Results Count ... everything else is conversation.

What a wonderful world … full of amazing people … like you

Still an amazing place if you stop talking … look, listen and appreciate

Its year end, so do you write a blog in the last week, or not? It is extremely tempting to skip writing a blog, since everyone will be offline, or at least taking a mental break the last week of the year. Pardon me for being nostalgic, but I just don't have another measurement or retail blog in me at this year's end. Life's spice is to experience our world through the eyes and customs of others.

It’s not information overload. It’s filter failure.

If your email is overflowing … Alltop maybe your answer 

Ok, you’ve made the commitment to stay current on your industry by subscribing to newsletters, blogs and smartbriefs.  Now when your pour that first cup of coffee you cringe as you open email.  It becomes daunting to even begin drudging through 50, 100 or more emails waiting in your inbox!  How can you keep up to speed without suffering information overload?  Alltop might just be the intelligence filter you are looking for.

Thanksgiving, after all is a word of action.

A unique “holiday” … and personal experience

Thanksgiving is a very unique holiday celebrated in North America.  I’ve had the priviledge to celebrate Thanksgiving in both the US and Canada.  For the retail world, Thanksgiving has become all important in kicking off the seasonal shopping season.  For the rest of us, the Thanksgiving holiday is a special time of gathering the family and friends.  For me personally, this Thanksgiving holds special meaning and joy.

It should NOT have happened … but it did!

A personal journey into the healing powers of “social”

Ok, so this post is going to be a little different. It is about a personal journey that illuminates the powers of social media in today’s world.  When a crisis like this happens in your life, the “results” from social networks are simply amazing – and immeasurable.  

Out of Africa … Unplugged

5 lessons learned by staying unplugged on safari

On my Africa safari, I found that internet service for my computer was poor at best, and mainly non-existent.  On the other hand, there seems to be cell towers everywhere, and I could have easily “plugged” back in to email and the business world.  By managing to stay disconnected for two weeks, I was able to capture 8,000 plus photos, with memories to last a lifetime, and learn 5 valuable lessons along the way.

Death by Blogging?

I will not blog till I drop … but it appears that others have!

There was a very interesting article in the New York Times about how blogging has become the new “sweatshop” of the internet.  Bloggers are reporting a host of health issues, especially those getting paid by the “piece” or by traffic generated.    

The physical and emotional stress of being “always on” … and the first to break a story appears to be taking its toll.  Michael Arrington, the founder of TechCrunch, reported that he has gained 30 pounds from bad habits associated with three years of blogging … Hey, maybe blogging can be excuse for my weight gain?

Even more significant, the Times article reports the untimely death of several bloggers … heart attacks due the stress of blogging!   

Yes, I can testify to some stress of trying to write a blog every week. But, that is why this is a weekly blog focused on the journey, not one rushing to be first with the news.

And rest assured, if the stress gets too high, this blogger will always turn to a good port to calm down and get the creative juices flowing.

The Quest for a “Tody” …

El Yunque rain forest, Puerto Rico

If you tried to send me email this past week, you noticed an out of office message regarding my trek to a Puerto Rican rain forest.   Visiting a rain forest has always been on my “Bucket List”.

Why Puerto Rico? My neighbor and fellow photographer had plans for a trip to the island, and it was a great opportunity to continue my photographic journey … and finally post some more photos of record for this blog.

So, what do you shoot pictures of in a rain forest … besides the inevitable rain and trees?  We decided that we needed a goal that would challenge us as nature photographers. 

There are two things about a rain forest – water and trees everywhere!

Somewhere in a bar while planning the trip, we first set our sights on the Puerto Rican Parrot.   But, after learning that they are almost extinct with less than 100 in the wild, we decided that that it might be a bit ambitious for just a week trek.   

So, we settled on the “Tody” … a small brilliant green bird about the size of your thumb, which is unique to Puerto Rico.  Of course, we had no idea that the Tody was the same color of green as almost everything else in the forest!  Nor did we realize that with the dense canopy of foliage, it would be almost impossible to see one, let alone take a picture of anything in the darkness through the steady rain.

In the end, results count!  We managed pictures of an extremely challenging subject in an environment that would have defeated us as photographers just a few months ago. 

We won’t win any awards or get published in National Geographic.   My two and only shots of a Tody will give you some idea of how small and hard they are to see in the dim light under the forest canopy.

          

A flitter in the canopy high above … A Tody is finally confirmed!

And, what does any of this have to do with business? Not much perhaps. But, upon further reflection, there seems to be similar parallels to achieving results:

• The right equipment & tools are absolutely essential, but not sufficient
• There is no substitute for the ability to execute at the moment of truth
• Teamwork multiplies the opportunities for success … and enjoyment

Thanks to my photo partner Doug Smith, as a "team", we captured a respectable image of the Tody in the very wet world of the Puerto Rican rain forest ... not to mention a lifetime of memories shared over more than one rum.

Photo courtesy of Doug Smith

Finally  … A brilliant Tody captured!