Ramón de Vries | Dutch Open Source Solutions Consultant

To everything most come an end

Ramon — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:09:53 +0000

This month after more than 3 and a half year I finished my assignment at NXP. I had a great time and learned a lot. The time has come to start at a new project at a new company. I want to thank all my ex-colleagues for the great time I had and wish them all the best.

Less is more

Ramon — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:20:48 +0000

How weird am I

Ramon — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:35:52 +0000

To buy a book from my favourite writer Seth Godin without reading any reviews, just because it has a limited physical print?

Maybe, but We Are All Weird

Failed 2

Ramon — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:48:38 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/v/Y6hz_s2XIAU

Failure

Ramon — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:46:18 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/v/45mMioJ5szc

Inspirarition

Ramon — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:09:41 +0000

sometimes it comes sometimes it goes.

If it goes you have to search for it again. Inspiration can be found in the little things like a mosquito flying in your room and annoying you. It can aspire you to also learn to fly or it can aspire you to be aggressive and hunt it down to kill it.

Today it inspired me to write this small blog post and to let it live for a while.

Stand out

Ramon — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:08:02 +0000

By being yourself. Everyone is unique, there was nobody before you just like how you are and there will nobody like you after you.

Standing out is your obligation to your uniqueness…

Make the impossible possible

Ramon — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:39:33 +0000

It was impossible to speak at a large distance, until the telephone was invented.
It was impossible to travel 100km/h, until the car was invented.
It was impossible to go to the other side of the world in a vehicle within 24 hour, until the jet airplane was invented.
It was impossible to find instant information, until the internet was invented.

Change your thinking and make the impossible possible.

New GTD tool

Ramon — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:23:24 +0000

Due to some issue with Ruby on Rails I switched to a new GTD tool. It is nice, but a bit different.

You might take a look at nirvanahq.com. It’s a pity it is not open source…

Don’t count on it

Ramon — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:06:35 +0000

Don’t count on it that you can please everyone in the world. It is better you don’t count on it. You’d better try not to please everyone, because that will be of a mediocre quality . It is better not to please many, and to produce the best and most honest quality you can. You can count on it that some will hate you for it, other will appreciate it.

Count on the people that love quality you can be proud of.

Decisiveness will give fruit

Ramon — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:05:43 +0000

Deciding to act will give you fruits.

Some fruits might be bitter,

others might be sweet.

But not acting will give you no fruits at all.

Plan parties

Ramon — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:23:14 +0000

Some just for fun parties like: birthday parties, mid-summer-nice-weather-BBQ-parties, fuck-the-economy parties .

Or some some long-term goal parties like: graduation parties, changing jobs parties, get-out-of-debt parties.

Have some fun in life and plan some parties.

Make opertunities

Ramon — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:02:10 +0000

by preparing, taking initiative, trying something new and take risks.

Opportunities need to be sought. You need to prepare for your opportunities by learning.

As they say, it is better to be prepared and have no opportunities than have opportunities and not being prepared.

Plan ahead

Ramon — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:27:20 +0000

to be aware of what is coming. You will not be able to predict everything, but 80% will do. Make plans for your family, your career, your entertainment and your future. Only then you will know where to go.

Or as Zig Zigler said: If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time

Sick

Ramon — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:27:41 +0000

Sometimes you become unexpectedly sick, well this happened to me, hopefully tomorrow I will be better.

Don’t apologize

Ramon — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:55:24 +0000

Don’t apologize for your failure nor for your success.

If you failed at something, at least you tried it. Taking initiative is one of the best treats a person has.
If needed you can always start over from zero, you should never stop improving yourself.

If you are successful that is something you work hard for, so be proud of it.

Just do the best you can do and enjoy while doing it. You only have one life and one shot for most in life, but don’t forget to shoot.

Be curious

Ramon — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:56:21 +0000

Curiosity killed the cat, but a cat has nine lives.

If you are not curious about discovering new things you will stay in your rut. And that will not bring you in new territory. So be curious, and take care you are not killed like a cat…

Create precedents

Ramon — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:42:32 +0000

What you did in the past will speak for you today. You should create precedents, precedent you can be proud of.

The last couple of yours I created a lot of precedents in my work.I helped in project to build complex and sophisticated solutions from scratch for my clients. These precedents will help me to get further in my professional life.

In my personal life I also try to create precedents, by making and keeping promises. The making and keeping of promises will create the precedents of my future promises and the trust it created.

So created precedents.

Embrace happiness

Ramon — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:57:38 +0000

Happiness is in the small things.

A nice piece of music played on the street by a very good street musician.
A good book that inspires you.
A ray of sun light.
The smile of your spouse and children.
A realisation that you are lucky to be a life and healthy.

Embrace these small things, because they are happiness.

How big is the US Debt…?

Ramon — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:13:01 +0000

It is hard to visualize how big the debts is of different countries in the world, but to give you an idea take a look at http://www.wtfnoway.com/.

If you stack the liabilities of the US government in a stack of 100 dollar bill you will get a tower higher then the twin towers. This is really overwhelming. Yankees you are f@*ked. But I think that the Europeans aren’t better off…

Click on the link or on the image to get the visualisation.

Images in this post are created by http://www.wtfnoway.com/ .

Produce quality

Ramon — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:14:45 +0000

Quality speaks for you. Quality products will make you customers want to return and buy again.

Quality will make you proud of what you make and what you stand for…

So produce quality whenever, whatever you make.

Mentor someone

Ramon — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:40:27 +0000

Everyone is an expert in some area. With your experience you can mentor someone. While mentoring you will have to express your experiences and knowledge in understandable language. While rephrasing your words you will get new insights and so you will also learn something new.

Being a mentor is beneficial for both the mentor and the mentored.

Fear the Boom and Bust

Ramon — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:25:40 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/v/d0nERTFo-Sk

Write letters

Ramon — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:03:23 +0000

If you want to reach and touch someone you love, write a letter. The effort you will put in will get you a better letter. Hand written letter are so much more personal than e-mail.

So take the time restore the old habit and write letters.

The challenge of leadership

Ramon — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:26:48 +0000

“The challenge of leadership is

to be strong, but not rude

to be kind, but not weak

to be bold, but not bully

to be thoughtful, but not lazy

to be humble, but not timid

to be proud, but not arrogant

to have humor, but without folly.”

Jim Rohn

Don’t quit

Ramon — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:27:36 +0000

What do most people when it gets hard? They complain about and then they quit.

When it gets hard you should what most people don’t do: Put in more effort and preserver, don’t quit because it gets hard.

You might be only a small step away from success. Maybe you only need one more number to unlock the lock.

Act now

Ramon — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 21:31:21 +0000

I cannot act on Yesterday because it is gone.

I cannot act on Tomorrow because that is still not here.

I can only act to Today, I can only act now.

So act now

Because Today is the Tomorrow of Yesterday and the Yesterday of Tomorrow.

Carpe diem

Ramon — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:56:59 +0000

Seize the day, as I will have only one change to enjoy the day. A day passed is a day passed and it will not come back to me. So it is better to enjoy in what you are doing because you will never know when is you last day.

Sometimes the challenges I encounter are hard and troublesome. But I still enjoy the day because I know that I have learned something from the problems I fixed that day.

Broken

Ramon — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:41:58 +0000

Sometimes things break, and then you have to fix it.

A bike might break. A window may break. Yesterday I broke my server. I had to reinstall the OS and restore my data from a backup. I’ve almost restored it to its old glory, but I lost 5 days of posts which I fortunately could recover those via the web cache of google.com.

Slow down

Ramon — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:48:52 +0000

Life has a fast pace, urgent matter come and go. Please slow down. Stand still and think about what you want. The earth is spinning fast and the technological advances go fast. A slower pace of living will do you good. Tomorrow the earth is still spinning at the same fast pace.

Do less

Ramon — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:12:39 +0000

I try to do less of the bad stuff. I try to eat less bad stuff. I try to do less bad thinking. Less bad Stuff that will keep be back. I do less of the bad and the good.

So I have more room to do my best to get the best.

Think Different

Ramon — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:07:46 +0000

Find time

Ramon — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 21:59:28 +0000

Find time to write a blog post. To do you exercises, to read a book and to spend time with the family. work on your goals and do something you like.

Some of it will not need much time.

The biggest savings in time you will find when you eliminate watching television and reading the newspaper.

Rock out

Ramon — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:59:47 +0000

Today we rocked out at a concert of Rick Martin in Brussels. Once in a while you should rock out and enjoy the music.

Work hard

Ramon — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:28:54 +0000

If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you.
If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you.
Whatever good things we build end up building us.

Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.

Formal education will make you a living;
Self-education will make you a fortune.

— Jim Rohn

Treat yourself

Ramon — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:04:22 +0000

Treat yourself when you accomplish something. I will treat myself with a adam tablet when I reach my 85 kg.

Treat yourself because you deserve it.

Look up

Ramon — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:50:03 +0000

If you don’t know something, just look it up. In a dictionary, on the internet, Google, Wikipedia or even a simple phone book.

Why not?

Ramon — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:46:03 +0000

A lot of people will ask themselves “why should I do something?”

Just ask yourself: “Why not?”

Why not try it?

Why not learn it?

Why not risk it?

Why not enjoy it?

Why not do it?

Be patient

Ramon — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:55:45 +0000

Sometimes the things don’t go as fast as I want. Sometimes it takes a lot of time before my environment gets used to my changed behaviour. I have to be patient. Patient with my friend and colleagues.

But most of all patient with myself. Because I want me to change faster than it is feasible. It is unhealthy for me to loose the 8 kilos (I still need to loose to get to 85 kg) in a very short time.

But step by step I will get there, I only have to be patient.

Try something new for 30 days

Ramon — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 21:02:05 +0000

This is a very inspiring short TED talk.

Just like Matt Cutts I try something for 30 days. Some of the stuff I still keep doing, other stuff I did not like.

Go to the TED talk

Sort inboxes

Ramon — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:54:10 +0000

The getting things done by David Allen is a very good system. I now use it more than 2 years.

David talks about the base of your inbox.

Everytime I read my e-mail, I will empty my e-mail inbox. My e-mail inbox base is zero. What is yours?

How many in messages do you have?

My physical inbox is not emptied everyday, that is mostly because I process my physical inbox on a weekly or bi-weekly base.

Keep calm

Ramon — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:57:46 +0000

Your children got crazy and you cannot handle them
Your wife is angry and shouts at you
You are late for work and the traffic jam is unbearable
The deadline you got is approaching rapidly
What should you do?

Whatever happens, keep calm.
Panic and stress won’t help you.

Relax, take a breath keep calm and think.

If you are calm you will be able to think of a good solution from your situation.

Wake early

Ramon — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:56:52 +0000

To get the most out of a day…. because you can sleep when you are dead.

Be humble

Ramon — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:40:16 +0000

“A person can achieve everything

by being simple and humble.”

Rig Veda

Surf smart

Ramon — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:11:45 +0000

The internet is a vast source of information and entertainment. You have to control your surfing in a smart way. Otherwise you will loose your precious time. One of my ways of smarter surfing is blocking most of my sinful and wasting websites. Especially the website that help me procrastinate, and don’t help me to make progress.

You could have some browser plug-ins like leechblock but I did not invest the time yet to implement it.

The simplest website blocker is to put your waste full website as the reference to 127.0.0.1 in the hosts file of your computer.

My hostfile just looks like this:

127.0.0.1 start.geek.nl
127.0.0.1 geenstijl.nl www.geenstijl.nl
127.0.0.1 www.nu.nl nu.nl
127.0.0.1 nrc.nl www.nrc.nl
127.0.0.1 nrcnext.nl www.nrcnext.nl
127.0.0.1 vkmag.nl www.vkmag.nl
127.0.0.1 dumpert.nl www.dumpert.nl
127.0.0.1 vk.nl www.vk.nl
127.0.0.1 uitzendinggemist.nl www.uitzendinggemist.nl beta.uitzendinggemist.nl
127.0.0.1 huizenmarkt-zeepbel.nl www.huizenmarkt-zeepbel.nl
127.0.0.1 vk.nl www.vk.nl
127.0.0.1 volkskrant.nl www.volkskrant.nl
127.0.0.1 trouw.nl www.trouw.nl
127.0.0.1 telegraaf.nl www.telegraaf.nl detelegraaf.nl www.detelegraaf.nl
127.0.0.1 parool.nl www.parool.nl
127.0.0.1 huizenhype.nl www.huizenhype.nl
127.0.0.1 www.nieuws.nl nieuws.nl
127.0.0.1 nieuws.nl www.nieuws.nl
127.0.0.1 nos.nlwww.nos.nl
127.0.0.1 slashdot.com slashdot.org www.slashdot.com www.slashdot.org
127.0.0.1 linux.com www.linux.com
127.0.0.1 www.fd.nl fd.nl
127.0.0.1 nu.nl www.nu.nl nuzakelijk.nl www.nuzakelijk.nl
127.0.0.1 ad.nl www.ad.nl
127.0.0.1 bnr.nl www.bnr.nl
127.0.0.1 gelderlander.nl www.gelderlander.nl

It contains a lot of news sites, news sites are my biggest time wasters.

Start anew

Ramon — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:45:47 +0000

I slipped in to a rot. Slowly, step by step my situation got worse. Somehow I did not notice it, and it sneak up to me. Now I stop this situation and start anew.

A new challenge and a new project. To stop the decay and renew myself.

Today I decided to start anew. Start from zero, but with experience and knowledge.

Take pictures

Ramon — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:53:07 +0000

Taking pictures doesn’t cost as much as it used to cost. You had to buy a film and when done develop the pictures. This process had a hefty price tag. That’s one of the reasons I don’t have that many pictures of my youth.

But now it is basically free to take pictures. So now no more excuses, you can take as much snapshot as you like.

Later you will love to see the old pictures and remember about the good old times….

Educate yourself

Ramon — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:49:16 +0000

As Jim Rohn said it nicely:

Formal Education will make you an living, Self Education will make you fortune.

I did not stop learning after finishing university, I really started to learn after discovering a vast amount of interesting books.

Breed confidence

Ramon — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:06:48 +0000

Confidence does not come by itself, you need to nurture and feed it. The best way to breed confidence is to practice hard and a lot. By practising the number of mistakes will decrease, and the less mistakes you make the more confidence you will get.

No regrets

Ramon — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 21:03:22 +0000

I don’t regret the things I did, because I was not passive.

I don’t want to have regrets of the things I didn’t do. I don’t want to have regrets of what I didn’t say.

So I do the things I want and need to do and say.

Make associations

Ramon — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:11:45 +0000

Associations are a way of connecting with people.

My family is one of the first associations I made in me life. It gave me a stimulating environment to grow, I did not have to do much to create this association. My first group of friends was my first voluntary association. Association come and go, but some are strong.

Later a made associations with other people. And I made a strong association with my current wife to create a new family which created the first association of my children.

Associations will help you to get forward in live.

Know yourself

Ramon — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 21:16:07 +0000

The best investment you probably can you is investing time and effort to know yourself.

So ask yourself the following questions, and try to answer them:

What do you like?
What do you dislike?
What are you good in?
What are you terrible in?
What can you do?
What can’t you do?
What excites you?
What bores you?
What do you need to learn?
What do you need to unlearn?
Who do you like to be with?
Who do you hate to be with?

Say NO

Ramon — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:22:08 +0000

Books are written about Getting to Yes. But sometime it is better to say NO.

Say NO to overweight
Say NO to smoking
Say NO to drugs
Say NO to television
Say NO to mediocrity
Say NO to interruption
Say NO to small talk
Say NO to not having a plan
Say NO to not setting goals
Say NO to the good, to get to the best

Speak up

Ramon — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:21:43 +0000

If you don’t like something you should speak up.

Don’t be silent

Speak up for your family
Speak up for your friends
Speak up for your rights
Speak up for your wants
Speak up for justice

Interpret dreams

Ramon — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:26:14 +0000

I dream dreams every day. Sometimes I remember them, some times not. Bur it is the way my unconsciousness talks to my consciousness. The only challenge is to understand what the dreams mean. We need to interpret dreams, as this will help us to make progress. Our unconsciousness knows how to make progress, but our consciousness need to understand what it is saying. Interpretation of the dream gets us closer to understand the solutions.

Be assertive

Ramon — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:25:44 +0000

If you are assertive you feel free to express your feelings, thoughts, and desires. You will know your rights.

You will be willing to compromise with others, rather than always wanting your own way … and tend to have good self-esteem

And if you have this freedom you will initiate and maintain comfortable relationships with people.

As a result you will have control over your anger. This does not mean that you repress this feeling; it means that you control anger and talk about it in a reasoning manner.

So it’s good to be assertive.

Act naturally

Ramon — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:30:43 +0000

Don’t be a phony. Be yourself and act naturally.

Playing for change

Ramon — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:50:16 +0000

Today I found this inspiring videos made with street musicians from all over the world.

You can visit their website on http://playingforchange.com.

Read books

Ramon — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 22:56:33 +0000

As I wrote a couple of week ago you should reread book. But to be able to reread books you should start reading books in the first place. I love to read non-fictional books. Lately I have been reading positive books, but you should also read book about a darker side of live Like The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker. It’s an interesting book about risks and dangers. And how to avoid most dangers.

Be brave

Ramon — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:53:54 +0000

To do the unexpected. You have to be brave to do what nobody expects. It will not be easy, but some you you will realize is was the best you have done.

Ask why

Ramon — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:06:03 +0000

Ask why you do the things you do ?

Ask why you should do things and ask why not?

Why wait?
Why procrastinate?
Why delay?
Why hesitate?
Why not be an inspiration? \
Why not take to risk?

Life mission

Ramon — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:02:54 +0000

Get a life mission, a reason to breathe. It will make it much easier every day to decide what to do and what not to do.

Define a good life mission will take you some effort and time to find. I’m still looking….

Challenge yourself

Ramon — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:01:29 +0000

To get the best from you. To do things you never did, like approaching unknown people in the street or public transport. Challenge yourself to do something unexpectedly, you might discover new talents or passions.

I challenged myself to write one blogpost a day, it is not easy to write something interesting every day, but I’m getting better every day.

Flirt more

Ramon — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:13:23 +0000

By giving more complements. People like to be given complements, it will easy up the interaction. The one receiving the flirts will feel better, so you made the world a bit better.

Look forward

Ramon — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:04:44 +0000

Look forward in the future and plan. Plan for a better future. When you plan, you will work now for tomorrow. Most successful people look forward and see a better future. When they look forward they see what to do today to make what they want a reality.

Embrace change

Ramon — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:23:14 +0000

Change is one of the most difficult things a human being has to handle in his life, but is is also the most important. Without change you will not move forward. Because moving forward is changing direction and habits. Change like the change of seasons is good, it is the start of new life and a better future.

Actually the only person who does not have to handle change is a dead person. So embrace change, as this is the only thing that is constant:
Constant Change is Constant.

Reread books

Ramon — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:20:53 +0000

Reread the best book you have read. Because with every reread you will refresh your memory and discover new insights.

Repetition is the only way you can learn efficiently. And rereading a good book is always worth investing the time.

Keep healthy

Ramon — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:19:00 +0000

Keep healthy by exercising regularly and avoiding crappy foods and thoughts…

Set examples

Ramon — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:17:09 +0000

By being on time
By not swearing
By saying the truth
By not gossiping
By exercising
By being honest

By being a good example…

Assure yourself

Ramon — Mon, 30 May 2011 17:27:08 +0000

That you can do it. That you have the knowledge, or are able to get the necessary knowledge to do it. You have to assure yourself that getting it done is simple and will not be easy, but it can be done.

Actively listen

Ramon — Sun, 29 May 2011 20:20:23 +0000

Listening should not be passive, be interested in the other by listen actively. You can listen actively by asking probing questions, leaning toward the other and look him/her in the eyes. Use you body language and agree with an occasional yes.

Say thanks

Ramon — Sat, 28 May 2011 20:45:53 +0000

It is not that hard to say “thank you” and it can make a big difference for the giver. Be grateful for what you receive.

A Weird View of Money – Dave Ramsey

Ramon — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:46:12 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Af1zc0qhr8o

Watch in full here

Don’t slouch

Ramon — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:23:52 +0000

Slouching is not being active. Inactivity is stagnant. By being stagnant you will decrease in size and you will become obsolete.

Live urgently

Ramon — Wed, 25 May 2011 20:45:01 +0000

Don’t wait for tomorrow what you urgent can do today:

Say I’m sorry today.

Call a friend today.

Make savings today.

Exercise today.

Huge today.

Smile today.

Dance today

Step back

Ramon — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:39:20 +0000

Step back from the spotlight and evaluate your actions. Stepping back will help you to make better decisions. Step back so you can make room for others. They will appreciate this and give you more in return.

Experience nature

Ramon — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:22:10 +0000

I live a busy life in the city. And sometimes I really need to experience nature. Enjoy the extended views of beautiful landscapes. Enjoy a nice song of a lovely bird. Walk in the woods and smell de sent of fresh leafs. Experience nature like it is meant to be… Sometimes I do miss the nature of Ecuador.

Learn efficiently

Ramon — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:10:28 +0000

Learning can be slow or fast. It doesn’t matter if it is slow of fast, what does matter is you do it efficiently. Try to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again. When something goes wrong, learn efficiently and get on.

Plan vacations

Ramon — Sat, 21 May 2011 21:25:02 +0000

Take a vacation from work, from the the daily chores. Plan to do something different from your daily activity so you can charge your batteries and get new inspiration.

Eliminate nonessentials

Ramon — Fri, 20 May 2011 21:55:48 +0000

The nonessentials can blur your vision and distract you: Too much blabla or just to much stuff. Just say it with the essential words and not more…

Be sincere

Ramon — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:55:21 +0000

Be sincere in what you do and what you say. Don’t over-present or misrepresent the real you. Just be consistent in your way and only say what you really believe from your hart

Contrain yourself

Ramon — Wed, 18 May 2011 20:05:51 +0000

Constraints can make you more creative. Having unlimited resources will not motivate you in finding quick solutions. If you have limited resources you have to find more creative solutions. Constraints will help you to think out of the box.

For example, you could constrain yourself by building some apparatus and only using materials you can get second hand, or on a garbage dump.

You could also make some new clothing design by reusing clothing from your grandmother closet. Another constraint is to only use organic materials, or only metals.

Take initiative

Ramon — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:51:20 +0000

Initiative starts things, great things. Just take initiative and be the great starter. A starter of small things that will have great change in the world.

I once started a small change in my life, by going abroad for a 10 months planned trip. In the end the 10 months became almost 4 years and I returned married with children. How a small initiative can have such a big impact on my life and that of my peers.

Give credit

Ramon — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:51:10 +0000

Give credit to whom it belongs. You cannot achieve anything without the help of others. So when you give people credit, you will get more help in the future. When you give credit you are more humble, and people like humble people.

Be honest

Ramon — Sun, 15 May 2011 21:34:49 +0000

You could lie to anyone. Try to hustle and bustle your way through life. But you have to be honest to yourself. You can fool anyone but yourself. If you’re a fake, you yourself will know it anyway.

It is better to be honest. You don’t have to keep track of all your small and big lies, that makes life just so easy.

Be approachable

Ramon — Sat, 14 May 2011 20:25:33 +0000

Be approachable for every one. From the cleaning lady up to the president of the country. One of the best ways to be approachable is not to be prejudge about anyone or anything. Have an open mind and don’t condemn anything.

If you are not approachable you might miss the opportunity of a lifetime.

Practise discretion

Ramon — Fri, 13 May 2011 21:25:06 +0000

The quality of good judgement on when to be discrete or not will save you a lot of trouble. You should not tell everything to everyone. Just be discrete in what you do and say.

Own up

Ramon — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:33:31 +0000

If and when you do wrong own up. Confess and acknowledge your mistakes. This will free you from guilt and worry.

Call someone

Ramon — Wed, 11 May 2011 18:29:34 +0000

Call someone you love, you admire or you know but didn’t speak to for some time. It will do the other person good that you show interest in how they are doing. If you need advice you call also call someone, they will appreciate your trust in their wisdom.

Be proactive

Ramon — Tue, 10 May 2011 21:17:39 +0000

The first habit of a highly effective person. By being proactive you start any change in your live. Being proactive means thinking and acting with the future in mind. It’s a great way for avoiding mistakes down the road. Planning well for the future and for instituting systems at work, in study, and at home that make life easier. Not just for you, but for everyone.

Breathe deep

Ramon — Mon, 09 May 2011 21:37:40 +0000

A deep breath will give oxygen in your body which will enable you to do incredible things. When I want to do something that excites me or make me nervous, like speaking in public or bungee jump I take a deep breath. The energy just comes in and everything is possible.

Finish strong

Ramon — Sun, 08 May 2011 21:42:52 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/v/xYWPLxVJca0

Make promises

Ramon — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:45:17 +0000

Make promises to your loved ones, your friend and your colleagues. And work hard to fulfil those promises. You should only make promises you know you can keep. So keep those promises. And the more promises you make and keep, the better you get at it. And then you can make promises that are harder to keep. Practise makes perfect kept promises…

Volunteer time

Ramon — Fri, 06 May 2011 21:36:07 +0000

Time is the most precious you have. You can not store it, you can not create it and when you spent it, it is gone. So when you volunteer time, you are giving something precious. Volunteering time can be as simple as helping a friend of family member with moving, painting or babysitting. Or you can volunteer for a high ethical motivation as helping the poor.

Think positive

Ramon — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:14:24 +0000

Because a positive attitude will get further, a positive attitude will energize you and a positive attitude makes your dreams come true.

Negative thinking will paralyse all your actions, and actions are needed to accomplice your goals and dreams.

Call home

Ramon — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:14:10 +0000

When you are working, call home to see if everything is OK, and tell them you love them.
When you travel, call home to tell you will return safely.

Rearrange furniture

Ramon — Tue, 03 May 2011 19:51:27 +0000

We moved recently and that forced use to rearrange a lot more than furniture. But if you did not move it is still good to rearrange furniture. Get some new set-up, stimulate some change in your life. Change is good, the “status quo” is bad. Change will set you in motion for progress. Without progress you will stand still and standing still is degradation which will become decay.

Share laughter

Ramon — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:27:44 +0000

Laughter is one of the best way to heal bad experiences and bad health. By sharing laughter you make the world a better world.

Don’t blame

Ramon — Sun, 01 May 2011 20:23:36 +0000

Don’t blame others for the bad things in your life. Your are the only one responsible for your decisions and the outcome. You have to power to change your own life by putting more effort in the good stuff. Blaming other for your own bad choices will not change your situation. Blaming is lost energy you’d better had to invest in the effort of changing.

Ask questions

Ramon — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 07:50:57 +0000

If you don’t know how you should ask questions. Ask someone who did it before, ask someone how has a lot of experience. Ask some group, ask in a forum.

Sometimes you should ask questions to yourself.

Like: Why? Why do I want this. Why should I do this? Why not? Why not do it? Why not want this? What can I do? Would I do it again? Where can I find the answer? Who did it before>