Glen's Blogger Life

Feed the Good Dog to seize a Chance of a Lifetime

Glen Sharp — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:35:35 +0000

I have written before about why I think attitude is so important and that it is a better strategy to learn to be optimistic rather than succumbing to the pessimism that the media use to attract attention and sell. People are known to subscribe more to bad news than they do to good news.

We also all know that people can have good and bad attributes and there are a lot of things that are happening in the world to get concerned about. On a personal development level – which is where we can have the most influence (be the change you want in the world) – one way of thinking about ourselves is a model that we are composed of two competing dogs.

The bad dog has all our bad habits which often are associated with immediate gratification and the good dog has all our good habits which often need a sustained investment to be realized. How do you win? Feed the good dog.

Another way of putting this is to play the long game so you can achieve the compound effect of the growth mindset.

Seth Godin writes a lot of excellent stuff that encourages us to think optimistically and exhorts us to feed our good dog (and ship what we make). Rather than letting ourselves get distracted by thinking how challenges in the environment are making things difficult, he identifies the significant progress that has been made to lay a foundation for opportunities associated with the current challenges.

While it may seem that “things” are currently bad, they are actually wide open with plenty of opportunities. Just like they have been previously.
In the future when you look back, what will you have to say for yourself?

Feeding the good dog prepares us for the chance of a lifetime.
Seize the chance so you will have lots of good things to say for yourself.

Gandhi on Change

Glen Sharp — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:05:34 +0000

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.

Mahatma Gandhi
(2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948)
was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India

Real Artists Ship

Glen Sharp — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:39:59 +0000

Real artists ship.

Steve Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American inventor and entrepreneur. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc. Jobs was co-founder and previously served as chief executive of Pixar Animation Studios; he became a member of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company in 2006, following the acquisition of Pixar by Disney.

Optimism

Glen Sharp — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:46:12 +0000

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Helen Keller – (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree

Canadian Walking Club Resources

Glen Sharp — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:10:44 +0000

Ottawa has several walking groups:

Ottawa Ramblers Club – Hiking Snowshoeing skiing

Note that club has an exclusive membership limited to 200 households.

Ottawa International Walking Festival

6584 Harvest Grove Drive
Greely, ON K4P 1E9
Graham Fawcett: 613-821-0056 gfawcett2@me.com

Ottawa Voyageurs d’Ottawa Walking Club [CVF-03]
6491 Boul Jeanne D’Arc Blvd
PO Box 62041
Orleans, ON K1C 7H8
Kathleen Luten 613-830-7437 kathleen_luten@hotmail.com

Ottawa-Carleton Volkssport Association [CVF-037]
246 Tompkins Ave
Orleans ON K1E 1H2
Ole Olson: 613-824-1583 oleolson@magma.ca

Nepean Nomads Walking Club [CVF-052]
224 Markland Cres.
Nepean, ON K2G 6A8
Gordon Bell: 613-825-7180 nepeannomads@bell.net

Other Canadian walking resources

Volksport International

Running and walking room stores.

Example of Running room store location in east end of Calgary:
Country Hills Town Centre
Unit 505, 500 Country Hills Blvd. NE
Calgary, AB T3K 4Y7
Ph: ( 403) 226-8709

Store Hours:
Mon. – Fri.: 9:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sat.: 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sun.: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
E-mail: countryhills@runningroom.com
Running Room Run Club: Wed.: 6:30 p.m. and Sun.: 8:30 a.m.

Webwalking groups in Canada

Ability, Motivation, and Attitude

Glen Sharp — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:59:44 +0000

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”

– Raymond Chandler (July 23, 1888 – March 26, 1959) was an American novelist, alcoholic, and screenwriter. He is best known for his crime fiction that featured the private detective character ‘Philip Marlowe’.

Entrepreneurship

Glen Sharp — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:29:16 +0000

My philosophy: Entrepreneurship, at its heart, is aligning your purpose for being on earth with a business idea so compelling that you must do it, despite the fears that hold you back.

Pamela Slim – Author of Escape from Cubicle Nation

Focus

Glen Sharp — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:12:52 +0000

People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying ‘no’ to 1,000 things.

Steve Jobs – Founder of Apple and Pixar

How “Positive” Thinking Can Set You Up To Fail

Glen Sharp — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:27:56 +0000

Positive thinking can set you up to fail if it creates complacency and inaction.

Fast Company

There is a difference between positive thinking and optimistic thinking. Bottom line is that action is required to do something about your ideas and whatever energizes you to take action is what will help you achieve results. Personally I prefer energizing action through an inspirational vision of the possible future rather than a fear of a potentially disastrous future. Advance towards the light instead of fleeing from the darkness.

Its not about how hard you hit

Glen Sharp — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:33:56 +0000

It ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and
keep moving forward.

Rocky (played by Sylvestor Stallone)