homemade - home of unique ideas

Due to the seemingly colder winter this year we have burned through considerably more firewood than anticipated. I regularly have to fire up the chainsaw to cut up the trees I dropped earlier in the year.

The other day (in our household this expression can mean anything from this morning to several years ago) I was chopping wood and throwing it onto the pile for later consumption. My throws were often landing short because I didn't want to throw too far and hit the house. Often I would have to stop chopping and throw the wood a second time to reach the pile.

I considered my fear of going too far and thought how it affects my chipping and putting (I'm a keen golfer). I often end up short of the hole because I have a fear of going too far. This fear is somewhat irrational as I cannot get the ball in the hole or the wood on the pile unless I hit or throw far enough.

I then tried to equate this logic to business and personal matters. Surely success depends on throwing the firewood far enough to reach the intended target. Hitting the target first time often enough will make me more successful than the person who has to constantly throw the wood a second time.

How far are you prepared to throw the wood or hit the ball to achieve your goal? Are you prepared to risk having to throw a third time to ensure the possibility that the first throw reaches its target? How much time do you spend analyzing how hard you need to throw the first time to reach the target?

We could easily divide throwers into two categories:

1. Those that spend a lot of time analyzing, calculating and estimating in order to get the first throw right
2. Those that throw quickly and are prepared to move quickly in order to throw again if necessary.

Of course there is always a third category – those that don't care – but they are not likely to succeed as they will probably not throw in the first place.

The trick to success is being able to get the wood on the pile, the ball in the hole, the deal in the bag or whatever the appropriate metaphor is for you then be ready to act on the result. Then repeat as necessary.

My family and I just returned from Dralion, the Cirque du Soleil show that is currently in New Zealand. This was our splash-out for the school holidays.

After an eventful drive getting there (Auckland is just over two hours away) we nearly arrived too late to get in. As it turned out so did quite a few others so we weren't late after all.

We claimed our seats which were at the side, giving us a good view of the main stage and the goings-on to the sides. Tents have to be supported and unfortunately part of our view was blocked by one of the 'poles'. Not really an issue as there was so much going on all over the stage. To get an unobstructed view of everything you need to be in the front centre seats. These were beyond our budget and sold out well before we looked at getting seats.

The show started with their version of clowns who also made regular appearances throughout the show. Very clever although occasionally seemed a little laboured.

Whether or not there is a story to follow in Dralion is not critical as the performances and music don't require a storyline.

To say there are the usual acrobats and performers is not doing them justice. They defy gravity and the laws of human flexibility in ways that make them seem like freaks. Having said that, it occurred to me during the show that these people are just exceptionally good at what they do. I just can't imagine myself paying to watch an exceptional plumber lay a pipe or a successful businessman make a deal and enjoying it. I have been to sports fixtures and even been quite close to the action but there is something special about watching a Cirque du Soleil performance.

This is the second show we have been to - we went to Varakai a couple of years ago. There is a certain 'more of the same' feeling but it's one that I am happy to experience again and again. The occasional error makes the performers seem human even though what they are doing doesn't and it adds a little personality - they handled the slips professionally and repeated the action perfectly.

Ticket prices aren't cheap but as a real treat every few years I'll certainly be going again.