the busy-o-meter

When do you hear anyone saying these days that they’re quiet, have nothing to do and are bored in the weekends? That’s right: NEVER. Our lives have become trends of busyness: the more worn out we are, the more we seem to score. But do we? Maybe it used to look interesting, but only till we reach the point of actual exhaustion and have a Burn out, then all of a sudden the busyness does not seem so cool anymore.

This morning I heard that yes the newly printed Pukeko cushion design AND the full upholstery fabric samples will be send to me today, they have been so FRANTIC at fabric manufacturer Hemptechs (excuse the pun) that there was a delay in getting the samples to me! But, all good things come to those who wait, and even better: to those that ASK.

What have you done so far this month that puts you on your brownie-points-yeehaa-achievable-meter and what have you organized that actually ensures continuous sanity and YOU-time?

It REALLY doesn’t matter if you’re busy or not, it does matter what you do with your time….

#1 be effective
#2 work smarter, not harder
#3 know your priorities
#4 set your boundaries (preserve you-time)
#5 have fun

short and sweet

I was reading Seth Godin's blog on the effects of positive and negative thinking. Really it's what we do and how, that ends up being the result of what we think. On the one hand we like to wallow occasionally but eventually we realize that nothing comes of it. Our state of mind determines our happiness and our success levels.

The fact is that even though stuff happens (or not) it's not helping to continue to mope. A lovely weekend helps to change perspective. But a few minutes can achieve the same result once we know how to. Having a rest helps too. And being dosed with vitamin A by the sun. So too is the growing necessity to keep things short and sweet. People do not have the patience anymore to listen to long stories. No wonder twitter is 140 characters.

I needed to get the goats hooves done and also needed to inoculate and drench them last weekend. It's like a work out for me, as some are not keen on pedicures so I have to chase them in a pen a bit to hold them. Picture holding a wriggling goat with one arm and shortening 4 hooves at the same time. As we do not have a goat race yet we work with what we have. It's our forte. I don't mind it but try to do the work while keeping the intelligent animals happy. The trick is to do the work decisively and quickly.

Focus and get things off the list, say what you want and treat others well, take notice of your surroundings: yes I think that'll do nicely.

Picture by Daisy Janie

Being remarkable?

Many people say they are busy. Are they really? Or do they just run around and that way they appear to be? There’s a difference between being busy and actually getting things done.

The ambitious beasties among us like to be exceptional. We fluff, puff and eventually we come across a mirror and laugh at ourselves. Does it matter to be unique? Does it matter whether we are extraordinary? Everyone likes 'different' but not too much of it.

“To be a superstar, you must do something exceptional. The next time you catch yourself being average when you feel like quitting, realize that you have only two good choices: quit or be exceptional. Average is for losers.” (Seth Godin)

Quitting continuing to build my network Quality Living made me realize several things:
1. I really have to learn to stick with my gut instinct. It’s always right.
2. That to be successful at anything, you need the market to be really excited about it. It has to 'grab' people.
3. Only true passion, belief and 150% devotion make any endeavor successful.
4. Quiting teaches the value of experience and wisdom. It's better to have tried and learned then not have done a thing at all.

Getting back to the fear of catching the common cold. Sometimes we feel there's enough of everything around. Is wanting to stand out, and be remarkable important? What does it mean? Why do we want to leave a mark on the world? Why be different?

· “Remarkable is being unafraid to stand out
· Remarkable is having a fire in your belly and an idea that won't quit.
· Remarkable is telling the truth, always
· Remarkable is knowing that a risky idea might fail, but a boring idea will definitely fail.
· Remarkable is falling often and then trying again
· Remarkable is doing more and less planning. More testing and less waiting. More dreaming and less sleeping.
· Remarkable is when you stand for something and make it happen and change the world - or your business or your life- along the way.
· Remarkable isn't up to you. Remarkable is in the eye of the customer. If your customer decided something you do is worth remarking on, then, by definition, it's remarkable.”. Seth Godin

It’s more important to follow your own way and do what your heart tells you. I found I have to learn how to listen to myself, instead of to anyone else. What I keep seeing is that you have to trust the process and keep believing in yourself. Focussing on what you love the most and doing that is always the best way to go.

So wanting to be remarkable is one side of the story, counting your blessings can be equally powerful. We tend to gloss over what we have achieved already. The most remarkable people are remembered for what they did for others in society, for what they contributed and the changes they made. 'Superstars' have been able to develop due to all the support they received.

Growing to be the best you can be and striving to work your bootie off is great. Just keep in mind what you are doing it for, and for whom. What does being remarkable mean to you? What makes you "you"?

Tall poppy syndrome

A mate of mine was criticized for taking initiative and doing something he thought would be good for ‘the greater good’ of a group. It was a relative small thing but I have heard this before. How come initiatives are often batted down? Why does your work get critiqued? Did you ask for censoring? What gives someone the right to do so? I have that happen to myself now and again and find it really stupid actually. I mean, if it’s a fair reasonable comment, ok. But the winging? Get over it already!

I know why I can get into tantrums for being refused to do something fun that I think is an awesome idea. It has to do with being the baby sister and having to compete with the big bros. (Literally as I have 2 big brothers.) Of course I got over the competitive thing as we’re all different anyway, but the urge to make the most of myself has always stayed. I have felt that my whole professional life I wanted to become a great success like them as my whole family has been an inspiration. The chances of me being a slob are remote as my genes are against me. With the whole family being driven bright talented individuals I’m not going to exactly sit down and start knitting. No offence.

Getting back to the Poppy.

Seriously it is a problem here: Wikipedia says the following:

"Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) is a

pejorative term used in Australia, Canada[citation needed], and New Zealand to describe what is seen as a leveling social attitude. Someone is said to be a target of tall poppy syndrome when his or her assumption of a higher economic, social, or political position is criticized as being presumptuous, attention seeking, or without merit. Alternatively, it is seen as a societal phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are criticized or resented because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers."

So there you go, a down under illness. Brilliant. Aaaahhhhhhh. Can I say a very down under thing? “Bloody stupid” There! That’s what I think of this. (Okay okay settle down already. I heard yesterday that meditation is JUST the thing) Fortunately the Australian prime minister was quoted responding in a similar manner: they want to do away with the poppy as a syndrome as well in Aboriginal County.

Exploring this further, how can one beat the Tall Poppy Syndrome?

This is what Kiwis say themselves:
"Tall poppies are people who stand out from the crowd. They aren't afraid to be different from everyone else and because of this often become incredibly successful. In New Zealand we have an annoying habit of feeling threatened by these people and to make ourselves feel better, we do whatever we can to cut them down to size.

We can be incredibly well-meaning about this – saying things like "they need to come back to earth", "their heads are getting too big", "It’s for their own good". Failing that, we just spread wild, untrue, unnecessary and unfair rumours about them. Tall Poppy Syndrome is alive and well all through New Zealand's society. You won’t have to look too far to see it in:
Sports, Arts, Schools, Workplaces, Politics and pretty much anywhere you find people!

Example of a Tall Poppy: Joanne K. Rowling's story
Unless you’ve been living in a cave you will have heard of Joanne Rowling and her books about Harry Potter. JK Rowling’s story is an incredible story of determination and persistence. Her mother died very young – at 45 and Joanne took this very hard. She moved to Portugal, where she met a journalist, married him and had a daughter. Sadly, one year later the marriage ended and she moved to Edinburgh to be nearer to family. As a single parent, she really struggled with very little money. She was unemployed, with a baby, living in a one bedroom flat. She got income support of the equivalent of $NZ150 per week, which meant that Joanne had to be extremely careful with her money – at times she would skimp on meals for herself.

She often wrote in cafés with her baby asleep in the pushchair – a cup of coffee was cheaper than heating her flat and they could both keep warm while she wrote. She wrote her first book on notepaper, and then had to go home to type the notes on a cheap old typewriter. She had to type multiple copies because she couldn’t afford to photocopy them. She struggled with depression on and off, but even managed to turn those episodes into positives by using them as inspiration for some of her characters. To make ends meet she started working as a French teacher and then managed to get a Scottish Arts Council grant giving her enough money to finish writing her first book.

Once she had finished the book she sent the first 3 chapters to an agent, who promptly sent them back (I bet he or she regrets that day!). After being rejected in her first attempt, she tried another agent who agreed to act for her. It took a year for her agent to find someone who would publish it. By the summer of 2000 she had earned over $USD400 Million for her first 3 Harry Potter books! Her book “Harry Potter and the Half Blooded Prince” sold 6.9 million copies in its first 24 hours! Her story is hugely inspirational, all the way down to overcoming the Tall Poppy Syndrome. She has had a 2-year court battle to defend the fact that the stories were not stolen and were her own.

While struggling, there was no way for JK Rowling to know that what she was writing would ever be a success – how many times do we hear about endless rejections of manuscripts, and how many books have never and will never be published. She battled poverty, depression and rejection and won. She had the dream, the determination and the self-belief to push through adversity and setbacks that would have stopped most people very early on. These are the people who feel threatened by her success.
What can we learn from her journey?”
Source above text:

www.onpurpose.co.nz/resources/tall-poppies.php

My mate concludes with: "Do what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticised anyway. You'll be damned if you do and damned if you don't." – Eleanor Roosevelt

I think it’s safe to say the following:

“Just do it” covers it nicely. Long live Nike and stubborn people! Lead by example and forgive the ignorant for they do not know any better. If we didn’t do what’s in our hearts and have fun, then by crikey WHAT exactly are we doing here at all? Why would we envy others for their achievements? I honestly NEVER got that. I celebrate others in growing, why would that EVER affect me badly? Such nonsense.

Bless anyone for kindling their own light and ‘sticking with it’. Next time you meet a tall poppy, give them a hug, do a high five or say Yeah! very loudly. if we are to be distinguished from other humans because we achieve our goals, let us celebrate this, instead being muffled in a corner where it's dusty and one has to sneeze. And besides, wouldn't you agree it's SO boring these nondecript corners? Why would it be nice to be stuck THERE?