Make it count

"Every creature on earth has approximately two billion heartbeats to spend in a lifetime. You can spend them slowly, like a tortoise, and live to be two hundred years old, or you can spend them fast like a hummingbird, and live to be two years old."

— from "Joyas Voladoras,*" an essay by Brian Doyle

ps: Brian Doyle, "Joyas Voladoras", originally published in The American Scholar, Autumn 2004 and reprinted in The Best American Spiritual Writing 2005, edited by Philip Zaleski (Houghton Mifflin Co.) 2005, p. 44.

* Joyas voladoras: Spanish for "flying jewels." It's what the first European explorers in the Americas called hummingbirds.

Steve's image is from here.

Monday Blues: Stop squeezing

How much work can you get done in a day? How much can you yourself do? How much are you expecting from your team?


Each member in your team is different. You need to see their capabilities, passion, weaknesses and then decide what to do and how to get the best out of them. It is a one-size-fits-all scenario. Be vigilant, motivating and careful. See what stimulates and motivates a person. It is true that yelling or squeezing stimulates people but they are a minority. You shouldn't use that technique on all and then expect them to perform.


Here is a lesson for all managers: Some people you squeeze them, they focus. Some fold and close. Some break.


This Monday... choose your squeezing wisely lest you break and damage forever. It is very important to keep your team happy.


Pic is from here

The joy in being satisfied

The wealthiest person is a pauper at times, compared to the man with a satisfied mind.

Monday Blues: Being consistent

There's a worm at the bottom of the garden

His name is wiggly wooo and all he can do is

Wiggle all night, wiggle all day

Whatever the folks may say...

Keep digging, learning, moving ahead, despite what people say.