Choose your own Adventure
February 17, 2010
Growing up, I read a lot of books but some of the most fun were definitely the Choose Your Own Adventure series.
You remember these, right?
Basically, the books lay out different scenarios, but make you the HERO! What happens next in the story, all depends on the choices you make. The fun comes in seeing where your decisions will take you — and — if you live!
AN EXAMPLE!
You are hiking in SnakeTail Canyon when, suddenly, you see three cloaked figures up ahead. Night is falling. You are completely out of food and water. One of them has a sack with a demi loaf in full view. What do you choose to do?
If you want to climb a tree and attempt to listen to their conversation go to page 73
If you want to pull out your sword and charge full steam ahead go to page 59
If you want to bark like a dog in an attempt to scare them go go page 21
If you want to retrace your steps and hope to find a warm lodge go to page 54
The power of choice, while scary, is also thrilling. It’s what grabs and pulls you in! OMG, what should I do? What should I do? Should I x? Should I y? What’s going to happen next?
This same excitment hooked me into reading not one but all the possible scenarios. How can you resist? The books are so fun, plus I loved seeing all the creative ways you could die.
You try to shoot the deer but your bullet richochets off a rock sending a massive landslide to bury you.
AWESOME!
I’m going to start again!
Simply Happy Sketchbook (Rough Cut) Part II
February 8, 2010
Some more drawings for the Simply Happy Sketchbook…
Which one’s your favorite?
Would you like to see more? 
Power windows — ACTIVATE!
February 3, 2010
So I decided to take my Honda for a little spin today…
Wait till you see what this hot rod does! 
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Oh, and Jonny of TheLifeThing put together a cool e-book on SUCCESS. In it, he profiled 40 bloggers from around the blogosphere on their definition of success. Go here to download it for free.
Latest Trend in Guard Dogs
January 29, 2010
Forget security alarms, steering wheel clubs, and other theft deterrents. The latest in high level security protection is…
Enjoy your weekend!
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OH! And for all you new readers and cat lovers, there this!
What have you been up to lately?
January 20, 2010
Tonight, I take Ana to dinner. There’s a plaque in the restaurant lobby.
It reads: “2002 Customer Service Award.”
Interesting. Last I checked, it’s 2010.
This got me thinking.
At what point do past accomplishments continue to have meaning?
At what point do past accomplishments matter?
At what point are the employees that achieved the customer service award in 2002 still with the restaurant?
Maybe 1/3 the staff?
(Me to Tim, the waiter: “Congrats. I see you won the 2002 customer service award.” Him: “We did? Cool.”)
I’d wager to guess that past performance matters less than it did before.
I’d wager to guess that “Doing business since 1969″ doesn’t carry the same weight.
People, I’d wager, are more interested in: What are you doing now?
In other words: “What are you doing today?”
So…what are you doing today?
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(Oh, and as an aside, I’d wager to guess that in six months Tim will no longer be with the restaurant).
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(Smile? Forward this to a friend and brighten their day. You’ll feel good and so will they.)
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
January 14, 2010
Fear?
Freckles?
Fatigue?
Or do you see FUN?!
Part of the joy of mentoring kids is that occasionally a project will come along, and you can’t resist but to hijack it and claim it as your own. Brian Chenowith, the mastermind behind this project, had a very simple aim: choose a word that best fits you and put it on the mirror as a reflection of who you really are.
The kids loved it. But I think I loved it even more.
The great thing about this project is the surface area of the mirror is small, so you can’t choose ugly words. Words like:
cynical
frustrated
depressed
sloghog
simply don’t fit. Words like:
smart
pretty
hero
big kid
stand out.
Which word would you choose?
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FUN FACT: I once had a co-worker Chris who had a mirror positioned above his phone, which I thought particularly odd as he wasn’t a vain kind of guy. He did field several calls during the day. He explained that in the Japanese culture the customer service teams will often put a mirror above their phone as a tactic to dissuade against becoming angry or hostile even if they are being attacked. The reasoning is that once you start to become enraged, you see your face, and as I would guess: it’s not the most flattering angle. In fact, you’re embarrassed. So you back off, and lighten up. This could be really fun for later. The next time you start to lose it with your friend/lover/mother/dad, simply pull out a mirror and look at yourself. Just the act of pulling out a mirror in the middle of a fight will be enough to quell the argument and probably have you both laughing.
Simply Happy Sketchbook (Rough Cut)
January 8, 2010
I’m working on a Simply Happy Sketchbook done with the trademark CHEERUPNATION brand: fun, playful, inspirational entertainment.
I picture 20-30 pages…Something you might find at Urban Outfitters…
Take a look…and share your thoughts in the comments.
Want to see more?
Happy Friday!
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OH! And for all you new readers, make sure you don’t miss this very, very important test!
Post-it Note #27
January 4, 2010
(This post-it note is part of a series on how to lead a simple life even more simply – with pictures for those easily distracted by words.)
Today, I will burn the midnight oil.
Ever have a BIG IDEA get really, really excited — and then go to bed?
It’s not even 8 and you’re pulling the sheets over your head.
What is that? I’ll tell you:
How you know when you’re at the wrong job?
December 28, 2009
There’s an awesome movement occurring now whereby people are awakening to the brilliant souls they are and breaking free of mundane, safe jobs to pursue more active, passionate, and rewarding life’s work.
And there’s another movement of people reading about it.
How do you know which side you’re on?
When you just can’t resist trying on the emergency warden kit for size:
When you know why the caged bird sings…
…and the elephant, and the zebra, and the King Cobra:
When your eyesight starts to go:
And when your co-worker gets laid-off and you (secretly) wish it was you. And thereby make him into a hero.
You just know.
This year, join me, and make a leap!
PAPA
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Oh, and The Little Debbie drawing has been extended to Dec 31st! Last chance to win! Go now!
Kids just want to have FUN. And so do YOU!
December 23, 2009
This year, 2010, let’s all make a commitment to have more…
FUN!!!!
Myself, I’m going to be a lot less THIS:
and a whole lot more THIS…
THIS…
AND THIS!!!
This year, 2010, embrace your inner kid!
PAPA
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Finally, don’t forget to sign up for the Little Debbie giveaway!
[The artwork is a painting of a "serious me" from a NYC roommate in 1995!]