I'm reading Richard Koch's "The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less". It's a book about how 80% of your successes / achievement / profit / etc comes from 20% of your input / effort / investment / etc.

The principle, then, is to focus on the 20% that gives us the 80% result rather than focus on the full 100%. The idea being that you can work less and achieve more when you apply this principle.

I've been applying this sort of thinking with my work with great results. This month, for example, I've doubled my income by refusing to do any new work and focusing on the 20% of work/clients that pay me the 80% of my income.

I'm less stressed, less overwhelmed and also, richer :)

Here's a cool tidbit of things to do to put the principle in practise. (From page 39 in the book)

- Celebrate exceptional productivity, rather than raise average efforts.

- Look for the short cut, rather than run the full course.

- Be selective, not exhaustive.

- Strive for excellence in few things, rather than good performance in many.

- Delegate or outsource as much as possible.

- Choose careers and employers with extra care and, if possible, employ others rather than be employed.

- Only do the thing we are best at doing and enjoy most.

- Work out where 20 percent of effort can lead to 80 percent of returns.

- Calm down, work less and target a limited number of very valuable goals where the 80/20 principle can work, rather than pursuing every available opportunity.

- Make the most of those few "lucky streaks" in life where our creativity peaks and the stars line up to guarantee success.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, over-worked and under-paid, read through this every day until you can find reasonable ways (or even drastic ways) to make these bits of advice work for you.

Buy it here:

I just read this article about energy redirection and realised that I already do it. I could do it a lot more but I already do it.

When faced with a bad situation – think of a way to turn it into a CHALLENGE.

Yesterday, we went to the doctor for Tanya. We had a 14h00 appointment and I figured I'd be back by 14h30. We were only seen sometime after 16h00! I got highly peeved but, instead of going on an emotional rollercoaster, I resolved to upgrade our medical aid to something other than "KeyCare" as it greatly limits the doctors we can go to.

Many people would have blown up and allowed the (very frustrating) afternoon spoil the rest of their evening and even the rest of their week. That's fine but I've found it's a lot more useful to change that energy into something I can use and grow from.

Read this article for another example of energy redirection.

Got this ad in my email and thought it was just BEGGING for a caption ;)

"Coz punching a woman in the kidneys is the new, HIP way to get fit!"

It feels a bit strange to still be so sad about Michael Jackson's death. I never knew him personally and the people around me all seem to be getting on just fine. So why am I still sad?

Ignoring your emotions is a recipe for disaster, so I've had to pay them some attention this weekend to try and understand what's going on inside me.

So, why am I mourning Michael Jackson?

First of all, my spiritual belief is that we are all God. That is to say that there is no God that exists outside of us because there is no "out there" or "in here". We are all just one massive creative energy, exploding outwardly and then coming together again, over and over again.

So that means that MJ is God. Much like my thumb is Norio. So is my pinky. It doesn't mean that my thumb governs my body but it is as MUCH a part of me as any other part.

Having said that, each one of his songs that struck a chord with me did so because it was God talking to me. Much like God talks to me through the movie I'm watching on TV, the book I'm reading on the loo & my wife bitching at me for not doing something I said I would do.

It's both profound and simple all at the same time. How can I *not* be God, how can MJ *not* be God if I believe that we are all God.

It's like ignoring a painful sensation in your thumb. That painful sensation is there to let you know that you hurt yourself and need to take care before you get an infection. An infection that, depending on the circumstances, could kill you.

So now you hopefully understand my belief.

Back to MJ. "Man in the Mirror", "Heal the World", "The Earth Song" are all messages from a part of God for us to wake up and smell the roses. Take care of yourself, take care of your earth and, as Ghandi would say, "Be the change you wish to see in the world".

* (See foot notes for my thoughts on his other songs)

So the first reason is that I feel a certain sense of loss that the messenger has died. The message, for me, was "Love and care for one another and the planet you're living on."

And the second reason I feel such a great loss is: because we are all one, Michael Jackson really was (is) my friend. When I was crying, as a child, in my bedroom and not understanding the world (or my parents, or the death of my dog or the death of my grandfather...), the comforting words and voice coming out of my tape player were coming from a friend, far away.

His energy, while he was alive, swept across most (if not all) of the earth. He was trying hard to help people around him even though - or maybe BECAUSE - his own life wasn't perfect.

That energy connected with me and many of my friends. And closure will come to me from realising that the energy is still with us. It's no longer focused in a single, physical place but it's there.

Most of my spiritual beliefs (about 95%) come from the book series "Conversations with God". I don't claim them to be "the way" but they are "my way". Reading those books awakened a truth inside me that made them feel right when other spiritual beliefs didn't. That's my only reason for believing what I do - it feels right. Well, that and it gives me closure :)

So, with that, I'll try and remember that MJ is still around. Still a part of us. He's done his bit in the world and now he has changed form. Diluted but still there.

* The other songs? Well that fits into my belief that we are here to experience ourselves/ourself as the all that is. The only way to do that is by forgetting what we are and experiencing it afresh. So God is (and we are) the love, the hate, the sex, the abstinence, the cheating, the faithfulness, etc.

And the biggest gift we can give ourselves is unconditional love for ourselves, the people around us and the world in which we live. It's not easy but it IS blessed and you feel it, each time you get it right :)

Never underestimate the power of sleep!  I just fixed in 30 seconds what I spent over an hour battling with last night.  And this isn't the first time either.  Every time I'm battling with something, a 1-hour walk or a full night's rest makes the problem painfully obvious.

At the CenterPoint Tai Chi studio we practice Traditional Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan and our aim is to take a journey with each and every student in learning and experiencing the following:

CenterPoint Tai Chi - Classes in Centurion

My sister and I used to do Tai Chi in Kensington with Sifu Eddie Jardine.  It was great!  We always felt happier, warmer and stronger after a session and, also, in general.  Now, Tanya (wifey) and I are starting in Centurion.  If you live close by, give it a go.  You'll probably like it and it's a great way to de-stress and re-focus!

Tags: centurion, tai chi

Sleep hygiene refers to a list of recommended behaviors and environmental conditions that can improve the quality of your sleep. Research indicates that 70% to 80% of people with sleep disorders achieve some benefits when practicing good sleep hygiene.

Sleep disorders, sleep hygiene, behavior -- RealAge Health Information

Looks like I'm doing it ALL wrong!  Check out this list.

Tags: sleep, sleep depravation

...adjust the flicker rate on your monitor to 70 or above to make your screen less harsh.

Give Your Eyes This Do-It-Yourself Spa Treatment - RealAge Tip of the Day

Mine was set to 60 and I've been complaining about eye-strain for a while.  Let's see if this helps!  

Tags: health, eye strain

Ice-cold sodas and fruity drinks may hit the spot on a warm weekend, but could sipping unsweetened tea instead save you from a pain-filled future?

Maybe so. In a study, the more of a common soft-drink sweetener called fructose that men consumed, the greater their chances of gout.

Could Unsweetened Drinks Save You Some Pain? - RealAge Tip of the Day

Boy am I glad I don't drink sodas!  Once again it goes to show that if you've got health problems, cutting out junk food can really help!  Simple solution but usually easier said than done when you're at the office, got the munchies and R25 buys you a burger and coke!

Tags: gout, junk food

Here's how to do the wake-up rubs:
1. Lightly tap the top of your head several times.
2. Rub the spot on the back of your head where your skull meets your neck.
3. Use a thumb to massage the back of your other hand; rub the fleshy spot where the thumb joins the hand.
4. Massage the front of your legs, just below the knee.
5. Rub the soles of your feet, just below the ball.

To Feel Refreshed, Try Some Pressure - RealAge Tip of the Day

I just tried this and I genuinely feel more awake than before!  My nasal passage also feels cleared up.  Man I want to study this stuff!  Give it a go :)

Tags: acupressure, energy