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Point to
Ponder "Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to
love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars."
Henry van Dyke
As I write this month's Point
to Ponder I look out my office window to a dreary,
wet day, again. Three times yesterday I was interupted by
rain showers and even hail as I attempted to start another
project on the lower mojito deck. Interesting how something
like rain can dampen your spirits, if you let it. And, at
other times, like a hot day, a gentle rain can be so welcome.
Rain is a natural part of life and is necessary on so
many levels. The new trees, shrubs, and plants we just put
in need it to establish themselves, to drive their roots deep into
the soil, and to live. They need rain so they can grow and bring
forth flowers and fruit for all to enjoy.
We've been doing lots of work on the outside of our place in
the country with new decks, pergolas, built in seating, and new
flower and garden beds. Although it has been a labor of love it has
been physically demanding for a Bob who is slightly
more mature than 20 years ago, or even 5 years ago. My body
tells me daily that I have used it to the max and at times perhaps a
bit more. Follow this link for more pictures.
I've been making observations about gardening and building that
very much relate to how we conduct our lives and build our
businesses. Irene and I have been working as a team on many of these
projects to make this retirement place one we will both enjoy for
years to follow. I'll share more about that in upcoming issues and
I'll bet some of these lessons from nature will show up as stories
in future presentations around the world.
I do know that how we do one thing is often how we do
everything.
I also know we can learn and profit from our lessons. I
remember saying (quite often) "Failure can become fuel for
growth (fertilizer) when we don't rush to move on and take the time
to sift through the lesson for the gems and growth stones we need to
make a new path".
 Speaking of stones, I found out I have
a rock garden; no, really a rock garden. I bet I've dug up
nearly 2000 pounds (maybe more) of rocks from the one garden
plot we are making so there would be room for the blueberries,
strawberries, saskatoons, high bush cranberries and even room
for a vegetable garden. One rock was well above 300
pounds and we had a neighbor come over with his tractor
and front end loader to move it. But despite the rocks in
the path, I can hardly wait until next year when we get a
taste of the fruits of our labor.In life, and in business there are times when you have
to dig up the rocks that prevent you from planting and
growing. At times you have to repeatedly work the soil
before you can plant your latest ideas. And then, you need to water
it, fertilize it and make sure the weeds don't choke it out.
Gardening can be hard work. So is building a successful career or
business. What you put into it is often returned multiplied.
A few years ago I transplanted a few raspberry canes and waited
to see if they would catch. They did and each year they have
expanded (by themselves) and each year we are able to pick larger
amounts to enjoy. Our lives and our businesses take a similar growth
path. Work your plot, plant good ideas, water and nurture
them until you get to reap the rewards. Enjoy. May this fall be a
time of harvest and success!
Bob Hooey, Idea Farmer
Archives of past issues are available on our www.ideaman.net website. My friend and co-author
Chris Widener and I share more than just a birthday
with Patricia Fripp (April 18th)... we share a view on playing to
win and to pushing ourselves out of the comfort zone into the
winner's zone. Enjoy your play time!
"It isn't
whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."
From
the guy who came in second.
Any "game" worth playing
is a game worth pursuing a win in. If I get into a game, I play to
win. What nobility is there is playing like a
slacker? What virtue is purposeful mediocrity? None!
 I live my life to be a winner -
Spiritually, financially, physically, emotionally, and relationally
- every area of my life! If it is worth doing, it is worth playing
for the win! It is good to win. We live in an age now
where people have reacted to sore winners by saying that we
shouldn't strive for winning. Many of our schools have abandoned the
idea of competition, and our educational scores show that. Kudos to
all of the teachers out there who still tell their kids that they
can be winners!
Action Point:
Play to win at life today. Give it your all. Go for
it!
Chris
Widener is a successful businessman, author,
speaker and television host. He has authored over 450 articles
and ten books, including a New York Times and Wall Street Journal
Best-seller, the Angel Inside. He has produced over 85 CDs and
DVDs on leadership, motivation and success. Chris is the past
host of the national interview show - Made For Success and previously
co-hosted True Performance with Zig Ziglar. Chris is a featured
columnist for SUCCESS magazine. With subscribers in over 100
countries, the Chris Widener newsletter is one of the most widely
distributed newsletters on personal and professional development.
Personal Development legends such as Zig Ziglar, John Maxwell,
Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, and Denis Waitley have lauded Chris'
work and many consider him the leader of a new generation of
personal development experts. For more information, please visit
us at www.ChrisWidener.com
Pictured
above: Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey participating in the 2008
Alberta Easter Seals Drop Zone event where we raised over $93,000
for disabled adults and kids. Starting down the outside of a
29 story hotel in Edmonton, Alberta.
Last Minute
News
 Had a very stimulating
morning with Shawne Duperon from the Detroit area when she flew
up to facilitate a special CAPS Edmonton fund raising
event.She inspired us to think
about media from their perspective and to reach out to them
on a regular basis. Great advice and tips that will assist us
in building better media relationships.Thanks Shawne.
 Got my creative office in Egremont back
together. We took everything out and Irene repainted. Then we
installed laminate flooring. It looks great. Finally created a
special place for the beautiful hand-woven silk Persian rug we
received as a wedding present when I spoke in Iran. Going to move in my
grandfather's antique bookcase/desk and install shelves on two walls
above the u-shaped desk (brackets are in). This will allow us to
create space in the living room for a wall mounted flat screen and
create storage in the office for some of the resources from
downstairs. This will help create room to put in an office work
station for Irene when she retires.
Irene and I took a bit of
a break at the end of August. Drove out to Vernon, BC and stopped
for a couple of days to read and just relax. Then drove down to
spend the afternoon with our friends Wayne and Brenda Cotton outside
of Kelowna before heading to Langley to visit Irene's amazingly fun
aunt Eva. Headed home on the 2nd.
While in the lower
mainland, we're arranging to meet with a joint client we are working
with...Irene is redesigning and expanding her website and I am
coaching her on moving her speaking and training business to a
higher level.
 Waiting to hear how the new addition to Kelly
and Christine's family works out. Christine is due on the 20th but
might be delivering earlier. And Kelly's brother Steven and Sara are
getting married on the 18th. Busy personal month, too.Waiting for confirmation
on a gig in Miami later this month via a new bureau from
Chicago.
Two writing projects to
finish. Working to set up portable video studios in both places so
we can start cranking out visual promotions and
products.
Working with some of the
videos from Amsterdam and Russia... to pull clips for the
websites.
Irene shown enjoying one
of the new shaded seating areas in the garden.
Thanks for
reading  Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey would be pleased
to be a part of your success team and to work with you to
help make your conference, meeting, or training event
a success. For more information about customized keynotes,
professional and personal leadership training and coaching,
or seminars/retreats, please visit http://www.ideaman.net or call our Creative Office
at: Ask about a customized
conference, coaching or training package to suit your specific
career, company, or organizational needs.
Ask about our innovative
leadership and/or sales leaders' motivational training
programs
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