Don't be afraid to share your dream. You never know where the inspiration to help you create that dream might come from.
I had the great pleasure and surprise of sharing my dream with a small group of people last week. I was almost afraid of saying it out loud because to me it seemed such a 'big', way off in the distance dream. It may still be - it's not something I'm going to achieve in a year and maybe not even in five years but it's out there again.
I came closer to it last year but it was not to be, so now I'm setting off on that journey again - one step at a time. It doesn't matter how small a step you take as long as you're going in the right direction.
Share your dream this week with someone who cares and see what happens.
A goal is a dream with a deadline. [Leo Helzel]
Time management solutions for busy people - organise your business, your life and have fun.
Don't Just Sit There
I took part in my first business Exhibition today, not as an attendee but actually exhibiting. It was disappointingly slow and not a lot of people coming through but it was my first experience of this type of event, so it was useful from that viewpoint. I also met up with a few familiar faces and had time to talk to other exhibitors.
I was watching some of them and wondering how their experience might differ from mine. In the same way that you can't just sit in your office waiting for the phone to ring, you can't just sit at a stand and not interact with the people walking past. Some people appeared to be doing their best to totally ignore anyone that showed an interest in what they had to offer. Given the lack of visitors you would have thought they would have been eager to engage them in conversation.
I'd booked up several months ago. I'd spent all week preparing. I'd taken the trouble to get out of bed early, set up my tables, laid out all my information and 'free stuff', so what purpose is there in sitting behind the stand, doing your best to ignore the people walking past, not engaging people in even the merest snippet of conversation. Even just a smile and making eye contact can make a difference and draw someone to take a closer look.
I noticed one person on the stand opposite just make a polite comment to two people walking past their stand which made them pause, take another look and then have a brief conversation before walking away with some literature. Other people had a variety of different strategies - offering a freebie or discount, literature to pick up, a free quiz, goodies to take away. All ideas for the next event but what is clear and what won't work ... is just sitting there.
The real work starts now - following up with the new contacts, adding them to my newsletter and keeping in touch at regular intervals. Don't make the mistake of going to an event and then not bother to get in touch or follow-up with people afterwards. It doesn't take a lot, just a quick email - something is definitely better than nothing ... and don't leave it too long.
So, even though it was a long, slow day - I got at least 30 new contacts, most of those were interested in my newsletter and I've got some good follow-up from the workshop I ran too.
I think the bowl of sweets helped! :)
I was watching some of them and wondering how their experience might differ from mine. In the same way that you can't just sit in your office waiting for the phone to ring, you can't just sit at a stand and not interact with the people walking past. Some people appeared to be doing their best to totally ignore anyone that showed an interest in what they had to offer. Given the lack of visitors you would have thought they would have been eager to engage them in conversation.
I'd booked up several months ago. I'd spent all week preparing. I'd taken the trouble to get out of bed early, set up my tables, laid out all my information and 'free stuff', so what purpose is there in sitting behind the stand, doing your best to ignore the people walking past, not engaging people in even the merest snippet of conversation. Even just a smile and making eye contact can make a difference and draw someone to take a closer look.
I noticed one person on the stand opposite just make a polite comment to two people walking past their stand which made them pause, take another look and then have a brief conversation before walking away with some literature. Other people had a variety of different strategies - offering a freebie or discount, literature to pick up, a free quiz, goodies to take away. All ideas for the next event but what is clear and what won't work ... is just sitting there.
The real work starts now - following up with the new contacts, adding them to my newsletter and keeping in touch at regular intervals. Don't make the mistake of going to an event and then not bother to get in touch or follow-up with people afterwards. It doesn't take a lot, just a quick email - something is definitely better than nothing ... and don't leave it too long.
So, even though it was a long, slow day - I got at least 30 new contacts, most of those were interested in my newsletter and I've got some good follow-up from the workshop I ran too.
I think the bowl of sweets helped! :)
Morning Run, Evening Drive
I went out for my first 'morning' run today. At least the first time this year that I've been out before breakfast. Instead of just thinking "I'll go out in a minute" and then delaying it or even putting it off completely, I seized the moment and got out before I thought too much about it or started to get embroiled in work.
It was a gorgeous morning - the coolness at the start of the day (OK, the sun had been up for a couple of hours already) but it was the start for me. Clear and almost cloudless with very few people out except for the sheep with their lambs and the cows.
I saw a whitethroat on the way back, which is a summer visitor. Not having been up there for a few days they may have been here for a while. It's always interesting to see what birds are around when I go out for my runs, especially when you see the first swallows of the summer skimming over the dewpond or the skylarks singing from somewhere high above you or even a wheatear or fieldfare.
To top it all off, I was up at a meeting in Horsham this evening. It was a glorious summer evening so I had the top down on my car. There's nothing to lift the spirits like a convertible - sun on your face, wind in your hair and so much nicer than being enclosed in a metal box. As I drove back the large red ball of the sun was setting just as an almost full moon was rising. There was a hot-air balloon drifting low over the trees as it came in to land and the real bonus of having the top down is that you get to smell the blossom as you drive past or the sweet smell of the grass wet with evening dew.
I might have been slightly chilly by the time I got home but it was well worth it. Why have a soft-top if you don't make the most of it.
Nothing like it - far better than pills, potions or therapy.
It was a gorgeous morning - the coolness at the start of the day (OK, the sun had been up for a couple of hours already) but it was the start for me. Clear and almost cloudless with very few people out except for the sheep with their lambs and the cows.
I saw a whitethroat on the way back, which is a summer visitor. Not having been up there for a few days they may have been here for a while. It's always interesting to see what birds are around when I go out for my runs, especially when you see the first swallows of the summer skimming over the dewpond or the skylarks singing from somewhere high above you or even a wheatear or fieldfare.
To top it all off, I was up at a meeting in Horsham this evening. It was a glorious summer evening so I had the top down on my car. There's nothing to lift the spirits like a convertible - sun on your face, wind in your hair and so much nicer than being enclosed in a metal box. As I drove back the large red ball of the sun was setting just as an almost full moon was rising. There was a hot-air balloon drifting low over the trees as it came in to land and the real bonus of having the top down is that you get to smell the blossom as you drive past or the sweet smell of the grass wet with evening dew.
I might have been slightly chilly by the time I got home but it was well worth it. Why have a soft-top if you don't make the most of it.
Nothing like it - far better than pills, potions or therapy.
Dawn Chorus
I woke up this morning at 4.30am - not unusual for me these days. Switched on the radio and started listening to the World Service for a few minutes, which was difficult as it was being drowned out by the wonderful noise of all the birds outside - singing their little heads off despite it not yet being light - although sunrise wasn't far away.
I heard a rumble of thunder in the distance and a few minutes later the heavens opened and there was a torrential downpour. I even got out of bed to watch. I love watching thunderstorms although this one didn't pass close by and there were just a few flashes of distant sheet lightening and the odd rumble of thunder.
I don't think the birds even stopped singing, although their song was temporarily drowned out by the rain. As soon as it stopped, there they were singing away again. Blackbirds, thrushes, robins, wrens and chaffinches being the main ones heard locally - all either defending their territory or advertising for a mate. Breeding season is in full swing so this is the peak time to listen to the annual chorus which tails off over the summer.
They're still singing now - several hours later. Not to the same extent but there's a blackbird that spends most of it's day in and around my garden singing either from the fence, cherry tree or a rooftop. I hope he's doing well!
Sometimes it's not so bad having a disturbed night's sleep when you get to listen to the dawn chorus.
I heard a rumble of thunder in the distance and a few minutes later the heavens opened and there was a torrential downpour. I even got out of bed to watch. I love watching thunderstorms although this one didn't pass close by and there were just a few flashes of distant sheet lightening and the odd rumble of thunder.
I don't think the birds even stopped singing, although their song was temporarily drowned out by the rain. As soon as it stopped, there they were singing away again. Blackbirds, thrushes, robins, wrens and chaffinches being the main ones heard locally - all either defending their territory or advertising for a mate. Breeding season is in full swing so this is the peak time to listen to the annual chorus which tails off over the summer.
They're still singing now - several hours later. Not to the same extent but there's a blackbird that spends most of it's day in and around my garden singing either from the fence, cherry tree or a rooftop. I hope he's doing well!
Sometimes it's not so bad having a disturbed night's sleep when you get to listen to the dawn chorus.
Yepee - it's raining.
Don't you just love the English weather. One day last week I was basking out in the sunshine and actually getting out the suncream and the summer clothes it was so hot.
Today it's been raining for most of the day. Not that I'm complaining.
a) I'm a gardener, so rain is always good for the garden and refilling the water butts - although it does mean mowing the lawn more frequently.
b) We still have a water shortage here in the south-east and a total hose-pipe ban, as you've no doubt heard me comment before. It will at least help to top up the water table.
I'm not sure what stopping private usage in gardens and for washing cars will do. A mere trickle compared with car washes and the usage from hotels, offices and any public amenities. Apparently it's OK to fill your swimming pool (how many cars will that wash!)
I have two water butts in the garden and I'm considering getting a third.
I have a hippo in my loo - no really! Well, it's a filled water bottle that displaces the water in the cistern so you use less each flush. One third of a house's water usage - literally goes down the loo.
I shower in preference to a bath and in the summer I'll recycle the water from my bath/shower on the garden. Soap suds are fine as long as you don't water fruit and veg that you plan to eat and there will be some of that going in this year - more than my usual tomato and salad plants. (A power shower can use as much water as a bath).
Here are some more water saving tips:
Today it's been raining for most of the day. Not that I'm complaining.
a) I'm a gardener, so rain is always good for the garden and refilling the water butts - although it does mean mowing the lawn more frequently.
b) We still have a water shortage here in the south-east and a total hose-pipe ban, as you've no doubt heard me comment before. It will at least help to top up the water table.
I'm not sure what stopping private usage in gardens and for washing cars will do. A mere trickle compared with car washes and the usage from hotels, offices and any public amenities. Apparently it's OK to fill your swimming pool (how many cars will that wash!)
I have two water butts in the garden and I'm considering getting a third.
I have a hippo in my loo - no really! Well, it's a filled water bottle that displaces the water in the cistern so you use less each flush. One third of a house's water usage - literally goes down the loo.
I shower in preference to a bath and in the summer I'll recycle the water from my bath/shower on the garden. Soap suds are fine as long as you don't water fruit and veg that you plan to eat and there will be some of that going in this year - more than my usual tomato and salad plants. (A power shower can use as much water as a bath).
Here are some more water saving tips:
- Turn off the tap when washing you teeth. If you brush your teeth for the recommended two minutes you could be wasting 12 litres of water each time. A family of four could save a bathful of water every day!
- Use energy efficient washing machines and dishwashers. These are A+ rated. I'm not about to say wash your clothes by hand but if you can, wash dishes in a bowl of water rather than a dishwasher.
- Don't use the half-load option on your washing machine. Wait until you have a full load. Save one wash a week and you'll save 5000 litres a year.
- Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need. This will also save electricity and reduce your fuel bill too.
- Repair dripping taps - these can use as much two bathfuls in a week if you don't fix them.
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