A Collaborative eBook, created by 26 adults, with lessons and reminders to share with other adults. Edited and Produced by Michelle Warren

1. Every Day is a Winding Road...
A Collaborative eBook designed & prepared for Adults
Many people contributed to this eBook and they are referenced inside.
It was edited and prepared by: Michelle Warren

2. The Road of Life is Full of Shades of
Grey...
Life, as much as we try to fight it, is not always black & white. Rather, it is full
of shades of grey. Remembering all the shades can be cumbersome & time-
consuming. With the idea that adults can & should help other adults, 26
people joined forces.
The notion was relatively straightforward; take the concept of the
collaborative book – a memory many of us have from our teenage years - and
using social media, create a 21th Century book - to share ideas, stories,
thoughts, musings – with other adults.
26 people contributed to this book, each submitting one page.
The goal was simple – answer the question - what would you like to share
with other adults?
This was our first collaborative eBook. We hope you enjoy it as it won’t be
the last! ☺
Please share your comments & observations – & feel free to pass it along.

3. The Internet
Outdoors Meditation
Trails of a Modern Day Mobile WorkerTraining the Oldies
The 2 Solitudes of Social Media
Attitude
Every Day is a Winding Road
Ask the Herd Making Order Out of Chaos
Every Day Crisis Communications
Action Did You Know?
AI Oh My!
Practice Refuse to Grow Old Do You Get IT?

5. ATTITUDE
When you perceive that life deals you a less than perfect hand, the good news is that you
have the power to change how you play your cards.
Many people only see the face value and not the cards’ full potential, focusing on the
negative. AND it is easy to attract a pity party to play into the emotion.
As easy as it is to default to the worst case scenario, taking a new and better path can be
effortless. Many naysayers have transformed themselves to see the options, opportunity and
optimistic side in life by changing their perspective. The fact is that attitude gives you
latitude in all situations. The great news is that you create your own destiny by choosing
your approach. No bluffing!
Ann Vautour, president with Ann Vautour & Associates is a much sought after facilitator and speaker who designs
Vautour,
and delivers innovative and inspiring sessions for individuals and groups who want to experience
transformation and success. www.annv.org Email: info@annv.org
5

6. Making Order Out of Chaos
We all face the task of organizing areas: a 3. Consider the size of the space.
work space, a living area or files, to make Is it less or more than you need? If you think
them functional for regular use. It can be a it’s not large enough, are you storing more of
daunting task. something than you’d need on a regular
basis? Is it too large of a space? Are you
Where do you begin? reaching too far for things? Can you create a
cozy corner to bring things closer together?
Following are 5 tips to consider when it’s time
for you to take on the challenge: 4. Consider the logic of order.
Are the files, books or other materials
organized or grouped by subject, dates,
1. Consider the purpose of the space. colours, size or whatever may be relevant for
Do you have things stored in the area that are the item?
unrelated? Are you missing anything in the
space that would make it more comfortable or
efficient for its intended purpose? 5. Keep things you rarely use in a storage
area further from the space.
2. Consider the work flow.
Do you have the space set up to reflect the Having an organized space helps you find
sequence tasks are performed in? Does each what you want when you need it and
task location have enough space and light maximizes your efficiency and effectiveness.
allocated to make it comfortable to work? And don’t forget to label!
Claudia Mamros is a project manager specializing in performance improvement
and process reengineering. She can be reached at cmamros@mamros.com

7. Every Day Crisis Communications
When a company or a celebrity has a major issue or fumble,
Instead of reacting quickly and communicating with all the
there is a great deal of analysis about how they handle their
tenants about the issue, the landlord relied on the accused
crisis communications. Did they react fast enough? Are they
tenant to resolve the issue.
saying the right things? In a time of crisis, every one is
carefully weighing words and actions.
However, another tenant happened to be in the basement
when the exterminator was working. The contractor
But one of the biggest misconceptions about crisis
explained the rat problem and the tenant spread the news
communications is you only need it when something really
via gossip.
goes wrong. It is amazing how many times the same
principles can be applied to every day “crisis” situations to
The result of the landlord’s inaction? They lost control of
help diffuse problems before they become major issues.
the discussion and tenants focused on the rodents. When
the rats returned for a second time, one of the tenants
In a crisis, the basic communication checklist involves:
called the public health rather than the landlord.
Acknowledging the problem and apologizing if necessary
Now there is a building of unhappy tenants and a perceived
Discussing how you are working to fix the problem
public health issue. Being silent on an issue does not make
Fixing the problem
it go away or mean no one will find out. The landlord
Following up on how you resolved the problem
continues to avoid questions and will likely lose tenants as
a result.
When you review this list, it could easily apply to dealing with
customer issues in any industry. Acknowledging a problem
Dealing with a problem head on is not the most
and communicating the solution are vital. Ignoring a problem
comfortable task. But by reacting quickly, there is a much
does not mean it will go away.
better chance of controlling the messages. It is always
better to have a difficult conversation with a customer
A good example of how not to handle a fairly simple issue
initially than lose them to a competitor.
comes from a friend who rents office space on the second
floor of a building above several retail food shops. It is very
convenient when your lunch place is below the office but one
of the shops caused a rat infestation in a common storage
area in the basement of the building.
Tina Quelch manages creates and manages daily communications strategies for control and optimal effect in
Toronto Canada www.caladorcommunications.com

8. ASK THE HERD, HAVE YOU SEEN A BRILLIANT CEO LATELY?
In North America, the business media takes it upon itself to annually promote companies and
individuals with awards such as: the Top 100, the Fortune 500, the Top 40 under 40, CEO of the Year,
and the list goes on. This led me to wonder why North America is so obsessed with CEO worship? I
suggest that few people will argue that the North American economy resembles a rollercoaster with its
multitude of ups and downs. So why are we so quick to anoint someone a genius after 1 good year?
Why don’t we look back over their entire tenure? Would anyone appoint John Roth, former CEO of
Nortel, CEO of the Year? What about Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron? Rick Wagoner, former CEO of
General Motors?
My point here is how many hundreds of thousands of employees and their families have had to pay for
the incompetence of CEO’s?
So what are the key signs and trends in North America?
Living quarter to quarter - The average tenure of a CEO is 4- 5 years. Is it any wonder
4-
corporations no longer plan for the long term?
Greed mentality – In the recent economic downturn how many CEO’s actually took their
performance bonus deservedly? A few visionary leaders stepped up and questioned their
right to those monies, but others – i.e. AIG executives – helped themselves.
Profit vs. Loss – If you invest money and earned 8% in 2008 and then 7% in 2009 would you say
your investments lost money? No, of course not, but somehow we have developed an
acceptance that when a corporation makes less PROFIT then the year before it is considered
a loss. It becomes a negative and justifies drastic actions such as rightsizing.
Rightsizing – Should there be a limit on the number times a company is allowed to rightsize? I
rightsize?
suggest if you’ve done it more than 3 times in 3 years it is time to reevaluate your business
purpose and consider a long term plan.
Planning – There was a time when corporations had 5 & 10 year plans, today it is only the very few
that even use 3 year plans. So if the company doesn’t have a long term plan, how does it
know what it must do to get there?
This type of incompetence exists across all sizes of companies . It is time that employees, analysts and
stakeholders challenge questionable decisions made at the top, with viable solutions and alternatives.
Ed Borkowski challenges executives in Toronto Canada. He can be found online at: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/edborkowski

9. 100%
Giving life your all in everything you do – without exception. That’s 100%. ‘Good enough,’ it
isn’t.
It is - no excuses for failure. It is - experiences that teach what not to do. It is - a real desire to
make it – whatever “it” is – happen. It is - working to succeed in spite of anything…
everything.
It is - going, going, going until you’re gone. Until you’ve given 100%.
Lance Armstrong said, “whatever your 100% looks like, GIVE IT.” The question is, do you
know what your 100% looks like?
It doesn’t mean success 100% of the time, it means working towards success with 100% of
your being.
And, it means giving it today – not after graduation, the promotion, the spouse, the family,
retirement. It is not an “if” or a “when,”100% is what gets you “there” in the first place.
Kyle Einhorn is the vice-president of business development at Viachem Ltd.
www.viacheminc.com E-mail – keinhorn@viacheminc.com

10. Practice
The word “practice” makes most people - young or old - cringe.
But practice helps us to prepare for the successful outcome of a game,
musical performance, a presentation at work or for a community
fundraising event.
In a world where competition is fierce, where everyone wants to win;
the winners know that it’s not enough to just have the will to win, it is
having the will to practice to win.
A rather well known band used to start their tours with at least 2
months of practice. You may know them by the name ‘Rolling Stones’.
They had the will to practice to succeed. Do you? Do your
competitors?
Rick Mamros practices his networking skills as Director @ Learn2Network International Inc. www.learn2network.com

11. Say Something
There are many ways to communicate; talk, There are some who prefer to communicate on a
write, pictures. much higher level, like writing stories; creatively
using words to share an emotion or help us
However we chose to communicate with one imagine the awe of places like the Grand Canyon
another, the need to share and relate is deep and Atlantis.
within us.
Books fill our minds with pictures, thoughts,
Those of us, who have been hurt, disappointed emotions, suspense and excitement for pleasure,
or just feel like we have nothing to share, knowledge and growth beyond ourselves.
need to think again.
Communicating allows our world to go beyond
Remember the other day, feeling like a balloon borders, to travel in unconventional ways.
when the last burst of air squeals out of it. You
felt limp and exhausted, unimportant and Life is communicating. Fullness of life is
alone. Then a complete stranger made eye communicating outside our comfort zones, to
contact with you at the coffee shop, smiled take our eyes off ourselves and to uplift,
and complimented your beautiful coat. encourage and empower others to share in the
many opportunities to relate and communicate.
As you smiled back and accepted the
compliment, remember how your spirit was
lifted as you snuggled your head into the big
soft collar of your plush coat.
Sandy can be found inspiring and helping people
That, my friend, was communicating. communication creatively and effectively at Phoenix-
Toronto Toastmaster meetings
www.phoenix-torontotoastmasters.org

12. Many people consider me lucky – I’m a freelance writer, so I’m not tethered to a desk, or an office, or a 9 to 5
schedule. I take my work with me wherever I go, whether it’s a coffee shop down the street or an Internet café in
Kathmandu. It’s a blessing, but also a curse – it means it’s hard to ever stop working.
This is the dilemma of today’s mobile worker. I meet with friends for dinner and we do, in fact, talk about work –
not just so we can write off the receipt as an income tax deduction. It’s because our work has become so much a
part of who we are. We run ideas by each other, or commiserate, or maybe even collaborate on a project.
Not all of us function well, or do our best work, between the hours of 9 to 5. Creativity and inspiration can strike at
any time. I’ll be out grocery shopping and a story starts to write itself in my head, so I have to stop in the aisle and
pull out a pen and scrap of paper.
If I’m trying to force words, they won’t come, or I won’t be happy with the end result. And I’ll waste a lot of time
doing it. I’m not advocating procrastination – there are deadlines to be met. But it’s all about learning when and
where and how you work best, and using that to its fullest potential.
The trick, however, is learning to balance work with the rest of your life when everything blurs together. And this is
something I’m still learning how to do. It’s hard to stop working, or thinking about work, in this world of instant
messaging and Twitter. So I’ve avoided buying a smartphone (for now, anyway), and I make a point of turning off
my cell – or at least letting it go to voicemail – when I’m out with friends. The world isn’t going to end if you don’t
check your messages or tweet for a couple of hours, and though I can’t prove it scientifically, the quality of your
life will improve quite dramatically.
Vawn Himmelsbach is a freelance writer and global nomad based in Toronto, Canada. Check out her blog at
globalnomad.ca & planeteyetraveler.com or reach her at vawn_h@yahoo.ca.

13. Working from Home
People I meet often tell me that working from home Sure, it can be somewhat disconcerting to work
would be such a difficult undertaking for them, largely in an environment where you don’t have a
because they envision having a lack of self-discipline great deal of social interaction — not to
in such familiar and comfortable confines.
mention the lack of a steady income in the
initial stages — but the payoff amounts to far
In equal measure, I often jest about how much I
‘prostitute myself’ to make a buck from the comfort of more than just dollars and cents.
my couch or home office. The day I became a fully
committed freelance writer was the day I forfeited any Truth be told, we’ve become accustomed to
desire to collect a paycheque every two weeks. But it work environments that either encourage the
did mean that every dollar chased and earned meant illusion of productivity, or carry an expectation
a lot more to me, and it didn’t hurt that I was getting that work continues after work hours. Working
a daily dose in learning about what I’m truly capable from home, you might find the former to be
of. unacceptable, while the latter might be more
palatable if the fruits of your labour are truly
While I admit that working from home can be a tough your own.
adjustment for many, the very idea of doing so as a
contractor or entrepreneur should provide at least
some incentive. After all, if you have a strong skill set
and the drive to create opportunities for yourself, does
it really matter where you work?
Ted Kritsonis is a technology freelance journalist who relishes working from his couch
in Toronto, Canada most of the time. Stay tuned for his blog, but his name can still be
dragged through a search engine.

15. AI Oh My! Is the Terminator Really Out to Get Us?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is defined by Secondly, the camera industry – ever
Webster’s dictionary as “The capability of a notice how the newest digital cameras
machine to imitate intelligent human could put a box around a face in a picture.
behaviour”. Most people, when this topic It’s called face detection technology. The
comes up, immediately think of the camera, was essentially taught what a
“Terminator”. Thoughts of machines rising face looked like (more advanced
up and creating nuclear Armageddon are implementations could even distinguish
one of the reasons why this topic brings cheekbones, noses, eyes skin colour and
feelings of apprehension. Yet, the reality more) and made a conscious decision
today is that AI is all around us making our where the face was in the picture
lives better in a variety of industries. resulting in a better picture.
Firstly, the financial industry – Do you So AI can’t be all that bad because we
remember the last time you got a call from have these and even greater
your credit card company asking you if you conveniences that are improving our lives
made a particular purchase? Well, it was an one way or the other. In the end, I
AI program on a server somewhere in the reasoned that Terminator was just a
world that studied your buying habits and story. An entertaining story meant to
alerted the company that a recent purchase scare us. But if your TV ever decides to
may not be in line with your spending habits get up and smack you for channel surfing
– it made a conscious decision that too much – don’t blame me!
something was wrong.
Jawaad Sheikh is a Software Engineering Consultant, Speaker and Trainer. More of his speeches can be found at
http://www.jawaadsheikh.com.

16. Edward Gal is the principal and founder of www.MotionsMedia.com,
and a huge proponent of using the internet wisely . . .
Edward Gal is the principal and founder of www.MotionsMedia.com ,
and a strong proponent of using the internet wisely.

17. Do You Get IT?
For many people, information technology (IT)
is some combination of computers, software
and communications. And for the last 60 years
those people were largely wrong, although
often well-rewarded for their IT-related efforts.
The truth is, IT is not about the myriad pieces
of hardware, operating systems, software,
peripherals, networks and services that make it
all work. IT is all about the applications: how
can I do something I want to do today that I
couldn't do yesterday, or couldn't do as easily
or as cheaply where, when and how I want to
do it?
At the end of the day, the emperor's new
clothes will always be revealed for what they
aren't, typically in minutes by Twitter or social
networking sites, excluding China. Smart
companies that want to sell any of the myriad
http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1482303603097&id=1555a27f65 pieces of hardware, operating systems,
0384c5623b90f61c1d800f&url=http%3a%2f%2fpreparednesspro.files.wordpress.co software, peripherals, networks and services
m%2f2009%2f07%2femperors-new-clothes.jpg
that make IT work will bear that in mind.
Steve Wexler is a professional communicator who gets IT. Writing about IT for 20 years,
Steve can be reached at stevewexler.wordslingers@gmail.com.

18. The Two Solitudes of Social Media
It both terrifies and excites me. That which we call ‘social media’, is an evolution of human ingenuity and an
intimidating plunge into the abyss.
Social sites and tools such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and so on, are changing our world on the Internet and
they will arguably change how we live and interact with all. And yet, I’ve many friends who refrain; who insist
they’ll have nothing to do with social media because “it’s a waste of time” or they just don’t comprehend the
potential value.
People wiser than I likened forging a presence on social media to building a retirement savings plan; it doesn’t
offer immediate reward. It’s critical to build up a social network before one needs it. In our modern world, one
must develop a channel and controlling your future means controlling that channel. I’m inclined to agree. As
Canadian futurist Marshall McLuhan once said, “the medium is the message.”
And yet, I find I’m at odds with social media. I love and fear it equally. I’m fascinated by the speed of
communication, the instant access to information, the ability to connect and converse with people anywhere in
the world at anytime. However, I also recognize how addictive and time-consuming these tools can be.
There is a downside to everything. Perhaps the expectation that social media as a unifier of people will ultimately
prove to be too much to bear. What if all this improved communication simply leads to more useless noise
without which we’ll be better off?
In practically everything we do there are risks. I can think of no greater risk at this juncture than to ignore that
which will change your world with or without your participation.
To quote poet Robert Frost:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”
-- Liam Lahey is a Vancouver-based writer and an Online Community Manager for Partnerpedia.com –
Follow him on Twitter: @Lahey13. Blog: http://lahey13.wordpress.com

19. DOUBT
How do you react?
In John Patrick Shanley’s 2008 movie Doubt (spoiler alert)
Sister Aloysius Beauvier is convinced that Father Brendan
1. Do you just stop?
Flynn committed an act of impropriety. Her unwavering
2. Do you adopt a ‘devil may care’ attitude?
stance in notable. That is, until one of the final scenes, when
3. Do you attempt to maintain a sense of perspective?
she announces, “I have doubt!”
Let’s pause for a moment to consider the definition of
And haven’t we all experienced both of those emotions: the
“doubt” – “a DELIBERATE suspension of judgment.”
unwavering support of one belief, only to have the shadow
of doubt cast?
Have you considered the notion that we can’t control
what happens to us, but we can control how we react ?
What does that look like for you? Self-confidence morphs
Our reaction is therefore an action. Obviously, maintaining
into skepticism & then doubt? How long does it take for you
a sense of perspective is ideal. How is that possible ?
to trust yourself again?
One suggestion is to maintain a ‘success list.’ This is
(Quick note – doubt & skepticism are survival skills &
particularly advisable when in-between jobs. One senior
valuable, when balanced with trust, confidence & action.)
executive maintained one as he searched. Some might
find this surprising – he is well known & respected – but
Let’s look at some definitions from the Merriam-Webster’s
everyone can be impacted by a nagging voice of self-
Online Dictionary (www.m-w.com ):
doubt. The success list proactively helped him maintain a
sense of balance - his overall skills & achievements - in light
Doubt: “uncertainty of belief or opinion that often interferes
of potential feelings of self-doubt.
with decision-making; a deliberate suspension of judgment.”
Inertia prevents us from trying new things, changing
Trust : “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or
behavior &, arguably, living our lives. Sporadic behaviour
truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is
lacks purpose & intention. Thoughtful reactions, with an eye
placed. 2 a:dependence on something future or
on the bigger picture, can cast those nagging doubts
contingent: hope.”
aside.
Circumstances in our lives force us to question ourselves –
Your challenge: To commit to a balanced life – one with an
our behaviours, our confidence & our decisions.
eye on the bigger picture with a balance of hope &
confidence - & minimal doubt.
Michelle Warren is a Toronto-based entrepreneur who helps individuals balance the ‘bigger picture’ with the ‘day to day’ challenges – and
use tech products to streamline processes.
She can be reached at www.mwresearch..ca , www.michellewarren.ca , and Twitter @MichelleWarren1

21. The Joy of
Something about the smell of freshly baked goods reaches my heart and
Baking soul. The best description I can surmise is that the smell reminds me of
wonderful memories of my childhood.
Baking gives me the pleasure of trying out different recipes.
What is it about baking that I love? The process: measuring the
ingredients, mixing them and then putting them in the pan to bake; there
is something oddly relaxing as I go through each step. And when the
creation turns out perfectly and the smell takes over the whole house, I
feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
And when I see people enjoy the fruits of my labour, my ego is elevated.
Now I get to share this love with my two-year-old niece. She too seems to
take pleasure in baking. It really warms my heart when I help her tiny
hands take a measuring spoon or cup to dump flour into a bowl or helping
her hold the hand mixer to blend the batter.
Or even watching her face near the oven door waiting for the cake to be
done and then see her devour the first pieces of the cake – the cake we
made together.
Vanessa Ho, website: www.vanessaho.ca, blog: http://vanessa-
vanessaho.blogspot.com and http://pop-goes-the-world.blogspot.com/ Twitter:
@popgoestheworld

22. Outdoors
Thinking back to my childhood, some of my first In the last couple of years, I have renewed my love
memories – besides those of being plunked down in
for the outdoors, and even with my many outdoor
front of the television to watch Sesame Street –
activities of 2009 (camping, hiking, fishing and even
were of being outdoors. Although I also loved indoor sitting on my back deck with a beer in my hand), I
activities like board games, video games and
still feel I wasted far too much of our cool summer
television from an early age, my summers were
indoors.
spent on the back deck or the front lawn – or in a
provincial campground with nothing more than a
tent over my head. Now that we're into the middle of winter, I find
myself pining for the outdoors even more. The chill
air and frozen ground makes me all the more ready
There were times my mother would have to boot my to welcome green grass, warm weather, sunburns
younger brother and I out of the house, locking the and – even though I'll curse them in a few months –
door behind us to ensure we made good use of our the mosquitoes and black flies.
summer vacations, but it wasn't an unnatural sight
to see us heading outside early in the day and being
called to come inside after the streetlights had
signalled the end of the day.
Chris Talbot is a writer and blogger. He blogs at
Today, the lure of sedentary activity in the comfort www.christalbot.com and tweets as @ajaxwriter.
of one's own home appears even stronger than He can't wait for camping season.
when I was a young'un. Video games have long
since gone mainstream, and there is an ever-
growing list of electronic entertainment devices
designed to keep people indoors and out of that
pesky sunlight.

23. Meditation Did you know? - “Meditation can add up to twelve years to your life
(both men and women).
Daily relaxation exercises may cut the risk of death from heart attack by 30%
and cancer by 49%.”
National Centre for Health Statistics, Public Library of Science,
National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association,
statistics compiled by David Candless,
author of The Visual Miscellaneum (HarperCollins, 2009)
3 Simple Meditation Tips
1. Be Gentle With Yourself - Seek out meditation and relaxation practices that work for you.
Have a tool kit of techniques you can draw upon. Relaxation, like success, is a by-product of
doing something else. Be honest with your efforts. As my friend Bill W. says “ The only
scoffers, are those who haven’t tried it long enough.”
2. Do More of What You Love - Go for a walk, enjoy a sunset, see the sunrise, listen to
classical music, watch a spider weave its web, view the night sky - do more of whatever rings
your bell. Contemplate the joy, magic and beauty associated with your mindfulness. By
consciously focusing your awareness on your unawareness, you will see that the snow has
flakes, houses have bricks and trees have leaves. These things we tend to miss as we rush
about our daily lives.
3. Breathe Baby Breathe -Take deep and cleansing breaths throughout your day. This is the
very Breath of Life. Breathing oxygenates and rejuvenates your body. Reap the rewards of
fitting in breathing exercises.
Irene Kaye, SSW , Usui/BlueStar Reiki Master Teacher certified by the Canadian Reiki Association
Kaye has facilitated meditation and relaxation techniques for over 12 years. She is an instructor in the
Active Living program for the City of Mississauga. www.InnerOutlook.com

24. Luckily for most of us, breathing is a reflex. As a Proper breathing is easy
result, we take it for granted & assume that we Simply place your hand on your abdomen.
are doing it correctly. As you breathe in, make sure your
abdomen fills up with air like a balloon and
The fact is that most of us don’t breathe sinks in when you exhale.
properly.
3 ways to get your breathing on track:
Time to start paying attention to our breath
Why? 1. Observe. Check to see if you are breathing
from your chest or abdomen or if you are
Health benefits include: holding your breath.
• eliminating toxins Then focus on breathing properly.
• aiding in digestion
2. Sigh. Sighing is your body’s natural way of
• improving circulation
relieving stress. When you sigh, you stop
breathing from your chest, your diaphragm
Perhaps and most importantly, when it comes to
is reset, then your next breath comes from
relaxation, our breath is one of the easiest
your abdomen.
systems to control.*
3. Laugh. A quick laugh can get you
breathing properly. Laughing forces you to
exhale and then breathe deeply.
* Dr John Mason, Guide to Stress Reduction
Wendy Woods is a speaker, trainer, coach and Principal of Watershed Training Solutions.
She blogs at watershedsolutions.wordpress.com, she tweets at twitter.com/WatershedFlow
& she inspires at www.watershedtraining.ca.

25. 24 - 7
In our 24-7 world it’s normal to tweet, surf and email So how do you reduce stress and find balance in a world
virtually any time of day or night. Employers expect that reinforces unlimited access? The first thing you can
workers to be available at all times and many of us fear do is check your stress level. Once you have a clear idea of
missing that all-important tweet. Sure, living “in the loop” how stress is affecting you, get clear on your priorities and
makes us feel connected and even important, but just make a plan to give yourself a break.
because we can should we?
Try to schedule a power nap. Leonardo da Vinci, Albert
For some, 24-7 accessibility leads to stress levels that are Einstein and Thomas Edison did but you can call it
positively dangerous. You know them. Friends or co- meditation. Commit to turning off your PDA and restricting
workers who just can’t put down their “crackberry”. The work-related activities during specific times of the day or
type who claims they are more stressed than anyone else. go for a walk in the park (without your phone).
Well listen up – stress is not a competitive sport. And Whatever you do, find something that lets you disconnect
if you win you will most certainly lose. Sure, some stress is for a few of those 24.
important to a healthy life, but overly high levels can lead
to impaired thinking, insomnia, physical illness and even
mental health disorders!
Sandy Slater is a Professional Life Coach who helps clients find balance and get the most out of life and work. Tools to
check your stress level are available at sandyslater.com.

26. Just What the Hell is Fantasy Sports?
Fantasy sports (also known as rotisserie, roto or simulation sports) is a popular hobby where people essentially
operate as general managers of a sports team against other participants. You draft a team of professional
sports players and your team’s results are based on the real-life results of the players you draft.
How Popular is it?
According to the most recent FSTA survey, almost 30 million people 12 or older in Canada and the U.S.
participated in Fantasy sports on some level in 2007. It’s a US$4 billion industry, very popular among males 18
to 49 years old who are well educated and have plenty of disposable income.
How do Owners Plan and Prepare for their Drafts?
There have always been Fantasy sports “experts,” but since the Internet went mainstream, there’s been a
massive proliferation of web sites, such as RotoRob.com, that offer participants analysis and advice. There are
annual books and magazines that offer similar, but obviously less timely information.
What Sports can you Play?
Baseball and football are by far the most popular Fantasy sports, but basketball, hockey, golf and auto racing
are also quite active among participants.
Can You Win Money?
While each league is unique – some owners choose to simply play for pride – there are “expert” leagues that
offer prizes of up to $100,000 to the winners, making this very serious business for some players.
Rob Blackstien runs RotoRob.com, a site featuring daily Fantasy sports analysis covering baseball, basketball, football
and hockey. www.RotoRob.com, http://twitter.com/RotoRob, http://www.facebook.com/#/RotoRob?ref=name
www.RotoRob.com, http://twitter.com/RotoRob,
He is also the principal of Pen-Ultimate (www.pen-ultimate.ca), a full-service writing and editorial services firm.
Pen- (www.pen-ultimate.ca), full-

27. HERO
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds We also remember the heroic firemen
the strength to persevere and endure in who entered the burning buildings, time
spite of overwhelming obstacles.” and time again, to help save lives.
~ Christopher Reeve Brave men who sacrificed their lives for
others.
Indeed heroes are ordinary people just
like you and I. When the Twin Towers of Our view of heroes drastically changed
the World Trade Centre were struck by forever that morning. We truly
two hijacked jetliners on September 11th, understood that our true heroes were
2001, we saw ordinary individuals not superhuman entities but ordinary
performing extraordinary acts of men and women just like ourselves
compassion and courage.
We are indeed the heroes we seek in
People calmly helping others down the others. We are our heroes.
dark, smoke filled stairwells of the
doomed buildings.
Janice Basili is found inspiring greatness in others in Toronto Canada j.basili@rogers.com

28. refuse to grow old
Stop accepting common wisdom around aging.
Most of what we believe is part of the “normal”
aging process is actually under-use and under-care.
Make it a priority to do three things every day:
• one thing that heals your body;
• one thing that stretches your body to its limit; and
• one thing that stretches your mind.
Use it or lose it is more than a saying.
Gisela McKay, Chief Mastermind of pixcode Inc.

29. Fitness: Why Start Now?
As a personal trainer I truly enjoy sharing my experiences with others. My latest realization is born from the fitness world
of seniors: Life is precious, and as we age we are faced with physical challenges that would otherwise discourage the
average person. Words to qualify an aging individual - patient, persistent, accepting. It’s no wonder that some of our
biggest challenges arrive during our later years.
Below is a short list of areas that seniors contend with on a daily basis:
Loss of hearing Shoulder issues Hip replacements Knee replacements
High blood pressure Sitting down Standing up Walking
Diminishing eyesight Lifting items Osteoporosis Climbing stairs
Diabetes Heart disease Arthritis Getting out of bed
I see hope: The body is essentially the same for an 80 year old as it is for someone in their 20s. We walk to improve
our heart and lungs, we do weights to strengthen our bones and muscles, we stretch to release pressure on the
joints. The body’s cells will continue to grow and repair as long as we give them the opportunity to do so.
I have a 95 year old client who does push ups and squats Cardiovascular conditioning
every morning before breakfast. I have another whose main
focus is trying to stand up from a chair while managing the Improved
arthritic pain in their back and knees. The range is wide. health &
longevity
My realization: Today is always the time to begin
exercising, for it will not only improve your quality of life now,
but it will also promote longevity of life.
weight lifting stretching
The body is a temple, it deserves our greatest respect.
Jeff Dubé is a Personal Trainer & Adler Trained Coach. He has been helping individuals achieve their health goals for
over 10 years. E-mail: jeffdube@citrus-health.com

30. Thank you!
► We invite you to share this eBook with
others –Tweet, Post, Blog, E-mail,
Tweet, Post, Blog, mail,
Facebook,
Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
► Ifyou have any questions, please contact
any of the contributors or Michelle at
michelle@michellewarren.ca