I will currently be putting together 200 exhibitors expecting 10 000 visitors who want to drink over 1000 wines. thats quite a stress, so I had pre-planned this and am only putting up a powerful link today, from the Zenhabits website. Its one of my favorites.

you should read this today.

CLICK THIS!

see you next week!

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this is a guest post by Wise Bread

If you’re tired all the time, a change in what you eat (diet) or what you do all day (activity pattern) may be all you need to turn things around 180°.

You won’t be able to do everything on this list all the time — you’d tire yourself out trying to get more energy — but do try them all to see which ones work for you and your schedule. Add a few of these tips to your regular routine. Or mix them up to keep things interesting.

1. Change your socks for refreshment.

It’s an amazing trick. Bring a change of socks to work, and change your socks midway through the day (say, after lunch). You’ll be amazed at how much fresher you’ll feel. This trick is especially handy on days with lots of walking — like during a hike or family outing to the amusement park.

2. Rock out loud. (more…)

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So,its the middle of the week. Slump time right? No no no… Today I am going to inspire you with some amazing music videos so that you will be pumped for the day ahead. I know that after watching these, this very morning, I am excited to go out there and rock this day…

nice, a bit of white anger to get the morning going. Lets cruise into something prettier, shall we…

kif. now, for a last one, i`m thinking we go a bit… well, lets go back a few months, and remember that I can now combine this song, as average as it is, with the visuals, and remember being there…

the visual of the leader out front, then the press (i get goosebumps about here), and then the pack chasing…

I’m done.

Go about your day now…

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I took this test this test a while ago and came upon the results again yesterday.

Little things like this can be helpful to identify where you should be spending your energy. According to this, my personality type is:

ENFJs are the benevolent ‘pedagogues’ of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it’s usually not meant as manipulation — ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.

ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.

ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don’t resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.

ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.

TRADEMARK: “The first shall be last”
This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs. One ENFJ colleague always welcomes me into his office regardless of his own circumstances. If another person comes to the door, he allows them to interrupt our conversation with their need. While discussing that need, the phone rings and he stops to answer it. Others drop in with a ‘quick question.’ I finally get up, go to my office and use the call waiting feature on the telephone. When he hangs up, I have his undivided attention!

Functional Analysis:

Extraverted Feeling
Extraverted Feeling rules the ENFJ’s psyche. In the sway of this rational function, these folks are predisposed to closure in matters pertaining to people, and especially on behalf of their beloved. As extraverts, their contacts are wide ranging. Face-to-face relationships are intense, personable and warm, though they may be so infrequently achieved that intimate friendships are rare.

Introverted Intuition
Like their INFJ cousins, ENFJs are blessed through introverted intuition with clarity of perception in the inner, unconscious world. Dominant Feeling prefers to find the silver lining in even the most beggarly perceptions of those in their expanding circle of friends and, of course, in themselves. In less balanced individuals, such mitigation of the unseemly eventually undermines the ENFJ’s integrity and frequently their good name. In healthier individuals, deft use of this awareness of the inner needs and desires of others enables this astute type to win friends, influence people, and avoid compromising entanglements.

The dynamic nature of their intuition moves ENFJs from one project to another with the assurance that the next one will be perfect, or much more nearly so than the last. ENFJs are continually looking for newer and better solutions to benefit their extensive family, staff, or organization.

Extraverted Sensing
Sensing is extraverted. ENFJs can manage details, particularly those necessary to implement the prevailing vision. These data have, however, a magical flexible quality. Something to be bought can be had for a song; the same something is invaluable when it’s time to sell. (We are not certain, but we suspect that such is the influence of the primary function.) This wavering of sensory perception is made possible by the weaker and less mature status with which the tertiary is endowed.

Introverted Thinking
Introverted Thinking is least apparent and most enigmatic in this type. In fact, it often appears only when summoned by Feeling. At times only in jest, but in earnest if need be, Thinking entertains as logical only those conclusions which support Feeling’s values. Other scenarios can be shown invalid or at best significantly inferior. Such “Thinking in the service of Feeling” has the appearance of logic, but somehow it never quite adds up.

Introverted Thinking is frequently the focus of the spiritual quest of ENFJs. David’s lengthiest psalm, 119, pays it homage. “Law,” “precept,” “commandment,” “statute:” these essences of inner thinking are the mysteries of Deity for which this great Feeler’s soul searched.

respect.

to me.

for being “all” that.

Do you agree? Take the test yourself…

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The ability to be open and aware of the needs of others in times when we are particularly busy is what the experts would term “being mindful”. Its one of the toughest skills to master and takes daily work, effort and concentration.

To many, it seems impossible.

But not only is it possible, I’d submit that it’s desirable, and that it’ll help the busy (and non-busy) achieve their goals and enjoy life more fully.

It seems contradictory to those who are used to sacrificing living for pursuing their goals … but cultivating mindfulness will help you achieve your goals and enjoy life more. So, by paying less attention to yourself, you will achieve more.

No, i`m not crazy. Please enjoy the rest of this post, masterfully written by the author of Zen Habits … (more…)

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My diary has a list of things I need to do each day. The list is compiled of;

1. Things I didnt get done the previous day

Plus…

2. Things that crop up on the current day.

So my list grows as the day goes, unless I am getting lots done and then, by some miracle, the list shrinks. I try and limit the list to things that need to get done everyday, so a few rules for my list is:

1. Keep it clean – dont scribble or scratch all over the list to make it look messy. this tends to demotivate me when my list of things to do looks sloppy and I can hardly make out what I wrote.

2. Nothing involving Facebook, Twitter or things that can wait until the weekend.

3. Food, clothes shopping not on the list, at all. Only work stuff which impacts my future. Not my personal image.

I find that since I have been “listing”, I tend to get an average of 5 more things done a day. Considering my average day has about 15 things to get through, this helps alot, and I am 33% more efficient, which is ALOT.

Are you listing?

How does it work for you?

I wish I could keep better logs of my training, and my food intake, and how my body feels. I need to get to those next. In fact, I wish there was an online diary that sync’d my diary, Training Peaks, food intake and general mood, all off my cellphone.

Now that would save me alot of time in every year.

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This, from Bikeradar.com

Former world hour record holder Graeme Obree is seriously considering another attempt at the record.

In an interview in Cycling Plus 224 (on sale 5 June), 43-year-old Obree says he has been training hard, built a bike that conforms with UCI regulations (you can see him and it at BikeRadar Live), and set a date of late 2009 to make the attempt.

“I’m not saying that I will break the hour record, but I am aspiring to do it,” said Obree. “You know, last year was the first year since I was 16 that I didn’t win a bike race.

“I don’t think that you’re physically hampered from winning at the highest level just because of age. To diminish yourself just in terms of age isn’t justified. I don’t think you can use it as an excuse, not if you’ve kept it going.”

The current record, using ‘modern’ UCI rules, is 49.7km, held by Czech Ondrej Sosenka. In the past, when the rules allowed for more aerodynamic bikes, Obree twice broke the record: 51.596km in 1993 and 52.713km in 1994.

Read more at BikeRadar

Ok, so lets have a look at that last record…

That thing makes the new fashionable Mantis Position look easy…

I wonder where that idea of “Mantis” came from…

Respect.

Back on topic – how amazing is Obree’s new bike, pedaling a front chainring of 67 teeth. Check it out, its amazing. I struggle to get over a 54, but not him. 67 will do if you want to go over 50km per hour, for an hour.

Try ride 50km/h on a flat rode, and not in your tt bars either. Now, hold that for an hour. Lets have a look a the UCI (Union of Cycling Idiots) “legal” bike.

Looks like a dustbin lid in the middle there. But maybe its just me. At 43, I just dont want to look like this guy…

Have a great weekend.

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one of the key things I stress for going long in training is basic strength, especially as we hit 30 and above. the ability to keep form is easier when we have the physical strength to do it. Most athletes are weak in their core area, as the swim works the shoulder area and the bike and run work the legs. Doing lunges and squats changed my run, changed my bike, removed injury from my schedule, and helped me on the way to a great Ironman.

Here is the way you need to approach Squats and Lunges, given to us by the honorable Gordo.

ok, now lunges…

Great. Now we have it. No more excuses for walking. If you are not doing some form of strength training (yoga, pilates counts too), you should be adding it this winter. With the bad weather, its a good time to get in the gym and work on a base of strength to carry you through the season and summer.

In other news, myself and my Urban Angel ran in the dark this morning, with a nice berg wind blowing. Oh, there was some lightning. It looked like this.

I kid you not… that pic was taken this morning by this guy.

How amazing is that!

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OH MY….. that is so cool.

This demo — from Pattie Maes’ lab at MIT — was the buzz of TED. It’s a wearable device with a projection screen that paves the way for profound interaction with our environment. Imagine “Minority Report” and then some.

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“The one absolutely unselfish friend that humans can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts them, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is their dog.”

~George Graham Vest, Senator of Missouri, 1855

something on my mind recently had been the value to all men of having a best friend. as I look around me I see alot of married men who have only one real friend in their lives, one who they can really count on. This would be their wives. But eventually this seems to wear down the love of the marriage and they seem to drift apart.

I believe there are some things which a woman just can’t give a man in terms of friendship. there is something about 2 guys who are best mates hanging around, just having a lag about old times, talking about the future and sharing stories that are personal to them, that cant be replicated by women.

let me just clear up that I believe the converse is true. there are some things that your bestest estest mate would never be able to give you emotionally that your wife will give you in amounts you won’t know how to deal with at times. I am saying there has to be a balance, as with everything I preach.

If these 2 best friends are able to compete as boys do, its even better. Going on long rides or runs with my best mate is totally different to going for a long ride with my girlfriend. This will never change. The openness and honesty that comes from a relationship that is purely based on friendship is often something that is lacking in a husband/wive scenario.

I blame the western world, the make-up conglomerates and modern day television for the destruction of real love. as I have said before, real love cannot manipulate, it cannot hurt and its pure. I reckon that about 95% of relationships out there, married or dating, have some form of manipulation, have hurt or selfish intentions in them. that makes me sad, but I know I am striving for a real love relationship, where words like understanding are replaced by words like acceptance, unconditional and selfless.

I have this with my best friend. I accept him as he is, with what other people may call his flaws. I have his best intentions at heart and we can sit in a space and be quiet, without saying a word, and be comfortable. we can also giggle like schoolgirls, and be serious as Warren Buffet when we need to, but the intent is always pure.

A man and his best friend are vital. Vital to relationships, vital to business, vital to marriage. There is stuff to download onto a mate which you could never unload onto your wife. Its just how it is and I know it frustrates the living crud out of women all over the world, because they take it personally. Girls – its far from personal. When your boyfriend or husband wants time with his best friend, and doesn’t want you there, it had nothing to do with you, and its nothing personal. He needs that connection with someone else, in a comfortable place where he can let his guard down and unwind, unload and be inspired. Its not that he doesn’t get those things from you, but he gets them in a slightly different way.

its important that you let him have this time, and its as important that he takes the same time to spend with you. its a balance and when your relationship is built on the right form of love, there won’t be any jealousy or any vibes about this. it will just be done!

as always, I urge you to find the real love in your relationship, to learn to accept, to be unconditional, and to find a balance to between the effort you allow your significant other to give his mate(s), and the time you find your own mate(s) in situations where you may learn something about yourself, which may benefit the other important person to this love.

Once you get there, you will never go back, and you will laugh about how you used to be, and how amazing your love is now.

So go out there, and be great.

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