Should I Care?

Am I getting too old?? Maybe I am. The things that annoy me seem to be so petty when I reflect on them.

Here I am committed to getting healthier, walking each morning my "5000 steps" and relaxing for 15 minutes at Fast Eddys Morley, near my home at 5am before setting off back... and right in the non smoking section of the restaurant - after all smoking is BANNED in ALL eating establishments here in Western Australia - even the open air ones - is a smoker smoking!!

I know, I should tell him to "butt out" but that would upset him, the staff and make me feel like I wasn't welcome there tomorrow. So I do nothing but stew about it all the way home.

What do you reckon I should do??

Obituary: Wayne Mansfield December 27th 2010

My google alert sounded out:

Obituary: Wayne Mansfield 76, of Holt, died Sunday.

Arrangements by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Ball Dunn Chapel, Mason.

Published in Lansing State Journal on December 27, 2010

My demise is overstated!

Although I was thinking… is this a dream but then I saw the age of my namesake who has departed to better places… 76!!

So, don’t get too excited guys. I am still around to get up your nose!!

Nanny State... how you become part of it...

Part of my daily ritual is to rise early and to talk 5,000 steps [that's what the pedometer says] to the local Fasy Eddys 24 hour diner and enjoy a flat white coffee. This means getting up about 4am and setting off into the early morning, watching the sun rise and the city wake up.

This morning was no different except that my usual greeting from the early morning shift was different... and I was already feeling agitated by the time I had to place my order rather than share chit chat with my early morning friends.

Western Australia leads [??] the way in its anti-smoking push... smoking isn't allowed in any eating area or 20 metres from one. Sellers of cigarettes aren't allowed to display the packets... it is really a social no no. A classic example of the granny state telling us what is best for us.

And it appears that I am now a supporter of this politically correct behavioural modification.

Why was I agitated?? The Fast Eddys manager was sitting with a customer who was smoking in a non smoking area - less than 1 metre from the PROMINENTLY displayed NO SMOKING signs.

Whatever the justification - no other customers - so early in the morning - bad law - I was aggrieved and I just had to tell the Fast Eddys' manager so.

Now you would think that would make me feel good, wouldn't you? Well it didn't. I felt I was being sucked into the web of a totalitarian state. Much like the events written about by Ayn Rand.. and I still feel I let myself down.

I wonder if I will complain again?? Probably... and still feel bad but this conditioning becomes habit!

Note to Self: Leave my sister alone when she smokes... she knows its bad for her but it is her choice.

Coffee Rating: Flat white was well made and hot 7/10

Cricket Time for Renewal

Wow, if you are a cricket fan like I am, yesterday, the start of the Boxing Day test, was very hard to take. Aussies all out for 98... that's a school boy team's score and then England get to 157 without any bother...

And why pick a spinner and not play him?? Geez who are these selectors?? By the time they try a spinner the beer will be flat!! [Sorry I just had to work that in.]

Just listening to ABC - "what a dismal day for Australia" was the headline.

Perth was a fluke because Mitchell Johnson had his day [ he only has one a series!! ] and we thought the single sparrow heralded the summer.

When I heard Ricky Ponting say that he let them team do their own thinking over the Christmas break I know we were in trouble. And when the batting coach is reported as being angry... well maybe we need a new coach Justin. Maybe you should listen to the old axiom... those who can do, those who can't teach. In your case Justin you were the man and what made you great can't be taught even by a great like you...

There is always tomorrow but I fear that when it dawns it will be just more pain.

White Boomers Rejoiced in Perth December 25 2010

Wow... it was hot Christmas Day. Officially 40c in Perth but MUCH hotter in the Swan Valley.

Joanne, Matthew and I joined my niece Yvette at her new home in Ellenbrook in Perth's newest city based in the Swan Valley. During winter and spring this is just heaven... but as summer begins to bite, the temperatures soar.

With more than 20 guests - Damien's grand father, mother and of course, new arrival Scott there was 4 generations of the Bunters... on our side three... and for the Cocivera's three also. Plus to make up the generation numbers my "blond" Auntie Nan and Uncle Bill were there so that made 4 generations of the Mansfield's. And to round out our cosmopolitan lot, Joanne's family, the Brunini's also was represented by three generations led my Marco.

And I nearly forgot... how could I, there was an appearance of the Ryans from Cowaramup [that's in the Margaret River wine region] with Lynn and Jenny.

With such a remarkable gathering of Aussies, the only thing that got hot was the temperature...

My contribution to trying to cool things down was a "misting outdoor" cooling system. Gee, I was a little "hot under collar" as I installed it with the help of Matt PLUS what seemed like 7 supervisors. Biting the tongue drew the sweet taste of blood... and I kid you not. You see I was under the threat of immediate death from Joanne if I didn't behave.

So, after a sumptuous lunch of turkey, chicken, ham, gourmet pizza, Aussie prawns and other delights, plus amazing sweets including icecream cake and trifle, everyone was officially "stuffed".

And how hot did it get?? Well, when Joanne and I got into our car to make the trip home, the temperature was 51c "in the sun"... I don't know about you but that is HOOOOOT!

And for proof... here is a snapshot of the console in my car recording the temperature.

Change the World for Ten Bucks

Great New Book - 50 ideas to change the world.

I am not sure whether the book's title is "for Ten Bucks" or each action is... but I am inspired to try and get 50 done by January 31st... 2006.

Thanks to the ladies at Holiday Inn Brisbane who sent it to me as my "corporate gift" from the banqueting department... it's greatly appreciated.

Today.. December 24th, 2005 I got started... I paid the Big Issue lady more than the $4 cover price for the Summer Edition and I refused the obligatory plastic bag offered with my purchased today.

Yesterday I made way in my wardrobe for "new" stuff by donating perfectly good clothes to the Salvos... 47 actions to go.

Rydges North Sydney business stay

Just finishing up a 24 hour stay in Sydney where I stayed at Rydges North Sydney 54 McLaren Street North Sydney.

On a day where reasonable hotel rooms were are scarce as hens teeth, I was able to book into the Rydges after a few challenges - their website had rooms where Wotif didn't BUT the site had a scripting error so I had the normal run round trying to book over the phone and get the Rydges Priority Guest special rate - I think loyalty programs treat you like second class citizens... don't you?

The room was great and the bed comfortable...

Areas that could be better - breakfast when your customers want it!! As an early starter I like breakfast before 6.30am but that's not possible... I sat in the restaurant from 6ish working away but was prevented from helping myself to cereal because they "didn't open until 6.30!!"

Internet - free in the lobby but EXPENSIVE in the rooms - everyone at the table near me at breakfast is complaining - "gouging the guests" I think is their term.

So I give Rydges a 7/10 - pricing OK at $238/n, evening meal expensive at $51 with steak served on a cold plate so food was COLD!! but happy efficient staff.

Still number 1: Langham Auckland 9/10 [Winning feature is a great 24 hour restaurant which has breakfast 24 hours a day!!]

Telstra Sensitivity - Those Manila Monkeys [!]

Wayne, your number 08 9221 0300 is saying "this number is disconnected!"

So started my week... and after 89 minutes 23 secs I was back on air for that number which was "temporally disconnected for the amount of $700" which was an over charge from when we cancelled 3 lines etc which we not needed after vacating the city office - the original request was August... not bad.

Summary of my 89 minutes 23 secs call - 7 people who all asked me for my date of birth - maybe people do relays on the phone to Telstra because how can we possibly waste so much time talking to them?? - but my breath was taken away today when my transferred call was answered "Martin in Melbourne"...

I explained to "Martin in Melbourne" my problem and he said "does your account start with 221" which it didn't, so glory be, I had once once again been transferred to the wrong place...

However this is what "Martin in Melbourne" said that made my blood boil!!

"Those Manila monkeys do that all the time..."

Somehow I think Telstra has some cultural issues in the way staff relate with other Telstra staff.

I am the first to admit I hate dealing with their Manila call centre because the ladies there can't understand my 4th generation Aussie accent, I can't understand there pseudo American ones, and the line quality, using VoIP, is usually terrible.

However, where does anyone deserve to be referred to as 'those Manila monkeys'??

I think you would agree with me... there is NO PLACE in Australia for such demeaning racist comments. So, apart from letting you know here, I will go through the system of the complaints page on the Telstra website to record my disgust at those terms being used by "Martin in Melbourne."

Telstra Telstra B*&^*y Telstra

Gee... don't you get pissed off when you ring Telstra and select the automatic voice option for payment advice... it can't recognise your Australian accent and then they put you through to a Philippines call centre, using Voip, with a poor line with someone who has such a thick accent you cant understand them... and they have NO HOPE understanding you..

Then they ask you to identify yourself:

Phone Number: 0429 *** ***

Name: Wayne Mansfield [how do you spell that she asks... three attempts later gets it..]

Date of Birth: 23 January [ok with that because now you have started talking slower and louder!!]

Password: ***

You would think by this time they would have a fair idea who you were but NO!! they need further information...

As I said... Telstra Telstra B*&^%y Telstra - if they didn't have the best coverage I wonder how many people would stay??

The Challenge to Life Spiritmail 22102010

New Maverick Spirit Story is up at http://www.maverickspiritnewsletter.com/news2010/spiritmail22102010.htm

The Challenge to Life Spiritmail 22102010

Travelling this week allowed me to spend some time in airport bookshops... and as Christmas approaches, the publishers have lots of NEW books for sale. One that caught my eye was a NEW OLD CLASSIC by Napoleon Hill first published in 1937 and usually overlooked for the more famous Think and Grow Rich, How to Sell Your Way Through Life. Great words of wisdom stand the test of time... and nearly 75 years on this is a must read book. In a letter that accompanied the manuscript to the publisher Hill reflected on being financially crippled by the great depression and how he rebuilt his fortune... here is that letter: The Challenge to Life Life, you can’t subdue me, because I refuse to take your discipline seriously. When you try to hurt me, I laugh, and laughter knows no pain. I appropriate your joys wherever I find them. Your sorrows neither discourage nor frighten me, for there is laughter in my soul. When I get the thing I want, I am glad, but temporary defeat does not make me sad. I simply set music to the words of defeat and turn it into a song about laughter. Your tears are not for me. I like laughter much better, and because I like it, I use it as a substitute for grief and sorrow and pain and disappointment. Life, you are a fickle trickster, don’t deny it! You slipped the emotion of love into my heart so you might use it as a thorn with which to prick my soul, but I have learned to dodge your trap – with laughter. see more: http://www.maverickspiritnewsletter.com/news2010/spiritmail22102010.htm

John Lennon Tribute

In his own words, from the Paulo Coelho blog post of July 2, 2010, A tribute to John Lennon

_____________________________________

Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.

It’s easy.

There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made.

No one you can save that can’t be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time – It’s easy.

All you need is love, love is all you need.
_____________________________________

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?

If someone thinks that love and peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the Sixties, that’s his problem. Love and peace are eternal.

If being an egomaniac means I believe in what I do and in my art or music, then in that respect you can call me that… I believe in what I do, and I’ll say it.

Music is everybody’s possession. It’s only publishers who think that people own it.

Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we’re being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I’m liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That’s what’s insane about it.

Part of me suspects that I’m a loser, and the other part of me thinks I’m God Almighty. Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.

The thing the sixties did was to show us the possibilities and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn’t the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibility.

A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.

John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980)

was one of the founding members of The Beatles

IT'S SO HOT

The birds have to use potholders to pull the worms out of the ground.

The trees are whistling for the dogs.

The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

Hot water comes from both taps.

You can make sun tea instantly.

You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

The temperature drops below 95 F (35 C) and you feel a little chilly.

You discover that in July it only takes two fingers to steer your car.

You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 A.M.

Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, “What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death

You realize that asphalt has a liquid stage.

The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter.

The cows are giving evaporated milk.

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs

Is the bird alive?

Every day I find the words and thoughts of Paulo Coelho inspiring... today his 10 sec read was:



Is the bird alive?



The young man was at the end of his training, soon he would go on to be a teacher.

Like all good pupils, he needed to challenge his teacher and to develop his own way of thinking. He caught a bird, placed it in one hand and went to see his teacher.



‘Teacher, is this bird alive or dead?’



His plan was the following: if his teacher said ‘dead’, he would open his hand and the bird would fly away. If the answer was ‘alive’, he would crush the bird between his fingers; that way the teacher would be wrong whichever answer he gave.



‘Teacher, is the bird alive or dead?’ he asked again.



‘My dear student, that depends on you,’ was the teacher’s reply

Murphy's Laws

Murphy's First Law: Nothing is as easy as it looks Murphy's

Second Law: Everything takes longer than you think

Murphy's Third Law: In any field of endeavor, anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

Murphy's Fourth Law: If there is a possibility that several things can go wrong, then the one that will cause the greatest damage will be the one to go wrong

Murphy's Fifth Law: If anything absolutely can NOT go wrong, it will anyway.

Murphy's Sixth Law: If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which a procedure can go wrong and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop.

Murphy's Seventh Law: Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse Murphy's

Eighth Law: If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

Murphy's Ninth Law: Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.


Murphy's Law's

New life at 19 years old... Nisha

Twitter allows you to meet people all over the world... and usually share with them travel stories, tales of afflulence and of battles fought, won and lost. And usually you are sharing stories of a life where you want for nothing.

However, I have become friends with Nisha when she asked me to donate to her project to raise money for fresh water in African villages... she has raised nearly $2,000 which is no mean feat. But as I have gotten to know Nisah, she is not your normal 19 year old.

Here is part of her bio:

My name is Nisha, I am nineteen-year-old for my South Africa and this is the story of how I became who I am. WARNING: My life has more twists in it than a rollercoaster.

At six months I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) - an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement. As a result of having Cerebral Palsy I am unable to walk and my right-arm has reduced functionality. Growing up I used to watch other kids playing on the playground I used to be so envious and as I grew so did my anger towards God.

When I was 13 I was diagnosed with advanced Scoliosis – a medical condition in which a person’s spine is curved from side to side – and within weeks I was on the operating table undergoing surgery in which a metal rod was placed between my vertebrae to keep them from fusing together and was subsequently bedridden for a year after that. As you can imagine being bedridden wasn’t exactly fun - I got into a mini-depression and put on a bit of weight – until a family friend of ours – who is now passed on God bless his heart – came to visit and told me I looked a little ‘plumpy’ – at first I was really hurt and then I took a good look in the mirror and realized that there might have been some truth in what he was saying and I made some changes in my life.

Just 2 days ago, Nisha decide to become independent... here is day 2 of that journey:

Day2 : Yesterday was the day of my rebirth because I finally understood that history only starts becoming history once you stop reliving it every day – yesterday I chose to change my story and in doing so create a new history and because of that I went from being an utterly helpless disabled girl to being a girl who can now eat breakfast, lunch and dinner all by herself – what a difference 2 days make

It’s 10:05 AM on day 2 of my journey towards independence and I’ve already eaten my All-Bran Flakes – good for the digestive system – and learned how to write my name on a piece of paper – which was another thing on my list –I wrote my name and initials and even through it took a couple of tries before I was finally satisfied with the result I cried – literally – when I saw it because being able to write your name is like saying to the world this is who I am.

It’s only the second of my journey and I have already learned something that I will carry with me forever – I may spill cereal all over my white t-shirt or have to rub out my name a few times before I get it right but I will eventually get it right and that’s what I want you to know – you will get it right eventually – whatever the it happens to be for you.

Read more abut this remarkable girl at here blog:

Adventures of me: http://nisha360.wordpress.com/

New Twitter oh shiiiiiish another one to learn

In a presentation that was slower than paint drying, beamed live to the world by Robert Scoble on ustream.tv , I watched as the boy winders behind twitter announced a new interface.

What all the fuss was about I am not sure but they sure need some presentation skills [ maybe www.prezi.com ] and if that is the inside of a company worth a $1b and with $160m in the bank... well I am amzed at the austerity!!

Just as I get to know how to use a certain set of rules, they go and change it on me. Facebook, iTunes, iPhone, LinkedIn groups, and now Twitter... geez enough of the change guys!!

Seriously, the world waits for no-one and if you want to keep up you need to follow Robert Scoble and Guy Kawasaki who degeek the good stuff and tell it like it is... Scoble says, and I agree, "There are some things, though, with new Twitter design, that are regressions (IE, worse than before)."

So, the only constant is change!

How Much an Hour Do you Earn Daddy?

I love reading Paulo Coelho's 20 Second Reads... this is todays:

Paulo writes: (the story below was a comment in “The fisherman and the businessman” by Benseddik. I liked it so much that I decided to post it in the main page)

A man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door.
“Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
“Yeah, sure, what is it?” replied the man.
“Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?
“That’s none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing?” the man said angrily.

“I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?” pleaded the little boy.
“If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour.”
“Oh,” the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, “Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?”

The father was furious. “If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. I work long, hard hours everyday and don’t have time for such childish games.”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boy’s questioning. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00, and he really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.
“Are you asleep son?” he asked.
“No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.

“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man. “It’s been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here’s that $10.00 you asked for.”
The little boy sat straight up, beaming. “Oh, thank you daddy!” he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills.
The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at the man.

“Why did you want more money if you already had some?” the father grumbled.
“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.

“Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?”

Putting Things Into Perspective

I have been reading my usual supply newsletters today and finally got to my favoutite - The Michael Masterson Journal... and he wrote:

Whenever I find myself embroiled in a stupid argument or endeavor, I think about time. This is what I think:

According to the best scientific measurements we have, time began 13.7 billion years ago. Hard to comprehend, isn't it? Maybe it will help if you think of it this way:

If the Big Bang occurred on the first second of January 1 and today is the last second of December 31, then:

The Milky Way came together in March...

The Sun and the planets in August...

The first single-cell organisms appeared in August...

The first vertebrates on December 17...

Dinosaurs on December 24...

Modern humans at 11:54 on December 31...

And recorded history began in the last 10 seconds.

The Singing Tree in Soria

From Paulo Coelho's Warrior of Light August 5th 2010

The Singing Tree

A reader of my books met me at an afternoon book-signing in Bilbao, in the Basque Country.

"You always speak of symbols,” she tells me, "I want to show you a symbol that you have never seen.”

The next day she picks me up at my hotel.

"I don’t know how this started,” she says, "but legend has it that an old Jewish alchemist claimed that these trees could sing. The mayor of the town said that if he could not prove what he claimed, he would be killed. Ever since then, every year a tree sings in Soria, symbolically saving those who feel that everything is possible."

We reach Soria and go to a square. Little by little, people begin to gather and all of a sudden a complete band with all their instruments climbs the gigantic bi-centenarian elm tree in the middle of the square. Each musician occupies a branch.

Under the command of an invisible wand, a tree sings in Soria.

Best Coffee In WA - Big Claim

Sunday drive to Muchea to visit my brother-in-law Mark I was intrigued by by the Coffee Huts at 777 Great Northern Hwy Herne Hill claim of "WA Best Coffee".

So, on the way home I stopped in to test the claim.

Just near the outside area was a paddock with a dozen young horses and a bowl of carrots... a truly unique way to keep the none coffee drinkers amused. See photo of Joanne feeding the horses.

The coffee? expensive as coffees go - $4 for a take away flat white. Great service from two chatty ladies and server quickly. Well, I think it didn't satisfy that great claim "WA BEST COFFEE" but it was very acceptable and the horse feeding show certainly won some points... a 7 / 10 from me.

Man's Search for Meaning

Extract from Viktor E. Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning:

"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

Buy your copy of Man's Search for Meaning from Fishpond

Advanced Crystal Healing Configurations

"Geoffrey Keyte 04 July at 19:21

I have just completed my new e-book.

Entitled ‘Advanced Crystal Healing Configurations’ I have included many configurations which may well be new to you, however long you may
have been practising crystal healing!

The Crystal Healing Configurations which I am sharing with you in my new e-book will open your mind, body, and soul – and deepest cellular
memories – and will assist you in accomplishing your pre-destined tasks, for which you accepted Divine responsibility many many lifetimes ago.

Also included within my new e-book is some very profound information about Atlantis, Egypt and the pyramids, which it is very important for you
to know and understand.

As you absorb the vibrational energies of every word – and every illustration – within my Advanced Crystal Healing Configuration E-Book you will begin to learn how to ‘see’ with your inner eyes as your whole being begins to be prepared by the Ascended Masters to move from the Third Dimension into the Fifth Dimensional Consciousness.

To obtain your copy of the Advanced Crystal Healing Configuration E-Book please visit:-

http://www.templeofpeace.net/acrystalebook.htm

The cost of the Advanced Crystal Healing Configuration E-Book is only �10.95

With many blessings from the Golden Ones

Geoffrey Keyte"

Tea Tree Oil and Cancer

WA Scientists have uncovered another potential weapon against skin cancer... tea tree oil.

A three-year study at the University of Western Australia identified a unique formulation of the oil that could form the basis of new treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer. Test have shown that the tea tree oil can halt and then resolve tumours growing under the skin of mice.

GREAT PUBLIC TNT Driver "Doesn't Give A Shit"

I was driving quietly along Great Eastern Highway between the Perth Airport and my office after dropping off Ric Raftis from the 3 Old Farts when a TNT courier ute switched lanes without indication... and I was looking for the "dob in" phone number - you know the one that says: "We want to be good road users... how are we doing.." and can you imagine my surprise when I read:

Schnel1
Drive Doesn't Give A Shit!

on his number plate....

Well, I don't think making the call would have any effect - do you??

What's Your WHY??

Great friend Paul Dunn has been pushing towards the teachings of Simon Sinek.

Simon has developed a concept of The Golden Circle where he explores the "power of WHY" and how WHY you do something is better and more powerful than WHAT and HOW you do something.

In his book Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action Simon investigates why companies like Apple achieve so much, why Bill Gates was able to become the richest man in the world and why other perfectly adequately funded companies with very talented people cannot achieve anywhere near the results of the former.

Simon says once he had established his why:

"To inspire people to do the things that inspire them, so that together they could change the world."

For the last 15 years my WHY had been to build a sustainable business that would be attractive enough for my son Matthew to continue as his... he is now breaking down barriers in the Middle East, India and soon into places like Egypt.

As I dropped him off at Perth Airport on Saturday for another trip to Qatar I felt that maybe is was time for me to find a NEW WHY.

After much though, I have established my first version of my WHY. Here it is... what do you think.


Wayne's Why:

To inspire people to "Learn, unlearn and relearn" so that they can enjoy their lives to its full potential regardless of the obstacles life has put in their way. Obstacles such as background, ethic upbringing, social influence, mental and physical brutality, experiences of life, good or bad, life's disruptions and teachers good and bad.

Wayne's How:

By utilising the digital tools that are now available to take teachers to the world using effective digital marketing and learning and teaching methods. By writing uplifting stories that empower others.

What do you think...

I would love your thoughts on what you think about this... let me know here, on Twitter or on Facebook.

The Opposite of Remarkable is VERY GOOD!

Ideas that are remarkable are much more likely to spread than ideas that aren't. Yet so few people make remarkable stuff or do remarkable things.

Why? Probably because they think the opposite of remarkable is bad or mediocre or poorly done.

If you travel on an airline and they do everything right, you don't tell anyone. That's what's supposed to happen.



What makes it remarkable is if it's horrible beyond belief OR if the service is so unexpected (They arrived an hour early! They gave me a complimentary ticket because I was cute! They served flaming crepes suzette in economy!) that you need to share it.

Are you making very good stuff? And how fast can you stop?

(with thanks to Seth Godin)

Each of our troubles is a steppingstone

Advice from a donkey:

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a
well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
well needed to be covered up anyway;
it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and
help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
donkey realized what was happening and cried
horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he
quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well. He was astonished at what
he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
back, the donkey was doing something amazing..
He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel
dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!

*****

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out
of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back,
and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
The gash from the bite got infected and
the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.


MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover
your ass, it always comes back to bite you

from: Virginia Wild on Facebook

Be gone flu... be gone

This morning I have found myself making explanations for undone work as my worst case of flu in 15 years continues to control my body. Nearly 3 weeks in, $100's of "stuff" down my throat, hours of bed rest [sweating profusely - good for the weight!] and still I am feeling like Sh$t!

Good points of being a unwell sports fan:

1. missed the Eagles losing the last 2 weeks

2. missed the Dockers losing last 2 weeks

3. missed seeing Sam Stozur not win the French Open

4. missed Australian getting thumped 4 zip by Germany

5. missed Mark Weber lose twice and lose lead in F1 GP Drivers

and NOT CARING!! because I was asleep!

Robert F Kennedy

Each time a man stands up for an ideal,

or acts to improve the lot of others,

or strikes out against injustice,

he send forth a tiny ripple of hope ...

those ripples build a current that
can sweep down the mightiest walls
of oppression and resistance.

Martin Luther King Jr

My personal trials have also taught me
the value of unmertited suffering.
As my sufferings mounted I soon realised
that there were two ways
that I could respond to my situation:

either to react with bitterness

or to transform the suffering

into a creative force.

Churchill On Persistence...

Never Give in

Never give in!

Never,never,never,never -

in nothing great or small

large or petty - never give in

except to convictions of

honour and good sense.

Winston Churchill

Open 24 Hours - not Macca's Maylands!!

On Wednesday I decided to take a different route to the office and it was just 5am... so I went along Guildford Road and saw that the MacDonald's in Maylands was open... and quite busy.

So I stopped in and ordered a flat white and a yogurt and cereal [healthy food - what's the world coming to??]

Now the coffee was OK but the experience was pleasant and the wifi free so I decided to try them again this morning.

So, Macca's was a blase of light... I gathered my writing stuff - journal, diary, netbook and books to read... but when I got to the front door there was a sign - Restaurant closed use drive through... no explanation just "piss off it is inconvenient to be open this morning...

Not sure I will try then again.

Big companies are like that, aren't they... but a few million $$$'s of ads will be spent to get me back when I was there in the first place.

Make your plan and work it

Look at your life as a beautiful fabric woven from wonderful rich colours and fine cloth.

Make a plan, one that is full of obtainable goals for a happy life.

Read through the plan daily so that it becomes a permanent part of your thought process.

Sara Henderson

Australian outback station manager and writer

If I knew it would be the last time

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

It's Up To You

If you think you're a winner you'll win,
If you dare to step out you'll succeed.
Believe in your heart, have a purpose to start,

Aim to help fellow man in his need.
Thoughts of faith must replace every doubt,
Words of courage and you cannot fail.
If you stumble and fall, rise and stand ten feet tall,

You determine the course you sail.

Dont Blame Me I Just Work Here Take 2

The Beer Store Morley

Guests are coming over tonight and I wanted to try a new Merlot.. so I whizzed down to my nearest local The Beer Store Morley.

You can see they had great display of Wine from the one vineyard and the special price was 2 for $14... and with the wine glut... that sometimes buys you a GREAT drop.

I selected my Ballast Stone Merlot and went to pay... the young guy on the check out said "these aren't on special [they are the ones on the lower left box] and they are $14.99 each.."

I protested... he said, they special is all the other selections but not that one... and I said that they were falsely advertising and inviting me to buy at the special price.

His response was "mate I just work here, and I don't know why they are there and not the same price as all the others but they are not on special. Don't blame me I just work here..."

So I took my business elsewhere where I proceeded to spend over $100... and got a Rosemount Merlot 2 for $20 which I think is a much better buy...

Isn't there something that stops people falsely advertising prices... and not honouring prices when they are set up to get you to buy because of the Special Offer...

Again, I say, when you see this, complain loudly, someone will hear... [pigs might fly]

Dont Blame Me I Just Work Here Take 1

Fletcher Jones Forrest Chase Perth May 2010 Clearance Sale

I like Fletcher Jones to buy reasonably priced men's clothes. And I was really clean to go into the Perth city store after receiving an invite from the Frequent Shopper Email that I get from FJ's...

Everywhere the banners blared "May Clearance 40%" with some very tint type... on selected lines.

On entering the store, I noticed many tables had the "40% OFF May Clearance Sign" whilst others didn't. And this is what gets my goat... I selected a shirt from one of those clearly marked tables with a RRP of $89.95 and expected the price to be reduced by 40$ or roughly $36. Silly me... only "some" of the items on the table were "for clearance" and if I read the "really fine print" I would realise that what I had carefully chosen wasn't on special...

I shared my angst with the shop assistant and he said "I agree with you but this is retail and that's how we are told to display the goods". I protested and he replied "Don't blame me, I just work here."

I told him that I though it was dishonest and I wasn't paying full price for the and left the store, but not before I suggested I would complain to the "powers" that handle these things to which he helpfully suggested: "If more people complain maybe they will stop doing this sort of thing..."

Pigs might fly.

This is for you, Daddy

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty.

He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?"

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,"Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Wisdom from Seth Godin

Here are 10 favorite quotes by Seth:

1.“Expectations are the engines of our perceptions.”
2.“Ideas in secret die. They need light and air or they starve to death.”
3.“Go ahead, do something impossible. “
4.“You can’t shrink your way to greatness! “
5.“Don’t try to please everyone. There are countless people who don’t want one, haven’t heard of one or actively hate it. So what?”
6.“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, you ought to set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”
7.“Why waste a sentence saying nothing? “
8.“If you could do tomorrow over again, would you?”
9.“Change is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. Survival is not the goal, transformative success is.” 10.“Are you a serial idea-starting person? The goal is to be an idea-shipping person.”

The Language Perfectionist: A Chrestomathy of Misuses

Whenever I encounter an interesting linguistic error, I toss it into a folder. When the collection becomes large enough -- which doesn't take long -- I have the raw material for a column like this one.

Review the following mistakes, and you'll avoid committing them.

"We're in the halcyon days of smartphone growth, and it won't last forever."
The word halcyon (pronounced "HAL-see-un") means calm, peaceful, tranquil. The tech guru quoted here meant that phone sales are currently booming. Ironically, if sales decline precipitously, as he suggests, the market will then really be halcyon! (Some dictionaries sanction a secondary meaning of halcyon as happy or prosperous, but this sense is often criticized. In light of the ambiguity, it's best avoided.)

"In the 30 days allotted for public comment, this decision, and all of its permeations, must be fought for the sake of our students...."
The word wanted here is permutations, meaning changes or variations. The word permeation means a passing or spreading through, as a liquid permeates a cloth.

"The judge's decision had clearly extended the protection of First Amendment rights to online writings of a non-threatening manner."
Maybe the writer can get away with the word manner in this context, but a better choice would have been nature. Or, more simply: "First Amendment rights to nonthreatening online writings." The hyphen isn't needed.

"It's not a bad movie. But the plot meanders, development stagnates where it should've been moving forward (right around the middle, to be precise)...."
If the story bogs down around the middle, which indicates an approximation, it can't be precise.

Finally, two editorials recently appeared on the same day in a major newspaper. One included the comment "That is not a surprise, but it is still worrying." The second expressed the view that some recommended changes to textbooks "are very worrisome...."

The adjective worrying is a Britishism. In America, worrisome is standard. But the more serious problem here is that both words appeared on the same page. Most publications provide written guidelines regarding "house style." Writers and editors are supposed to refer to them to ensure consistency. In this case, that didn't happen.

By Don Hauptman

For more than three decades, Don Hauptman was an award-winning independent direct-response copywriter and creative consultant. He is author of The Versatile Freelancer, an e-book that shows writers and other creative professionals how to diversify their careers into speaking, consulting, training, and critiquing

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FreshDigital2010 Perth

Big crowd of invited guests attended Marketforce's Digital media show today at the Perth Convention Centre.

There were some great examples of how social media works into the overall media mix for big companies and how best to capture the 15 to 19 year olds who only know the world of "instant on."

I found the show disappointing in that it was more show than substance... and used US examples rather than successful Aussie ones.. with the exception of Nic Hodge , Digital Creative Director of Clemenger BBDO who to a workman like job on the MBF Mr Invincible campaign.

I as very disappointed with the figures quoted for the take up of Social Media with figures for Facebook and Twitter being very out of date - both figures quoted were 25% less than currently available figures following Twitter's Chirp love in last week... gee how hard is it to change a powerpoint??

So, for all that expense, what do you think the audience learnt?? Not a lot when the big end of town is relying on this level of support from people like Marketforce.

What I was impressed by was Nic Hodges being receptive to feedback - answering my Twitter critique and agreeing to "suffer me" for breakfast tomorrow. I will give you an update on that [I did notice he had an iPad so I don't think I will be eating much...]

[Would have some photo's of FreshDigital for you but the iphone didn't handle the light well at the presentation - it needs a flash Steve! So, I have a photo of the ceramic cow in the lobby of the Perth Convention Centre]

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Goals

Goals, by Gary Ryan Blair

Success is the intentional, pre-meditated use of choice and decision. Unless you choose - with certainty - what it is you want, you accept table scraps by default!

The world is plump with opportunity. With boldness and conviction, stick a fork into the goals you want by being decisive.

You are born with great capabilities, but you will not achieve your potential until you call upon yourself to fulfill it. You will rise to the occasion when it presents itself; yet, to assure self-fulfillment, you must provide occasions to rise to. Clearly defined goals allow you to travel toward another horizon that represents the end of one experience and the transition to a new and better existence. The objective is to choose the right goals, and then to create the necessary causes - the effects will follow!

The difference between what one person and another achieves depends more on goal choices than on abilities. The profound differences between successful people and others are the goals they choose to pursue. Individuals with smaller talents, intelligence, and abilities will achieve different results because they select and pursue different goals.

Each decision affects what you become. We form our decisions and our decisions form us. There is no escaping this; the smallest choices are important because - over time - their cumulative effect is enormous.

Never overlook the obvious: The nature and direction of your life change the instant you decide what goals you want to pursue.

Once you make a decision, you start down a path to a new destination. At the moment the decision is made, your decision to pursue a goal alters what you are becoming. Just one spin of the lock's dial - a single choice - can alter your life, your destiny, your legacy.

Think about it - your goal decisions represent and express your individuality. You seal your fate with the choices you make. You define yourself by your decisions.

Your dialogue with success is ultimately a solo one. Decisions and goals made must be your own if you are to call your life a success.

Always establish the best goals you can. Goals are the seeds of success - you become only what you plant. The quality of your harvest is a direct reflection of the quality of your seeds-your decisions!

Indecision is the big eraser of opportunity and potential. Risks and costs accompany every decision; however, the price of decision is far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. When it comes to decisiveness, squatters have no rights.

Everyone has an official wish list of things they think are "reasonable". What about the unofficial wish list? The one that common sense tells you to ignore? The list that exists deep in your mind, the list that keeps you up at night, that makes your toes wiggle when you think of it? Why not choose that list for a change?

How long have you dreamed of being, having, and doing what you really want? Think big, as when it comes to your goals, the size of your ambition does matter.

Anzac Day 2010

photograph by David Wallace

Some days you shouldn't get out of bed...

A little guy is sitting at the bar just staring into his drink when a large, trouble-making bikie steps up next to him, grabs his drink, gulps it down in one swig and then turns to him with a menacing stare as if to say. 'Well, - whatcha gonna do about it?'

The little guy starts crying!

'Come on man I was just giving you a hard time' the bikie says, 'I didn't think you'd CRY. - I can't stand to see a man crying.

'This is the worst day of my life', says the little guy between sobs. 'I've got to admit it - I'm a complete failure -I just can't do anything right.' 'I overslept and was late to an important meeting,- so my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car was stolen and I don't have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found my wife in bed with the gardener - and then my own dog bit me.

So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all. I buy a drink.
I drop my capsule in and sit here watching the poison dissolve - then you show up and drink the lot!

The Pencil

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point he asked:

‘Are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me?’
His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:
I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.’

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special.

‘But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!’

‘That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.’

‘First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.’

‘Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpner. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.
‘
Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.’

‘Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.’

‘Finally, the pencil’s fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. in just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action’


Source: “Like the Flowing River” by Paulo Coelho

New Rules for 2010

New Rule: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for classmates.com! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them!? Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days--mowing my lawn.

New Rule: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull.. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, it cost less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Trout?


New Rule: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done.

New Rule: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.

New Rule: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf Grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one sweet-n'-Low, and one NutraSweet," .....ooh,..... you're a huge asshole.

New Rule: I'm not the cashier! By the time I look up from sliding my card, entering my PIN number, pressing "Enter," verifying the amount, deciding no, I don't want cash back, and pressing "Enter" again, the kid who is supposed to be ringing me up is standing there eating my Almond Joy..

New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.

New Rule: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the U.S. Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait! They're already doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show."

New Rule: I don't need a bigger mega M&Ms. If I'm extra hungry for M&Ms, I'll go nuts and eat two.

New Rule: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.

New Rule: and this one is long overdue: No more bathroom attendants. After I zip up, some guy is offering me a towel and a mint like I just had sex with George Michael. I can't even tell if he's supposed to be there, or just some freak with a fetish. I don't want to be on your web cam, dude. I just want to wash my hands.

New Rule: When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to know in months. "27 Months." "He's two," will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place.

New Rule: If you ever hope to be a credible adult and want a job that pays better than minimum wage, then for God's sake don't pierce or tattoo every available piece of flesh. If so, then plan your future around saying, "Do you want fries with that?"

source: not sure, came via my friend Peter Morley BUT these rules are TRUE!!

You are amazing....

A woman in a supermarket is following a grandfather and his badly behaved 3 year-old grandson. It's obvious to her that he has his hands full with the child screaming for sweets in the sweet aisle, biscuits in the biscuit aisle; and for fruit and cereal in the other aisles.

Meanwhile, Gramps is working his way around, saying in a controlled voice, "Easy, William, we won't be long... easy, boy."

Another outburst, and she hears the granddad calmly say, "It's okay, William, just a couple more minutes and we'll be out of here. Hang in there, boy."

At the checkout, the little terror is throwing items out of the cart, and Gramps says again in a controlled voice, "William, William, relax buddy, don't get upset. We'll be home in five minutes; stay cool, William."

Very impressed, the woman goes outside where the grandfather is loading his groceries and the boy into the car.

She said to the elderly gentleman, "It's none of my business, but you were amazing in there. I don't know how you did it. That whole time, you kept your composure, and no matter how loud and disruptive he got, you just calmly kept saying "things would be okay." William is very lucky to have you as his grandpa."

"Thanks, lady," said the grandfather, "but I'm William . .. . the little ba*tard's name is Kevin."

A Real Love Story

Here is a love story for you to enjoy. Stories like this tug at your heartstrings. Ah yes, the power of love.

This guy (Alvaro Alfonso de Miranda Neto) simply referred to as Doda was married Cibele Dorsa.

She is a Brazilian swimsuit and Playboy model.






He divorced her because he fell in love with this woman.


Those two are very happily married right now.




Some people argue that love is blind.

This story clearly shows it. It proves that men are capable of real love, truly seeing the inner beauty inside a person, not basing their decisions solely on looks.

By the way, the new girl is Athina Onassis.

She's worth 2 Billion dollars