Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

It’s Been Awhile…

Sunday, June 13th, 2010

It’s been awhile since I posted an honest-to-goodness Blog post here. Sorry about that. I toyed with having my Twitter updates post as Blog entries… well, there’s obviously a reason why Tweets are Tweets and Blogs are Blogs… so, that feature has now been mercifully laid to rest.

I just thought it was updating on two recent discoveries / developments:

TinaIsOverIt – Icarus’ burned wings…

I came across a new Blog by a colleague of mine – TinaIsOverIt. Tina’s reflections mirror a lot of my own thinking on work-life-balance, purpose and productivity, which is all the more pertinent as Tina represents Gen Y, while I myself sit happily (and tiredly) in the Gen X bracket.

Like Icarus, there is a huge temptation to put life (people, family, enjoyment and fulfilment) on hold to soar early to giddy heights in our careers and finances, only to find our wings have melted in the sun, as we plummet to disaster. It is a common temptation to us all, and one to be overcome on the path to establishing a truly meaningful and purposeful life. I continue myself to strive for the 40 hour work week (the “4 hour work week” sounds great, but not within my grasp just yet I think), to let weekends be weekends, and to be willing to pay the price if my commitment is seen to be below that of others. I think in the end, I’ll be able to look back and say that I committed myself to the right things, in the right balance… I like to see my kids and wife each evening, and I count it a blessing that I am usually able to do so.

Anyway – Tina writes honestly and well, and I think you’ll find some encouragement there if you are also struggling with some of these issues.

MacBook and iPad Programming

The second item on my list, and in keeping with my balance between personal productivity and Techie-Geek interests, is a note that I have recently purchased my first ever MacBook (which I am currently using to write this article). So why have I gone down this path? Well, as a means to an end really – I want to get into programming iPad apps, and there is really only one platform on which you can effectively do this, and that is (of course) the Mac OsX platform. So far I have just been rote-learning, following through a book on the topic. I hope soon, however, tho begin construction on one or more of the first apps of my own. I’ll hopefully provide updates here on how that is going on a bit more regular basis. Oh – I don’t currently actually own an iPad, that’s another interim goal I’ll have to achieve somewhere in the not too distant future…

Apple's new iPad

OfficePod – New Meaning to “Work from Home”

Oh yes, in case I haven’t already mentioned this here, I have come across a product which I think would look great in my back yard, especially with my Mac, and a Nespresso coffee machine in it…. the OfficePod. I can see this marvellous structure reducing my daily commute to about 30 seconds… I just need to sell the first 100,000 or so iPad apps, and that should then be workable ;-)

OfficePod - an office in the garden?

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Coaching – my new passion!

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

My new hobby horse /passion – Coaching! I will find a good definition on coaching somewhere some day and put it in here.

In the mean time, to me coaching is simply a more proactive, holistic, focussed and better resourced version of Mentoring – something which I have been involved in for years. Well, that’s my perception.

As someone interested in Effectiveness, I plan now to more proactively help others in this area through coaching. I plan to do this online (ie – here) as well as in person. Initially I plan to do this through converting some of my mentoring relationships into a coaching format. All this while I gather, develop and link to resources to help me do it all better.

My initial thoughts are that my coaching approach will integrate skills and resources I already have / know and use, including Agile techniques (migrated from the software world to the human effectiveness world), Seven Habits (Covey), Simplicity (De Bono), Road Less Travelled (Peck) and Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (Carlson).

Along the way I will gather additional resources and information. I have investigated various courses, franchises etc that are available to help me start in this area. Given limited resources and the fact I already have a full time job, I need and intend to start small / low cost, and build my skills and resources over time.

Stay tuned for more information. I’ll post Coaching Resources on the page of the same name on this Blog.

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Effectiveness updated

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Hi, for any readers out there who may perhaps have once followed my pages on Effectiveness, the ressurection process has begun there also… I have outlined my thoughts for the future, and restored the little bit of material which used to reside there.

I expect in future you will see more posts on this topic, and the Effectiveness page/s will be expanded over time also.

Feel free to email me on this topic at david@davidnimmo.com – feedback most welcome. Alternatively, I’ll process and respond to comments on this post – I have to leave moderation switched on due to spam, however, any genuine constructive comments will be approved and, time permitting, responded to…

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A novelist in the making…

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

After some encouragement from my sister Karen in Singapore, I have finally had another go at submitting my children’s storybook to a publisher.

I originally completed writing my first children’s story, a chapter book based around the imaginary adventures of my own three daughters, back in 2005. Ninety percent of the writing was done on my trusty Palm Pilot during my daily commute to and from work – an hour or so in each direction. Well, everyone has their own story of how they got into writing, while still having to eek out a daily existence.

I originally submitted the manuscript to 2 or 3 publishers, and received the customary 2 to 3 knockbacks. I know you’re supposed to keep going until someone says “Yes”, but I knew some editing was required, and I had run out of energy for it at that point in time.

Karen let me know that her kids, Jake and Josie, really enjoyed the story, and that she had made a few edits to filter out some words and elements which were not quite age appropriate – the very edits which I knew needed doing.

So, with my sister’s editorial work done, I cheerily printed off a new manuscript copy, bought an express envelope, and posted it off to a publisher that is currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts! It could be a while till I hear back, but I am ever the optimist, and I look forward to posting a story of my acceptance here, in maybe 3 to 4 months time…

I don’t think I’ll become a Paul Jennings, Roald Dahl, Stephanie Meyer or JK Rowling overnight, but it would be nice to have a copy of something I have written being enjoyed by a few children around the place.

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Lazy days and long weekends

Monday, May 4th, 2009

I’ve been enjoying a three day weekend thanks to Labor day here in sunny Queensland. There’s something very enjoyable about a three day weekend – especially the middle day. The Sunday on a Saturday-to-Monday long weekend feels just about perfect – sitting between the ramp-down day before it, and the ramp-up day after it. Noice!

Ah well, being called away to some afternoon nibblies now! Life is sometimes very good :)

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