inspiringmax, Author at INSPIRING MAX

Anything Is Possible

August 21, 2015 inspiringmax

Every city and town contains people of different classes: rich, poor, and somewhere in between. What’s it like where you live? If it’s difficult for you to discern and describe the different types of classes in your locale, describe what it was like where you grew up — was it swimming pools and movie stars, industrial and working class, somewhere in between or something completely different?

I live in Sydney, Australia and it is a great part of the world to live in. It is a multicultural society where anything is possible. I find myself constantly learning new things about different cultures, foods and religions making my world an interesting place. Whenever I want to go out for a meal the choice is huge and if I want to try my hand at cooking international food sourcing the ingredients can be as easy as a trip to the local shopping centre.

Some days the things that happen in Sydney never cease to amaze me. Last weekend within walking distance to each other, we had the World Netball Championships as well as the wedding of our deputy mayor, given the title of Australia’s most expensive wedding including luxury cars, helicopters, Harley Davidson motorbikes and jet flyover. I knew my area was interesting but this now proves anything is possible.

https://youtu.be/qS8g0Uee30M

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/west-end-girls/

Recharge

August 20, 2015 inspiringmax

Imagine that tomorrow, all of your duties and obligations evaporate for the day. You get the day all to yourself, to do anything you please. What types of fun activities would make your day?

I believe taking time out to recharge and celebrate ME Time is important for mental health. This week I have been lucky enough to have a week of ME Time without any duties or obligations doing whatever I feel like for the day. It is liberating and relaxing. I am spending the week in Port Macquarie New South Wales, an area I first visited as a 10-year-old child. So how do I plan to spend my days when I don’t have my usual busy schedule to contend with. No problem. Below is a list of my options most of which I have already done:

Build a sand castle
Celebrate days off with a glass of champagne
Catch up on my blogging
Colour in
Do a crossword puzzle
Draw
Enjoy the winter sunshine
Explore new areas
Gather ideas for Inspiring Max
Listen to different bird calls
Play a board game
Play solitaire with cards
Read a romantic comedy
Reconnect with what it was like living in regional New South Wales
Relive childhood memories
Sleep in
Smell the ocean
Smell the flowers beginning to burst as Spring is around the corner
Swim
Visit regional art galleries
Walk on beach
Watch a girly movie
Work on my book

It has been a great week staying in one place, catching up with myself and expand my experience of my amazing homeland, Australia.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/nothin-but-a-good-time/

Never Helpless

August 19, 2015 inspiringmax

Helplessness: that dull, sick feeling of not being the one at the reins. When did you last feel like that –- and what did you do about it?

I don’t ever feel helpless. If I feel something needs to change in a situation I think outside the square to find an answer to the problem. Sometimes the leader may require help, I may need more explanation of what is really going on or life may have suddenly taken a tragic turn that needs managing. Whatever the reason feeling helpless just takes away my power. I hope you enjoy the following acrostic poem of how I turn HELPLESS into HOPE.

Hopeful an alternative could be found

Eager and encouraged to look for a solution

Liberated to have an idea

Pleased to put it forward

Liking the response I received

Empathetic to our leader

Safe in the knowing

Self-doubt didn’t stop me finding hope

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/helpless/

Empowerment

August 5, 2015 inspiringmax

Describe your personal style, however you’d like to interpret that — your clothing style, your communication style, your hair style, your eating style, anything.

Empowering others is the basis of my communication and managing styles. My theme is “I teach people to fish, I don’t feed them fish.”

By teaching people to do things for themselves, they develop an understanding that their choices change their outcomes. They learn to set goals and realise they can achieve them by breaking the goal down into doable pieces. They have the power.

Sometimes the type of fishing or skills someone needs to learn can be difficult or slow to learn. But I don’t give up. I empower them to persevere and reap their rewards, however long it takes. By believing the other person can learn the skill and spending time to guide them on their personal journey I see them blossom and achieve things they initially never thought possible.

I love the fact that often as their confidence increases people choose to teach the skills I have taught them to others—keeping the chain of empowerment moving forward.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/style-icon/

Keep Calm And Plan

July 19, 2015 inspiringmax

Do you thrive under pressure or crumble at the thought of it? Does your best stuff surface as the deadline approaches or do you need to iterate, day after day to achieve something you’re proud of?

When I have a deadline “keep calm and plan is my motto.” I plan my timetable to make sure the job gets done on time and I allow enough extra time for life to get in the way as it invariably does. I cannot work all through the night to get the job done as my head doesn’t work when I am tired—I need a plan. I break my task down into small achievable chunks that I can join together to succeed.

For me the secret is working out a way that I can look after myself by doing everything I want to and still meet the deadline. Recently I have been given a weekly deadline at work for one of my managers reports each week. As this was initially thrown upon me I struggled the first week but got the job done. Moving forward I plan my week around long and short days depending on what night I am attending Toastmasters. Each week the task is getting easier and I feel myself getting more organised as a result.

Another secret I have for dealing with deadlines is to complete the most difficult task first. I find this takes up the most time and once the difficult task is completed I am usually on the home stretch which motivates me to keep going.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/the-heat-is-on/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Half and half

July 18, 2015 inspiringmax

This week, let’s split our photos in two.

Two visiting Kookaburras

Two resting ducks

One side — burnt bush the other saved

Overlooking burnt and natural bush

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/half-and-half/

Soul Mate

July 12, 2015July 12, 2015 inspiringmax

Got a soul-mate and/or a best friend? What is it about that person that you love best? Describe them in great detail — leave no important quality out.

Finding your soul mate isn’t a journey you can plan. For me it happened when the time was right and I had to adjust my plans accordingly. Why we connected however, I have never considered—everything just fell into place. Personally I think it relates to having similar qualities and values that compliment each other including:

Honesty
Problem Solving Abilities
Loyal
Decisive
Hard Working
Independent
Trustworthy
Trusting
Humble
Forgiving
Eager
Encouraging
Empowering
Secure
Special
Considerate
Caring
Talkative
Listening Skills
Humourous
Articulate
Fun Loving
Passionate
Adventurous

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/born-to-be-with-you/

Weekly Photo Challenge: Symbol

July 11, 2015July 11, 2015 inspiringmax

This week, share a symbol with us, and tell us what it means to you.

I loved this symbol of creativity I found at Lithgow’s McDonald Restaurant. It may be an “only in Australia” moment but it works for me. It is an example of simple, practical fun.

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/symbol/

Special Person Day

July 5, 2015 inspiringmax

Many countries celebrate Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. If you could dedicate a holiday to a more distant relative, who would it be — and why?

Why limit ourselves to one type of person. Let’s celebrate diversity and all the special people in our life—whoever and whatever they are. If I had the power I would add Special Person Day to the calendar. A day for everyone to thank and celebrate the special people in their lives. Every has someone who is important to them. No one gets to judge and I have added some options that may already have another day because if they are your special person they shouldn’t miss out because of a generic day. There are no rules — your person can be: