Entries Tagged 'life' ↓

Seems like everywhere you go, cancer of some sort has a grip. It’s kind of like this invasive weed you can’t get out of your lawn. Perhaps it’s always been this way, and nobody knew what it was, but it just seems like cancer is a growing concern for us all. And, in all it’s horrible forms, cancer is just a terrible disease.

Rodney is doing something about it. I applaud his efforts. I also believe that pain shared is pain halved, and so I encourage you to check out his blog post and share your story. You might just be a huge blessing to someone else who is struggling with the impact of cancer, and the telling of stories is a very powerful thing.

Rack this one up in the “Duh!” category, but it just seems so obvious that a group of over-tired and fatigued people operating in a critical function are going to make serious mistakes. Do they not read some of their own research literature on the effects of sleep deprivation?!

I still do not understand why this persists, except for my experience in too many places where “doing what we had to do” is the rationale for continuing very stupid practices.

I was reading a bio piece by a former SAS guy recently, in which he talked about sleep as being a key factor in survival, and how he was fully aware that his lack of sleep was affecting his judgements and he made specific plans to ensure that he could safely sleep to get himself in good shape to do what he had to do.

I’ve yet to hear a good argument for allowing medical staff (both docs and nurses) to work in ways we would never allow airline pilots to do.

[Update... here's the official advice on what to do about fatigue if you're a doc who's exhausted... just drink 6 cups of coffee a day... :-)]

It’s been painful watching the Australian cricket team wobble from greatness to patheticness (is that a word?!) during this Ashes series.

Their loss in this final game was easily predictable, given the interviews Ponting was giving in the press before the game. He apparently had the game won before they even stepped on the field, and I thought to myself as I read some of this stuff last, that I just couldn’t understand the tack he was taking in the media. It’s one thing to be confident, but it’s another to be cocky. The line is a fine one, but cockiness will kill you every time.

I haven’t had time to properly reflect on it, but there’s obviously some big leadership lessons in this, and it is probably one of the key differences (in my mind) that separates Ponting from Waugh, who I believe was the greatest cricket captain perhaps in history, not only because of the way he led teams to victory, but also the way in which he reinvigorated Australian Test cricket with the traditions and history that fuel a game like this.

“If you’re going to take Vienna, take Vienna.” – Napoleon

:-)

“Only he who does nothing makes a mistake.” – French proverb

As a basic principle of life, I firmly believe in the truth of this proverb. People who don’t make mistakes, who are afraid of making mistakes, are unlikely to learn and grow, and ultimately, that is the biggest mistake of all.

For leaders, it is imperative that we create cultures where making mistakes is not a fatal sin… giving our people the ability to learn from mistakes is a crucial facet in their growth experience, and creating a culture where mistakes are feared and avoided is shortsighted and not good leadership at all.

According to this bottom line piece, British forces in Hellmand Province, Afghanistan, have 20 helicopters to support 9,000 troops – not sure who’s running that whole effort, but that’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of in a modern war scenario…

“We say we waste time, but that is impossible – we waste ourselves.” — Alice Bloch

Read this quote a few times, roll it around in your mind, and then stop wasting yourself… :-)

I’m not against wealth, per se, and it can certainly make your life simpler in some ways and more complicated in many other ways. The Bible has plenty to say about the the Lord’s blessings and our appropriate response to that. Those of us who are wealthy in this world (and that includes most Australians) have great expectations that accompany our wealth.

But, there are some things that just make me angry. Not sure I can fully explain why, but this story, for example of a Saudi prince’s $485million flying palace doesn’t make me envious – it actually really steams me when I think about the pure waste of money on something so beyond the boundary of extravagance that I just can’t comprehend what sort of mindset would create such a thing.

The plane usually seats 600, but lots of room had to be cleared for various perks. Naturally, there’s an on-board garage, so that the prince can be driven right to the threshold of of the airplane’s elevator. After arrival, he can retire to his master suite–one of five with king-size beds, and computer generated prayer mats which always face Mecca (one must always be humble); up to 20 extra-guests have to make due in sleepers that are the equivalent of first class.

But the real insanity begins elsewhere on the plane’s three floors: There’s a concert hall that seats ten and has a baby grand piano; a boardroom with a holographic projector; and a full-size steamroom. The most entertaining perk is a “Wellbeing Room” which has a floor upon which is projected an enormous image of what the plane is flying over–thus creating a “magic carpet” effect.

Yeah, that’s really cool… I guess you just have to make sure you’re not flying over really poor people, or it may mess with your wellbeing.

• Today was nothing like what I planned. One of those days which was
  probably very important in some indirect ways, but totally off-page. #
• Watching some classic psychology happening across the room from me.
  Loudest guy at the head of the table. #
• Dome wifi sucks this morning. I’m going to have to relocate to a more
  useful spot to work. Doh! #

• Just had a great chat with a guy who couldn’t get over that I don’t
  wear a collar and “bat gear” as a “priest”… :-) #