Archive for February, 2008

At which mile do most people quit in a marathon?

Sunday, February 17th, 2008

In a 26-mile marathon (or 41.8 km), at which mile do most people (statistically) quit? Probably at the mile where life is the most difficult, right? Let’s say, about the last few miles in the marathon?

Most runners don’t quit during the 26th mile because they have a vision of where they are going. They see the end in sight so they keep striving for it. Sure they are physically exhausted but their vision fuels them and tells them to keep going to reach their destination.

Most runners quit a marathon at the 20th mile because this is when they lose sight of their vision. This is when they are both physically exhausted and mentally drained. This is when runners feel they have come so far and yet still have so far to go. This is when their goal fades away and their mental power dissipates. Where there is no vision the people perish.

Aaah, the power of mind over body.

After all, there will be days when our bodies say no and we need our mind to say yes. There will be times when it seems that everything in life conspires to sabotage our goals and dreams. And there will be weeks or even months when we feel like we are hitting the 20th mile. The answer is to maintain your vision and focus on it. Keep your vision alive and it will keep you alive. Don’t give up. Keep striving towards the vision planted in your mind and heart

“90% of the game is half mental.” -Yogi Berra

Original post.

Fastest sport on 2 feet

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

I maintain that ice hockey is about the fastest sport known to mankind on two feet!

Maybe that’s why I love ice hockey — you don’t get speeding tickets from going too fast! :D

Thanks Ian.

Google IE toolbar 404 “hijacking”

Thursday, February 14th, 2008

Here is what I did for Valentine’s day at work.

Happy Valentine’s, and don’t let the Google IE toolbar 404 hijackers bite :)

The 3 kinds of (competitive advantage) data

Thursday, February 14th, 2008

I learned some interesting financial jargon today.

Competitive advantage, referred to in financial markets as alpha, only comes when you have information that others do not. (An earlier speaker, Eric Christiansen of Barclay Global Investors, made clear that people like him think of three types of data: data that everyone has that gives you no advantage, data that you need to know because it gives you no advantage but not knowing can really hurt you, and finally, data that only you have, and can (briefly) take advantage of.)

Interesting food for thought. I’m going to chew on this for a while, especially #2. What about me that I don’t know about, that other people can see, that can hurt me? (a.k.a. your blind spot)

A simple solution to a difficult challenge

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

A simple solution that impact the lives of others by solving a seemingly difficult problem!

From the blog of Guy Kawasaki.