Thanks to the new YMCA in our area (Gig Harbor), I can happily say that I am getting exercise regularly and the way I like to—having fun with other people (Racquetball, Pickleball, Dance, swimming, and some machines which, thanks to their wifi, I can use my iphone to check email, watch videos, listen to music, etc. Cool beans.)
Finally some progress here…I’ve been feeling bad that I keep deleting my 43things exercise regularly reminders (:
Brand spanking new gorgeous YMCA just opened in our area, only 15 minute drive…very needed for the PNW. Got a membership, have been swimming, and signed up for a 12 week program and to have an initial meeting with a trainer this thursday. Plan is to come in 2-3 times a week…we’ll see!
Sucky suck suck, except for a little walking and v. occasional yoga. Starting my new business Spark Northwest has been taking up way too much time.
Well, I know I’ve been quiet for a while, but I’ve finally made a decision related to my next vocational decision. I’m excited and nervous about it.
I’m starting a business whose aim to help stir up the fun, passion, creativity and ‘team-connectivity’ within organizations and individuals. Don’t worry, I’ll eventually have a much more clever, pithy ‘one liner’ to describe it.
Apparently, this is a slice of “Organizational Development” -a fat pie which is cut from a variety of angles.
I plan to draw from tools, games and techniques that I’ve learned from the improv world, challenge games and team-building world, various forms of counseling and communication classes (ie compassionate listening, drama therapy), etc.
There a few other businesses out there doing similar things, but none quite how I’m starting to see it could be done. My main interests have to do with ideation and team-building, however, depending on what an organization needs, I would like to help them become more creative, productive, authentic, and fun-filled however they might need. I’ve put a lot of research, interviews and thought into this, but I won’t say much more here and now.
Honestly, if I could work with a group like “On Your Feet” in Oregon (www.oyf.com) I’d probably do it in a heartbeat as they are very similar in vision, Gary (the founder) seems like a great guy, and they have a ton more experience than I do (obviously.)
Anyway, the next stage will be find 1-2 core partners, do some ‘beta-testing’ with friends and various orgs, and to define my particular vision and mission. Let me know if you have any resources or info that could be of assistance.
As I don’t know how this will all work out, and because I am also working with a couple of other great organizations, I am keeping my doors open to any possibilities. But until I am approached with something similar or better from the outside, I’ve decided—why not try follow a dream and see what happens? Wish me well!
Cheers!
-Leif
Well now…
Four months break after quitting my last job, vocational counseling, a week personal retreat at Breitenbush, anonymous surveys sent to families, and tons of reflection time later…
I’ve narrowed things down to 2 (and a half?) likely vocational paths I will be following, and I am excited about all of them.
I leave today to Guatemala to spend a week with another couple traveling down there who are scoping out places for students to stay, learn language and do volunteer service for a new start up called “Magic Carpet Rides”. Think Peace Corps for HS grads. Its a gap-year program that hopes to catch the US up to the rest of the civilized world in getting kids a chance to see the world, grow up a little before college and more. Its an exciting opp and I very likely might take a job helping helping them. The other options I won’t say much more than there general fields—Org Devlopment (using improv/group games/etc to help organizations with ideation/creative blocks/team-building/etc) is the most attractive at this time. We’ll see what happens….
Stay tuned! (:
Funny to think of ever clicking the “I’ve done this” button as this is definitely on ongoing goal. I actually do think I’ve been a better husband lately, though only one person can really answer that in the affirmative. I took a few months off, starting last October, largely to spend time with family and help my wife pursue some of her interests. Sadly, until a couple of weeks ago, I spent much of that time being overly concerned about my life and vocation and probably wasn’t super fun to be around much of the time. Anyway, now that I feel more confident about what will be happening next and also after a recent retreat in which I let go of things I was holding too tightly, things have gotten much better.
Well, I can at least say that I have improved since stating this goal—check out www.wonderosityshow.com to see what you think of my last interview with some organic farmers from Oregon (KingFisher Farms) about sustainability, struggles within globalism, etc.
So I tried to do the ‘exercise’ thing today (vs. what I last blogged about, having fun) while listening to a podcast. Used this freebie step machine I picked up off the side of the road a coupe of months ago. As feared, my lower back started acting up 15 minutes into it—I guess thats not the best option for me.
Well, once I’m in a better location with more group/fun options available, I think things will pick up.
I had an excellent set of meetings this weekend with my (current) top pick for my next vocation. Its a nonprofit startup of some friends called “Magic Carpet Rides)” and is basically a gap year program for mature High school graduates that allows for international travel, volunteer service and personal growth. Basically, we’d hope to help catch the US up with a tradition that most of the rest of the developed world has been doing for years. Its exciting, looks genuinely viable and would be an amazing growth opporunity.
I am also meeting this week with 1-3 others who could help me in a couple other (rather different) vocational paths…
So, its coming along…
Well getting a Mac was definately a huge step in the right direction. Besides the fact that my enjoyment of and productivity with my computer has increased exponentially, Garageband is such a fun, easy, eye-canding pleasing way to create podcasts. And, for whatever reason, I’ve found that simple headset recordings sound much crisper.
I’m not quite ready to say I’ve accomplished this goal (not until I have a couple of really high quality high profile interviews), I have put out a few pretty good shows in the last few weeks and another interview should be ready in the next couple of days (check out to www.wonderosityshow.com if you want to give me some feedback.) So, woohoo to me. Unfortunately we used Gizmo Project for the interview, which records at 8k hz and then used Levelator to try and fix levels…sound if not so great. Oh well.
Given that my life has some other major priorities right now (like deciding my next vocational direction)—I’m doing the best I can.
http://www.wonderosityshow.com
I’ve been doing quite a bit along these lines the past few months—from vocational counseling, to journaling, to interviewing people, to even giving my friends and family a survey to try and get some more objective feedback about my skills, strengths, etc (what do others think I should be doing.) I’ve narrowed down my options from about 10 dreamy ideas to about 3 and told myself I’d decide by the end of February what the next big step is. Some days I’m very exciting and hopeful, some days I am scared…mostly, besides being a little ansy, I’m just fine (:
Well, maybe not 100% of the time…but thanks to the reward system (chocolate by the toilet eaten each time I remember), I am batting about 75%...
(From my site www.geekingoutloud.com)
I know Vista is coming out next week, but from what I’ve heard so far, this isn’t exactly something to get excited about. However, if you, like me, have been considering a switch to Mac (after about 15 years!), this might just be the perfect time to jump ship. Yes, jump before you lay down the bucks for another (most likely) buggy, virus-laden ‘passenger tested’ beta voyage.
Well, I did it. I bought a slightly used 17” MacBook Pro (3.16 ghz, 1 gb ram, 120 gb Hard drive) AND I LOVE IT! There is no way around it Windows friends, a crispy red apple has been thrown through my windows and I’m loving the fresh air. I have a hunch this switch is going to happen to A LOT of people this year. The machine, and OS X, are absolutely amazing (and it looks like the soon to arrive upcoming OS leopard update will be even better.) My favorite things about the switch so far:
I haven’t had a single app freeze, “unexpected error” (duh, which ones are?) or blue screen for a whole week (not so with windows, though I admit XP was much better than previous incarnations.)
The OS is simple, beautiful – a work of art. You can tell that the MAC OS designers wanted something they could love. From the way windows are handled on the desktop, to the smooth 3D icons.
I’m not missing any Windows applications, all the ones I used or freebie equivalents (and some excellent new mac-specific ones) are installed and working solidly. And for the one game I’m playing, which is windows specific, I just switch my mac into windows xp mode using bootcamp or parallels. Two computers in one!
FrontRow is an attractive, simpe and fun way to access all my media (photos, music, videos, DVD, etc) -and using a remote to access it all is brilliant as well.
The Mac community I’ve been encountering on the net speaks of people who love their macs and who artfully contribute to making it an excellent product.
Widgets. Yeah, I know that Vista is going to try and do the same thing, but Macs did it first. I simply press F12 or go to a corner of my screen and ‘swish’, all these cool handy widgets on just about anything pop-up.
My system boots up faster. This is really important to me. Computers aren’t for patient people. I love how, whether its waking from sleep mode or a cold boot, I can be working from seconds to a minute tops.
Well, I could add quite a bit more (like Spotlight, which has integrated into the OS what Windows Desktop Search or Google Desktop Search attempted to do while bogging down my system), but seven is such a nice number I think I’ll stop now. Besides, I really need to get my bootie in gear and start doing some other work. I know this wasn’t a graphically rich review of OS, which is what its really about, so f you want to see pictures and to be persuaded by the pros—just go on over to www.mac.com now and see things for yourself.
While this still really is a goal, and it should seem obvious, I’ve realized that there is a big part of me that just doesn’t really WANT to love AS MUCH as I want others things/modalities/etc. Does that make sense? I mean, my desire for love seems to most days, most of the time, be shadowed by my desire for information, stimulation, knowledge, a sense of ‘accomplishment’, fame, etc.
Well, at least it feels good to admit it. Maybe its just a mid-life anxiety deal, now that I’ve chosen to be unemployed for a while…who knows.
But when I do really choose to love, really love, fear can’t even be anywhere near that power. That simple power of being real, honest, myself and reaching out to the real within the other.
That rocks.
After enjoying a wonderful ultimate Frisbee pickup game two days ago, I finally realized that I really enjoy exercising—which tends to mean playing with a group or at least listening to a podcast while ‘exercising’.
Problem is, I am living somewhat in the boonies these days, and finding people to play with is not easy…but I think I’ll look into it a bit more…ultimate frisbee or soccer would be my top choices.
Even though I’ve been doing yoga semi-regularly, I really need to be developing strength (esp core strength) and doing cardio exercise.
I just threw my back out again last week and have been horizontal for 6 days…not something a 35 year old should have to be dealing with!
I love island life and hope to return some time in the near future.
I lived on Vashon Island when I first got married in a three bedroom cabin on the beach, and 1/2 mile beach to ourselves—the perfect ‘honeymoon’ house. We only paid about 400 a month because we helped feed the landlord’s ostriches!
Between 2001-2004 we lived on Orcas Island in Washington State’s San Juan islands. Its a great, artsy, community and I highly suggest living there. Just make sure you get off at least once a month to expose yourself to a bit more culture and the rest of the world. And if you value anonymity, island life could be hard for you as well.
My two main ones were the Bleeding Purple Podcast, and now it has been transmogrified into Wonderosity.
You can see more at http://www.wonderosityshow.com
While it is really a fun process, especially if you, like me, enjoy audio, interviewing, geeking out, etc. —it can take a lot of your time. In addition, now that there are tens of thousands of podcasts, its a little easy to get lost in a crowd, so don’t expect to have a big audience (if you even care about that, which, its best not to) unless you are REALLY good, have something REALLY unique, or are a REALLY good marketer.
I’d be happy to get people going on the basics, and am available for consulting beyond that. (:
Good luck!
The most amazing experience of this I describe on a podcast here.
http://bleedingpurplepodcast.blogspot.com/2006/03/my-aurora-story-encounter-with-god.html
Except for this holiday break, I’ve been going twice a week for two months now and my body really likes it (especially my back). Two is all I can afford both for time and money.
