On Passion - Spencer Lum (Wed 30 Jan 2013)

Laser Man - Busan / South Korea (Sun 09 Sep 2012)
Spencer Lum (*) writes insightfully on Passion (*), Purpose (*) and Belief (*):

The trick isn’t finding passion. It’s harnessing it. [..]

Things like passion (*), purpose (*) and belief (*) are great and wonderful things.

But they’re not guides. They are raw fuel.

Unprocessed and unrefined, they won’t take you where you need to go.

Fully utilized, they are unstoppable.

But you can’t just throw more passion at a problem.

The goal isn’t to break through walls. It’s to go around them.

Passion fuels progress. But progress fuels passion. [..]

Find a way to do what you do the best you can do it, and be sure to make yourself useful (*).

via The problem with passion (*) by Spencer Lum (*).

Spencer (*) at his passionate best. Onwards and forward.

On Change and Moving Forward - Kirk Tuck (Wed 30 Jan 2013)

Floorboard Cross Section - Kyoto (Sat 15 Sep 2012)
Kirk Tuck (*) talks On Change (*):

The thread that should run through everything though should be to honestly have fun with your work.

You don't have to love everything but you sure have to like the process.

But to fall back in love with the process you have to yield to the idea that everything changes.

It's always tough to stomach that change must include me...

via (*) by Kirk Tuck (*).

While Kirk abstracts the above from his working life as a professional photographer, it is a great way to understand the change proces, discontinuities in your life and whether you upto going with it or wallowing around in self pity for what once was (hope that makes sense).

On Solitude and Purpose - Manuscript Found in ACCRA / Paulo Coelho (Wed 23 Jan 2013)

Solitude. - 201 Castlereagh St / Sydney (Wed 23 Jan 2013)
Paulo Coelho (*) writes On Solitude (*):

[..] when we are still and silent and able to accept solitude as a blessing.

And in that moment, Its light illumines everything around us and helps us to see that we are necessary, and that our presence on Earth makes a huge difference to Its work.

via On Solitude (*) by Paulo Coehlo (*).

On Passion and Commitment - What Would You Do If ... - Patrick McHugh (Wed 23 Jan 2013)

Red Sofa - Jennings St / Alexandria (Mon 07 Jan 2013)

Patrick McHugh (*) writes:

[..] do what interests you.

Do not focus on the outcome.

Regardless of the outcome your passion and commitment will have its own rewards.

via What Would You Do If ... (*).

Do you feel useful? - Manuscript Found in ACCRA - Paulo Coehlo (Fri 25 Jan 2013)

Where are you go[in]g? - Erskineville (Fri 17 Jan 2013)
From the Manuscript Found in ACCRA (*):

Don’t try to be useful. Try to be yourself: that is enough, and that makes all the difference.

via Do you feel useful? (*) by Paulo Coelho (*).

This advice is exactly right. Whenever I have gone back to being myself (after pretending to be something I wasn't or what I thought others thought I should be), that is when things work out for the best, and just not for me.

Viva La Vida - ColdPlay - Letterman Live (Tue 20 Sep 2011)

Viva La Vida - Coldplay - Live on Letterman [Youtube (*)]
Heard this song on the car radio the day after Lance Armstrong's confession to the world via Oprah.

When I heard the lyrics I could not help but think of Lance. So many analogies.

Like Lance, the song is part of me and my life experiences. It is too hard to write about here now and I will save it for another day.

Here are the lyrics. Enjoy ...

Viva La Vida Lyrics

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

via (*) by (*).

What's it for? - On Purpose and Change - Seth Godin (Tue 15 Jan 2013)

What's it for? - Dibbs Lane / Alexandria (Mon 14 Jan 2013)
Seth Godin (*) writes On Purpose (*):

Being clear about what we're doing and why is the first step in doing it better.

If you're not happy about the honest answer to this question, make substantial changes until you are.

via What's it for? (*) by Seth Godin (*).