Nicholas Bate

The Truth

about those desks.

Great Music

keeps on coming.

Jagged Thoughts for Jagged times, 215

Age is like a Monday.

It's a mindset, not a label.

There are primary benefits

and secondary benefits.

Small Wins: 29

29: Start. Don't worry about anything else. Just start. Start.

Small Win 1: Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Small Win 2: Read four pages of a classic novel every day.

Small Win 3: Have a Day of Rest.

Small Win 4: Keep your key personal goals visible. To you. Always.

Small Win 5: Accept graciously when the universe out-manoeuvres you. 

Small Win 6: Make every other beverage a drink of water, pure and simple. 

Small Win 7: Take a moment to walk barefoot on planet earth, every day. Yes, even when it's chilly. 

Small Win 8: Thank your barista, tip generously and wish them a lovely break.

Small Win 9: Par-cook the potatoes today for more effective roasting, tomorrow.

Small Win 10: Write with real paper and pen and post thank-you notes to the grand-parents.

Small Win 11: No more cake until February. Seriously.

Small Win 12: Take it one day at a time. 

Small Win 13: Re-boot a New Year's Resolution today. It's the doing not the date that is critical. 

Small Win 14: Have some fun. But don't spend any money.

Small Win 15: Eat a portion of green vegetables every day. Rain or shine.

Small Win 16: Find a piece of real, relevant news today.

Small Win 17: Don't read about the weather. Go experience it.

Small Win 18: Be on time. Every time.

Small Win 19: Enjoy More Analog, Less Digital Saturday

Small Win 20: Wash by hand your wool walking socks while listening to Bowie,Rebel, Rebel. What could be nicer?

Small Win 21: End the day with fewer e-mails in the in-box than when you started. Continue to zero.

Small Win 22: Write the opening sentence of your great novel. Now relax and continue tomorrow. 

Small Win 23: Write a list before you go into the supermarket. Stick to it. Save money.

Small Win 24: Create a corner where you can sit and write your poetry.

Small Win 25: Sharpen all your pencils for the day while coffee is brewing. Do a 1 minute sketch on the hour every hour. Anything.

Small Win 26: Tidy your top desk drawer.

Small Win 27: Learn 5 new words in the language you are studying: Spanish, Mandarin or Ancient Greek.

Small Win 28: Stop and think.

Somebody Else's

bookshelf.

Basics: International Business Travel 7

1. Rule 1: you need so much less than you think. Pack and then re-pack and finally pack again. Keep a pack list which you refine. Believe in extreme minimalism.
2. Rule 2: only carry on. Nothing to be lost, nothing to wait for. And forces minimalism.
3. Rule 3: keep your sleep patterns as close to your home time zone as you can if it is a short trip. Meditate on the flight.
4. Rule 4: have two good (paper) books into which you can escape and a brilliant play list for mood management.
5. Rule 5: get everything onto your phone: boarding passes, flight trackers, hotel details. And then ensure your phone is 100% backed-up and easily 're-built'.
6. Rule 6: walk, swim, take the stairs to combat long sedentary flights and different food and to encourage great sleep.
7. Rule 7: visit at least one museum/art gallery/historic sight while on your trip.

Basics: Wellness 7

Basics: Coffee 7

Basics: Presenting 7

Basics: Productivity 7

Basics: Writing 7

Basics: Career 7

Extra Bonus: Bags of Energy, Now.

Greg Belson

is an authority on gospel music. Read on.

Such is Life 7

1. Many things take longer to get to completion than you originally thought or even planned.
2. Some music will always make you cry.
3. We usually over-pack.
4. Expensive by no means equates with excellent.
5. You'll never really answer 'Why are the Beatles so amazing?
6. Sometimes you need to be the change you seek.
7. Hindsight is a marvellous teacher.

The Spark and The Grind

creativity booster manifesto.