each) I thought … [Read more...] about My extended quirky to do list part 7 – to'odle
My extended quirky to do list part 6 – my to done's
My last 5 posts describe an extended, quirky to-do list tool that I use in my corporate training (click here to download a copy for you to use). It has 5 parts: (I love that out of the 5 categories only two are about adding things. Can we collectively breath a sigh of relief?) - to do, to … [Read more...] about My extended quirky to do list part 6 – my to done's
Arlene Dickinson: We've come a long way …. baby?
Last night I listened to business owner, entrepreneur and TV star Arlene Dickinson of the Dragon's Den at the Forum for Women Entrepreneur's Gala Event. Her captivating journey to entrepreneurship is made more impressive by her humble beginnings. Years ago, being a single mom with four kids to … [Read more...] about Arlene Dickinson: We've come a long way …. baby?
My extended quirky to do list part 5 – what not to do
Continuing the spirit of New Year's musing, my last 4 posts describe an extended, quirky to-do list tool that I use in my corporate training (click here to download a copy for you to use). It has 5 parts: (I love that out of the 5 categories only two are about adding things. Can we collectively … [Read more...] about My extended quirky to do list part 5 – what not to do
