Scale? We don’t need to Stinkin’ Scale

I know that scaling is the way to make something big out of a small operation. But, who says scaling is the only way to go? I just heard about Ugmonk through 99u.com and I love Jeff’s desire to grow slowly and sustainably.

I am still very surprised that  "how will you scale?" is the first question asked of any type of start up crew, even though I shouldn’t be, since I focus on the stock market where scaling up to IPO is the only growth model.

In the old days, a baker or a butcher was not concerned with scaling, he was concerned with making a living and thus, providing a quality product to ensure the security of his income. These days with the reemergence of artisanal makers, where small and hands on is the new model, why are we still so focussed on scaling up?

Clean Mind Policy

For sometime now, I have been practicing a strict clean desk policy. At the end of each work day, I tidy up what normally looks like the Tasmanian Devil’s workshop. All papers off the desk, hopefully in binders, but sometimes in piles in drawers, but out of sight. Pens & pencils in their purple leather container, coffee cup in the dishwasher, discards to the recycle bin, shared items to the cabinet.

The only paper allowed on the desk surface is tomorrow’s To Do list. This makes for a nice closing ritual for the day and for a fresh start of the next day, which is particularly nice on Mondays or the first day back from vacation.

This morning I woke up thinking about adopting a Clean Mind Policy.

I don’t mean cleaning up my dirty mind. I live in Holland, any type of censorship is bad and what fun would that be anyway?

What I am thinking about is creating a habit of regularly and actively removing the daily mind clutter that comes with working and that stands in the way of my happiness pursuit. As, Taylor Swift puts it, to shake, shake, shake it off. Get rid of it before it becomes hoard fodder for my brain or worse, my heart.

Like most things I do, I need tips and Jedi Mind tricks to use on myself. Maybe, the best way to start this is to do it at the same time that I am cleaning off my desk; a mindfulness exercise to make sure no unnecessary annoyances, grudges or petty peeves go out the door with me. Maybe I can even put it on the end of tomorrow’s To Do list as a reminder.

"To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities."
— Bruce Lee

Hello, Friends!

Welcome back to my thought space.

A while back, I was complaining to a friend that on our vacation to Curacao, I was annoyed by the 18-yr-old daughter of friends who was constantly running around in her bikini.

He asked me, does that make you want to be 18 again? I guess he thought that I was annoyed out of envy for her youthful beauty. I said “Heck, no!” I didn’t even have to think about the question. Later, I started thinking about why I feel this way. I came up with a great number of whys. Being young is hard and you don’t even realize that you are beautiful until you look back. Recently, a friend of mine posted a picture of me at 17. My mouth dropped when I saw it, not at all how I saw myself at that time.

But that is not really the point of this thought module. I watched this video this week What We Tell Ourselves. I found it on Seth Godin’s blog. It’s a call to action for us 35-60 year-olds and it is fantastic. Have a look and tell me what you think.

Bloemen van Piet

One moment, the road

Tender blooms from the rested

Salvation in you   

For Jim

polar opposites
for comfort a gesture kind
a bond for the times

Photograph by Dayna Mason (daynoir on Flickr)

Copy Cat

Trying to copy Mehmet's soup. Not bad, but a little thin :-)

My Handsome Dutch Partner

# 6~Bus 300 affair~Fairy Princess

Winter,s Fairy Princess by digitalwizard

I am a fairy princess and an engineer.
First, I had to work very,very hard to become an engineer, but before that I had to wait and wait.

I had to do a lot of things for other people. Some of those people didn't appreciate the sacrifices I made for the sake of their SUCCESS. It turns out that my idea of success is different from some of those people's.

So, at a certain point in time, I had to go my separate way. I took the road less travelled and it has made all the difference.

Make no mistake, the road to Fairyland is not an easy one. In fact, it is hidden.
Hidden in plain sight. That is why not many of us find it. And once we find it, it is easy to take a wrong turn, get off track and lose the way.

There are many clues along the way and many magical creatures who whisper  "come with me. Don't go that way, it's too hard." If you want to come along, listen and Trust. We know the way.


Note to reader: This is all me ( ok the muse had a part in it :-))

# 7~Bus 300 affair~The Dream and the Dreamer

Help me,
Help me in my journey back
to where it all began.
Help me remember the dream and to wake up from it.
Help me remember not to be seduced by the beauty and not to be perturbed by the ugliness.
Help me to remember everyday's purpose; to forgive the dream and the dreamer
and to remember that we are not WE, but we are ONE in the same place
where it all began
with a tiny "what if?"

Note to reader: I am not really sure if this is original. I usually give credit in my journal for quotes & there is none. So please don't sue me if it is gathered from another source.

Catharsis

I found my old journal from 2007 and 2008 today while I am sorting out my books. Books, too many books. Rob doesn't like me to have so many books.

Back to the story. To make a short story long, this is the most significant book that I have almost completed. It contains thoughts, dreams, mediations and a tarot card reading. This period was the time when I decided to leave my second husband Everett Thomas Swint. I also assisted my sisters to place my demented (frontal lobe injury) father into the Veteran's home, a locked facility, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. These were the best of times and the worst of times.

I would like to share a few of these meditations in the next few days as a way to process my feelings about what is happening on our EARTH today. Thanks for listening.

xS

Social Distortion

I will never forgive you for your deed that day
When the hummus had too much garlic and
We were deafened by Social Distortion
And my lover turned his head away