Sunday, June 30, 2013

Vacations?


What if you created a life that you have no reason to vacate from?  When people talk about a taking a vacation they often reference how tough their life has been lately and how bad they need a vacation!

I have never been a big vacation guy.  I would rather say it’s time to go on an adventure.  An adventure seems to spark from a conversation and you build on it until it’s time to put the plan in motion!    One is more predictable than the other!

Don’t get me wrong I applaud those people that enjoy their periodic vacations.  As a result of Facebook we all get to see friends and families on their vacations.  For some of us it is really difficult to “unplug” from one life to go to another! 

I have friends that seem to live their life making a vacation for others!  Their life is creating the platform for others to get away from their "work a day" world.  Not a bad concept!

Consider this…if you get the feeling you need a vacation, give some thoughts as to why you need it?  Make some adjustments and find ways to “get away” even if it is in a chair, a quiet place, and some time to relax.

To the rest of you…enjoy your summer and I hope your life is filled with awesome adventures and one that doesn’t need to be vacated from!

NobleOne

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Are you a Leader or a Boss?



How do you exercise your authority?  Do people that work for you have a choice?   If you are military, how tough is it to demonstrate leadership knowing your support has to follow orders? If you run a company, is it your way or the highway?

I recently wrote a blog about volunteering.  In the nonprofit world you better learn to inspire since the people that you are leading are not relying on you for a job!

I am confident that scenarios exists that require people to follow orders or bad things can happen.  I also know there are quite a few folks out there that require a title or else no one would pay any attention to them!

I truly enjoy the inspirational route.  The skills are not easily mastered however knowing that your world exists because of a collective of like-minded folks is truly an interesting scenario!  People are on your team simply because you offer a return on investment that goes beyond financial rewards. 

What is your scenario?  Do you have people that you pay to work for you?  If you did not pay them, would they show up tomorrow?

Consider offering something up to the world that inspires others to give unselfishly!  There are simply platforms out there that need heroes to take care of.  I love to meet new folks that discover the reason they were put on this earth.  People like that are hard to stop and easy to get behind!

 NobleOne

Monday, June 17, 2013

Exercise?


Well, its early morning and once again I need to consider spending an hour or more doing some sort of exercise!  I am driven by guilt and the knowledge that it brings results.   That doesn’t necessarily motivate me to do it though!

I have friends that can’t wait to carve out a free hour to either bike, run, or go to the gym.  I am fortunate that I am an early riser and find that it is really the best time for me to work out.  Motivation is my issue!  I simply don’t get the “high” from exercise, how about you?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the results and strongly believe it is something I need to do however I can find plenty of options that keep me from it!

 
As well as six options to get it done.

Living near the water I can SUP, kayak, surf, bike ride (road or mountain) or run!  Of course weather plays a role along with what I did the day/s before.  You would think I would never go to work with all of these cool things to do! 

Still there are so many days I avoid them all.  I consider it a “task” when I should be thankful that I can still get it done.

I am grateful it is summer and the weather is now conducive to all my options.  I think I will run today since it requires the least amount of setup, takes the least amount of time and delivers good results.

How about you?  Do you exercise at least 4 times a week?  What is your excuse? 

I have never considered myself as athlete.  I was the last picked in school for almost any athletic opportunity.  I have to admit, I was partially damaged goods and it hurt not to be chosen or wanted.  As I grew older I learned to skateboard and surf.  I could do this alone and it did not require permission or participation from others.   Slowly I regained my confidence and enjoyed exercising through cool activities.

Today I combine my exercise with things that give back.  Running and biking on the roads in Back Bay gives me sights and sounds of all kinds of unique and cool critters.  There are many days I stop to give a turtle a safe crossing and “me” a break.    When the weather permits, I paddle, sometimes on a kayak other times on a stand up paddle board.  I launch in Back Bay, the water is calm, flat and beautiful.  Once in a great while there are waves and it’s off to Sandbridge with the longboard or the SUP. 

…or I can keep writing this blog and avoid the sweat and the labor!

NobleOne

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Problems or just opportunities?



When I am in the midst of a big problem, I often stop for a moment and ponder whether or not this could be a teachable moment.  It can simply be the time to learn how to deal with this sort of thing.  Remove the drama and look deeper into why this is happening.

If you already knew how to deal with this situation it would never become a problem!   

Many years ago I was a newly licensed Realtor ready to take on the world.   I had drive and enthusiasm however lacking in experience.  As problems arose in my early deals I sat down with my Broker at the time, Larry Sancilio.  He simply stopped me in my tracks and stated “there are no such things as problems only opportunities for progress.”  I can assure you at the time I was convinced they were problems! 

I was told this so many times before I accepted it as a life lesson.  A great one to learn!

I thought about Mr. Sancilio a few years back when I fell through my roof at my farm while replacing a chimney cap.  As I soiled my pants, I realized that my view from the angle I was dangling from was awesome.  I decided to add a small third story loft since I had to sheath the roof anyway.  That’s the spot where I wrote my book, Normal to Noble.   Lemonade from lemons!

My greatest example occurred on May 4th, 1993 when the Doctor told me to abort the mistake that was occurring in my wife’s womb.  I decided to “let it ride.”  And today I plan on going to the movies with that mistake!

Consider this; a problem occurs like the wake of a boat.  It has already happened, the wake is behind you and you can’t change it.  You can of course change the way to steer the boat and create a new wake. 

The next time you have a problem, take a moment and consider allowing it to be an opportunity for progress.  It may be something that changes your life forever. 

You have a choice to be upset and resentful, and then the opportunity to share that with your family and friends… or NOT!

NobleOne