Painful Pleasures

Winter storm Destiny provided the perfect opportunity for sledding. We have a water catchment valley close to our home where children can sled in absolute safety. My son's snow tube is five feet in diameter and sledding down the one side of the valley across the bottom and up the other side is pure bliss for children.

Of course, I was dragged along as well. We spent numerous hours yesterday and today flying down the sides of the valley and then pulling the tube up to repeat. We built a 12-inch high snow-ramp to get airborne at the bottom of the run.

The result of this fun is a sore body. I am in pain in places that I did not know I had places because I am unaccustomed to such exertions. The pain is worth if for the pleasure that I had with my son, including laughing harder than I have in years when I set the example of how not to dismount an airborne sled.

We have had no good sledding days this winter. It has been cold and very rainy. Winter storm Destiny was our first opportunity for a good snowfall on a weekend, giving us the opportunity to enjoy father-son bonding.

It is only possible to enjoy times like this together if you live in the present. You cannot enjoy times like this when you are concerned with the mounting workload at the office. You need to let go of whatever you cannot change or mistakes that you have made in the past.

How do you live in the present fully, and enjoy every day without a cluttered email inbox and constant interruptions from your cell phone? I find this Alan's advice in this interview to be inspirational and pragmatic. Listen to the full interview and then enjoy the benefits of living in the present, so that you can also take advantage of the painful pleasures when the opportunities present themselves.

Feet to the Fire Status Update - 11/11/2007

Feet to the Fire Update - Liz and I are meeting with our CD cover designer this week, then we can go to manufacturing.

I am reading "Million Dollar Consulting" - Third Edition - by Alan Weiss. I am amazed by the turns my life is taking. I first bought this book in 1999 in South Africa (I don't know which edition) when I was a consultant for WinConnect ( A Microsoft Consulting Partner).

I bought the book from Amazon.com and paid an arm and a leg for it with the exchange rate. Then I paid a similar arm and leg for shipping. When I read the book,many concepts were mind-blowing - I could not imagine how anyone could earn a Million Dollars a year in consulting when I compared it to my income at the time. This book changed my paradigm on the possibility of Value-based fees and earning substantial income as a consultant.

Unfortunately, this was one of the books that had to stay behind when we left South Africa in 2001. We came to the USA with six suitcases and a total of $400 in cash. There was no place for numerous books. I was forced to leave my library of books behind and am still building up a library again.

Now seven years later I am reading Million Dollar Consulting again. This time I think I am getting more practical advice because there are significant differences between consulting in South Africa in 1999 and consulting in Connecticut in 2007.

If you haven't read Million Dollar Consulting, I suggest you read it. Even if you are not currently consulting Alan's points and comments are thought provoking. (I don't know about you but I prefer indulging in stimulating books rather than accepting the mind-numbing TV Programming. )

Please post your thoughts. What thought provoking books do you like to indulge yourself in?

Take note - Trained Strategist on board

I successfully attended "The Strategist" workshop with Alan Weiss yesterday and today. My head is swimming with new information, and I am too tired to debrief right now.

Summary of this workshop:
1. If you are thinking of attending this workshop in the future, then contact Alan and sign up today. You need this workshop if you are running a small business or a planning your business strategy in the next few years, or if you just want to soak in some of Alan's wisdom.
2. If in doubt, refer to point 1 above.
3. (And of course the third point.) Alan says there are always three points :). We each had the opportunity to review a strategy in the workshop of either our own business or for a client. I reviewed my business strategy and with the help of team-mates in my work group I found solutions to some nagging questions.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said "The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size". My mind was stretched in the past two days. Contact Alan at www.summitconsulting.com to stretch your mind and for your 1% solution.