New Stuff

Hi friends, another Monday, a new week and a whole lot of new things going on
at AODR.

If this is your first visit to the website and the blog - welcome.

If you are a repeat visitor you might want to take a few minutes today to look
over the site and see whats new.

There is a new "Products" page with information about my book," Acres of Diamonds Revisited"
an there is an "Additional Products" page in the works.

The additional products will include several e-courses in a variety of areas designed to help
you to more quickly become the best you can be.

There will also be other books available, mine and others. (I have 2 in the works)

The main focus of "Acres Of Diamonds Revisited" is to help folks to realize that opportunity
comes from within and that the ability to recognize and respond to opportunity is directly
related to our self understanding and self confidence.

What do you think you need most?

If you have any ideas for inclusion in our curriculum please pass them on. I sincerely want this
website and especially this blog to be interactive.

I know from long experience that everyone has the potential to come up with a million dollar idea
and I sure do want to hear yours!

Much thanks.


Len McNally

A game of failure

On a weekend baseball telecast the announcers were talking about
a player who is having a bad time of it recently.

Nothing seems to go right and in these circumstances many players,
especially young ones have a tendency to get down on themselves.

The broadcasters made the point that baseball is a game of failure!

If a hitter fails 7- % of the time he is an almost certain inductee to
the hall of fame!

A pitcher is a star if he gives up less than 4 runs per 9 innings pitched!

Four runs!

When many games are won by less than 2 runs!

They made the point that dealing with failure is an important part of the game.

A player has to understand the basics and believe that if he keeps working
at doing the right things, in the right way, things will turn around.

They make the point that if a player is playing in the major leagues, someone,
somewhere, must have believed in his abilities.

So he must believe in his own abilities and work at correcting whatever is not
working.

Self confidence, determination and above all, perseverance are the keys to staying
at the top - just as they are the keys to getting there.

How often do we get down on ourselves when things don't go the way we expected?

There is a world of truth in the axiom : When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

And it doesn't just apply to sports.

If a salesperson knows his closing ratio is 1 in 10, after his 7th rejection he says,
"All right! Only 3 more to go and I will have a sale!"

So hang in there and keep on swinging!

Never give up!

Never!


Len McNally

I'd rather be sailing...

I was supposed to be sailing today.

I crew on a 38 ft.FT sailboat out of Oswegooaks NY and they started
yesterday on the Lake Oohmmeterntario 300.

Unfortunately, on a race aboard this same boat about a month ago,
I severely injured my knee and had to bow out of this one -
the best, and toughest, race of the season.


This is a 300 Nautical Mile (about 360 statute miles) race, clockwise,
non stop, around Lake Ontario from Port Credit, Ontario
(just west of Toronto) and back to the start.

3 to 4 days of hard work, little sleep, bruises - and a huge sense of
satisfaction, just for competing.

This boat doesn't just compete, they win - they win a lot!

Why?

Because skipper Bob and his lady Kris, push the boat, themselves, and the
crew to 125 % of maximum performance every second, every minute, every
hour from start to finish!

You sometimes feel used and abused ( when you make a mistake you are told about it)
and we all make mistakes.

The think is, to not make the same boo boo twice, you learn and you get better.

that's one of the reasons I love to sail on a competitive boat, with competitive people.

Every hour on watch (4 on 4 off on this sort of a marathon) is a learning experience.

You are constantly challenged to perform at your maximum - and beyond.

I have a Gold medal from the ChiChicagocago Mackinac race in 2005
(First in class and 12 of 271 boats) from this boat and is one of my most prized
possessions.

Any way, I wish them luck and safety.

Bring home the flag guys.


Len McNally

What to do?

I finally had to break down and buy a new printer.

By the way I made a slight mistake in my blog a couple of days ago when I said I had never had to have a computer repaired. I meant a printer. My record with computers is abismal to say the least. I figure that every year my maintenance cost for my computer is roughly equal to the original price of the system!

Any way, back to my new printer.

I checked out several sources but narrowed it down to two major sources.

There were 4 printer, from 4 manufacturers, very similar in my price range and there didn't seem to be a whole lot to choose from.

I sought advice from a ,seemingly knowledgeable sales person in store 1 and was advised that of the four units, I'll call them brand A,B,C and D, A was the one to stay away from - bad track record on reliability and durability. Brand B was a relative unknown to this person and C and D were pretty well equal with C having maybe a slight edge.

At store 2, I looked at essentially the same brands A, B and C with D not available.

The advise here was stay away from C and B was considered risky as well as a heavy ink user.

I stopped in to talk to my computer guru who I normally trust without question.

His advice: A is the best B is an unknown D is not bad but stay away from C.

In the end I ignored all advice and bought the one I liked best.
(Based on I'm not sure what criteria although, while I hate to
admit it, I probably just liked the looks of it.)

So just as in any aspect of decision making or problem solving,
I elected to go with my own instincts and intuition.
These have been honed over the years and rarely play me wrong.

Time will tell!

Meantime, I have to get on with the printing job that has been waiting
since Thursday of last week.

By the way, how do you make decisions in the face of conflicting
advice from normally reliable sources?


Len McNally

Ramblin Len

Well it's Friday morning and I'm only a couple hours away from my weekend.

I haven't worked Friday afternoons in nearly thirty years and to be honest,
I'm getting close to a problem once described to me by a retired friend.

"You don't get any holidays. The weekend is just two more days of relaxation.
You never have the satisfaction of making it to quitting time. Its a drag."

Tongue in cheek of course!

Actually though, I'm working fewer hours every month and accomplishing more.

And actually, its not working.

Honest!

I think it was LMI founder Paul J. Meyer who said something like,
"Find something you love to do and you'll never work another day in your life."

And he was right!

How about you?

Are you doing something you love to do?

If not:

Why not?

What's holding you back?

Keeping you from doing what you would really, really like to do?

I have a new book in the works to be called, "ReCareering", dedicated
to helping people get into the career they belong in.

If you have any stories about career nightmares of successful career changes
I would love to hear them.

If I use them in my book, I promise to be discreet - even anonymous if you like.

I'd like to see a more caring, sharing world.

Where everyone who has found a way to solve a problem:

Eliminate a bad situation:

Turn a problem into an opportunity:

Is willing to share with others in the hope that somewhere, someone will be uplifted
by their story and find their own way out of their own quagmire.

Utopian?

Well why not?

The more we dream of a better world, the better our world becomes.

If "A journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step." Then

A single step begins with a dream!

So step up to the plate and spray a few of your hits our way.

I need your help.

We all need your help.


Len McNally

Ramblin Len

Frustration personified!

For the past 3 days I've been working on a special project for my website.

It requires the co-operation of a couple of programs that usually make life
a whole lot easier.

I mean, that's what computers are for, right?

To help us do things easily that we probably couldn't do at all without them.

So far this week 2 different programs have refused to function properly.

This morning my printer refuses to print.

Or copy.

Or scan!

With the printer I have issues.

I can likely buy a new printer for about two times the cost of repair.

In almost 15 years of using computers I have never had to have one repaired.

Guess I should count my blessings huh?

The software programs are another story.

Odds are, if I put the project aside for a few days and try again everything
will work fine.

This is experience talking here.

I don't know why but computers, and their software programs, seem to,
once in a while, just like real people, have a "bad hair" day!

The trick is to not let them cause me to have a "bad hair" day!

I moved the printing job into # 1 priority this morning so I could give the
troublesome software programs a day off.

Now I have to tell you, I'm not a "techie" guy.

I am a one time vehicle mechanic. So my expectation is that machines
will do what machines are supposed to do.

When they don't, there's a readily apparent reason.

Something I can usually fix.

Computers are not machines.

I'm convinced they are people!

Bad people who have been reincarnated!

Bad people who's main reason for being is to bring frustration to live people!

Their ability to help is a pretext.

It allows them to get close to us.

So we depend on them to help us get things done.

Then:

Just when we have an important project to do:

Wham!

Nothing!

Nada!

Niet!

Zilch!

I have found that, for me at least, the best way to deal with
"computer harassment" is to always have a project in the works
that doesn't require computer assistance.

Like, research at the library instead of online.

Or, shopping for a new printer - in person - at the store!
(Get ready for the scrap heap you #$%^&*!)

Or taking my wife shopping!

Honest guys, by comparison to dealing with my computer
its way up there!

Of course I'm lucky.

I'm in a position where I don't have to answer to anyone but me.

And my clients of course, but they don't know when I check out!

How about you?

How do you deal with frustration?

Computer or otherwise?

Do you have a method?

A formula?

The gift of infinite patience?

Share with us.

Some of us may find your ideas helpful.


Len McNally

Ramblin Len

I've been thinking about all the great ideas I get in the shower!

What is it about standing there,
with the water pouring over your head
that makes you think?

And not just think -

Think innovatively:

Creatively:

Intuitively!

Does this happen to you?

I don't think I'm alone here.

I can't remember his name offhand.

I'm thinking of the guy who started Atari.

He said, "Everybody has a great idea in the shower.
Its the guy who gets out of the shower, dries himself
off, and does something about it, who makes things happen."

So I figure he must be a "think in the shower" guy too!

So most likely, most of us fit the mold.

How often do you get a "ah hah" moment in the shower?

What's the best one you ever had?

Come on!

Share it with the rest of us!

My blog this morning - about baseball's second half

and how we all need to set objectives and take action,

was a "shower idea"!

I'll let you know if I get another one tomorrow.

Meanwhile, post a response.

We'd all like to hear from you.


Len McNally

Ramblin Len

Well its Wednesday morning, the day after the MLB All Star game
and a great time to get the blog off the ground.

Welcome to the first inning of the first game!

If you're not a baseball fan I hope you'll stick with me anyway.

I'm a big Blue Jays fan (I live less than an hour drive from Sky
Dome) and I can't help wondering what objectives The Jays are
setting for the second half.

Cause I know they're setting objectives!

Individually and collectively.

And I know that they are taking a long hard look at what they
have to do to make those objectives happen.

The first half was good - but not good enough.

You can bet your bippie they aren't just hoping for a better
second half.

They're going to make it happen!

They're getting very specific:

Increase On base percentage to xxx from yyy

Increase batting average to xxx from yyy

Increase batting average with runners in scoring position to xxx
from yyy

Study specific pitcher(s) who I don't do well against.
What do I need to do to beat this guy?
How does he get me out?
What pitch should I be looking for?

What do I need to improve in my fielding?

Concentration?
Footwork?
Glove work?
Anticipation?

Player x gets a lot of hits past me.
How do I need to play him differently?
What should I expect from him when....?

See, these guys are pros!

Not just the Jays!

You don't make it to the major leagues (in any sport) without
dedication.

Determination.

Hard work.

Honest self criticism

Guts.

And when you need help

You ask for it!

Even if you're a superstar!

So:

If I want to play in the bigs:

In whatever field I want to play in:

I need to do the same thing.

I need to look ay my strengths.

And my "Areas that need improvement"

Set some tough objectives.

Make a list of what I need to do to make these things happen.

Prioritize my list.

And:

Get started.

Get started now!

Today!

This morning!

What do you do to get yourself ready for the "second half"?

Or the next challenge, the next step, the next stage?

I'm always looking for new ideas, new ways to make a difference
in my life.

And new ways to help other people make a difference in theirs.

Sometimes someone will say something simple and I realize:
Dog gone it! I knew that! I used to do that! Why did I stop?

A coach once told me, "I've never had an original idea.
But I sure have forgotten some good ones!"

Feedback - "the breakfast of champions" is always welcome.


Len McNally