a Canadian icon is gone....

I am saddened by the passing of Farley Mowat ….Never Cry Wolf was a Milestone in my life and possibly stirred my interest in the outdoors... think I need to re-read it again

Celebrated author Farley Mowat dead at 92

so…where has jim been?

As some of you may have noticed, my posts to FaceBook and Twitter have been far fewer than in the past. The reason for this is simple. I don't always have a short quip that is really worth a post on either of those Social media Sites.

There is also the fact that the people that I have on my Facebook are not necessarly the same people I have on Twitter. This was not done by design, just the way it worked out. These seperate feeds, makes it a bit of a challange to manage them.

I have also had this blog for sometime now and have been spotty at keeping it current as well. My intention when starting RandOM THoUGhts, was to use the blog as a place to comment about things I think about, comment on current events and to be the story teller that I have always been.

A little self-indulgent? Maybe. But I believe that this avenue for communication will provide those interested a little more insight to what is bouncing around this brain of mine, tell some of the stories I have to tell and maybe open some communication lines.

Imagine this as a "digital Campfire. By definition, "Campfire" is when people get together and share stories and experiences. This is my goal for this blog.

If you are so inclined, please leave a comment. I am interested in what your thought are as well.

Lets sit around the Campfire together.

Peace my friends, travel well on your journey...

I am Proud to be Canadian

I know this commercial is over done, however…it sums it up perfectly…. 

Jim

What is a Digital Nomad?

A digital nomad is someone who uses technology and the internet to work remotely—from home, the coffee shop, internet cafe, or even to collaborate remotely with teams anywhere in the world. These entrepreneurs & professionals frequently use new technologies like iPhones, iPad, Laptops, wifi, and web-based applications to work and earn an income wherever they live or travel.

ideally, I think it would be a wonderful way to work....it would be a fantastic way to slow down to the speed of life....not this insanity that big corporations feel they have the right to inflict on people.

here is a great link that may help you understand the term and what it can mean for you...more

 

the future?

The Calgary Herald ran a story that says the housing bubble may be about to burst and people could potentially loose 35% of their investment.

A few weeks ago there was another news story that the economy is bouncing back, but the jobs being created are “McJobs”. Jobs that are typically low paying service industry jobs.

These kinds of stories are causing me to worry about the future not just for everyday people such as ourselves, but I also worry about what the future will hold for our Children as they grow older. I have said for some time now that our system is broken...we need to change it. We cannot continue down the path we are on.

Yet the powers that be continue to saddle the economic recoveries on the backs of  people. Encouraging consumer debt, subsidizing the automotive industry to encourage consumers to purchase more, and in the process continue to pad the pocket books of the big oil and gas companies. It is a vicious circle that must be stopped.
Without us...stepping up and insisting our governments take a new approach, we will continue to build the gap between the haves and the have nots.

And that is a very frightening future in my mind.

 

Jim.......

Are You Taking Productivity Too Far?

hmmmmm... I am always looking for a productivity hack to help get things done more efficiently. I wonder if i need to rethink my obsession?

Are You Taking Productivity Too Far?: "

Since you’re reading Pick the Brain, I expect that you’ll agree with me when I say that productivity is a good thing.

Being productive generally means:

• You’re living up to your full potential (instead of daydreaming about what might be … and never actually doing it)
• You’re being proactive rather than reactive, taking control of your own life
• You feel good about yourself and your life: each day, you have a sense of accomplishment
• You’ve got clear goals, and you’re on track to reach them

Pretty great, huh? It sounds like a recipe for a happy life.

Except…

…can you end up being too productive?

The Darker Side of Productivity

Like I say, I’m all for productivity. I like to do useful, fulfilling work, and I get bored easily if I’m wasting time or procrastinating.

But … I know that sometimes I take it a little too far. And I’ve often read blog posts or comments from other productive people who are definitely edging towards too much productivity.

Yes, getting things done (or if you’re a David Allan fan, Getting Things Done) is good. But it’s not the be-all and end-all of life.

When you get overly focused on being productive:

• Your relationships suffer. Hanging out with your friends might seem “unproductive” whereas staying an extra couple of hours at work is “productive”. But what’s really more important to you in the long-run?
• Your health might be at risk. Sure, maybe your gym routine counts as “productive” – but what about a long, leisurely walk, or a healthy meal eaten away from your desk?
• You get stressed. You feel a constant pressure to keep doing more, and more, and more…
• You lose perspective. Instead of trying to be effective you end up just being efficient.

Do you need to take your foot off the pedal?

Is your focus on productivity starting to make you feel miserable or stressed out?

Taking a Break From Productivity

If this post is striking an uncomfortable chord with you, then it’s time to take a step back and learn to breathe again.

You could:

• Re-examine your definition of productivity. Spending two hours reading a great book in a coffee shop could well be more productive than spending two hours staring at your computer screen. Taking care of your kids could be one of the most productive things you’ll do in your whole life.
• Plan some down-time. Take an afternoon off – or a whole weekend. If you plan ahead, you’ll have it to look forward to (and you’re more likely to actually hold yourself to it).
• Find leisure activities that you really enjoy. Sometimes, we get caught up in productivity – whether that’s at work or in the home – because we don’t really have anything else to do. Join a club, take up a new hobby, or plan a date night with your partner.
• Get away from it all. It can be hard to “switch off” from work at times. By getting physically away – to a different city or even a different country – you create a real break from your regular life.

Life is about so much more than simply checking off everything on your to-do list – and being less than 100% productive is no crime. In fact, it’ll probably make you happier (and easier to live with!)

So … a challenge for you! If you think you’re overdoing things, how can you get comfortable with being less productive? Let us know in the comments…

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!

 

(Via .PicktheBrain)