Drew Simmie's - The Tug of the Kite http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php Copyright 2012, Drew Simmie Drew Simmie en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 The Travelled Eye http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120521-085736 It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. Mahatma Gandhi.

The other day I stumbled upon a copy of a notice that I had seen posted to the entrance of a Buddhist temple in Toronto that I had had occasion to visit in 2007. Could five years have gone by already?

Recently back from a short trip to India (it was my first trip to Asia) and after processing what I observed and learned the sentiments appear, to me at least, even more relevant today.

Six Right Livelihood Guidelines

Consume Mindfully

Eat with awareness and gratitude.
Pause before buying and see if breathing is enough.
Pay attention to the effects of the media you consume.

Pause. Breathe and Listen

When you feel compelled to speak in a meeting or a conversation, pause.
Breathe before entering your home, or a place of work, or school.
Listen to the people you encounter. They are buddhas.

Practice Gratitude

Notice what you have.
Be equally grateful for opportunities and challenges.
Share joy, not negativity.

Cultivate Compassion and Loving Kindness

Notice where help is needed and be quick to help.
Consider others’ perspectives deeply.
Work for peace at all levels.

Discover Wisdom

Cultivate a ‘don’t know ‘ mind.
Find connection between Buddhist teaching and your life.
Be open to what arises in every moment.

Accept Constant Change

There is nothing like visiting other countries and cultures to broaden the mind and open your heart. The travelled eye sees everything from a different perspective.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120521-085736 Drew Simmie Mon, 21 May 2012 12:57:36 GMT Understanding What Matters http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120517-083621
I don’t think winners beat the competition because they work harder. And it’s not even clear that they win because they have more creativity. The secret, I think, is in understanding what matters.

It’s not obvious, and it changes by culture, by buyer, by product and even by the day of the week. But those that manage to capture the imagination, make sales and grow are doing it by perfecting the things that matter and ignoring the rest.

Both parts are difficult, particularly when you are surrounded by people who insist on fretting about and working on the stuff that makes no difference at all.

Seth is right. With so much choice and at the speed we’re going, you really do have to zero in on what matters and not waste time on the rest.

You can read Seth at www.sethgodin.com

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120517-083621 Drew Simmie Thu, 17 May 2012 12:36:21 GMT The Choice is Yours http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120514-120523 It isn’t down on any map. The true places never are. Herman Melville.



In this journey of life, being aware of who we are and what we are really all about – our purpose, if you will, is what sets us on fire.

More often than not, we have created a state of habit – moving through our days and years too quickly, too distracted to stop and reflect on our humanity and our place in the greater scheme of things.

We’re so obsessed with taking action, designing our lives, doing instead of being, so focused on things rather than on people that we are unaware of the energy we are radiating – often much of it negative in nature.

This can create a toxic cocktail of uncertainty, doubt and mistrust. Many of us are plagued with constant worry and fear. We have a tendency to lower our expectations always working in a what-if scenario instead of expecting the best. Often, as a result, relationships in our personal and in our business dealings can be strained and tenuous, things go wrong and abundance eludes us.

Have you ever found yourself in such a place?

It doesn’t have to be that way, not if you don’t want it to be. External circumstances do not determine your emotional state. You do. Your life is not meant to always be filled with struggle, hardship and constant doubt. It is meant to be filled with joy, light and ease.

What is your dominant perspective? Think about that. What expectations do you hold? Are they big or small? What beliefs do you hold? Do they indicate faith in the future or fear and doubt?

This doesn’t preclude occasional setbacks and truly injurious events that you experience. We all have those, but as you go through your days you get to decide how you will respond to the circumstances and events that occur.

In every aspect of your life, the freedom to choose is always available to you even when it feels impossible. Finding a new perspective, one that radiates positive rather than negative energy will energize you and add joy.

The choice is yours.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.comto each day.]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120514-120523 Drew Simmie Mon, 14 May 2012 16:05:23 GMT You Against Your Imagination http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120510-075419 Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. Oscar Wilde.



As globalization and the IT revolution continue unabated, it is changing the way we think about everything. Change has become the norm. Competition is fierce.

If you’re doing things the way you always have, chances are there’s a better way you could be doing them.

Competition isn’t between you and your competition.

It’s between you and your imagination.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120510-075419 Drew Simmie Thu, 10 May 2012 11:54:19 GMT Is Pessimism the New Black? http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120507-093010 Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A word of optimism and hope. A “you can do it” when things get tough. Richard M. DeVos.



These days staying positive isn’t always easy, but whatever you are doing whether you are running your own business, working for someone else or keeping a family together, the trick is to concentrate on what matters and focus on the opportunities - not the obstacles.
• Think independently
• Expect the unexpected
• Override your fear of being wrong
• Share the blessings
• Keep believing in yourself

… and never give in to pessimism.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120507-093010 Drew Simmie Mon, 07 May 2012 13:30:10 GMT Go For It! http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120503-081342 You never know how far you can go until you go for it. T.S. Elliott.

The other day I was directed to a TED Talk video with an arresting title, (for effect, of course) delivered by Professor Larry Smith at the University of Waterloo.



The subject of his presentation is about the importance of finding one’s passion… just going for it. His talk is hard-hitting and provocative. He pulls no punches. It is an entertaining take on a serious issue that many face at one time or another.

While his piece is focused on graduating students, it applies equally to other occasions like starting a business or entering into a new relationship or taking a fork in the road. It’s about listening to your heart. It doesn’t matter what that thing is or what form it takes. What matters is less what it looks like than the pouring of your heart and soul into it.

Passion is what ignites and sustains every successful venture. Listening to your heart takes courage. Oh, occasionally you might get singed in the flames but finding your passion sets your soul on fire and propels you through life.

If you know anyone who is graduating and unsure of what they would really like to do - or perhaps if you are thinking about ‘going for it,’ take a few minutes and watch.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com
]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120503-081342 Drew Simmie Thu, 03 May 2012 12:13:42 GMT Listening To Each Other's Songs http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120430-091841 When a child is born, it has no concept of the color it is living in. From the song, 7 Seconds, Youssou N’Door and Neneh Cherry.



Like a pair of giant needles technology and the globalization has knitted us together, impacting on every aspect of our lives.

Whether we’re in Toronto, Toledo or Timbuctu, we are all living in one big world - interconnected and interdependent and demanding we broaden our horizons. The smart phones and You Tube have seen to that.

A world view is a set of expectations and biases we have formed that shapes how we see and feel about other people in other nations and indeed even in our own cities and neighborhoods - each with their own world view.

Accommodation isn’t always easy but as distances and time continue to shrink it is good to remember that most of us, regardless of where we stand on the globe, are just trying to get through the day, striving to better our conditions, to do the best by our families and those for whom we care.

We are not the same, of course. Our cultures, religions, educational backgrounds and societal differences can make strangers of us – but only if we let them.

We all have our own songs to sing and stories to tell, sounds and words that to others can sound foreign, even threatening. Still, as the world gets smaller, we need to continue to make the effort, remembering that a stranger is only a person whose story or song we have never heard – until we are willing to listen.

Are you listening?

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com
]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120430-091841 Drew Simmie Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:18:41 GMT Courage Always Trumps Fear http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120426-082503

From time to time, we all come up against personal or professional challenges. How we deal with them depends totally on our attitude.

“Attitude,” said Charles Swindoll, “is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people say or do. It’s more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.”

In challenging times, it’s your attitude together with your courage that will get you over the rough spots.

Courage always trumps fear.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120426-082503 Drew Simmie Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:25:03 GMT Social Media and Mind Reading http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120423-082133
Social media has overturned the marketing rules. The leaders know that today their job is to understand what their clients want even before they do - not an easy task, unless you are a mind reader!

Future clients are not likely to pick up on the old "Best product at the best price sales pitch." Instead they are much more likely to respond to a new statement of their problem and a statement of a novel solution.

The trick is to find a way to make it easy for them to know that you’re there and then to make a decision based on your new information.

What’s the most effective way for you to do that?

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120423-082133 Drew Simmie Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:21:33 GMT Building a New App http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120419-095900 Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Life, as we all know, is a journey and if we are willing to keep putting one foot in front of the other without always knowing exactly what is up ahead, amazing things can happen.

I was reminded of that yet again when I read Scott Simmie’s recent article in The Toronto Star, Sometimes,it’s the journey.

The principal story is about how he built a new application for The Pilgrim Cards, The Camino Edition, originally created and packaged in a box set by Austin Repath - but it’s about more than that.

It’s about collaboration, giving without expectation, courage to start a new project, belief in one’s own abilities and the strength of character to see it through.

If you’ve been thinking about building an app or secretly harboring an idea but holding back, or if you think there may be something more up ahead for you, that maybe it's more than just about the money, read Scott’s story.

I invite you to follow me on Twitter@thekite or email your thoughts to drew@drewsimmie.com]]> http://www.tugofthekite.com/index.php?entry=entry120419-095900 Drew Simmie Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:59:00 GMT