A Balancing Act
The critical ingredient for a successful and fulfilling life is about achieving the right balance in all parts of your life.
Quote
“It’s not what you say, but what you do that counts” Corporatemonk
Friday Thoughts
FRIDAY THOUGHTS
By Fabian De Marco
Life is like an all you can eat Buffet
Have you ever eaten at one of those all you can eat buffets? The main difference between eating at a normal restaurant and a buffet is that at a restaurant, you eat first and pay at the end. Whereas with a buffet, you must pay first, then your free to enjoy all the food you can handle.
I believe that success in life should be viewed in this way. We must get into the habit of first paying the price with hard work, persistence, determination and most of all passion, before we can claim the prize of success.
Many times we find ourselves standing in front of a fire-place saying “Please give me some heat first, then I promise I will put some wood in you.” Or “Please give me a pay rise, then I promise you will see results you are after.”
Remember;
You can literally have anything you are willing to work for, the only question is, what will it take to get you started?”
Friday Thoughts
FRIDAY THOUGHTS
By Fabian De Marco
If you need to, unplug the machine!
Today’s Friday thought is inspired by one of the most determined, focused, driven individuals I have ever known. My two and a half year old nephew Matthew. On a recent trip to the Gold Coast with the family, Matthew came across one of those Skill tester machines. You know the one with the claw where you have to pick up the Teddy bear to win. As soon as he saw this machine he decided that he wanted to take it home with him.
Now being two and half years old he could not understand why he was not allowed to take the whole machine home with him. After my sister and brother-in-law (Matthew’s parents) convinced him he was not going to be taking the skill tester machine home with him they turned the back for a second to pay for their groceries.
When they looked up they saw something that would shock anyone. Matthew had gone back to the machine, unplugged it from the wall and began wheeling the machine down the street to what he was thinking would be home. When confronted by his parents to try and bring the machine back before they all spent the night in the joint, Matthew refused to let go of the machine and said again in a loud voice, “I take home Mummy!”.
So what have we learned from this story?
How many times have we tried to achieve something only to be told no. Next time you are told no in the pursuit of something you want, think about unplugging the machine yourself and wheeling it away!
Friday Thoughts
FRIDAY THOUGHTS
By Fabian De Marco
The Best Contribution you can Make
We often tend to associate doing things for ourselves as selfish. However in the world success the opposite is actually true. Allow me to explain what I mean. The greatest contribution you can make to your Family, Friends, Work Colleagues, Associates is through the art of Self Development.
What if you become 5 times more Smarter
What if you become 5 times more Stronger
What if you become 5 times more Powerful
What if you become 5 times more Courageous
What if you become 5 times more Motivated
Remember;
“When begin to develop your own ability through Self Development you become increasingly more valuable to those around you”
‘WANTED’ – Expedition Sponsors
We are currently looking for corporate sponsors who would like to support our team on this exciting ‘7 Summits’ journey.
Just imagine a photo of your company brand on top of the highest mountains in the world hanging in your reception and displayed on your website.
It would be a statement to the world that your company supports the pursuit of excellence, as well as the wider community with worthwhile charity endeavours.
Read about our next exciting expedition coming up in February 2010 at:
http://darrenwise.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/7-summits-a-double-header/
Giving back to help the community that supports your company is a strong message of integrity, honesty and a caring culture.
Your company profile and brand would benefit from the structured marketing plan that has been put in place to raise awareness for the expedition to support our charity endeavours. Your company profile and brand would receive broad community exposure across various media outlet and targeted social media applications.
The Westmead Children’s Hospital and Enough is Enough are valuable and worthwhile charity organisations, so you would be supporting valuable hospital care and support services and in our community.
You can read more about The Westmead Children’s Hospital and how they support and care for children with injuries and illness. Our children are our future: http://www.chw.edu.au/
You can read more about Enough is Enough and their valuable community programs and how they make a positive contribution to people’s lives at: http://www.enoughisenough.org.au/
If you are interested in discussing the opportunity, please contact Darren through this blog.
Friday Thoughts
FRIDAY THOUGHTS
By Fabian De Marco
The 3 Questions we should all ask
It’s great setting goals for yourself and I am a strong believer that goals are the major determining factor in what direction you are travelling in. However I asked myself a question the other day. Why is it that even with a detailed written list of goals we still sometimes find ourselves falling short?
After a lot of thought and some careful research the following 3 questions stood out to me.
- Are we capable of achieving the goals we set for ourselves?
- Should we attempt to try and achieve them?
- Will we commit 100% of our efforts to making them happen?
My research has lead me to believe that the reason we so often fall short of our goals is because we only ever answer yes to two of the three questions above – There for the conclusion is simple!
The Paradox of Our Age
Below is an extract from The Paradox of Our Age. Dr Bob Morehead wrote this piece in 1990 and then published it in 1995. I have made some minor changes for a speech I gave recently.
Humankind has come a long way with technology and social infrastructure since the beginning of time…..but sometimes you have to just sit back and wonder just how far we have really come.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men and small character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
There are some small things that we can do in our lives every day to bring happiness and fulfilment not just to ourselves….but the people around us.
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember to say “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
So I ask you all to ponder this message and reflect…but if there is just one message that I ask you to take away………….
REMEMBER to just live…… because life is not forever.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Friday Thoughts
FRIDAY THOUGHTS
By Fabian De Marco
Take a Moment to Think
If you currently are, or have ever been successful at anything in life, remember that somewhere, sometime someone gave you a lift or an idea that got you moving in the right direction. Why is this important to remember?
Because you to have the ability to give someone else a tap on the shoulder, just as you were inspired in the past.
Remember;
“It is one thing to achieve success in your own life, but even more valuable if you can do it while helping someone else.”
Friday Thoughts
I am pleased to present the first issue of Friday Thoughts by Fabian De Marco.
Fabian delivers original and insightful material that will make us stop and think.
Friday Thoughts are statements or ideas that will make us wonder how our lives may be different if we took a different path, practiced different actions…… or just thought differently.
I hope you enjoy the new Friday Thoughts from Fabian.
FRIDAY THOUGHTS
By Fabian De Marco
The Seed of Success
One the biggest lessons I have learnt in my life to date is that everything worth having in your life comes from the seed of hard work. Human nature always leads us to look for the quick and easy option in life. I have been guilty of this more than anyone.
The truth of the matter is that the secret to success is in fact no secret at all – INTELIGENT HARDWORK, EVERYDAY, No Exceptions!
What do I mean by Intelligent? Know what you want, create a tangible plan to achieve it, and go out there and get it!
Remember;
“Whenever you feel like you’re not really making the progress you want, always revert back to Intelligent hard work for guidance.”
CONTINUED FROM (PART ONE) – “There is a sharp pain in my knee “, he said”
Shane was carrying an old army injury, a knee injury that has plagued him since tearing it open on a star picket on a grenade assault course. He was in a lot a pain and the thought raced through my mind that our adventure may end as quickly as it had started.
It was always in the back of our minds that Shane’s knee could be a problem on the ‘7 Summits’. Thankfully, there is not much that can hold Shane back. He is the best mate you want by your side when the chips are down. In the mountaineering environment, with the many challenges and dangers that await us, teamwork is essential. You need to know that you can trust your team-mate with your life. Shane and I have no doubt this trust exists between us. We’ve got each other’s back covered, not just on the ‘7 Summits’ journey, but in life.
We pushed higher. Hesitantly, I said to Shane “how does the knee feel now?”.
He replied: “It is starting to feel much better the steeper the track gets”. We both had a laugh as that outcome seemed illogical – a sense of relief came over us. Shane was not out of the woods yet, but there were signs the pain in the knee was easing.
Not too far up the track we came across a group of local children, high on life. They were laughing and smiling, and only too willing to pose for a quick snap. It was obvious they had limited means, but their contentment and loyal bond as friends and family was obvious. It was a great reminder of the happiness that can be found in the small joys in life.
The track became steeper and steeper and it was not long before we were leaning forward, scrambling up the slope on all fours. There was not too much to see during this first part of the climb, the terrain was mostly dense rainforest. The rainforest thrives on Kilimanjaro between 3,300 feet and 9,000 feet.
Mountaineering is not just the physical challenge of climbing a mountain. It is also a test of one’s mental spirit and determination. Sir Edmond Hilary coined the words “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves”. As humans, we need a sense of personal growth in our lives. Personal growth is sometimes the most obvious when you have overcome adversity, or challenged yourself and achieved a goal that we may have thought was beyond our physical or mental reach.
We had been walking for about five hours and the sun was starting to settle when we came across a clearing. Emmanuel our guide told us that this was our first camp site. We were now 9,400 feet above sea level at the Umbwe Cave camp site, a great spot for a meal and a hot brew.
We were having a look around the camp site when Emmanuel pointed to some flattened scrub. He explained that a Jungle Leopard most likely attacked a buffalo here, taking it down the hill. Shane and I were not totally convinced, but what were we to know? We went along with the story. Leopards are common in the dense jungle at these heights and the Swahili name for the leopard is chui chui.
It was dark and I was sitting in the outhouse when I heard the guys shout, “chui chui!” They were only joking, just trying to scare me as I sat on the loo in complete jungle darkness. At this stage, we did not know that chui chui would be adopted as the calling sign for our team for the remainder of the expedition.
It was a beautiful night as we sat around and got to know each other better. We were miles from civilisation, sitting around a small fire on the side of the highest mountain in Africa. None of us had a worry in the world. Some people cannot understand why people embark on these adventures. But until you have, it is difficult to explain the calming and peaceful feeling that overcomes you. It is in these moments that you feel fully connected to nature and your forefathers that may have lived and hunted off the land in years gone by.
The rise of information technology and multi-media entertainment is anchoring more and more people to the lounge room or home office. As humans, we have evolved over millions of years and there is a deep inner sense of connection with nature and the sense of freedom and peace it creates within us. People are drawn to the mountains and it is not hard to see why. Climbing a mountain is the perfect way to reconnect with nature and re-test your physical and mental boundaries.
We settled in for the night and drifted off to sleep, taking in the beautiful jungle noises. Our thoughts turned to tomorrow’s tough trek to Barranco Huts, almost 13,200 feet above sea level. It was a day that would not turn out as expected.
TO BE CONTINUED….. (Make sure you subscribe by email or RSS feed to receive the rest of the series)
If you would like to view more photos from our adventure, please go to the Corporatemonk facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/corporatemonk/58164569715
The temperature was down to minus 20 when we made the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro in South Africa. At almost 19,350 feet above sea level, the scene was breathtaking — a severe snowstorm and low fog had lifted like a veil to reveal the beauty and power of the mountain. It felt like we had won the trust of the mountain and earned the right to stand on the summit that day.
Shane and I hugged and congratulated each other as we stood on top of the Africa’s highest mountain. We took our summit photos as the bitter cold started to cut through our clothing like a cold knife. We were tired and exhausted, and the sun was starting to set – it was time to head back down.
It was two days earlier that we set off for the summit of the mighty Mt Kilimanjaro. This adventure to South Africa was one of apprehension and anxiety. Mt Kilimanjaro was our test of physical and mental strength to continue with our dream of completing the “7 Summits”. If we failed on this mountain, the dream would be over.
You never know how your body is going to react to high altitude conditions. There are many fit and mentally strong people that have succumbed to the effects of altitude sickness on Mt Kilimanjaro. Shane and I were fit and mentally strong, but did we have the genetics and physiology for high altitude climbing? Only time would tell.
On our first day, we made a cracking pace as we headed up the Umbwe Route. It was 1.30pm as we made our way towards our first camp site at 9,350 feet with our guide and small support team. The Umbwe Route is steep and the terrain is difficult – it is one of the most challenging routes up the mountain. Our starting elevation was 4,500 feet, and our packs weighed just over 25kg. The track was wide with little incline, but this was soon going to change. Our spirits were high, but butterflies filled our stomach as we thought about the journey that lay ahead.
Shane and I have shared many adventures as soldiers in the Australian’s Elite Paratrooper Regiment. This was our first major adventure together since our military service. As we headed off, my thoughts drifted back to when we both served in the Army. Our packs felt just as heavy, and we had some challenging walking in front of us, but this time it was very different. We were free of the soldier “fighting” mentality, and we were not carrying weapons and searching for the enemy. We were there – free – as best mates to absorb the magnificent beauty of this mountain. Our only shooting device was a camera. Sure, it was going to be challenging, but the challenge was now on our terms, not the army’s.
As we headed up the track, it became gradually steeper and steeper. I looked across at Shane and a look of pain came over his face. I said “mate, what’s wrong”?
“There is a sharp pain in my knee “, he said”
Shane was carrying an old army injury, a knee injury that has plagued him since tearing it open on a star picket on a grenade assault course. I could see he was in a lot a pain and the thought raced through my mind that our adventure may end as quickly as it stated.
TO BE CONTINUED…..(Make sure you subscribe by email or RSS feed to follow the rest of the series)
If you would like to view more photos from our adventure, please go to the Corporatemonk facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/corporatemonk/58164569715
