Nicholas Bate

Worried About All The Bad News? The One Bag You Need

ready and waiting. Now.

The Simplest of Pleasures 101: 21-30

(21) A paragraph of your novel, well-written.

(22) Woke Up This Morning: Alabama 3.

(23) Shirts, freshly ironed.

(24) Candles, dusk and quiet conversation.

(25) Moments of breakthrough.

(26) Heading home after a long trip.

(27) Fresh snowfall and no place to have to go.

(28) A well-engineered fountain pen.

(29) Walking the Cornish Coastal Path.

(30) Old photos re-discovered. 

 Simplest of Pleasures 101:

1-10, including: A stack of books. A stack of wood for the burner. French-press coffee.

11-20,  including: Kisses blown to you from across the crowded departure gate.

Thank You

To readers of this blog: regular and occasional drop-ins. To those who write to thank, to remark and augment. To those who buy a book of mine (or two or more). To amazing fellow bloggers many of whom (but certainly not all) are encapsulated in the fine Power Bloggers List maintained and updated by New Renaissance Thinker, DJ and Real Man Cook Kurt Harden.

A special thanks to Michael Wade. As well as being an outstanding blogger, writer and consultant, Michael helped me get started on this precarious thing called blogging. He remains an inspiration.

Stay tuned. The Universe is yet young.

The 'Don't Do'

list.

Immersion 101

What are the Secrets of Success? Sometimes you realise that if you just woke up, were intelligent, noticed the moments and were bold, had real grit, stopped thinking about escape hatches, and were resilient, perhaps things would become refreshingly different.After all, the totally tangible truths are simply priceless and remind you that whetever it takes in a Brave New World, there is no conspiracy maybe just simply one doppio espresso too many. After all, you say you want a revolution.  So be a superhero, take some time to pause and consider and realise that life is good. And become truly wealthy by using the life tips. What if you were fearless and knew that you could solve any problem that you had? Reinvent. Be outrageous. Be professional. After all, AreYouSerious as genius often starts with quick wins, certainly avoiding nonsense, taking time to reflect, seeking answers and knowing what is to be done. Set your compass, do it and boost your productivity and hence wellness and hence creativity. Think Beatles, think blue Jeans, less PowerPoint. Write and be different. Grab your freedom and travel. Less marketing, more relaxing. Make that Parallel Universe happen: be more intelligent and let the good news happen with the essentials.

Simplest of Pleasures 101: 11-20

11. Mrs Robinson: Simon & Garfunkel.

12. Working outside on a frosty winter’s morning.

13. A newly discovered great author.

14. Switching off the TV and re-discovering quiet.

15. Running in the mountains.

16. Kisses blown to you from across the crowded departure gate.

17. Nature-and nothing but nature-all around you.

18. Phone on airline mode for an hour or two.

19. Driving and listening to a great radio discussion.

20. Knowing you are good at something. Very good.

Simplest of Pleasures 101, 1-10

Break Out of The Urban Zoo

If only it were an Urban Jungle. But sadly, the reality it's a zoo. The cages are the cubicles, the tranquillisers are e-mail and PPT and feeding times the free coffee and cookies. It's tough to break out but it can be done. Like any prison film you’ve ever seen you know you need to get fit. That's step 1. Stand and stretch and mobilise at regular intervals and then drop to the floor and do 10 press-ups. Do it on the hour, every hour. Twice a day find a secret location in the stair well where CCTV is not observing you and do some stair runs and pull ups. Keep that going. Now you need to add creative thinking, step 2. Smuggle into the compound a book, yes a real book. Anything from this list is suitable. Finally read the blueprint. 

Don't forget to send the rest of the inmates a postcard from freedom. 

Simplest of Pleasures 101: 1-10

1. A clear, free, autumnal/fall day.
2. In-box zero. 
3. The collapse of a tall, tall lego tower built with your young son/daughter.
4. Holding hands with the one you love. An empty beach. Mille baci.
5. Scrambled eggs made to perfection. 
6. A stack of books. A stack of wood for the burner. French-press coffee.
7. A plan realised.
8. A long and deep sleep.
9. Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition.
10. Potential.

Jim Seven

and french press coffee

David Seah

has a (free) productivity tool for you