Good Questions

The unexamined life is not worth living. Here are some questions, from leadership, management and mentoring consultant, Bobb Biehl -- Ten Questions to Refocus Your Life:

1. What is my single greatest strength? (What do I "do" the best?)
2. What three decisions are causing me the greatest stress?
3. What is overwhelming me?
4. What impassable roadblock has me stuck?
5. If I could only do three things before I die, what would I want to do?
6. What should I resign from or drop out of? (Drucker said, "Efficiency is doing things right, effectiveness is doing the right things.")
7. What can I postpone?
8. What things on my "to do" list can someone else do at least 80% as well?
9. What are the “elephants” in my schedule? (Pareto said, "If you're Noah, and your ark is about to sink, look for the elephants first.")
10. What are the three things I could do in the next 90 days to make a 50% difference?

"A leader knows what to do next, knows why that's important, and knows how to bring the appropriate resources to bear on the need at hand." Bobb Biehl

Certainly Not Dull

In one of Clive Sinclair's stories ("Bed Bugs"), God tells an angel: "Heaven can be dull. That's why I created the world."

Botanical Gardens

Recently, I visited the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario. I used to hate being dragged there as a boy, since a Sunday afternoon of walking slowly and commenting on the beauties of botanical bounty was not my idea of a good time. My sisters teased me, accordingly. Now, with the joy of digital photography having seized my imagination, I can spend many minutes - even hours, pursuing the search for the perfect picture - or at least one or two one might put on his blog.

Old Montreal Movie Shoot

alley light diffusion

planning upcoming scenes

Screen-writer, Alex Epstein, second from left

Recently while in Montreal, I saw some of the sets and prep for a new Brad Pitt movie, also starring Kate Blanchett, being shot in Old Town. The movie is: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The movie took over several blocks in Old Montreal. The Montreal screenwriter also co-wrote last year's Canadian hit, 'Bon Cop, Bad Cop.'

Benjamin Button is the story of a 50-year-old man, played by Pitt, who begins aging backwards. The Montreal shoot is the end of a long shoot that included four months in New Orleans and another two months in Los Angeles.

Director David Fincher and the rest of the crew are filming for only eight days in Montreal, though even such a short shoot will pump several million dollars into the local economy.

Spring Pictures

Just out driving around, this afternoon, and snapping a few spring pics . . .