PinkieGoog

Ever since they changed the train schedule the bus keeps driving away when the train just arrives leaving a 30 minute wait or a 20 minute walk. Fair point to complain about as you would expect these days the 2 companies to Communicate with each other and listen to their customer but this is difficult obviously.

Anyway we know this is annoying so this was used as an excuse to start up a conversation with me, a friendly face :-). But I always have the feeling I end up telling my whole life story and I have learned nothing of the person I was talking to. It’s not always like that but I like to learn how to tell when a person is bored of my story, when to ask questions to keep the other person’s story going and how to deal with it politely if I have to listen to a person complaining. At work I actually stop that by telling the person what they have to do or what I am going to do to solve the problem.

It’s incredible how hard this is. You should drink a glass of water directly out of bed but I do not want to have to go to the loo in the train. They are moving them out anyway. The second I come into the office I go for the coffee machine but I can only carry one cup so that will be the coffee. If I walk back I have to get for the whole team so no space left on the tray for another water. I must have a second coffee.

Hmm does begin to sound like a silly excuse? Anyway water does tend to get me thirsty so I usually drink it hot. Too much water in one go is not a good idea.

1. Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life by Larry Winget the world’s only irrational speaker. Let’s kick some ass first

2. Application Management according to ASL by Peter Janssen – This book written in Dutch but I am sure there are similar books in English on ASL. I have been working in Application Management for the past 7 years in different roles but for the same customer so last year I found myself talking to this headhunter and not knowing anything about ASL so I need to make sure next time they are not talking to a no-brainer.

3. The Mind Gym by Mind Gym – always happy to improve on my mind especially when it is an easy read, lots of exercises and story well supported.

4. “Bird of Paradise” About the Implementation of Mergers and Acquisitions by Willem de Galan. Not sure if this has been translated to English. As I work for an financial institution which is a result of several mergers over the years I was still amazed to find how much debris was still left after 7 years while it seems obvious to me how some things could have been prevented. Again 6 years later I find the same mistakes all over again. Different context but still. But my mind’s probably not trained enough.

5. The LifeLaundry – How to dejunk your life by Dawna Walter and Mark Franks. Seven years ago I moved house and decided to use the spare room to put in some boxes to sort out later and I did. I can show pictures of my progress of creating the path to the window. Then my mum died and I had to move dad from the family home so the room got thrashed again and again and now there is no room to thrash it again with the clutter gathered in the other rooms so my focus needs to change.

6. The Ultimate Book on Mindmaps by Tony Buzan. I discovered the huge benefit of mindmapping about 10 years ago while studying for my bachelor degree. It is surely worth the effort if you have to pass an exam. Now this book is arguing that mindmaps can have quite a bit of other worthwhile purposes as well. I also recommend Tony Buzan’s book on Speed Reading.

7. Stephen King on Writing – Last June I attended a workshop on writing thrillers. Elvin Post which class I attended warmly recommended and used this book to quote from so I just had to buy it.