Today’s a Big Day, It’s Canada Day! Yay…

Oh, and I see here by the calendar it’s also someone’s birthday in Australia. Happy Birthday, honey.

Filed under: Bear, Birthday, Canada

By Christoph Dollis at 11:04 AM Vancouver, Canada time on Tuesday July 1st, 2008 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Today’s a Big Day, It’s Canada Day! Yay…” with a friend

Bear Rub

This reminded me of someone.

Filed under: Bear, Strange

By Christoph Dollis at 5:59 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Monday June 16th, 2008 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Bear Rub” with a friend

Fruits and Other Natural Food

In April, Jacqui gave me a WONDERFUL gift and it was truly delicious:

… and smelled awesome.

I should have taken the hint and eaten healthier. Well, this last week was an interesting experiment in what happens when you don’t.

Week before, I was totally productive and felt awesome. Last week flew by and I didn’t get much done. A bit, sure, but far less than I was capable of.

So the question is, what’s it gonna be this week!

Filed under: Bear, Health, Success

By Christoph Dollis at 5:54 PM Vancouver, Canada time on |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Fruits and Other Natural Food” with a friend

Purpose Updated for the Present Day

Having met her and been totally sold on her that she is the best woman I have ever met in my life, it’s dawned on me that I am so much happier with Bear than alone.

I can handle either. But one requires a bit of “handling” and the other unleashes torrents of wild joy and senses of inner love and peace.

Recently, after following a hybrid process from a variety of sources, from:

• The Neuropsychology of Self-Discipline by SyberVision
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (highly recommended that you put your headphones in your ears or turn your computer speakers on and listen to the 17 Secrets of Success which will start playing automatically a minute after you enter that site, and that you do so more than once)
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, the American Founder
• How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger
• Goals by Zig Ziglar
• Apple iTunes. That’s right, iTunes software. This amazing tool I resisted downloading for years, and I just got a week ago to listen Jeffrey Gitomer’s podcast. The stunning variety of quality additional free podcasts available in their directory is wonderful. You can (and I am) conveniently learn about whatever you want and need. It converts files to MP3 if you don’t have an iPod. I listen online a lot, even while I get dressed and do easy office tasks. It also streams great online radio, so I don’t have to open a tab in my browser to listen to music like I used to every day. Apparently it does other great things too, like let you buy audiobooks or songs for a small amount. Even on the free side, this Apple software is a great gift to the world.
• The Importance-Urgency Criteria of Commander of Allied Forces in Europe on D-Day during WW2 (also 34th President of the United States) Dwight D. Eisenhower (popularized by Steven Covey in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
  The wonderful Personal Development for Smart People website of Steve Pavlina, and many more

I decided…

… in addition to setting up projects, defining and doing Next Actions, and getting myself organized using the Getting Things Done workflow methods of David Allen, to define my purpose in life and review it every day, as well as 13 habits, qualities, and/or attitudes I wish to develop.

I do, now, no later than 5:05 AM.

How so? Well, one of my projects was to become an early riser, so I now wake up at 5 every morning, weekends included. And I had to learn how to bring it about, because during my first 35 years I simply did not make this happen despite many attempts. Part of the process of learning was, literally, practicing the day before. Conditioning myself to immediately arise and begin my “personal victory” / “hour of power” / “rudder for the day”.

By 6, I’ve worked on five different life-long personal growth projects I’ve had “half a mind” to work on “someday” in my life when I could “get around to it” after, you know, other things had happened.

One of those includes my purpose, defined in 5 key areas: spiritual, physical, personal, business, and financial.

While I won’t read the exact wording (it’s a “trade secret”), Jacqui, by name, is the driving dominant driving force behind one of them.

Last night she asked me if I love her “urgently”.

I do: And I love her importantly.

Filed under: Bear, Christoph, GTD, Success

By Christoph Dollis at 11:03 AM Vancouver, Canada time on Tuesday March 18th, 2008 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Purpose Updated for the Present Day” with a friend

When God Was Handing Out Girlfriends, I Got the Best of All

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

So that’s what was in my box yesterday. Great gift(s), honey!

Filed under: Bear

By Christoph Dollis at 1:27 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Thursday February 14th, 2008 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “When God Was Handing Out Girlfriends, I Got the Best of All” with a friend

Whatever Could This Be?

Filed under: Australia, Bear

By Christoph Dollis at 8:45 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Wednesday February 13th, 2008 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Whatever Could This Be?” with a friend

February 14th, Not Always Special

Filed under: Australia, Bear, Christoph

By Christoph Dollis at 5:47 AM Vancouver, Canada time on |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “February 14th, Not Always Special” with a friend

Good Taste

Except when it comes to women, where I have impeccable taste, Jacqui has better taste than I do.

For example, her Christmas present for me included a horizontally striped brown polo shirt, which goes against all of my internal “rules” on what I should wear: to wit, horizontally striped, brown.

Yet it looks great on me.

I spent the last few days designing a website header graphic and/or business logo. Whatever I liked, she didn’t like. Then I’d ask a friend. And she’d say, she doesn’t like it either.

Whatever I didn’t like much, Jacqui did. And her tastes forced me to create a new one I like even more!

For starters, here is my old business header graphic. I liked it, but very few other people did. Rob Neppell, founder of blogging and media consulting company Kithbridge, told me it was the least professional aspect of my site.

So… naturally… I developed this cartoonish logo with a child’s faux clock.

Then I remembered all the cheesiest self-made real estate salesperson websites and vacation time-share sites and said, “I can do that!” I really liked this one. Jacqui hated it and said it looked like something a flashy loud salesman would use. Oi!

I next returned to B&W simplicity. I thought the checkmark was so cool because you see I make bulleted lists and check them off when I’m done and… Jacqui said it isn’t cool.

She liked this one though. No checkmark. I liked the border especially and she said it didn’t work because of my photo to the left of it and another image to the right… so it broke everything up.

She really liked this one. I didn’t! So plain. I showed it to a friend of mine and she liked it too. She also hated the other ones I liked. I began to notice a pattern.

So why not take my favourite picture I’ve taken, a night shot of the ocean and Washington State near my home (click above image to see), and turn it into a website header graphic? This was MY favourite so far. Bear didn’t like it. Neither did my friend. ‘Cause it was dark. Dark! It suits the website. “But you can’t really read the text.” Hm. “And you can’t make out the background ’cause it’s so small while the original is big.” Ugh.

Then I hit upon a new approach and spent a significant amount of time on it. Since I use machine labeled manila file folders like there’s no tomorrow, why not go with a folder? And, better, I can colour code the top so when a person clicks on my coloured navigation tabs, the top changes colour. Sweet! I loved this. It was so cool. Jacqui didn’t like it, but oh well. Can’t please everyone. ‘Xcept my friend hated it too.

So I pushed forward and made this:

That’s by far my favourite one, and Jacqui likes it too. It also makes good letterhead:

Filed under: Bear, Business, Christoph, Web Design

By Christoph Dollis at 5:31 AM Vancouver, Canada time on Friday January 18th, 2008 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Good Taste” with a friend

Christmas Present

It’s January 15th and I just got Jacqui’s 2008 Christmas present 345 days early! She sent it to Canada from Australia by Express COURIER International to make sure it would be here in time.

She sent it over 11 months early!!

With THE AUSSIE HOMESICK PACK hanging
on the wall in the back. Click to enlarge.

Filed under: Australia, Bear, Christoph

By Christoph Dollis at 2:11 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Tuesday January 15th, 2008 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Christmas Present” with a friend

I MISSED HER! Yet I was glad to have some space to myself.

Her Bearness, Jacqui the Magnificently Silly, went down to Busselton, WA, Australia for almost a week with her family…. it’s strange not to see her on web camera for so long. I enjoyed focusing on me for a bit, but it ain’t as much fun as focusing on her.

She’s back safe and sound and that’s what matters most to me.

Filed under: Australia, Bear, Christoph, Family

By Christoph Dollis at 9:49 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Sunday January 13th, 2008 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “I MISSED HER! Yet I was glad to have some space to myself.” with a friend

Merry Christmas

… in a way too understated way compared to what you deserve.

When I was little, I daydreamed about the sort of person I would love someday…

I must be more blessed than most people because my dream really has come true.

To love someone wonderful, someone who isn’t like anyone else in the world.

I love you.

Filed under: Bear

By Christoph Dollis at 2:03 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Monday December 24th, 2007 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Merry Christmas” with a friend

Bear on WLM Webcam

So why do I like her?

Maybe it’s because children do and they see a side in her that speaks to me.

Filed under: Bear, Strange

By Christoph Dollis at 1:56 AM Vancouver, Canada time on Friday September 28th, 2007 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Bear on WLM Webcam” with a friend

Just a Simple ILY

… and you’re not as silly as I first thought. Close, though.

Filed under: Bear, Christoph

By Christoph Dollis at 8:39 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Sunday September 16th, 2007 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Just a Simple ILY” with a friend

Sales Buckaroo Hits the Road

Well, I was told by several business professionals my preferred self-title of “Sales Buckaroo” gave the wrong image, that of a “cowboy”.

Well damn if that wasn’t the idea.

They saw this as a bad thing or something. Hmmmmm. I guess I watched too many westerns as a kid.

One thing I agree is it had a “shoot from the hip” quality. And certainly that was my plan.

Yet that plan wasn’t working worth squat!

Since I spent the last month getting organized and learning how to manage work flow — and only then did my purpose and goals come into clear focus — I’m professionalizing.

Sales Pro it is.

I had to throw out $120 worth of business cards and print some out on my inkjet. Which I hate. (I love my laser.) And I had to drag it out of a box and set it up again. Anyway. The new cards…

Now, it’s time to find a client and make them a ton of money.

Filed under: Bear, Blogging, Business, Christoph, GTD, News, Success

By Christoph Dollis at 11:46 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Monday August 13th, 2007 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “Sales Buckaroo Hits the Road” with a friend

An Important Day for a Gorgeous Bearlike Sweetheart and the Man Who Thinks About Her Everyday

This is just a brief message to let you understand, “You’re the One!”

I’ve been so busy I haven’t posted more. Perhaps if you’re good, and that could be a stretch, I’ll make up a couple videos in the next few weeks and show you our Canadian home and our neighbourhood.

IF you’re good to me…

Filed under: Bear, Birthday

By Christoph Dollis at 11:01 PM Vancouver, Canada time on Sunday July 1st, 2007 |  Trackback | Permanent link | Share “An Important Day for a Gorgeous Bearlike Sweetheart and the Man Who Thinks About Her Everyday” with a friend