My New Hat. Damaged, But Better

Here is the offending parrot making a meal of my new hat

I’m on holiday at the moment in far north Queensland, which is an amazing place to visit.

During a stroll through some local shops, Karen and the kids insisted that I buy a new hat.  My old hat (I like to call it my fishing hat, even though I don’t fish) has been worn for many years and time has taken its toll.  Its stained, out of shape and, as my kids like to say, dorky.

I prefer to call it full of character, but I was down 4 votes to 1, so in the name of family democracy, I bought a new hat.

This isn’t as easy as it seems as I have a disproportionately large cranium, but eventually, despite my resistance, a suitable replacement hat was found.

It Doesn’t Need To Be Average

You don’t need to have an average day.

You don’t need to do an average job.

You don’t need to have an average meeting.

You don’t need to deliver average service to your customers.

You don’t need to make average presentations.

Melbourne Airport and a Life of Continuous Improvement

Whenever I visit Melbourne Airport (which isn’t as often as I would like), there’s always a different section under construction.

There are signs and construction workers in orange vests and large areas sectioned off.

They’re always making something better.

Or improving something else.

They’re installing the latest technology.

Or making things more efficient.

I Need Wilder Dreams

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that this humble little blog would reach over 1 million views.

And never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I ever would have been able to start my own business and work from home.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I could have helped thousands of people find meaningful work through my writing and coaching.

And never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I could live in such a lovely home, surrounded by a wife who loves and accepts me and three adorable kids who are growing up into outstanding citizens.

Everyone Wants To Be Successful, But…

Today was the NBA Draft, always an exciting day for a hoops fan like me.  My Celtics had the third pick in draft and they selected Jaylen Brown.  I don’t know much about Jaylen, so I did some research and found this quote from him from earlier this month:

“A lot of people want to get to the level of a Kobe Bryant, but nobody wants to put in the work that he did.”

Now, I have to be honest, as a Boston fan, I never really liked Kobe, but I always admired him.

His work ethic was legendary and turned a prodigious young talent into one of the all-time greats of the game.

Around the Corner

I don’t know what is around the corner for you.

It could be the greatest opportunity of your life.

Or it could be someone with a frying pan, ready to smack it into your nose.

I just don’t know.

But this I do know.

If you anticipate pain, failure, embarrassment, stress or any kind of drama, you are much less likely to take the action necessary to achieve your goals than if you expect good things to happen to you.

It’s None of My Business

You may think that I can’t do it.

You may think that I’m a very average (at best) writer.

You may disagree with my opinion or my intentions.

You may think that my dreams are too big, too bold, too risky.

You may think that I’m not educated, motivated or talented enough to achieve great things.

It’s a Privilege

It’s a privilege to utilise your unique skills to do amazing work.

It’s a privilege to make a living doing something you love.

It’s a privilege to help others and make a positive difference in their lives.

It’s a privilege to provide great service.

I Know That You Can, But Will You?

I know that you can change the world.

I know that you can have a fulfilling career.

I know that you can overcome those obstacles in front of you.

I know that you can help those less fortunate than yourself.

I know that you can live a healthy lifestyle.

I know that you can live the life of your dreams.

I know that you can lead.

Where Does the First Twig Go?

I’m constantly amazed by the engineering skills of birds.

They build these extraordinary nests out of twigs, using only their beaks, while I struggle to assemble a kit from Ikea.

One question that I’ve always had regarding nests, is where does the first twig go?

I know that the final outcome is intertwined and able to withstand the wind and rain, but that first twig could just blow away before the rest could be attached and weaved together.  After all it’s just sitting in the fork of a tree with nothing else to keep it in place.

And if that first twig is dislodged, I guess the bird just methodically retrieves it from the ground and places it again.