Barefoot running update

Barefoot running isn't as easy as I thought it would be, probably because I'm older & my muscles & tendons aren't as supple as they used to be.

I got sore, rested, got unfit (& lazy) and became demotivated.

While travelling in the car recently I heard a person talking about how he learned to run on the internet... this seemed crazy!  I mean, do we need the internet to teach us to walk?  I don't think so... although I was intrigued, especially when he mentioned a technique called POSE running.

I checked it out & gave it a go.  I really connected with it.  For me, it clicked when I felt like I was falling forward as I was running.

If you've tried barefoot running or minimalist running and it didn't work for you, try researching POSE running technique, then give it a go or go to a clinic.  It's taught me how to run... maybe I should learn how to walk too!

A photographer on vacation

What lenses should I take?

Should I take my tripod?

Do I take a DSLR or a point & shoot?

The first question should be: why am I taking my camera on holiday?  Is it to capture memories or to feature pictures in a magazine?

Most people take a camera on holiday to capture & share memories of their travels.

If you are heading into extreme climates you will need to consider specialist gear, but for most people going on vacation it's best to take less.

Many people who take tripods don't use them.  My advice is not to take it.  You will regret your decision either way, but at least if you don't take it you wont have any hassles.  If you really need one you could borrow one, take a small one or just rest the camera on a table.

A good quality point & shoot camera is a brilliant option.  You will get good quality photos, have good zoom & they are very compact.  Choose one that is better than your camera phone though.

If you decide you want better quality photos then the DSLR will be your weapon of choice.

Changing lenses is a real pain when on vacation & you generally want to avoid this, but this means making compromises.  On my next holiday I'm only going to take my 15-85mm Canon lens on my cropped sensor.  This is all I really needed.  Sure I couldn't zoom in on the hilltop castles but I just re-thought my shot & was happy with the results.

These are the things I learnt from my last trip:
1. Less is best - both in terms of gear & shots
2. Have enough memory cards - but you can always buy more later
3. Take the shot, then make the shot - Grab the picture when you can, but then try & get the shot you want
4. Delete quickly - try & only keep the shots you want to share otherwise the computer gets cluttered
5. Use a shoulder strap for comfort & conveience - rather than a neck or hand strap
6. Get the right size bag - not too big or too small - just right
7. Be a tourist in your own town - go out with your gear & test it before you go away
8. Keep the lens clean from dust & grime
9. Remember to enjoy the holiday - don't let your only view be through the viewfinder
10. If you don't get the perfect shot buy a postcard or painting
11. Get in the right spot for sunrises & sunsets - they create magic moments

Best iPad business applications

I consider the following iPad apps as the best I have used so far.  Hopefully this saves you wasting time & money on apps that don't deliver.

I use these iPad business apps every day

For taking notes I recommend NOTABILITY
This app is easy to use with the keyboard, or the handwriting tool which works extremely well, especially with a decent iPad stylus.  The handwriting feature is easy to use once you get the sizing right for your style of writing.

For managing PDFs & filling in forms I recommend PDF EXPERT
This app is very good for filling in forms and getting a customers signature.  I find the typing is easier & better than the handwriting, but the customer signature feature is very useful.  Again - find a stylus that you like.

For business reading I use the KINDLE
It's easy to buy books from Amazon and having books to read on the go is great.  Remember - The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them - http://bit.ly/Nc7RXk 

I have found the best organiser for me is PI PRO
The integration & functionality of this application is no surprise given that the developer has such a long history in personal organisers.

For freehand drawing I use SKETCHBOOK PRO
This is a flexible & easy-to-use app that enables you to draw or paint whatever you want.

For staying connected I use FLIPBOARD
It's connected to major social & news feeds making it easy to know what's going on.

The browser I prefer at the moment is CHROME
This is usually I personal preference though.

If you want a decent stylus, you could try the TARGUS model.  It's simple but comfortable.  The only downside is the top which has slightly sharp corners & makes me nervous about a customer signing the iPad with the wrong end.  I also have a 2 in 1 pen & stylus, but the stylus end is awkward to use due to the clip & wider end.

iPad task management

What a waste of time!


Searching through all the reviews to find a suitable task manager/ time manager for my iPad.


My criteria was:
- It needs to be simple
- I'm prepared to buy an app
- I don't want to waste money though
- It needs to be credible


After researching the various options I narrowed my choices to:
- Remember the milk
- Wunderlist
- Pocket informant


I decided to start with Remember The Milk as it looked simple, it was free & I wasn't ready to reorganise my whole life with a day planner even though I've tried them before.

The truth about barefoot running

I went for my first barefoot run today and this is what I've learnt:
1. Get good shoes with enough room to spread your toes.
2. Socks are OK
3. Take it slow
4. Listen to your body
5. Keep going...

My favourite apps updated

The world of iphone apps is always changing & I've got some new favourites.

My current top 10 apps are:

1. Hipstamatic - unchanged

2. Scrabble - unchanged

3. Safari - unchanged

4. Flashlight - unchanged

5. Tom Tom navigation - unchanged

6. SimpleMind+ - unchanged

7. Apple's Camera - This app is now much better & faster. You can even get to it without unlocking the phone which makes it much faster.

8. Project 365 - This is an excellent app to capture the magic moment of each day - sort of like a photo journal. I use Hipstamatic to take the photo & upload to Project 365.

9. Flipboard - The most amazing news reader/ feed app that has ever been invented. This is a must-have app for iPhone. Just the best way of cutting through the clutter.

10. Angry Birds - Made it back into my top 10 list with the latest update with new levels.

Entry level DSLR

Are you ready to step up to the next level of photography but worried about the complexity a DSLR?

Worry no more... there are a few options available:

1. Firstly, forget about entry level DSLRs - get the next step up otherwise you'll regret wasting your hard earned money on a very basic camera.

2. Consider a micro four thirds camera if you are wanting the convenience of a smaller camera you are more likely to take everywhere.

3. Don't dismiss upgrading your camera phone & using one of the excellent applications such as Hipstamatic or Instagram to help develop your photographic eye.

I decided to buy a Canon EOS 600D (also known as Kiss X5 or Rebel T3i). I like the versatility that allows me to let the camera pick the best setting, or allows me to choose the setting I want. It has art filters plus a great video function with an articulated screen which enables a more artistic element to shots without the need to get on the ground or a ladder to get in the air.

So far I have been very happy with the quality of the colors & the clarity of the shots. The camera feels comfortable & can be easily handled in one hand. The kit lens provides good versatility & enables me to get a good feel for other lenses I might need depending on the shots I'm taking.

You can check out some of my shots on Flickr - It's easy to see when I upgraded my camera - http://www.flickr.com/photos/42371658@N00/

Simple diet tips

Dieting is like a bank account, the only difference being you usually want your bank account to grow.

With dieting we need to know how many calories are going in & how many calories are going out. If less calories are going in & more calories are going out, we are losing weight.

Simple & cheap ways to lose weight:

1. Eat less

2. Eat smaller portions

3. Serve meals on smaller dishes

4. Drink more water

5. Replace sugary drinks with water

6. Brush teeth after meals to stop after dinner snacking

7. Start an active hobby

8. Have support

9. Give away old large size clothing

Reasons to maintain a healthy weight:

1. Live longer

2. Live healthier

3. Remain active

My 10 favourite iPhone apps

Obviously the 3 main functions of the iPhone are hard to do without - the Phone, the iPod & Messages.

Yesterday I noticed that the most popular camera on Flickr is now the iPhone 4! They say the best camera is the one you've got with you when you need to take a photo & I guess that is often the camera phone.

In addition to these, my 10 favourite iPhone apps are:

1. Hipstamatic - I love the surprise of the photo, especially using the random mode. It captures a look & feel that I really like. It does all the post-production & the results are great.

2. Scrabble - I was never a fan of word games until I found the scrabble app. Each game is quite short & fills in those moments where you want to have more than mindless fun. I've even learnt some new word - just no idea what they mean.

3. Safari - OK, so it's not really an app, but it's impossible to get the information I want, when I want it without Safari on the iPhone. It just works so reliably well.

4. Flashlight - This has saved my life a few times when trying to navigate slippery or narrow steps at night. It launches quickly & is bright enough to guide my way.

5. Geocaching - Ok so I'm a bit of a nerd, but an outdoor nerd. It's fun going on a treasure hunt to find a hidden logbook. This app makes it easy to find these treasures without much forward planning. The app is expensive compared to others, but cheap compared to buying a GPS.

6. Tomtom navigation - Another expensive GPS app, but invaluable to tell me where to go. I haven't bought any voices yet, but it would be great to get a Star Wars character to navigate me through the universe.

7. Facebook - I'm not the biggest facebook user, but I like to stay connected with who is doing what & this app (although quite basic) does most of what I want.

8. Simpleminds - This is a great little brainstorming app that is free to download, then if you like it, buy it for more functionality. I use it for lists, notes & exploring ideas.

9. Angry birds - What list would be complete with Angry Birds. Epic, awesome & fun. Each level is quick, simple & engaging. I wouldn't be surprised to see a new app where the pigs revolt... maybe it could be Revolting pigs!

10. Quickpix - Sometimes the iPhone camera isn't fast enough. Quickpix is the camera that should've come with the iPhone. It can even take a picture as soon as you launch the app so you never miss a moment.

It's hard to stay up to date with the daily changing world of the iPhone app store. but these 10 have stood the test of time & I would definitely recommend them to download from the iPhone app store.

Are you LiKE minded?

The LiKE® minded network began from a desire to work with LiKE® minded people, those people that haveleadership qualities, focus on the things in life which are important, growing through knowledge and are full of energy.

We have developed a simple but effective framework to help LiKE® minded people have a fulfilling life.

To download the:
LiKE® framework

A newbies guide to geocaching

I recently heard about geocaching and thought I would give it a go. I did & I really enjoy it.

What is geocaching?

I think of geocaching as a treasure hunt using a GPS.

How do I get started?

The official website is www.geocaching.com where you can sign up with a free basic membership. This gives you access to all the geocaches around the world.

Each cache is recorded by:

- the longitude & latitude

- difficulty & terrain rating (5 being the most difficult)

- the type & size of the cache

Do I need a GPS?

Having an accurate GPS is an advantage. Many car navigation models don't have the accuracy for off-road searching but can be a good starting point. Likewise you can use Google maps or Google Earth to pinpoint the co-ordinates, then use the description and hints to locate the cache.

What is a cache?

A cache is a container (ranging in size from a tiny 1cm high tube to a 20 litre bucket) which contains a logsheet and it may also have items that can be swapped (including special geocaching items called geocoins or travel bugs). There are also Earth caches which are interesting geographic finds.

How do I get started?

Go to www.geocaching.com

Enter your current location

Find a nearby cache that is at least 400ml in size which gives a better chance of finding it

Check the difficulty & terrain rating (start with an easy one)

Load the co-ordinates into your GPS

Take appropriate clothing & supplies

Explore!

When you get back, log your find on www.geocaching.com

Is there anything special I should know?

There are some 'rules' & 'etiquette' that should be observed:

1. If you take something from a cache (never take the logsheet, pencil, sharpener or eraser), leave something of equal or greater value.

2. Make sure you leave the cache as & where you found it (unless it was exposed incorrectly).

3. Watch out for muggles (non-geocachers). Part of geocaching is exploring secretly so others aren't aware of the caches.

4. Respect the environment. Take out your rubbish & don't ruin any natural environments.

5. Be polite & respectful to other geocachers, especially those who went to the trouble of making the cache in the first place.

6. Have fun! Share the fun!

What do I need to watch out for?

It is important to be safe. This means having the right gear for the conditions, being sensible around hazards, checking routes, being prepared and having backup plans if anything doesn't go to plan.

I've found myself on the wrong route to a cache. It is also worth checking that you have the correct co-ordinates!

What should I take?

Here's my (ever-growing) list of useful items:

- Good shoes or boots

- Food & water

- Pen & paper

- Camera

- Bag

- Goodies or trinkets to swap

- Geocaching application for my iTouch

- GPS

- Sunscreen, sun hat & insect repellant

- Positive attitude

- Small first aid kit (including antibacterial wipes & tissues)

- Layers of clothing & wet weather gear if appropriate (remember the weather can change)

- Cell phone

What now?

log into www.geocaching.com & start exploring the wonderful world we live in!

Happy geocaching!

If you have any questions or want to add anything, please feel free to post comments. If you want to share your geocaching stories, I'd love to hear them.

Creating great testimonials

Here are the questions that you can use to help develop top rate testimonials:

1. What do you like most about the service?

2. What were your perceptions before we started?

3. How has that perception changed?

4. What are the three biggest benefits?

5. Would you recommend our service?

6. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

The answers are then given back to the client in a draft summary for them to approve & send back.

For example:

Hi John

I really liked the way you paid attention and listened about my personal situation & developed a plan to help me achieve & protect my goals.

I was feeling a little anxious before we started because I had never thought about some of the issues previously, but after talking it through felt I was in safe hands.

The benefit for me is that I have a motivating goal, a backup plan if things don’t work out due to unforeseen circumstances and I know you are there if you need me.

I would definitely recommend your service to my friends and family.

Thank you once again for your professional & thorough service.

Sincerely,

Tony

Losing the love(mark)

I loved my ipod touch... but now it's gone... the irreplaceable needs to be replaced because of a fault & the store not replacing it, instead sending it away for analysis - so much for their money back guarantee...

My ipod was with me 24/7...

- It kept track of my life with the calendar

- It lifted my spirits with the (disputably) best track list in the world

- It inspired me with some amazing audio books

- It made me laugh with the great podcasts

- It educated me with leaders sharing their thoughts on video

- It amused me with games

- It woke me in the morning with it's alarm

So, my lovemark has been taken from... Now I have to fill the gaps in my life

Creating meaning

I gave blood the other day & thought it would be great if the Blood Donor Centre told the donors how the donation was used.

I would feel more motivated if I knew my blood made a positive difference in another person's life. It would create 'significance' for the donation.

This could be an automated e-mail that said something like:

Hi Tony

Thanks for taking the time to donate some of your valuable blood.

It was used to help a young burns victim.

We look forward to seeing you next month.

Stay healthy!

Regards

Dr ......

High tech! - Tony's Toastmasters speech

I knew I was spending too much time on the computer when my wife sent me an e-mail, asking if I was coming downstairs for dinner.

I was introduced to computers back in 1978 with the first colour computer called a compucolor.  This was just after I played pong - not the smelly type either.  But with the compucolor I could travel through space with star trek, rule kingdoms playing Kings Quest and visit bars amongst other dodgy activities with Leisure Suit Larry.

My first work computer was at the National Bank, but each day we got our paper back up files - just in case "the computer" failed (which it did once).  My second job introduced me to the Macintosh which had some great games.  

My first really fast computer was a 486 in the mid 90‘s with an incredible encyclopedia called Encarta and movie database called Cinemania.  It seemed mind boggling that so much information was available on these CD ROMs.  To give you an idea of the computing power of a 486, we ran 9 users in our office off 1 486 computer!

We also had bulletin boards & on-line games which meant tying up the phone lines while we played Doom on 9,600 bits per second modem connections.  Last night my broadband was 5 million bits per second!

I joined the internet in the mid 90s with a company called Compuserve.  It cost $19.95 per hour which is equivalent to $27 after tax today - so I had to work for 3 hours to get 1 hour on the internet!

When Xtra started on 1 May 1996 & I joined, paying $5 per hour.  In August of that year, it halved.  Today I pay the equivalent of 5 cents per hour.

But suddenly the world started seeming a lot smaller & the information much broader. 

I remember the first time I introduced my mother to the computer.

After explaining to take the mouse and her screaming “Where’s the mouse?”, she began waving it in front of the screen.  When I showed her the internet & told her it could answer any question, she thought for a minute, then typed “How is my mother today?”

But the internet can be really useful too.  I’ve used it to buy a piece of the Berlin wall & a signed picture of Kenny Baker (the actor inside R2D2).

On the internet, I found out that in 2002 scientists spent a whole year determining the funniest joke was:

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy takes out his phone and calls the emergency services.

He gasps: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says: "Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: "OK, now what?"

There are also some wonderful one liners like:

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

or words of wisdom, like:

The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

But as one person said, getting information off the internet is like getting a drink from a fire hydrant.

But some people just shouldn’t talk about the internet.

George Bush - is quoted as saying "It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."

But these last 2 quotes sum it up for me:

"The Internet is a giant international network of intelligent, informed computer enthusiasts, by which I mean, "people without lives."

or  "Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks”

Midnight Youth

The magic of great copywriting

Recently a broken washing machine sold on Trade Me for NZ$5,160!

It started with a NZ$1 reserve but due to some original & creative thinking, the seller was able to add value to the machine.  It even has its own website now - www.scarywashingmachine.com

I'm impressed how a piece of writing can add so much value, but I guess it's like so much of what we buy... a CD is only a piece of plastic, worth about $0.10, but we pay $30 because of the creative skill.

Congratulations Mike - Kiwi ingenuity is alive & making lots of money!

The auction had over 800,000 hits and a huge number of comments.

This is what Mike Whittaker (the seller) wrote:

Old mid 80's Fisher and Paykel top loader.
Goes like a rocket!

By 'goes like a rocket' I actually mean that literally.
It actually shakes the house.

It's the loudest most violent sounding washing machine I have ever encountered. 
It makes guests scared and children cry. I've lived with it like that for almost a year and it still scares me.

Once while washing a load of towells it got a bit out of balance and it got so out of control for a minute that I swear I actually saw a porthole to another dimension open above it just for a second, there were dinosaurs on the otherside and they looked scared too, it almost sucked me in but I held onto for my life to the deepfreeze. It sucked my shoes and pants off though and it got the iron as well which pissed me off because it was quite a good one. Luckily it sucked it's own power cord out of the wall and stopped before the whole house went in.
I drew a picture of the dinosaurs i saw incase people didn't believe me, they are partly red because my green felt ran out half way through.

I think it would be good to paint it matt black and put steel spikes all over it and draw demons on the front, however I have added an image of another possible customization option for people who like horses.

On heavy duty spin cycle it sort of sounds a bit like the tortured howls of 1000 undead writhing in the sulphury pits of hell mixed with a train with carriages full of scrap iron sliding down the road with no wheels, on fire, into a bell factory.

Thankfully it's bite is not as bad as it's bark. It washes fine, completes cycles, does everything it's supposed to.
It leaks a bit when it's running, always has.
Its a bit grubby, could do with a wipe down, I refuse to touch it because I'm still getting over the whole dinosaur scare thing.

If your in a fix and need a cheap washing machine and are either completely deaf or hate your neighbours this baby is for you.

Ideas map

I recently heard a leader in the marketing game talk about a map they had on their wall, where they pinned all the locations that the staff came up with great ideas for their clients.

They had 100's of pins in the map - but only 13 were in the office.

Some might think that they should spend more time in the office!  But seriously we all know some of our best ideas occur when we are not trying to come up with them.

Whether it's:

- in the shower

- going for a run

- waking in the middle of the night to jot down some notes

- over a great meal & a bottle of plonk

- in the car

To allow the creative juices  flow we need to get out & explore!

It's not about stress

I hear people talking about "stress" as if it's a problem.  I'm not an expert but I believe it's actually our level of resilience to certain events that can cause problems when we are less resilient. 

Selye's general adaptation syndrome helps explain how our resilience can cope for a period & the better our resilience, the longer our resistance.  (The 3 stages are Alarm , Resistance & Exhaustion) - You can read more about the model at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_(medicine)

Things that erode my resilience:

• Pain
  
• Tiredness
  
• Illness
• Loss

Things that build my resilience:

• Sleep
  
• Goals
  
• Enjoyable activities
  
• Movies
  
• Music
• Being with people I like
  
• Constructive feedback
  
• Learning
  
• Spirituality
• Physical activity

I'm going to continue to focus on building and maintaining my resilience.

Sales ideas

I was thinking how some companies could grow their business during a recessionary economy...

How about luxury car suppliers teaming with sales managers to help drive sales performance?

The sales person could choose a vehicle & create a sales target programme that will motivate them to achieve a higher target &  get them into a classy vehicle of their choice.

This is an example where teams could co-operate to create synergy & win-win-win outcomes.