Just when you think you're maxed out...

Life serves you another overwhelming challenge.

We could be seriously pressured at work, seriously pressured at home, millions of little problems swarming around in our head, when all of a sudden we're "hit" with another challenge. A challenge that makes everything else seem like child's play.

I've trained myself to become "super-focused" when this happens. I analyze every aspect of the challenge at hand, facing it head on. I have learnt from experience that there is no other way. (Saying "why me?!" and sulking won't get you anywhere productive...)

It's interesting, though, how we are always surprised that we are capable of taking it on. Yes—it's hard, but we find ways to manage...

The thing is that life has a tendency to push us past our limits, forcing us to learn and define new ones. We become capable of dealing with bigger challenges. We grow up. Which is why challenges should be looked at with (at least some) positivity.

Movie review: Intouchables

I've been really busy lately working on a number of projects at work together with assuming leadership of another dept. which, let's just say, has been challenging (in a good way).

The other day, though, we were in for a surprise: my mother-in-law walked in, stated she was here to babysit and that we were going to the movies. You gotta love her! So my wife and I found ourselves kicked out of our home, on a quite night out. On the recommendation of my saint mother-in-law we went to see Intouchables, a French movie about the relationship between a paraplegic and his carer. Sounds morbid, I know... But the "babysitter" was adamant about it. So Intouchables it was...

...and what a movie it was!

Though you would never expect it, we were crying our eyes out with laughter. Yes, the movie takes place on a tragic background—I mean the guy is a paraplegic—but it focuses on the humor in their relationship and there is plenty of it. It is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen and I truly recommend it. In fact, I intend on seeing it again!

If you haven't yet seen it, go. Today! You won't regret it.

The difference between MTH and GTD

Do you Make Things Happen or do you Get Things Done? They may sound like similar actions, but they are actually two very different things.

Making something happen means you move a mountain. It means you pitch an absolutely crazy idea, but still get people to support and work for it. Making things happen means you champion an initiative, a concept, something that seems unattainable at first. Making things happen requires a lot of work, a lot of energy and a huge amount of determination (and patience).

Getting things done, on the other hand, is a shopping list. It's a checklist of tasks that you need to complete in a certain time. It's the nitty-gritty of making things happen, the details. With that said, though, you should not underestimate the importance of GTD, without it our ideas/initiatives/concepts are nothing but balloons filled with hot air... Which is why both are equally important.

Which are you: MTH, GTD or both? Just keep in mind that MTH without GTD is an unrealized dream.