What I Learned Leading Up to My First Triathlon
I just finished my first sprint triathlon and here is what I learned and did leading up to the starting gun.
Pre-race
Checklists
Eliminate the stress of forgetting something for your race by using checklists. I have two main checklists:
- Packing List - everything I needed for the race day including pre-race fuel and clothes to wear home from the race. I included 5 categories - General, Swim, Bike, Run and Recovery.
- Race Focus List - key items I want to remember and focus on for the race. These included the length of my warm-up, that I wanted to go hard on the bike right before the run. This list will change race to race. I also jotted a couple of notes right after the race for things to remember for my next race.
Gear Bag
You need a gear bag. It doesn’t have to be a new, Ironman branded bag, anything that you can comfortably fit your gear into and preferably with various pockets. I like everything in its place. I used an old cycling bag I have had for 20 years. It worked great and was able to handle by helmet; two sets of shoes and everything except my wetsuit.
I literally had my checklist and gear bag together and checked off each item as I packed it in the bag. When the checklist was completed I knew the bag was complete and it went right into the car.
I packed my bag race day minus 2 (day-2). That way I had time to pick up any missing items. I recommend that you don’t wait until the day before. In most cases that is too late.
Day-1
With my bag packed and wetsuit in the car (assuming the race is wetsuit eligible) I am off to the race.
I headed to the race venue and picked up my packet as early as possible. Going the day before was key for me. You won’t be time crunched to have to get through getting your packet, getting marked, setting up your transition area and allowing enough time for a good through warm-up.
Pre-Race Briefing
Getting there Day-1 allowed me to attend the pre-race briefing; which was extremely valuable for this being my first race. The host shared a couple of tips that I used. I highlight those below.
Drive the bike and run courses
I was able to drive the bike and run courses. I noted the hills during the ride and identified areas where there was gravel around turns and other potholes to avoid. Really gave me confidence I knew what was coming on the run and bike.
I studied the transition area and knew exactly how the flow for each transition worked. Once again this eliminated more uncertainty.
Walk down and view the swim course
Understand what buoys are to your right, left where you turn etcetera. Easier to get that down on land rather than in the middle of race. Walk the transition from the swim up to the transition area. Any uneven ground, things to avoid? You have a change to see that.
After your Day-1 course review you have reduced some of the uncertainty and stress of the unknown. Now you are ready for Race Morning.
Race Morning
First thing I did was to get marked and get your timing chip. For this HFP race they don’t pass out the timing chips until race morning, along with body marking. Remember to place the chip on your LEFT Ankle, as this will ensure it doesn’t get tangled with your bike sprocket.
For my first race the transition area was first come first serve. I selected a spot that was right by a large flag. This was key for me being able to see when your transition area is. Remember it is easy to spot your bike coming off the swim, but when you are coming back for T2 after your bike you won’t have your bike as an indicator. Find a large easily viewable landmark to place your transition area.
Here are a couple of items I used during my first race
Garbage bag – it rained right up until 15 before the race started so I was able to get my gear set up for the transition and have it laid out inside the large garbage bag. My stuff was organized and dry. When nit stopped raining I was able to quickly get it out the bag and kept it dry.
Chalk – If you can’t get next to a landmark for your transition bring some sidewalk chalk or duct tape to put a big mark on the ground signifying your transition area. Your transition area is set, now its time to get the wetsuit on and head to the swim. You can also use duct tape.
Warm Up
Key - Warm up more than you think
I didn’t warm up enough and suffered a little on the swim. I learned that I needed to swim enough to feel tired which was the adrenaline burning off. You this by getting fully submerged and do 30 seconds of slow swimming with 15 second bursts. Getting your heart rate up is key and gives you a great warm-up. The colder the water the longer the warm-up. Cold water on your body and face during a race is a recipe for disaster and open water panic.
You are ready, oh one more thing -
Remember to Have Fun!
Get Your Kayaks Properly Stored with a Hoist Storage System
With three kayaks I needed a storage solution that got the kayaks out of the way and allowed easy access to the kayaks during the season. My family and I go out almost every weekend so a storage system that was easy to get them in and out of was key. The Sontax Kayak hoist system fit the bill for me.
Storage Basics
There are a variety of ways to store your kayak; some good some bad. You can stand them up in the corner; you can put them on horizontal racks against the way, you can hang them from the ceiling, and you can even lay them on the floor.
Within the kayak storage solution space there are commercial options and DIY options. Both are fine it’s just how much time and skill you have, along with the characteristics of your space. If you have a dedicated space just for your kayaks than maybe a simple rack system or even on the floor will work.
The location that I have for storing my kayaks is our detached garage and the kayaks will share the space with a vehicle, garden tools and other sports equipment. This space is definitely not a fully dedicated kayak storage spot.
From researching how to store a kayak, I wanted something that supports the kayak at multiple points and keeps it from getting banged and knocked around. Supporting the kayak at one pressure point can lead to potential warping and deformation.
I also wanted something that would keep the off the floor and above head height.
Kayak storage items to consider:
- Do you have a space dedicated to kayaks storage or will the space be shared?
- How many kayaks do you need to store?
- How often are you going to use your kayaks?
- Characteristics of your space (high ceilings, long wall space, etc.)
- Budget for storage system
- Do you want to build it yourself or purchase
I live in the Midwest so I will be using my boats a lot during April – October and then they will be stored during the winter. I have a detached garage with high ceilings (10.5 ft.) that services as a multi-purpose room with a car, and other outdoor stuff. The space gets a lot of traffic.
I decided on a pulley / hoist system to store my three kayaks close to the ceiling and out of the way. I needed the boats to be high enough so you could both walk and park a vehicle underneath.
I considered building my own pulley system until I saw the Sontax Kayak Hoist system at Menards for under $25. My time is worth something and between my time and the coast of the materials purchasing a system was a no brainer for me.
The system’s general specifications include:
- Rack, pulley system, mounting system, hardware, rope
- Heavy-duty steel construction with a black powder-coat finish
- Pulley system easily hoists goods up to 100 pounds to ceiling
- Ceiling mount design keeps the goods up and out of the way, allowing room for vehicles to park under
- Safe locking mechanism prevents accidental release
- Capacity 100 LBs
Installation
The hoist was easy to install. By the third hoist it took me about 30 minutes from box to ceiling. The hoist included everything I needed except for the length of 2x4 that I used. This wood is optional but I would suggest it.
Installation points to consider:
- Need to determine which way you will install considering the length of the kayak and the size of your space.
- Need to determine which way your ceiling joists are running.
- For multiple kayaks you need to measure the width of each boat and ensure that you install the hoists far enough apart.
- Need to install these on the ceiling joists or a piece of 2x4 attached to the joints. As you can see from my installation, I installed the individual brackets on a 2x4 and then secured the 2x4 to the ceiling.
- Using another piece of wood allowed more flexibility in terms of how close the individual pulleys were. I wanted to make sure than the kayak supports were not too close together but at a good to properly distributed the weight. Mine are about 48 inches apart. I have 11.5 foot sit-on-top kayaks.
Summary
As an active family we needed a storage system that would keep the kayaks safe, while allowing access on the weekly basis during the summer. As an active baby boomer I needed a system that was easy to get the kayaks in and out of. With two people this system is easy and you can lower the pulleys and get the kayak out and transferred to your vehicle or trailer. The system needed to allow for the garage to remain multiple uses.
The Sontax Kayak Hoist Storage System did just that. I would highly recommend it.
Summer in London
I am fortunate enough that I get to travel internationally for work. And that includes some pretty wonderful places, Sydney, Paris, London, Dubai. When I can, I try and go in a day before my meetings start to get acclimated and to enjoy the city.
In London I typically stay up around St. Paul's and captured this image on a trip last summer. Not bad for an IPhone 5 image.
Book Review – Living with a Seal by Jesse Itzler
I recently read Living with a Navy Seal by Jesse Itzler.
The author, Jesse Itzler is the founder of Marquis Jets and husband of Sara Blakely the founder of Spanx. I picked up this book after hearing Jess on Jeff Sanders’ The 5 AM Miracle podcast. A great podcast that I strongly recommend.
Book Summary
Jesse hires a Navy seal to live with him and his family for thirty-one days to transform his physical fitness but actually produces a greater transformation. Seal, as he is referred to in the book, has only one rule – Jesse must do everything he says; no exceptions. This 251-page book reads like a diary with each chapter a chronological discussion of the thirty-one days Seal spent with Jesse and his family.
Jesse actually includes the workouts that Seal puts him through and you can clearly follow his progression, however this isn’t a how to workout like a navy seal book. Rather this book is a description of a deeper transformation. Jesse is able to subtly describe and take you through the transformation day by day. Like watching your kids grow you don’t actually notice the transformation as you laugh and admire the daily activities.
My Takeaways
Respect
Respect what you do, where you are, and the environment you are in. Seal really instilled this in Jesse by continuous demonstration. Seal never complains or uses anything as an excuse. He shows you that you can respect something but also not being intimidated or daunted by something. Acknowledge whatever it is and then get after whatever you are there to do.
Minimalism
I also took away how powerful and useful minimalism can be. Seal came into Jesse’s home with a small backpack for the month, which was enough and didn’t interfere with what needed to be done or completed. Seal made what he had irrelevant. It was all about execution.
Total Commitment
Until you totally commit you have no idea about your true capabilities.
Seal described something called the 40% Rule. This is Navy premise that once your mind says you should quit you are really only at 40% of your true physical limit.
“If you want to be pushed to your limits, you have to train to your limits.” Seal
You don’t know your limits until you push and push and push. This was demonstrated on day one when the Seal had Jesse complete 100 pull-ups. And they stayed on the gym until they were done. Seal’s approach is the ultimate Getting Things Done approach.
Great read and highly recommended.
Space Shuttle Endeavour Is Huge
Space Shuttle Endeavour
In 2013 I visited Los Angeles and one of the highlights was seeing the Space Shuttle Endeavour in its temporary home. Endeavour was built as a replacement for the Challenger shuttle.
As I joined all the other guests in the Hall I wanted to try and capture something unique about the shuttle while isolating the huge machine from the people and exhibit. I thought this image of the exhaust did just that. What do you think?
6 Additional Features Available With the Garmin 920XT
I train with the Garmin 920XT. Along with the top-level features, options and benefits I thought I would highlight some of what I consider the second tier features and benefits. Here are six features you may not know about.
1. Track Steps – I wear my watch all day and track my steps. It also sets a goal for you each day based on the number of steps you historically walk. Your goal is updated daily. Kayak paddle strokes are even counted as steps if you paddle for exercise.
2. Metronome – Using a metronome can help increase your run cadence. No need to get a separate app for this, this feature is built right in.
3. Auto Pause – This feature automatically stops the watch when you stop or your speed drops below a certain level. Now you don’t have to be that guy…. jogging in place at the stoplight.
4. Sleep Tracking – Enable the sleep track mode and if you wear your watch to bed your key sleep metrics will be tracked.
5. Action Camera controlled – You can control your Garmin VIRB camera from the watch. Pair the device with your watch and you can control the camera through the watch timer or manual functions.
6. Phone Notifications – Pair the watch with your compatible Bluetooth phone and get notified when messages are received on your phone. You can set when notifications are on and off.
I actually found these features by reading the manual. I recommend downloading the PDF version of the manual from Garmin. With this document the Table of Contents and Index are hyperlinked to the specific section. I hope this helps you get the most out of your Garmin 920XT.
Changing Jobs the Professional Way
Everyone Makes Decisions – John Hayes
Professionalism and tactfulness are key with every job change. Everyone changes jobs, not just the millennials. That’s a key point as now more than ever there is a chance that your current boss or colleague could be a future boss. Or they may know someone at your new company. This is a key consideration and benefit of leaving in a professional way.
BACKGROUND
A close family member was changing jobs recently and wanted advice on how to execute the move effectively, professionally and most importantly without burning any bridges.
As someone who has been in my career for some time, and have people working for me, I thought it would be helpful to share the advice I offered him. I’m not a lawyer so these are just my opinions on how to change jobs professionally. If you have any concerns beyond these recommendations please seek out legal assistance.
We all hear “don’t burn your bridges”. What does that mean? Basically it means don’t leave in such a way that your current / former employer doesn’t want to hire you back. Having a “do not re-hire” designation in your human resources record is not desirable. Just another potential red flag to potential employers.
The New Job
First my advice on how to secure the new job before you resign from your current position.
Written Job Offer
Get the final job offer in writing from the new company. This is extremely important especially if you are working with a recruiter. You don’t want the summary the recruiter presents, you want a formal written offer from the company. Typically companies have a specific approval process for new hires so you can be reasonably assured that the written offer is coming from someone authorized to extent the offer.
Health Benefits
This applies primarily to folks in the United States. If you can’t afford to have a lapse in your health benefits, understand when your benefits start. Sometimes they start on the 1st of the following month. This could leave you with a gap, as most likely your benefits at your old job end at the end of the month. This is something to consider especially as you are planning your start and exit dates.
Start Date
Agree on the start date. You might want to take some time off between jobs so nailing down the start date is key. Typically this is discussed and included in your offer letter.
Other Benefits
Instead of having the discussion with the hiring manager save the benefits discussion for someone qualified with the new company that specifically understand the company’s benefits. This is when you discuss vacation time, 401(K) match, volunteer time, commuting benefits etc. When you discuss it with the benefits specialist it becomes a factual discussion. If you discuss it early on with the hiring manager it can be viewed as detrimental.
Now that you have the new job secured. Time to resign from the old job.
The Old Job
Formal Resignation Letter
Regardless of your level, always craft and present a formal resignation letter. Not only does this present you in a professional light it also acts as evidence that you did resign, and the specific date you will be leaving the company. Depending on your current circumstances with that company, and your work performance, this could eliminate any indication that you did not leave on your own accord.
There are many templates and letters available so search for one on-line and customize it to your liking. Doesn’t need to be an essay just a clear description of when you plan on leaving and thanking them for the opportunity they gave you.
Notice Periods
Unless you are on a contract which will stipulate your notice period, in the United States it is common practice to give a minimum of two weeks if you are in a staff level position or three weeks if you are in a leadership position.
Tendering your Resignation
If at all possible tender your resignation in person. Either set up a meeting or stop by your boss’s office to meet and submit your resignation.
During the meeting hand your boss the resignation letter and orally resign indicating your last date of your employment. I would also recommend that if asked you provide the name of your future employer. Withholding this information typically leaves you susceptible to bad feelings and potential issues. And with LinkedIn and other on-line resources they will be able to find out where you went.
Keep in mind that if you are going to a competitor you may be asked to leave the premises immediately. You will typically be paid your notice period but all your system, email, and physical access to the office will be removed.
Resign and Stay Cool
Always keep your cool and professionalism up. Remember, you can’t control how your boss or the company reacts but you an always control how you react. Everyone makes decisions, decide how you are going to react and conduct yourself. You are down to your last few weeks with the company; tough it out and maintain your professionalism.
The Counteroffer
I subscribe to the theory that you should never accept a counter offer. At that point you are viewed as damaged goods and really don’t have any long-term career opportunities with that company. You made the decision to leave, carry through.
The Exit Interview
Most companies have an exit interview process, typically with HR or an outside firm. Be careful with this. I would recommend that you offer professional, constrictive criticism if it is warranted, but never get personal about your boss or co-workers. Assume that everything you say will be passed along with the company.
I hope this gives you some tips and ideas to consider when you decide to leave your current role for greener pastures.
Why I am reading physical Magazines again
Are you chasing your dreams or just coasting along? Are you striving for personal gold or settling for silver?
The Champion's Mind
I am going back to reading physical magazines and books.
A few benefits with the physical version:
- Having a physical magazine around lets me pick up and read in sprints rather than feeling like I need to read the entire magazine in one sitting.
- The physical magazine is a great visual queue for me to read it.
- I can quickly tear out pages or jot down notes for items I want to keep. (I actually scan in the torn out pages and get them into Dropbox or Evernote.)
- I can actually get through the materials faster in physical form than electronic.
- I know when I have finished the material as the magazine goes right into recycling.
- I find reading the physical magazine makes it easier to get through the material.
So how am I reading now?
I subscribe to both the physical and electronic versions when they are both available. Most magazines offer deals on this 2 for 1 option so it is not that costly. More on the electronic version later.
I read with my Leuchtturm 1917 notebook by my side along with my favorite fountain pen, or my trusty Space Pen for taking notes. I capture notes and thoughts as I read. If there is a page that I want to save I just tear it out and scan it for further use. I find this works well for me with ads and full page items that I need to evaluate later.
When I am done I recycle the physical magazine.
Electronic Version
I use the electronic version for archive in case I want to go back and re-read or research something. Having the material around electronically in a single app essentially takes up no space and doesn't create any noticeable clutter.
For magazines that don't offer a physical version, or if I am traveling, I read the electronic version on my iPad. I still have my Leuchtturm 1917 by my side for notes.
I hope this is helpful and let me know in the comments below how you are consuming content.
Go From Snapshots to Storytelling Part 2
In Part 1 of How I Go From Snapshots to Storytelling with 3 Simple Questions, I described the questions I use to help move from snapshots to storytelling. In Part 2 I want to walk through a quick example of how I incorporate these questions into a vacation / location shoot. Just to be clear, I still capture the snapshots right up front as I am still not comfortable enough to go right into the focused storytelling at the risk of not getting any usable images. I'm working on that but want to set myself up for success.
As many of you know that follow me, I enjoy all things Disney. A few years ago I had a personal project with my Disney Friday Featured Images.
When I visited Orlando for that project I wanted to make sure I came away with nice, safe images for my family and to be able to post on the blog. I also wanted to be able to convey the Disney attention to detail and the emotion my youngest son experiences every time we go to the Magic Kingdom.
So I have a plan of attack which allows me to get both the safe but excellent images along with the emotion and detail shots.
There are four parks and we typically spend more than four days there so there is an opportunity to revisit each of the parks. The first visit through each park is when I capture the iconic images of the "Castle" "The Ball" and "The Hat". I also capture all the signs and attraction images I needed to identify the locations. I try and focus on this in the early morning light and then again during the late day light.
After I have these captured, reviewed and backed-up I am able to take the photography deeper. I can now focus on telling the story and conveying the emotions of the place without having to worry about getting my assignment work complete. I am free to then go through my question flow to get focused on conveying the deeper images. I need this, as I don't try and pose the images but rather have the questions answered and then I focus on capturing wonderment, happiness, without clouding my mind with other noise or thoughts
People will say that these images are better than the safe, shots but in my current photography development I need to capture the safe shots get my mind like water (thanks David Allen) and let me be completely focused in the emotional capture. No worry or anxiety means better images, for me.
As I move farther down the development of my photographic craft, the amount of time needed on safe to get to storytelling will be much much less, and I think this will be in direct correlation with my confidence and skill. Also the amount of pressure I put on myself will also cloud my ability to focus clearly on the emotion and storytelling.
I hope these two published posts help you get better more compelling photographic images as you move from snapshots to storytelling
I hope this helps.
When to Modify Your Goals Rather Than Take a Knee
Modifying Your Goals
As many of you know I have been training for the Raleigh 70.3 Ironman Triathlon. This was a stretch goal but something I was focused on.
During my training I experienced a knee injury and an achilles tendon injury. Along with many missed days of training due to sickness. Now as I write this I am fifteen weeks away from the race and it is time to reconsider.
I am reassessing my goal and objectively comparing my current fitness state, with the necessary fitness level I need for success, and the time available. Fifteen weeks is not enough time.
My "all in" approach is great for achievement and focus but is a detriment to my health. I know if I continue to push towards Raleigh I will go too fast too soon and there is a high risk of injury which would probably be more severe. So do I just take a knee and give up? Nope.
When you are faced with goals that are unachievable given the current circumstances you don't need to quit. Here is what I did:
What was your underlying reason?
My reason for doing the triathlon was to get in great shape. Training for the Raleigh race is not the only way to do that. I also wanted to do something completely different has I hadn't completed any triathlon.
Can you modify your measure of success?
Last time I checked the Raleigh race was not the only triathlon out there. What if I picked another race? I know I have sunk money into the entrance fee but that was not all lost. The money was an investment in, and drove my fitness level to this point so definitely worth it.
What are the facts?
I was unhappy, depressed and unmotivated after my latest injury and it was hard to set that aside and look at the facts. Talking with my doctors, and my coach I was able to conclude that I shouldn't just quit. I focused on the facts and not the emotional state I was in.
Should you quit?
I did review my current state and seriously evaluate quitting. I was depressed and unmotivated and considered taking a knee or quitting. I also focused on what I consider goal success which is have I improved my trajectory. Based on my true underlying reason for the goal was I really moving forward. My goal wasn't to be world champion but rather to get in great shape and achieve something totally different. I could still do it.
Re-adjust your goal?
What did I do? I got back up of the ground and registered for another race. This race is right after the Raleigh race in Mid-June and is a shorter race. I signed up for the Maumee Bay SprintTriathlon http://www.hfpracing.com/events/fit/maumeebay/eventinfo.htm .
When faced with the decision to quit or give up on a goal, take are hard look at your true reasons, gather the facts and see what your real alternatives are before you just quit.
How I go From Snapshots to Storytelling with Three Simple Questions Part 1
Photographic storytelling is what we all aspire to achieve. Our photographic journey seems to begin with snapshots, maybe even a little spray and pray, and then ultimately getting to telling a story. So what exactly is storytelling. Storytelling has been described as the effective use of
"Mood, Emotion, Narrative, Idea and Message"
For me this definition really struck a chord with what I was trying to achieve with my photography.
As I progress down the path towards storytelling, I use three simple, but powerful questions. Using these questions gives me the best chance of increasing my success rate of capturing the feeling and story rather than just a snapshot. I try to always ask these questions:
- How do I feel right now?
- What do I want the viewer to feel?
- How can I capture that emotion?
How do I Feel Right Now?
When I come to a photo shoot, a location or just get ready for a Saturday morning photo excursion I'm feeling something. When I first see or experience a location I have a feeling or at the very least a reaction. Just taking a second to formally ask myself what I'm feeling helps me formalize and identify the feeling.
Once I have the feeling identified I can now focus on how to convey that feeling. Just understanding the feeling and knowing what it is helps me work on expressing that feeling with a two dimensional medium. Does the location, or shoot make me feel excited, down, optimistic, pessimistic? No emotion is right or wrong but rather valid and should be explored. I try not to fight the emotion but rather identify it and immediately ask myself the next empowering question.
What do I want my viewer to feel?
Hopefully the answer to this question mirrors my answer to the first question, but maybe not. If it does then I move right on to Question #3. If not then I have a quick little internal debate to decide what answer is more compelling or important, and why they would be different. If they are different then I tend to lean towards what I am feeling. I find if I shoot for myself I have a better chance of succeeding and producing quality art. If the answer is the same then this just helps reinforce the answer as I go into Question #3.
How can I capture that emotion?
For me, just the exercise of asking, and answering this question, gets me focused and provides a single purpose to pursue with the image. For me limiting the alternatives is always best. With this one thought I then bring the camera to my eye and start capturing. I am able to also decide, will this convey the message better in black and white? Do I need HDR? What do I include or exclude from the frame? This is when the tough, and exciting part begins.
Another quick benefit -
An ancillary benefit I have gotten out of this is when I go back and cull my images down in Lightroom I am able to ask myself the same general questions to see if I was successful, and just as important, what could I have done to be more successful.
Summary
Like any muscle, exercising this thought process with these questions, helps improve the answers I get. For every question you ask yourself you will get an answer, the key is to get good, positive, productive answers.
Do I get it right each time? Absolutely not but I think my success rate has increased since I have started this quick pre-planning processing. To give myself the electronic slap in the face I have these three questions on my IPhone in the Notes app. This is what I try to do and hopefully is helpful for you as well.
In Part 2 I will offer a practical example of how I use this approach on a travel location shoot.
Relax with a Campfire
Want to relax, have a campfire. Last weekend here in Ohio we got a glimpse of Spring with 50 degree temps. We decided to have a campfire around dusk. When everyone else ventured back inside I sat around the file by myself and just enjoyed it. I noticed that I was really relaxed and enjoying the experience. I wasn't really thinking about anything just watching the flames and listening to the slow hiss of the water evaporating out of the wood.
I did a little research and found that it appears that thousands of years ago our ancestors meditated around the fire. There most be something to this.
So if you want a fun way to relax have a fire and enjoy thinking about nothing.
Doing Sickness and Motivation the Right Way
For the last three months I have been in a boot nursing a partially torn achilles tendon. For the last two weeks I have been sick. Up until then I was actively focused on jdhayes.com and worked out. My content publishing schedule and my workouts were consistent, all though modified with only upper body strength training, swimming and some indoor cycling. I was consistent until I got sick. Once I got sick everything stopped. I was barely able to get through my daily responsibilities and completely stopped focusing on my content and working out.
I was unmotivated and depressed - Why was that and could I have done more? Would doing anything have helped speed up my recovery?
Motivation and Productivity
When you are sick your energy levels are down as your body is trying to fight off whatever is making you sick. So it is understandable that you aren’t as energized and motivated to get things done. Your productivity is non-existent. But I find myself completely shutting down. What could I have done to not completely lose my momentum?
Lighten Up
Rather than completely shutting down I could have been easier on myself. I could have lightened up on what I was expecting of myself and been happy with less. I usually have an all or nothing view, which is completely counter-productive. Looking at what I wanted to get done and scaling that back to a few key items would have been better and much more successful.
Meditate
As I discussed in my post “I’m starting a medication practice" , I have started meditating. During the last two weeks I completely dropped that as well. In hindsight I could have kept that up and I think that would have actually helped cut the stress of the sickness and helped put my illness in perspective. I am like most men in that every stuffy nose, bit of congestion, and fever is life threatening. Meditation would have helped with my mindset and perspective.
Think Longer Term
When I was laid up that would have been a great time to think a little longer term. Getting out of the negativity of knowing I needed to get things done and was not doing them, and stepping back and thinking long-term would have served me well. Using that time to look at my goals, the systems and processes I have or need, would have kept me on a positive trajectory. Resting and being inactive lends itself to thinking, planning and retrospective views. I definitely lost a great opportunity to use that time wisely.
Clear the Clutter
Getting organized and decluttering does not take a lot of thought or mental energy. Also having a more organized workspace and home space would have made me feel better and helped with my mental attitude. This is something I could have done in small bursts.
Evaluate and Think
This ties into the Think Longer Term suggestion. What could I have done differently to potentially avoided this illness? One too many apple fritters? Does this always happen after a long international flight? If I would have done some focused thinking on this I might have a preventative gameplay now. Another good question would have been What can I do Now? Focusing on doing something would have been better than How quickly can I get to bed.
Working Out and Physical Activity
How could I have still done some physical activity?
Evaluate
Evaluate what exactly I have. With only a sinus infection and the related congestion and drainage I had the classic Above the neck illness. The conventional thinking is that if you illness is only above the neck and you don’t have a fever then physical activity is okay, although lighter. Once you have a fever and a more widespread illness it is best to take some time off.
Lighten Up
I should have continued with a light workout regime. I had my bike set up on the indoor trainer so I could have done some light spinning, or even some light kettlebells and suspension band training. In hindsight I bet a little activity would have sped up my recovery.
Summary
Next time I’m not feeling well, and it will happen again, I am going to walk though these suggestions. I think using these suggestions will not only help me keep up some momentum but also speed up my recovery. Having a positive outlook and some light physical activity will help.
I hope you find something here that helps. Add any more tips or thoughts below in the comments.
Automatically Add Scanned Business Cards to Contacts from Evernote
Here is a quick tip if you use Evernote to scan in business cards on your iPhone. Changing this setting will allow the contact information to be automatically sent to your Contacts App.
Within the Evernote App on your IPhone:
- Go to settings (gear icon in upper left corner)
- General
- Camera
- Business Cards
- Toggle on Save to Contacts slider
After this change all your scanned business card contacts will be automatically added to your contacts.
As a bonus you can also select which Notebook you want the business card scans to go into by selecting it in the setting right about the Save to Contacts slider.
My Pure Joy From Fishing
Not five minutes after presenting my fly in the water a nice crappie hit it and I had my first fish of the day. About ten minutes later my son had his first one as well.
Getting back into fishing I have also gotten back into fly tying. I tied my first flies this week in probably over 35+ years. I tied basic orange-bodied Zebra Midge. I have had many victories and my share of disappointments in life but I actually felt a sense of pure joy going from bare hook to landed fish with something I had built. Even better was the fact that my son quickly switched to one of my files after I caught my fish and landed his.
We fished a little bit longer and then he turned and said "Dad these flies really work; can we go home and tie some more? I want to tie my own."
Hey this is my pure joy from fishing.
Here is How I combine a Business Trip With Photography
Here is how I combine a business trip with photography. For many of us photography is not our full-time paying gig so we need to be creative to satisfy our photo bug while on business trips. You think it is hard to photograph with your spouse in tow, or harder yet your twelve year old; try doing it with two or three work colleagues with you.
Packing
Just like any photo shoot, planning your packing is key. It is no different on a travel photography outing / trip. I typically plan on what I am going to shoot and either take my Tamron 28-75 and my Tokina 11 -16 or my Nikon 1.4 50. If I am doing something different on the trip then I go to Lens Rental and rent what I need. The guys are great over at Lens Rental and I just let them know where the lens will be traveling with me and they are great about getting it to me.
Bag
Either I pack everything in my briefcase or split items between my briefcase and carry on luggage bag. The inner laptop compartment makes a great soft location for my D300s and lens. As I almost always carry on my luggage, a lens wrapped tightly around a tee-shirt travels well.
Instead of my normal briefcase I sometimes travel with my Tenba Messenger bag. What I like about this bag is that it looks like a brief case and when I arrive at the work location I can leave the padded insert in the room and back what I need for the office in the bag. I take advantage of the in-room safe for my gear. After I have images downloaded I always carry the external drive with me and keep my MacBook Pro and spent SD cards in the safe.
I also travel with 10 – 15 16-gig SD cards and a backup drive.
Workflow on the road
My workflow on the road doesn't differ much from my normal travel workflow. I take enough SD cards to have 2 for each day so I don't have to format and reuse any of the cards. On a nightly basis I copy the images from the cards onto a temporary folder on my MacBook Pro and also copy the files onto my external drive and to Dropbox.
The hotels I stay in typically have an in-room safe which is where I put my SD cards and I always carry the small 500GB hard drive with me to the office or in my suit jacket.
Traveling for business can be difficult so combining photography with the trip makes the trips much more enjoyable.
Please feel free to share your tips and ideas below in the comments se
Painted Wall Personal Project-Stanislaw Lem Krakow
Stanislaw Lem Krkaow Painted Wall in Jewish Ghetto Krakow Poland
On my last visit to Krakow Poland I took one of the many cart tours of the Jewish Ghetto area. I captured this image as part of my personal project to capture painted walls. As you can imagine these tours are both somber and interested. The atrocities that took place are almost unimaginable, and being right where it happened is interesting and sobering. Something we never should forget.
Does Looking Back Hurt Your Future?
I wonder if I am looking back too often and too much, and does that mean that I am living in the past. What is a good balance between both looking forward, reminiscing, and enjoying my past memories versus looking forward? Is this contrary to the current view of living in the moment?
With my dad passing away I find myself reliving all my past memories including those with my dad. I am having a hard time understanding and or putting these memories in focus. I keep coming back to the finality of he will never be around anymore, and I will not see him until I pass away. Is it a problem to look back, and want to enjoy what you had in the past? Is it just as unhealthy to look forward constantly? Is it just part of the grief process? Who's to say. Also what are memories anyway if not to be enjoyed?
Do you ever notice that when you look back and think about someone who has passed away you think about the positive things? Is this common? If it is such a normal occurrence, why don't we think about doing it for people that are alive? I think the world would be a much better place, and will be much more positive, if we focused on the positives in people rather than the negatives.
My looking back might also may be a coping tool for my apprehension towards the unknown of the future. Am I a little nervous of the unknown. I do like things to be in order, not many surprises, "Buttoned up". Hey that's the accountant in me. Would I live a more exciting a full life if I get outside that organized world? I believe yes.
I am also working to develop a balanced focus that builds on my experiences from the past, what the future has for me, and living in the current. This will allow me to really be grateful for what I already have. Improving this balance will also get me out of the comforts of the past and build new memories. How about you?
Why Your Own Kayak is Wonderful
They toss the hunk of plastic off the trailer and point you towards the path down to the river. You grab a paddle off the pile and grab one of the kayaks laying there and you are off. Another kayak outing with a rental you hope won't ruin the trip.
We have all used the rental kayaks. They are fine and that is what got us into kayaking in the first place. They are typically all molded plastic, with one or both of the foot braces broken off or just molded into the kayak. We definitely enjoyed the experience in spite of the kayak. With your own you can enjoy the kayak and the experience.
Okay now I have my own kayak. For Christmas the big family purchases were kayaks for the three of us. Before this we were renters, now we are owners.
There is something really special about having a brand new kayak. The ability to truly customize the fit for you is just wonderful. From the way the real seat hugs your body, to the foot braces, a kayak that fits you is huge. The feeling of being more connected to your kayak increases the experience. You feel like you are working with your kayak not against it.
There is the cost thing. If you are trying to prove the cost vs. renting then you probably won't be able justify the purchase. But if you compare renting with the ability to go where you want, the comfort and enjoyment of a perfect fit, and higher quality boat performance then purchasing is the way to go. I truly believe that if you own something you will use it and go much more often.
Most rental places will transport you and your kayak up the river for a small fee so the transportation is covered. This eliminates the need for two vehicles on a river trip with one at the start and one left at the termination point.
If you want a kayak that you can custom fit to your body, have the freedom to go where you want when you want, and take your kayaking to a much more enjoyable level, go out a buy your own; they're wonderful.
I'm Starting a Meditation Practice
I started using the app. Headspace to begin a meditation ritual. The offer a free 10 minutes for 10 days program that I had heard about on Tim Ferriss' podcast. He continually discussed that a majority of the people he interviewed participated in some kind of regular meditation practice. I thought I would give it a try.
Interesting fact so far is that although I am only on day 2 of the 10 day program, I find my self experiencing a couple of things. First, during the practice and right after I find myself extremely nervous and anxious. This is completely opposite of what I expected. After doing a bit of research it seems like this, although is not common does occur. It is most likely the fact that I am becoming more mindful or aware of my feelings and some inner anxiety. Interesting. Most resources suggest that the anxiety will subside after I deepen my awareness and acceptance of it. I actually become more relaxed and calm after about 10 to 15 minutes after finishing.
I'm starting a meditation practice in the hopes of slowing down. My over-analyzing brain needs a break. I'll update you on my progress after my 10 days us up.