All posts filed under: Family

Stew in Uncomfortability

Published by Colin Nanka

A Friday throwback post from the summer of 2009. The first time I can truly say I stretched my limits is when I trained for the NYC Marathon in the fall of 2002 with one of my best friends from Edmonton. We took what traditionally is a four to six-month training window and cut it down to three so we could hit the Nov 2nd competition date. There is something about the unknown, fear of failing, that drives you. Unsure if you will be able to complete the goal and in a measure of time that lives up to your standards.  It was hard work! Six runs per week, three hour runs on Sunday afternoon, and when adding in post-recovery time (stretching, soaking, eating, nap), it turned into an all-day event that finished with an early bedtime. We had hilarious side stories and lots of learning that developed through the challenges overcome. The next challenge for me was a move from Edmonton, AB (the prairies) to Toronto, ON (the big urban city) the following year. …

10 Things That Bring You Joy

Published by Colin Nanka

An old classic from 2010 Many of us do not take time to appreciate what brings joy into our life. We are consumed making a living, paying the bills, taking care of kids/family, obligations, and keeping our head above water.  Have you ever thought, if you could take an unplanned day, what you would do?  There are many successful entrepreneurs/executives and executive coaches that believe the time to rejuvenate the spirit is absolutely essential to their success. Some take personal time every 2nd week, take a 5-day extended weekend every month or take an adventure/relaxation trip once per quarter. Many of us in corporate land may find a challenge in those scenarios, however, there are creative ways it can be done. Think about it for a few minutes, what is it that brings you joy? Take out a pen and write down ten things that bring you joy (or for those of you reading on the blackberry/iPhone, create a task and type it in).  Some will come from times in the past when you were …

What do you do, when no one else is watching?

Published by Colin Nanka

Digging back into the archives – I wrote this in 2009. Many people can get by in life by taking the easy route, winging or faking there way through life situations.  How much energy or effort does it take to go the easy route?.  In most cases, I would say 80%.  It takes a lot of ingenuity, creativity to mask the holes in your story.  These are good characteristics when used in the proper setting.  So why not just do the actual work?  How does it make you feel knowing you haven’t done what was asked?  How does it affect your confidence?  I find for me, I get a little nervous, I think about it all day long, I have stories in my head wondering how my boss, colleague or friend is going to react.  These “realities” are usually far worse than the actual reaction…and that is usually just disappointment. What you do when no when else is watching, is the true mark of your character.  What you probably don’t realize is that what you …

Annabelle

Published by Colin Nanka

I had the opportunity over the holidays to reflect on past blogs and dug up 10 or so ones I am going to share in the coming months. This was from my time in Toronto. I have seen her around my neighborhood a few times but have never really had the opportunity to talk to her. Well, that’s not true; I have had the opportunity, but have not had the stones to introduce myself. Today is a beautiful Saturday morning, the sun is shining, there is a warm breeze and people are in good spirits. I thought if not today…when? Sometimes she is sitting around the corner enjoying the view, and in a much more approachable situation than today. At this moment she is actually walking away from my neighborhood, but what the hell. “Good morning, beautiful day isn’t,” I say. In a quiet voice, she responds acknowledging that she is enjoying the day as well. She is a little more reserved than I thought she might be. We talk about the area and the …

101 Things to do before you die

Published by Colin Nanka

I recently read an article that referenced this story about Ted Leonsis’ brush with death back in 1983 and how it transformed his life. http://espn.go.com/page2/wash/s/020312leonsis.html “Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Capitals and an Internet multimillionaire, may seem like a guy who has it all. But he hasn’t done it all. When he survived a plane crash landing in 1983, he made a list of 101 things he wanted to do in life. “ I was fortunate enough to be able to meet Mr. Leonsis back in 2000 when I was visiting a friend in Washington, DC. At the time one of my friends had been traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Washington Capitals and was a third line winger, and one of the hardest working players on the team. That particular time I attended, the team was retiring Dale Hunters #22 Jersey and my friend got me invited upstairs to the party. The entire team, families, and friends of Dale Hunters were there. It was quite a night. At one point in …

Highway from Zambia to Zimbabwe

Published by Colin Nanka

When we arrived in Zambia, Africa last week and drove from Livingstone to Victoria Falls, we entered a unique corridor. You cross both passport control out of Zambia and into Zimbabwe. It’s like a Wild West entry point. Boys on bikes, women with baskets on their back and top of heads and big trucks loaded with copper navigate their way through the border crossing. The boys and women often make the daily trips. The trucks can be delayed at the border with paperwork for one day and sometimes three days! Patience I imagine in this country is crucial. We saw the bicycle boys both on our way in the afternoon and the next morning very early as we headed to an excursion before sunset. It’s an hour ride from Livingstone to Victoria falls. They were pedaling on the side of the road in the dark.  My guess since 5am. If you arrive at customs early you get through quickly. Like traffic back home, you leave later and your in line up city. The boys take …