Acres Of Diamonds Revisited

Proper use of funds

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:39:25 +0000

We have an interesting conflict going on locally and it makes me wonder about the principles involved.

We have a very old high school - more than 100 years old, which is still in use but badly in need of repair.

After several years of debate, discussion and input from a variety of sources the Board of Education decided
to rebuild the existing school then did an about face and decided to build a new school elsewhere.

The municipal government then jumped in and said the want the old school rebuilt.

(Under our system the Board of Education is independent of the municipality and sets its own taxes but the municipality can refuse to sell a new property to the Board)

Now I for one believe in the preservation of history and the school in question is definitely a "Heritage" building
of the type we will never see again and should be preserved.

BUT

Is it appropriate for the Board of Education to fund the preservation of an historical building?

Their funds after all are allocated for EDUCATION !

The figures released are that a new school would cost 30 million dollars and rebuilding the old school would cost 35 million dollars.

But

The rebuilt school would not be as functional as a new school and the property is not really as large as is desired.

A major question to me is still that of using education dollars to fund historical preservation.

Any comments ?

Len McNally

The Pain Of It All

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 16:08:09 +0000

Hi folks;

I've just discovered that the pain in my shoulder is a torn rotator cuff.

And I have never even tried to throw a slider!

Anyway its one of those things that aches all the time and is just a genuine pain in the - well - shoulder.

And it sure does interfere with my curling game. After sitting out a couple of games one of my teammates suggested I try throwing with a stick. For those not in the know - and I guess that means most non Canadians - this is a relatively new device invented to allow the "old guys" with bad hips or knees to throw a curling rock while standing up. (At 66 I am NOT one of the "old guys").

So, after a couple of hours of practice, I tried it in a game and - it works not bad! Of course it will take a little time to redevelop my usual finesse (never mind the cat calls) but at least it means I'm not finished for the season. We have only 5 or 6 weeks till playoff time and I didn't want to miss that.

I see my doctor next week to talk about surgical options but my guess is that although I will be OK for curling I will miss the 2007 sailing season which REALLY hurts. I have an invite to crew again in the Chicago Mackinaw and Port Huron Mackinaw races which is a blast. (I have a Gold Medal from the 2005 Chicago Mac - my lifetime sailing accomplishment) but I know I won't be able to pull a line or grind a winch. Sometimes we just have to accept the rotten apples that come our way!

By the way, if anyone has a magic cure for the torn rotator cuff (or legal pain relief) I will be glad to hear from you.

Hope you're having a great winter (or I guess its summer for my Aussie and Kiwi and S.A. readers) we have had a whole lot of snow in the past 10 days or so and I'm looking for spring - soon!

Len McNally

PS.

If you haven't done so yet, why not sign up for the AODR Weekly Ezine! It's FREE already !

Winter has arrived in Southern Ontario !

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:02:48 +0000

Hi Folks;

Winter has finally arrived in Southern Ontario !

My stand of evergreens are covered in ice (very pretty
actually at least the Spruce) and the frail Norway Pines
look pretty sick with 7 and 8 foot long branches hanging
to the ground under the weight.

I had planned to thin them in the spring anyway so I
guess this will make it easier to decide which to remove.

Still, I faired better than some. as I drove around town
yesterday I saw a number of huge beautiful trees with
limbs broken and dangling or laying on the ground.

But all was not lost. The kids got a day off from school
since we are reluctant to send school busses out on ice
covered roads and even walking was hazardous. (When
driving around town - mainly to my curling club - I stuck
to main streets which were well salted and sanded.)

They say we'll be back to unseasonably warm temperatures
within a few days so this won't be too hard to take. We sure
are getting spoiled - watch out for next year!

Len McNally

PS.

If you have a website or any other product to promote I
recently came across a new product that can send a message
directly to the desktops of people who have agreed to receive
these messages. It looks like a fantastic alternative to email
advertising with all the barriers and resistance to reading.
You can check it out at:
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But before you go, why not sign up for my weekly ezine.
Its FREE already !

Len

Resolutions and Stress

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 15:14:39 +0000

Resolutions and Stress

As if we don't have enough stress in our lives there seems to be something
about our society that demands we set "New Years Resolutions" to do more,
be more, achieve more in the coming year.

Setting "New Years Resolutions" isn't all bad but:

When we set impossible goals

That we do not have the tools

Or the skills

Or the know how to accomplish

We are setting ourselves up for failure.

And any time we find ourselves in a situation where we are failing

Or appear to be failing

Or feel destined to fail

We are creating stress.

And while stress CAN be a good thing

A necessity to achievement and to growth

This kind of stress is bad.

This kind of stress kills!

A few years ago I attended a conference where a very expensive psychiatrist
told us that the secret to reducing stress is to reduce the gap between our
expectations and reality.

Since we can't change reality ( we can change our perception of reality but that
is another story) this means we must reduce our expectations - not the ticket to
high achievement.

What we need to do is to be realistic in setting our objectives in the first place.

When we are setting objectives ( I really don't like the "Goal" word) which is what
"New Years Resolutions" are we should take careful stock of who and what we
are, what resources we have available and determine what we need to have, do,
and become in order to achieve these objectives.

We should commit to objectives only after we have determined that they are achievable
- with a lot of sincere effort - within the framework of our resources.

So, don't set yourself up for failure.

Examine your resolutions

Examine yourself

Examine your resources

Examine your motives

And then commit to what you are realistically capable of achieving this year.

You can then set long term objectives to be accomplisher in 2, 3, 5, 10 or even
20 years and then take action steps this year to bring you closer to being able
to accomplish them.

On the AODR "Yes I Can" Website, on the "Products" page under "Ecurriculum"
there is a course available entitled, "Setting and Achieving Objectives" and another
course entitled "Know Yourself".

Visit:

http://tinyurl.com/yarthk/products3.php

Either (or both) of these just might be what you need to set and achieve your 2007
"New Years Resolutions" without getting all stressed out.

At any rate I do hope you will resolve to make 2007 your best year ever!

Happy New Year!

Len McNally

PS.

Once again that URL to visit is:

http://tinyurl.com/yarthk/products3.php

Your 2007 Objectives !

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:30:02 +0000

Hi Folks:

You likely know that 90 % of new years resolutions will not be achieved!

What about you?

Do you want to end 2007 in the same place you are ending 2006 ?

Do you understand that if you keep doing the same things
you will get the same results ?

If nothing changes - nothing changes!

So simple its silly ?

Maybe.

But you know its true !

There is a simple to use easy to follow program available
at a very reasonable cost

That if you follow it:

Will increase your chances of achieving your objectives

EXPONENTIALLY !

You CAN move forward in 2007 !

You Can achieve the things you REALLY want to achieve!

Henry Ford told us,

"Whether you think you can, or

whether you think you can't ---

you're right."

I KNOW you can !

YOU must know it too!

Check it out now at:

http://tinyurl.com/yarthk/products3.php

And scroll down to "Setting and Achieving Objectives"

Or just go back to our HOME Page, click on ECurriculum and scroll down.

If you have any problems or questions send me an email at:

len@lenmcnally.com

I will respond within 48 hours!

Make 2007 your best year ever!

One more time:

Go to:

http://tinyurl.com/yarthk/products3.php

And scroll down to "Setting and Achieving Objectives"

Or just go back to our HOME Page, click on ECurriculum and scroll down.

Len McNally

Lets talk turkey!

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:38:19 +0000

Hi folks;

Don't know about you but I'm so full of turkey I go "gobble, gobble, gobble"
every time I open my mouth!

Not that I'm complaining mind you, turkey is one of my favorite foods.

One of my hobbies is cooking (I do all of the cooking at our house) so when
my daughter asked me to cook a turkey dinner for her and her kids as well
as her twin brother and his family, she knew I'd readily agree.

Then, because my wife's family are mostly located in London, Ontario, about
a one hour drive from us, we can never get everyone to come to our house for
Christmas dinner and we usually go to London. (My twins are there too)

This means that we get to participate in all the Christmas goodies with none of
the work. So -- since my sister in law separated from her husband a year ago and
is alone in her house (except for her dog) we suggested that we would do a family
Christmas dinner (my wife's family) at her house on December 26th.

Now, I'm usually pretty organized (in fact personal organization and time
management have always been a mainstay of my Executive and Corporate
Coaching practice through The Leadership Centre - see TLC-Leadership.com) but
organizing two huge meals out of town, at two different homes, and bringing
everything required for both, from roast pan to champagne, was quite a challenge!

As it turned out, we served 10 at my daughter's home and 12 at my sister in law's
without a single hitch or problem - except abdominal extension!

For some strange reason out of 22 people only 3 (including myself) like either
turnip or cranberries! Go figure! Too bad, I cook, First and Foremost, for me!

Early January will see a return to diet and exercise, but for now there are lots of
leftovers!

This "Yes I Can" Website, Ezine and Blog, is dedicated to helping you to recognize
and take advantage of opportunities around you so check out our Products, including
the E Curriculum.

I have also come across and become involved with a couple of other thinks that might
be of interest, especially if you're interested in online marketing or product promotions.

Check out:

http://tinyurl.com/y3rl5b

and

http://tinyurl.com/yb2l9s

By the way, tinyurl.com is a free to use service that shortens a
long url to something more manageable.

Have a fantastic 2007 !!!

Len McNally

Where are your golden eggs?

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 21:33:40 +0000

Hi Folks;

You know sometimes we're so busy chasing goals
that we lose ourselves in the process. Remember
the story of the goose that laid the golden egg?

One day, a farmer discovers his pet goose has
laid a golden egg. But instead of looking after
the goose and nurturing it, he decides to splice
open it's belly to get more eggs!

To his dismay, the farmer doesn't find any more
golden eggs and even worse, the goose is now dead!

Being successful is not just about getting more
golden eggs or results. If you want to be happy
in the long run, you also need to take care of
the asset that creates your results - that is YOU!

My fiend Matt Clarkson has an excellent e-course
which has helped thousands of people just like you.

You'll learn the simple meditations and breathing
exercises you need to achieve your highest ambitions
and be fulfilled.

http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1732247

In fact, you'll not only learn plenty of ways to
reduce stress, you can even listen to his
meditations online right here, right now:

http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1732247

Trust me, you'll be glad you did!

To your happiness and success,

Len McNally

Defining Moments

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:14:03 +0000

A young women called me the other day, referred by a friend.

She and her husband had both lost their jobs earlier this year,
are now both employed again and trying to put their lives back
together while dealing with the debt created by unemployment.

I hope I was able to help her but what I really want to tell you is
that they are expecting a baby, their first. I could hear the thrill
in her voice when she told me how excited she is, and how
frightened. I instantly felt thrilled for her.

I assured her it would be the greatest moment in their lives!

It got me thinking about important milestones in my life and none
comes close to the birth of my twins more than forty years ago.

Both have by now given me grand children which means more
great thrills but still, nothing beats that first time, standing at the
nursery window as a nurse held up one, then the other. I was so
choked I could hardly breathe and writing about it now, even
after all those years, I have goosebumps.

We've just passed American Thanksgiving so I guess it is an ideal
time to think about all those tremendous, defining moments in our
lives that have shaped who and what we are.

It is also an ideal time to resolve to change what needs to be changed
to enable us to become everything that nature intended us to be.

Remember, when nothing changes --- nothing changes.

Len McNally

P.S. Check out the Products page of this site for information about
books and e courses that may be just what you need.

And if you haven't signed up yet for the AODR e-zine, get to
it. It's free already!

Where are your golden eggs?

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 15:42:40 +0000

Hi Folks;

I've come accross something I really need
to share with you .

Where are your golden eggs?

You know sometimes we're so busy chasing goals
that we lose ourselves in the process. Remember
the story of the goose that laid the golden egg?

One day, a farmer discovers his pet goose has
laid a golden egg. But instead of looking after
the goose and nurturing it, he decides to splice
open it's belly to get more eggs!

To his dismay, the farmer doesn't find any more
golden eggs and even worse, the goose is now dead!

Being successful is not just about getting more
golden eggs or results. If you want to be happy
in the long run, you also need to take care of
the asset that creates your results - that is YOU!

My fiend Matt Clarkson has an excellent e-course
which has helped thousands of people just like you.

You'll learn the simple meditations and breathing
exercises you need to achieve your highest ambitions
and be fulfilled.

http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1709788

In fact, you'll not only learn plenty of ways to
reduce stress, you can even listen to his
meditations online right here, right now:

http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?Clk=1709788

Trust me, you'll be glad you did!

To your happiness and success,

Len McNally

The 80/20 Rule

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 16:39:51 +0000

Hi Folks;

I was reminded yesterday that the old 80/20 rule applies in
almost every aspect of life.

I talk a lot about the 80/20 rule - or the Paretto Principle -
in connection with time management where I point out that
80 percent of the time you use produces only 20 percent of
the results you achieve, and its corollary, 20 percent of the
time you use produces 80 percent of your results.

In this case the principle manifested itself in a small
business organization to which I belong when we were
nominating people for our three person executive.

Several people declined nomination until I pointed out that
everyone who benefits from membership in the organization
should feel obligated to share the work required to make
the organization effective. Otherwise you're looking for a
free ride.

This is where the 80/20 rule comes in. In virtually every
service club or organization, 80 percent of the work is
done by 20 percent of the members. 80 percent of the
members get a "Free Ride." I don't believe that your
membership fee entitles you to that.

The serving president as Chair, pointed out that she would
prefer to have people decline nomination rather than to
accept, be elected and not do the job.

My position is still that the organization might be better off
without those members not prepared to accept the
responsibility to share the load. Membership requires -
demands, responsibility.

What do you think?

Do you have an example of the 80/20 principle in action?

Len McNally

PS.

Check out our "Products" page for e courses designed to
help you to become a more effective leader.

Lest We Forget

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:07:53 +0000

Hi Folks;

Tomorrow, November 11 is Veterans Day -
Remembrance Day in Canada.

I hope everyone who can will be at a cenotaph to honor
those brave souls who fought - and often died - so that
you and I could have the kind of life we now so often
take for granted.

Even today more men and women are putting their lives on
the line every day in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and
whether or not we agree with the reasons for their being
there we must understand that they believe they are
doing a job that must be done.

I hope we can all be supportive of our soldiers no matter
what our politics.

I served for ten years in the Royal Canadian Air Force -
all of it peace time and had the privilege to know many men
who had served in WW 2 and in Korea and never knew
one of them to brag or to complain about the experience.

We don't just owe them a lot.

We owe them everything.

Len McNally

Election Day!

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 21:12:44 +0000

Hi Folks;

Today is election day in the USA, a day many people have
been anxiously awaiting.

Many have been awaiting this day because they are hoping
that someone will be elected
who will make a real difference in the world. If you are
one of these I sincerely hope your
candidate fares well.

As many as those people are who are hoping for a better
world, there are probably three times
as many folks who KNOW we will have a better world,
starting tomorrow, because we will
no longer be inundated with all the nasty innuendoes, snide
suggestions and sly remarks about
"the incumbent" or "the wanna be".

I wonder if politicians ever stop to think that when they
put down the incumbent they are telling
the electorate, "You elected this person. You must be a
bunch of idiots."

Wouldn't it be great to experience an election campaign
where every candidate (or even most of them)
presented the good things that could happen if he or she is
elected. The changes that could be made and the differences
those changes would make in the lives of the electorate.
There was a time (you may be too young to remember) when
that is what politicians did. They talked about the future,
created dreams of what could be and presented plans of
action designed to make the dreams a reality. (Kind of like
we do on this website.) Now it seams there are no dreams,
only promised nightmares if candidate x is reelected.

Well, at least its over (for about a year) and who knows,
maybe some of those elected really will learn to dream, and
to plan, and to make the dreams come true.

If we don't have hope......

Len McNally

Peanuts and Leadership

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:41:52 +0000

Hi Folks;

A writer for our local newspaper stirred up a hornet's nest
this week when she suggested that parents of children with
peanut allergies should take the responsibility to "street
safe their" kids by teaching them what they must not do to
protect themselves. The controversy started when a school
banned peanuts and other nuts to protect one allergic
child.

I'm sure we all agree that to see a child die from
something as silly as drinking from a friends drink when
the friend had just eaten peanut butter would be a tragedy
but who should bear the burden of prevention?

Peanut is a staple in the diet of many children - for some
families, the only healthy food they can afford - and it is
difficult to find a candy bar certified nut free.

There is also the issue of enforcement. Can you really
prevent every child in a school from picking up something
containing peanuts at the corner store on the way to or
from school? And what is the appropriate punishment? Is
"possession of peanuts" to become a felony (this could be
attemted murder), is a child to be warned, sent home,
banned from school or ?????

Is this ruccuss really about peanuts or child safety?

Is it just one more example of the new age expectation that
"Big Brother" (the state) must look after us from cradle to
grave?

Should it perhaps be about responsibility?

Please feel free to jump in on this one folks it's a lot
more important than it seems on the surface.

Len McNally

Sister Sites

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:20:54 +0000

Hi Folks;

Some of you may know that for many years my main focus in life has been as an Executive and Corporate Coach through The Leadership Centre.

Since I am no longer actively looking for in house coaching assignments, offering instead on line e-courses through this site (The AODR Curriculum). I have been in the process of transferring many articles and other content from www.tlc-leadership.com .

That site will then be completely torn down and rebuilt primarily as a feeder site to this site (http://www.acresofdiamondsrevisited.com)

The main difference will be that The Leadership Centre site will be designed to attract mainly corporate traffic while this site is directed more at the individual in need of self improvement skills and tools.

There is a bit of a juggling act involved as I realize that corporations are run by individuals who employ individuals and while I don't try to be all things to all people, for many years I have used the slogan, Leadership from the top floor to the shop floor. This simply means that I welcome executives who are in search of self improvement for themselves as well as those who will refer their brightest and most promising people to this site in search of the rapid leadership development they have experienced from The Leadership Centre in the past.

So whether you are looking for tools for your own development or for the development of your staff, family or friends, look through the available articles and check out the E-Curriculum from the Products Page, you may be surprised at what you find.

Len McNally

PS. And oh yes, please sign up for the AODR e-zine while you're here - after all at $00.00 its a bargoon!

We shouldn't be surprised!

Acres Of Diamonds Revisited — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:05:53 +0000

Hi Folks;

I read a blurb somewhere that seems to think we should be amazed by some new research that tells us that kids are influenced by what they are told by adults especially teachers.

For example if you tell your son (or your pupil)that he is a pretty darned good football player he is likely to be a pretty darned good football player and if you tell him he is not likely good enough to make the team he likely won't!

I mean, come on folks, is this 2006 or 1906? We've known about the law of expectation for a long, long time! In fact, there is an article on
my e-zine that talks about a paper I wrote on the subject thirty five years ago.

This particular article (the one I read recently) was directed at teachers to let them know about how they can effect children in the classroom! If teachers don't understand this by now our society is in a lot of trouble.

Come to think of it, our society IS in a lot of trouble!

Hmm---

OK, I had better remember my class in logic where I learned that
if 2 + 2 = 4 and A + B = 4 it doesn't necessarily follow that A = 2 and B = 2 or that A = B ( 1 + 3 = 4 and 3 + 1 = 4 and 5 - 1 = 4 etc.)

So it isn't fair to suggest that teachers are responsible for all of society's troubles. (I know some pretty good ones but maybe I should tell them?)

However, I do think that it is fair to suggest that the person who wrote the article or the people who did the research and were surprised by the results had better wake up and smell the coffee - and not the decaff stuff either.

And the rule of expectation doesn't apply only to children! Managers, good managers anyway, know that praise for a job well done (especially public praise) is often a better motivator than money and they know that all criticism should be both constructive and private.

Now perhaps the most important questions should be, who funded this startling new research - and - Why?

wanna bet it was your money and mine?

Len McNally

PS. If you haven't signed up yet for AODR, The e-zine, whats holding you back? I expect you to sign up - so -