On Faliure, Success and Not Showing Up - Aline Smithson (Dec 2012)

Yoshi Jones (*) [1] - Bucknell St / Newtown (Mon 31 Dec 2012)
Aline Smithson (*) writes On Failure (*) and On Success (*):

It’s OK to fail.

You learn more from failure, than from success.

It becomes a time to take stock and reassess.

Success is fleeting anyway...it’s all about being true to yourself and making the best work possible.

And often, your best work rises from the ashes of failure, when you change directions.

where she adds:

It’s OK not to show up [..] to every opportunity.

via it’s ok to step back from the roar of the crowd (*) by Aline Smithson (*).

[1] Always something interesting on the side wall of Yoshi Jones (*). Have a few others here that I will link up with the Yoshi Jones Label (*), in my own time of course.

On Success and Searching - Bruce Wrighton (1988)

Poster Boy - Erskineville Road / Newtown (Wed 13 Feb 2013)
Bruce Wrighton (*) makes the following observation On Success (*):

Success is, of course, as an internal factor – a connection that we, or I, have made with whatever I am searching for.

Sometimes it can be elusive.

Sometimes it can be immediately self-evident.

The expression. The pose. The posturing. There can be windows that open up that are surprises.

But it’s that connection.

It’s the connection between having a sense of what you are working for, but not really having it defined well enough, so you always have to search, you always have to dig a little bit, it’s always a little bit unknown what you are looking for.

which leads onto a rather interesting observation about the relationship between Success (*) and Searching (*):

If you know what you are looking for I’m not sure what the value of finding it is.

That is to say, I’m not sure what’s the value of doing the search. At that point that part of you has been ‘played out’ so to speak.

If I find myself making the same images over and over again,

I begin to suspect that I have to dig a little harder or deeper to find what the next level of mystery is in a particular subject matter or go on to a different one.

via INTERVIEW: “An Interview with Bruce Wrighton” (1988) (*) by Sean Phelan.

As always, Bruce is talking about his experiences with photography, but these simple observations can be applied to all aspects of our lives.

On Failure and Success - Stephen DiRado - Two Way Lens (Sun 23 Jun 2013)

Stephen DiRado (*) reflects on the relationship between Failure () and Success (*):

[..] I am not afraid to fail because failure (*) breeds success (*). Strange as it is, making an incredibly bad photograph, and be painfully aware of it, means you hit rock-bottom. This sets up a series of challenges to break into a new territory. It is frightening [..]

via Stephen DiRado (*) by Two Way Lens (*).

On the Verge of Success and Failure - Garry Winogrand / Mason Resnick / Trent Parke / Spencer Lum

Eros - Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain / Piccadilly Circus / London (Fri 12 Sep 2014)

Garry Winogrand on Art, Success and Failure:

the most successful art is almost on the verge of failure

via Coffee and Workprints: A Workshop With Garry Winogrand by Mason Resnick.

A favourite quote, from the many I've collected here over the years. I like it because it is so true in Art and Photography, but also Paddling and Life.

I am reminded of it every now and then in my own life, through my photography and paddling experiences. And today was one of those days ...

The Sun rose over the City skyline as we did our Thursday morning high intensity session in two, six person outrigger canoes. We do short interval efforts (level 4, level 4+) over repeat efforts of 8, 4, 2 and 1 minute. It's at a pace and intensity that can be maintained for these short time periods which is a bit higher than our race pace intensity (level 3) which we maintain for much longer periods.

We are pushing ourselves at Level 4 and the rhythm in the canoe is often not quite as nice as it would be at level 3 or 2. Our effort and technique is on the edge, on "the verge of failure or breaking down".

As I reflect over a 10 year paddling career, I have found that the best Training Sessions and Races have been the ones where everything is just a little out of control and uncomfortable. It's like a being on a knife edge or the edge of a precipices. It's that boundary between the known and unknown, good and bad, success and failure, and courage and fear (thanks Kayleene). And ultimately, the fault line between our past and future (thanks for that one Chantel).

It can be stressful and can feel like a feisty prickly relationship. A disonnance. And often questions and self-doubts rise to the surface.

When you are on the edge, you are pushing yourself to the limit of your abilities and beyond. And, with that comes the risk that you push too far and fail, or you just find that easy comfort zone and also fail through a lost effort and opportunity.

Disappointment may come with the failure, but if you reflect and abstract a learning, then you are more experienced and capable for the next effort. And often, as Trent Parke succinctly notes:

mistakes and accidents usually lead to the best discoveries.

You are learning, broadening your experiences and creating the future opportunity for "successful art", if you keep caring and trying.

I love that feeling of "being on the edge of failure". Instead of fighting it, try to find it and some comfort in the uncomfort, and in the knowledge that this is, as Spencer Lum astutely notes:

where all the good stuff happens

As Jenny said, Give it a try, step outside of your comfort zone. You might be surprised where it can take you ...

Don't wonder 'What if?' - Jenny P

On Success - kottke (Thu 02 Jul 2015)

tree - Canberra (Sun 05 Aug 2002)

kottke on Success:

success requires struggle, failure, and a bit of stupidity...or if you want to be nice about it, a beginner's mind

via Letters to your younger self by kottke.

Ever the Beginner in Paddling and Life. Always Learning to Fly. And you would not want it any other way.

A Reflection on the Little Things - Kirk Tuck (Sun 09 Nov 2014)

The Little Things - Monet's Garden / Giverny (Wed 17 Sep 2014)
Kirk Tuck (*) writes Success (*) and Failure (*):

Funny how all the little things add up to success or failure

via I wrote a blog about an LED panel on Friday. I wrote it in a hurry. I didn't like it so I ultimately deleted it. I'll get a new one up after tomorrow's shoot. (*) by Kirk Tuck (*).

A reflection on the Little Things. My experience (*). Little things are hard to catch first time around. Only when you reflect (*) that you can see the reason for the success or failure. That's why it is important to reflect. Now you have this experience, if you are paying attention, you can catch the little things next time around. This is what experience brings to a situation. Sometimes it is ignored or undervalued, but good people want to find it, draw on it and react to it. In some ways this blog is a reflection of the little things and that's what keeps me going. Thanks Kirk, I learnt a lot from those little words above.

On Success - The Story of Telling (Wed 06 Aug 2014)

A Little Bit of Red (*) - Barcelona (Tue 06 Aug 2013)
The Story of Telling (*) writes On Succeeding (*):

doing the obvious (*) isn’t always the shortcut (*) to success (*).

via The Truth about Vanilla (*) by The Story of Telling (*).

Some Quotes

Geoff, Jenny and Joanne - St George Private Hospital - Chemotherapy Ward - 1520hrs Thu 19 Mar 2009
Just found these little quotes that had I saved (would just cut and paste into an email and send it to myself) in the period between Jenny's diagnosis of multiple liver tumors on Wed 11 Mar 2009, and her diagnosis of a 4cm brain tumor on Thu 11 Jun 2009 and resulting neurosurgery on Wed 17 Jun 2009. Interesting to see what resonated with my thoughts and feelings during that time. Here they are:

"Don't think of yourself as a statistic; think of yourself as an individual," - Tue 26 May 2009

"You can't let statistics get in the way of your recovery and progress." - Tue 26 May 2009

"it's not who you are, it's what you do" - Thu 28 May 2009

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you are happy then you will be successful" - Wed 03 Jun 2009

"You're constantly making choices, and your choices determine your experience" - Wed 03 Jun 2009

And a few months later ..

"Everybody has to die, You don't know how you're going to die. You don't know when you're going to die. It's strange to have that knowledge that this will do it. You don't get angry at it. You just live with it and keep going." - Thu 8 Oct 2009

Two days after the above photo was taken (during her first treatment on a new round of chemotherapy), Jenny would race in the DBNSW 2009 State Titles at Penrith where she stroked the Pacific Dragons Mixed B Boat. Some photos from that day are here.

The following week we would enjoy a lovely holiday in Cairns where we would celebrate Jenny and Joanne's Birtday.

On Creativity - Spencer Lum / Ground Glass (Thu 15 May 2015)

Shoulder - Oxford Street / London (Sat 17 Aug 2013)
Spencer Lum (*) writes On Creativity (*):

Success (*) can be so much worse than failure (*). Failure (*) hurts, but it pushes us to keep exploring. Success (*), on the other hand, limits us. It tells us to keep doing the same.

via How we Kill Creativity (*) by Spencer Lum (*).

On Determination - Shawn Heidgen / Training Peaks (Wed 12 Jun 2013)

Day 2 - 2013 AusDBF Nationals - SIRC / Penrith (Fri 19 Apr 2013)
Shawn Heidgen (*) writes On Determination (*):

No one makes it to the top without overcoming obstacles that would push most people to quit. It is that mental determination (*) and the ability to endure that makes the difference between success (*) and failure (*).

via The Power of Perseverance (*) by Shawn Heidgen (*).

On Perceptions (7 years on) - Drew Ginn (Thu 03 Apr 2014)

Untitled - Amsterdam (Tue 20 Aug 2014)
Drew Ginn (*) writes On Perceptions (*):

Simply results (*) and perceptions (*) of performances (*) stick.. Good or bad ones last and seem to require more contrasting ones to change.

via twitter (*) by Drew Ginn (*).

I know exactly about this - one perceived bad performance (*), without understanding (*) the why (*), will never be recovered from. The good ones are never noticed (*) or acknowledged (*) or are dismissed as luck (*) or a fluke (*).

Just some of my experiences over the years. But, that is what makes it character building and one the reasons I keep doing what I do. Failure (*) drives success (*), if you are tenacious (*) and can forgive (*). The journey continues no matter what ...

On Perception - Drew Ginn (Tue 01 May 2007)

Den lille Havfrue (*) - The Little Mermaid - Copenhagen (Fri 23 Aug 2013)
Drew Ginn (*) writes On Perception (*):

It’s a fine line between success (*) and failure (*). In fact I could even argue that they are one in the same. That really the difference between experiences (*) that we judge as successful or as failure comes down to our perception (*).

via G get t THe g GLIDE R riGht (*) by Drew Ginn (*).

Just over seven years ago since Drew's posted this one. Could relate to it from the paddling point of view and it would take some time to fully understand all of what he was saying back then. Experiences (*) bring a lot to what you learn (*) and retain. Miss his blog posts (*) now, though he does post (*) on twitter a bit.

On Finding Yourself - Spencer Lum (Tue 08 Jul 2014)

Untitled - Reina Sofia (*) / Madrid (Sun 11 Aug 2013)
Spencer Lum (*) writes On Life (*):

The whole point of life (*) is to figure it out for yourself. To love (*) the challenge (*) and live in the process (*). It can’t flourish in the light (*) of others. Comparison is the surest path (*) to bitterness (*) and grief (*). Explore (*). See your power (*). See what you can do. Success (*) is not being better than everyone else. It’s finding you.

via Living the Better Life (*) by Spencer Lum (*).

Spencer (*) at his Philosophical Best (*). And a great thought for the 1600th post and 146,000th pageview here (*), give or take a couple.

Thoughts on Being the Best by Vernon Gambetta (11 Nov 2008)

Thoughts on Being the Best by Coach Vernon Gambetta (11 Nov 2008). A repost to get this to come up on the Tampa 2011 Label. It is also worth having a look at some of the other posts I have collected here.

Control what you can, not what you can’t! Be Smart. Work on something specific each day. Have a plan! Train with a purpose. Improvement is incremental. Small steps lead to big steps.

• Pressure - Pressure is what you make it! Use the pressure to make you better, internalize it and use it as a positive influence.



• Belief – Think you are the best and you are on your way. Confidence, believe in yourself, your preparation and your support system.



• Routine – Great athletes doing the same thing, the same way, at the same time each day. Regularity. You can set a clock by the great ones.



• Work - Every one works. The great ones work smarter. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses objectively. Minimize your weaknesses and optimize your strengths. Bring your weaknesses up to the level of your strengths.



• Choices - It is always about choices. Make the choice to be the best. Life is constantly about choices.



• Improvement - Michael Jordan, as good as he was, got better every year he played! He would pick one aspect of his game each off-season and set out to improve that aspect with relentless determination.



• Perfection - The perfect game has yet to be played, in fact it will probably never be played. The perfect race has yet to be run. That does not mean we should not strive for perfection, it does mean that that we should strive for perfection but not be frustrated when we do not achieve perfection. Take chances, risk, try a new move in a game, take on a defender. Make things happen!



• Mental Toughness - Physical preparation gives mental strength. Push yourself, do not give in. Go the extra step and the extra mile.



• Effort - Performance may vary, but effort is a constant. You have control over your effort. Make it high energy, high level and purposeful. Consistent effort will level out the peaks and valleys in performance.



• Goals - It is about goal achievement not goal setting. Anyone can set goals, but few can achieve goals! Dreams are private. Goals are public. Share them. Find people to support you to achieve your goals. Be specific both in setting your goals and the means to achievement. Constantly visualize yourself achieving your goals!



• Focus - No rabbit ears! Program your inner voice to respond only to what you tell it. Only listen to your positive self-talk. Filter out the negatives.



• Evaluation - Self-assessment is a constant for those who chose to be great. Be objective. Look at the positives and the negatives. It is an ongoing process. Evaluation and self-assessment are a series of stepping-stones necessary to climb the staircase of success.

Be yourself and true to yourself. You are great and will get better!

A copy of a blog post that I always come back to. Learnt a lot from this and all of Vern's writing.

Geoff an Jim Farintosh Canadian Senior Mixed/Open Coach and Sweep - Racice Prague - Fri 29 Aug 2009
Always take the time to say hello to Jim Farintosh from Toronto. First met him at Sydney 2007 when he coached and swept the Canadian Senior Open and Mixed Teams. Next said hello in Penang in Aug 2008 where he coached and swept the Toronto area "Mayfair Predators". Decided in Prague to finally get a photo with him after the Senior Open's 200m medal presentation. A top coach and a person who is obviously highly regarded by his peers.

On Building Confidence - Brainwaves / Australian Institute of Sport

Start from Zero - "and that is how it felt, and so I did .." - Busan (Wed 05 Sep 2012)
On Building Confidence (*):

We build confidence by:

• working hard at training


• practising good self-management


• rewarding ourselves when successful


• recording/logging our successes.

To enhance self-confidence you need to take responsibility for your successes and failures.

It is important to remember that when you talk about success you mean performing to the best of your ability rather than winning.

When you succeed you need to remember that it is because you are a good athlete and have worked hard, not because you are lucky.

Similarly, when you fail to achieve your best you need to remember that there is probably a logical explanation and that you should talk it over with your coach. It is never because you are not good enough.

via Brainwaves (*).

Some great memories from Busan 2012 to help boost the confidence ..

2012 Auroras Mixed 500m 10's Crew - 10th Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Busan (Sat 08 Sep 2012)
2012 Auroras Mixed 500m 10's Crew - 10th Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Busan (Sat 08 Sep 2012)
2012 Auroras Mixed 500m 10's Crew - 10th Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Busan (Sat 08 Sep 2012)
Jo, Serge and Geoff - 10th Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Busan (Sat 08 Sep 2012)
Jo, Betty (our No.1 Supporter) and Geoff - 10th Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Busan (Sat 08 Sep 2012)

On Leadership and Inspiration - Sebastian Coe / The Winning Mind (Book)

If you believe, you are stronger and the light will reward you. (Alex Coghe / Wed 20 Jun 2012) (*) - Abercrombie Street / Darlington (Sat 14 Sep 2013)
Sebastian Coe (*) writes Leadership (*) and Inspiration (*):

Effective leadership (*) inspires (*) hope (*) as well as belief (*) that success (*) is achievable.

via The Winning Mind (*) by Sebastian Coe (*).

Lots of buzzwords. Interesting to see where they all lead here.

On Self Belief - Amy Lombard / Freddy Martinez (Wed 14 Jul 2014)

Untitled - George Street / Sydney (Wed 03 Jun 2015)

Amy Lombard on Self Belief:

I don’t believe in giving up. [..] Believe in yourself and what you’re doing, and success will follow.

via Amy Lombard Interview: Flashy Portraits of Unordinary People by Freddy Martinez.

What do you give when there's nothing left to give? - Drew Ginn (Sun 15 Jul 2012)

Directional Sign - Nathan Road / Kowloon / Hong Kong (Sat 07 Jul 2012)
Drew Ginn (*) gives some insights in Training Update: IN the ThiCk of iT (*)

So when I have thought 'No More' I have simply asked, why?

and he adds (*):

With this I have also opened my eyes wider, opened my mind, and opened my body up to experience what needs to happen to improve.

And there is more (*):

With 'no more' comes 'knowing more' and its only through getting stuck that we can appreciate getting un-stuck.

We must hit a wall to know whats its like to pass or over come one.

We must be without an answer or solution to realise what its like when we can find a way.

Being in the thick of it is critical to success as its in the times of stress, loss, thickness and heaviness that we can learning, realise and appreciate another state, way or experience.

Typical Drew at his abstract and convoluted best. A great read which takes a few times to digest.

What is a workout? Rob Rowland-Smith - Jeremey Rolleston (Feb 2011)

In his book A Life that Counts, Jeremy Rolleston introduces us to trainer Rob Rowland-Smith. A bit of searching on the Internet and you will find Rob as the SandhillWarrior on Twitter. He certainly impressed Jeremy (as well as me - see here) with his inspirational words and quotes. On pages 136 and 137 of his book, Jeremy quotes Rob's long version of What is a Workout (the short version appeared here a few days ago) as follows:

Here’s a quote by inspirational trainer Rob Rowland-Smith. He wrote it in the context of a workout, but for me, it epitomises the journey, process and outcomes of a committed and disciplined life. I placed it on the front page of my Olympic training folder so I’d read it often, and most times, I read it before I worked out so I’d be better able to discipline myself and work hard enough to achieve what I wanted to achieve during that training session:

"What is a workout?

A workout is 25% perspiration and 75% determination.

Stated another way, it is one part physical exertion and three parts self-discipline.

Doing it is easy once you get started.

A workout makes you better today than you were yesterday.

It strengthens the body, relaxes the mind and toughens the spirit.

When you workout regularly, your problems diminish and your confidence grows.

A workout is a personal triumph over laziness and procrastination.

It is the badge of a winner – the mark of an organised, goal-oriented person who has taken charge of his or her destiny.

A workout is a wise use of time and an investment in excellence.

It is a way of preparing for life's challenges and proving to yourself that you have what it takes to do what is necessary.

A workout is a key that helps unlock the door to opportunity and success.

Hidden within each of us is an extraordinary force.

Physical and mental fitness are triggers that can release it.

A workout is a form of rebirth.

When you finish a good workout, you don’t simply feel better ... you feel better about yourself."

Rob completes this with the following words:

To follow your dreams takes commitment ... and this means discipline.

Some great words here and they will certainly help me focus on what is needed when working towards a Dream.

When you workout regularly, your problems diminish and your confidence grows. - Jenny and Deb Cooper stroking with George sweeping - DBNSW 2008 Development Squad - Blackwattle Bay / Sydney (Sun 26 Oct 2008)
When you finish a good workout, you don’t simply feel better ... you feel better about yourself." - DBNSW 2008 Development Squad - Blackwattle Bay / Sydney (Sun 26 Oct 2008)

On Belief - The Other Half - Jeremy Rolleston / Dare to Dream (Tue 16 Oct 2012)

2012 Pacific Dragons 200m Mixed 10's Crew - 2012 World Club Crew Dragon Boat Championships - Hong Kong (Thu 03 Jul 2012)
(f/l-r) Rachel Giang, Tony Pound, Peter McAlister, Cliff Tonga
(b/l-r) Charlotte Richards, Geoff Eldridge (that would be me), Emma Walsh, Steph Kerr, Liz Cowen, Lisa Mills, Kelly Turner, John Hamilton, Craig Stewart, Tim Vose
"What a great event (*) and a great day - a privilege to paddle with you all and a personal highlight.
Thanks .. Geoff"
Jeremy Rolleston (*) writes:

Belief (*) is just one part of the journey (*).

The other half is:

• determination (*),
• hard-work,
• stubborness,
• perseverence,
• desire,
• discipline,
• training,
• willingness to critique and learn
• and so on.

So count the cost before you start and know that when you face obstacles on your path to success, you will no doubt face the cold hard questions.

What will be your answer?

Via To dare – the quest of Mt Midoriyama (*)

2012 Pacific Dragons 200m Mixed 10's Crew Final - 2012 World Club Crew Dragon Boat Championships - Hong Kong (Thu 03 Jul 2012)