People in general are motivated and inspired by many different influences. When I hear stories of folks accomplishing incredible things, I can’t help but wonder what or who inspires them to take action. For me, I tend to be inspired by people; people who accomplish feats that most others can’t imagine. One such person who immediately comes to mind when I think about inspirational people, is Ferg Hawke. (from http://howardkettner.com/general/inspiration-in-death-valley/ )

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Inspiration in Death Valley search
Posted on Jan 17, 2011 in General | 0 comments
People in general are motivated and inspired Search
by many different influences. When I hear
stories of folks accomplishing incredible
things, I can’t help but wonder what or who categories
inspires them to take action. For me, I tend to
be inspired by people; people who accomplish
feats that most others can’t imagine. One
such person who immediately comes to mind Books
when I think about inspirational people, is General
Ferg Hawke.
Minimalist Living
Ferg is a local resident who is famous for
completing the Badwater Ultramarathon. The Quotes
race is 217 km non-stop beginning in Work & Life
Badwater Death Valley (the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere) and finishing at Mt.
,
Whitney (some 2530m above sea level). Ferg completed the race, which includes 3962m of
cumulative vertical ascent, in conditions as warm as 54 degrees Celsius! At the age of 47 he placed
second, finishing in less than 28 hours – I can’t even imagine. pages
He ended up turning his amazing experience into a movie, “Distance of Truth” – now that’s a movie
worth watching and re-watching! It explains how straying off the painted white line meant having his About Howard Kettner
shoes stick to the pavement. It talks about his feet swelling two or more sizes and how competitors
had their toenails surgically removed rather than incur the pain of losing them on the road. Now
THAT’s a great movie!
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It’s also a great inspiration that almost anything is possible – the body is a remarkable thing. I have
done some running and participated in races, but I can’t even grasp the concept of running all day
and all night, without a break. I guess I’ve always been attracted to stories of folks that endure January 2011
through difficult physical circumstances – suffice it to say that almost every book with the word
“Everest” in it is in our home library. December 2010
November 2010
What inspires you?
October 2010
April 2010
Quote – Tom Fleming March 2010
Posted on Jan 12, 2011 in Quotes | 0 comments
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“Somewhere in the world someone is training when you are not. When you race him,
he will win.”
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Tom Fleming (one of the all time great American runners. Won the New Y Marathon twice, took
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second at Boston two times.)
recommended links
Book Review – “Community Building on the Web: Secret Benefits World
Strategies for Successful Online Communities” By Amy Jo Kim GroupHEALTH Global
Posted on Jan 5, 2011 in Books | 0 comments
By Amy Jo Kim
I’m a huge fan of technology and how the web has revolutionized so
many aspects of our lives; I also strongly believe in the value of
‘community’. This book combines these two concepts to provide
tactical tips on how to build an online community.
Eloquently stated on the back of the book, “Thriving Web sites are
places that engage people and make them want to return again and
again – not only to visit, but to participate.” This mindset and the
concepts presented in the book are both thought-provoking and
enduring.
Written more than a decade ago, the tools to create a successful online community have surely
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2. changed, but the concepts presented in the book are still very relevant. I’d definitely recommend it.
Work: For Money and ?
Posted on Dec 7, 2010 in Work & Life | 0 comments
It’s an age old question that I can’t help but find interesting. The most obvious reason most of us
work is to earn the money necessary to support the lifestyle we’ve chosen. But wouldn’t you agree
that there are other factors driving people to perform at work? For me, there are a number of
motivators above and beyond the financial incentive. I work for the pleasure of interacting; I work
for the challenge – and satisfaction of creating solutions; I work as a way to fulfil my appetite for
new experiences and for meeting new people; I work to be a strong contributor to a group outcome.
I love all of this and more about my work – so, how about you? Aside from financial reasons, why do
you work?
Aside from financial reasons, why do
you work?
T solve problems
o
For the challenge
Other (Comment below)
T impact the world
o
For the pleasure of the work you perform
Just for money
As a means to accomplishing something
more
T be appreciated/feel needed
o
Vote
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Pay for Play
Posted on Dec 1, 2010 in Work & Life | 0 comments
It’s the 1st of December – and the first snowfall has come and gone in Vancouver; gone are those big
fat flakes that had the streets and sidewalks and everything else covered in the white stuff. For a
select few the snow translated into dollars as they feverishly worked to remove it. It reminded me
,
of my early days in BC’s Interior where I was one of those few; when my father introduced the magic
,
of “pay for play.”
I was 12 and my father had bought a tractor. He taught me how to landscape in the summer and plow
snow in the winter. I couldn’t believe that I was getting paid to do what any boy would love to do –
drive a tractor and move dirt and snow around.
My dad would let me use the tractor whenever I liked; provided I bought the gas, and did the
necessary plowing and landscaping on our small acreage. In no time I had clients all over town. I
worked hard, but loved what I did –it felt like I was being paid to play in the snow!
One time, when I was 14 or so, I remember asking my Dad what to do if the police pulled me over
while driving the tractor across town, or to the next job. He said, “first of all, wear a hat and sit up
tall. If that doesn’t work, you know my phone number. I want to meet the guy that pulls a hard-
working kid over between jobs.”
That was the late 60’s and times were different then. I was lucky to have those opportunities as a
teen in those years. So now like my father and I’m sure my father’s father before him, I’ll be
, ,
interested in seeing how my children’s privileges and challenges shape their future.
Check back here for a picture of Dad and the tractor. As I write this my dad is 89 and blessed with
wonderful health. I’m going to go visit him (probably during the Christmas week) and will get a
picture of him and the tractor. He has restored it and will be using it to plow snow again this
winter.
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3. Wasting Away
Posted on Dec 1, 2010 in Minimalist Living | 0 comments
Have you seen the garbage cans lining the street on garbage pick-up day? I’m always amazed by the
sheer magnitude of what we throw away; much of it being packaging and wrappers. It’s not just
packaging and wrappers, but food – lots of it. A big proportion of it is sent down the garburator but
,
it makes its way into the landfill as well. Ever eat at Cheesecake Factory? I’m not sure I know of
anyone who can finish a meal there. I think they must fill two dumpsters a night with the leftovers
scrapped off people’s plates. When you stop and think about everything that is required to bring
that food to the table, it’s astonishing. The fields need plowing, the greenhouses irrigated, fertilizer
dispersed, trucks to distribute, and the labour required to complete the process – and then we scoop
it into the dumpster. Wow!
As we get older we tend to reflect on the values we were taught as children. I remember my mom
saving every worn-out shirt and pair of pants I ever had – and she would cut the less worn pieces
into attractive shapes using a cardboard template she had, and over the course of a few days she’d
make a “new” quilt or blanket. My dad was a mechanic – he never went to Canadian Tire to buy shop
rags – he used pieces of worn out towels or facecloths, rather than discarding those. Very little went
into the garbage.
With the world population continuing to grow and more and more talk of how humans are destroying
,
the planet, I can’t help but think that some of the habits of yesteryear may help. If we reused more
and made a point of buying products with minimal packaging, perhaps it would make a difference. If
we don’t do this then the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ will continue to grow If you haven’t heard of
.
it, you’ll be amazed (and disgusted). Check out this article or try Google – you won’t believe how
many articles will pop up in response to your query.
Get Rid of It
Posted on Nov 24, 2010 in Minimalist Living | 0 comments
Over the last few years I have become quite interested in minimalist living – which is to say that
while it is something I strive for I’m not even close. Y know what I mean – 3 children still living at
, ou
home for the most part; kids have friends, and like many of you we’d prefer that our kids and their
friends be at our house watching a movie or hanging out as opposed to the alternative. I have made
some attempts at downsizing in the past, but there is always a lot of stuff that falls into the
category of “I might need this someday . . .”
What inspires me most is thoughtful articles like the one I’ve posted below; it caused me to say to
Coral, “We need to refocus on our goal of minimalist living”. Huge thanks to Matt for sharing this
piece by Robert Ringer which really puts into perspective the absurdity of keeping “stuff.”
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Click here to read the article and in future I’ll be posting more of the same. I’d love it if you’d share
your comments and perspectives.
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