Jambo Jandals

A mate of mine sent through this quote. We had been chating about people challenging themselves, taking ourselves to the line in our lives where we are vulnerable but able to achieve much. Good encouragement for those why do, win or loose!

"Its not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly…who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the triumph of his high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt

With the next installment of the hit TV show Big Brother now gracing our screens, I am again questioning the relevance to me, and to our community both Christian and non. I find myself intrigued by the opportunity to get a glimpse of people living within a community cage but then again, hesitant because it is not real. It is manufactured, people being coerced into doing things they would normally not do. Why is it that Christians (in general)find this repulsive, should I too? Is there any lessons learned from watching it? Do you have any thoughts? How does it effect you? Dan

I broke a record this morning. The snooze button is getting worn out, about 12 presses. Is this a reflection of a lack of will power or is it just a case of not enough sleep. I think it will only get worse as the winter chill creeps in.

Ever heard the analogy of the Monkey? This is something I read and thought worth remembering. Thanks to Mike for his words of wisdom.

"One of the best ways to build a business is to be a pain in the ass to the existing 500 pound gorilla. Is there a market that they are under serving? Are their clients unhappy with them but have no alternative? These are very good markets to exploit.

The infamous 500 pound gorilla has got what I like to call the "Three M's", Money, Market Share and Momentum. But many times these make that gorilla an easy target to a broke, agile, no business having monkey.

Momentum carries the gorilla forward down the same path. Any change in business strategy can mean a loss of their current customers. He has to plan, measure, and move with passionless thought. The monkey swings from idea to idea and has to stay way out in front since he is often showing the gorilla the path. The monkey is the innovator the gorilla the executioner.

The monkey is hungry and does not have much capital, he needs to find some early success or die. He is willing to listen to his customers and create a product that is truly reflective of their needs. The gorilla pours huge amounts of money into marketing to convince customers that his product will solve their problems and to maintain market share. The monkey is passionate the gorilla is introspective.

Market share can be a pain for the gorilla. He has worked very hard to get where he is very resistant to change. Change means risk and uncertainty, this is bad for the stock price. New products might not sell as good as the old ones and he may lose customers. The monkey has no market share to speak of. He can create niches of customers for whom he will deliver the world. He can create new and innovative products where there is no market. He can steal whole markets with a shift in paradigm. The monkey is creative, the gorilla is protective.

And keep in mind some day you will be the gorilla to some young monkey."

I really struggle with silence! Apple encourages me to stick an iPod in my pocket and fill my head with my choise of music, Microsoft encourages me to upgrade my PC to enable photos, movies, songs to be at my finger tips, and Channel 10 reakons I should just "Turn it On". Ben Lee sings "Awake is the new sleep"!!!

Who should be encouraging us to sit still and just be? Is this selfish or a life sustaining action? What importance, if any, do we place on our ability to isolate ourselves from our world and listen to our thoughts? Are we in in a perpetual world where continued mass stimulation of our senses is going to eradicate our understanding or solitude? Will it be possible to sit and be us?

My challange is to try and keep things balanced. Enjoy my noise but love my silence. Turn things off and listen.