Tyron Bache

Probably the best Theodore Roosevelt quote ever

Jul 12 2011

I found this while reading Di Smith‘s book You’re Awesome, it’s the opening paragraph of a chapter entitled Conquer Your Fear. (Disclaimer: she is a client of mine.)

Image source.

“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who knows great enthusiasm, great devotion and the triumph of achievement and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while doing greatly – so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

- Theodore Roosevelt

Doesn’t that just make you want to go out and do something awesome?

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What would you try if you had no fear?

Jun 21 2011

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I love this question, it makes me think of quite a few things! However I almost prefer it phrased in a slightly different way.

What would you try if you knew you couldn’t fail?

I honestly and truly believe this is should be the first question asked of any learner in school or some form of higher education before they settle on a career. So if any of you out there who are reading this and are gong to be giving a speech at a prize giving or graduation please pose this question to them.

What would you try if you had no fear?

In closing, I hope you realise that if you are reading this then you are privileged and have an education and probably are well off. Don’t waste what you have been blessed with, go make the most of your life. If you left fear behind and are doing something remarkable I would love to hear about it.

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The importance of working on your best idea

Jun 14 2011

This post has been a long time coming and was inspired by David Heinemeier Hansson or DHH‘s blog post, Work on your best idea.

I shall share my two favourite quotes from that post below:

Why would you want to pour so much of yourself into anything less than your best idea? Other ideas might seem more achievable or convenient, but if your heart and mind is elsewhere it’s all for naught.

So what is my best idea right now? It has to be my business, Smashing Web Development. Am I working on it as much as I should? The short answer is no. What needs to change? That is something I am trying to answer.

Are you working on your best idea right now?

Does your best idea keep you awake at night? Does it keep you occupied all through out the day? Are you so passionate about it that everything else becomes second? These are some of the questions I am asking myself.

Life is short. Stop playing Angry Birds. Go work on your best idea.

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A conversation with Jason Fried

Jun 01 2011

One of the reasons I love Twitter is because you can connect with people and I did just that, I connected with one of my heroes, Jason Fried.

If you don’t know who Jason Fried is try Googling him. So how did the conversation begin you might ask? Well Jason tweeted about his latest Inc. Magazine article, Don’t Exaggerate Your Size, which I read rather quickly and could relate to as I am currently running a one man company of my own, Smashing Web Development. I then paused and thought that I had never seen Jason publish content via a personal website or blog and wondered why. I then headed over to Google to go and see if I could find such a place, a personal haven for Jason online, but I couldn’t.

I found this Friedisms, a parody, and asked him if it was his or if he had a website or blog. He tweeted back and said it wasn’t his but he wish they kept it up though. The posts there ran dry about a year ago.

I then stumbled across jasonfried.com and I thought this was it but it wasn’t to be as Jason quickly replied and said that he didn’t own it.

I then pestered him with one last question, which was if he had a specific reason he didn’t have a personal website and threw in some flattery to sweeten the tweet. In true Jason Fried style he answered brilliantly; he doesn’t have anything more to say on a personal site that he doesn’t say elsewhere.

I didn’t want to drag it out any longer as I had lots to do so I agreed with and thanked Jason for answering all of my questions. Finally he was even kind enough to reply to that.

So, in summary, why doesn’t Jason Fried have a personal website?
Because he doesn’t need one, he says all he needs to say exactly where it needs to be said.

For your reference, some of Jason’s web presence:

I would love to find the best content that Jason has produced online, please feel free to add and describe relevant links in the comments.

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World First BMX Triple Backflip

May 28 2011

A post for the guys! New Zealand BMXer Jed Mildon has created action-sports history today by landing the world’s first Triple Backflip at the Unit T3 Mindtricks BMX Jam in Taupo, New Zealand.

Thanks to xdoomx for sharing!

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So what happened in April & May?

May 26 2011

To answer the question in the title very briefly… lots.

I know a post like this can be quite clichéd and I have even tweeted about it while writing it.

I have been a busy boy blogging, creating videos, developing websites and being awesome.

I have started blogging for the company I work for, The BlueBox. I usually blog about web development on The BlueBox platform. You can check it out here – http://blueboxwebdev.tumblr.com/ – if you are interested in that sort of thing.

Unfortunately I haven’t done much reading although I am slowly working my way through, The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss. I was sold when I saw the trailer for this book.

Direct link.

I also took a much needed family vacation at the end of April down the lovely south coast of KZN, South Africa, that was a real treat and I even went to the Waffle House.

During the past two months, I have launched 2 more websites for my business Smashing Web Development. I completed the Wesley Methodist Church and the AHvR websites, and I am very proud of them both.

I have done some awesome work with Julie Patrick and I am really looking forward to getting stuck into the new ARISEFEST website for this year. By the way Julie is amazing at taking photo’s. Below is the new design/poster for this years festival.

That’s it for now, hopefully it won’t be another two months until my next post.

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Opening Doors

Mar 24 2011

This documentary follows 3 South African businesses, with an in-depth look at the strategies, the struggles and the behind-the-scenes stories leading up to their ultimate success.

1 out of 10 businesses survive the first five years. How do we keep the doors open? Opening Doors is a new documentary focusing on small business, the challenges, the successes and the people behind them. Entrepreneurship is the life blood of a healthy economy, and ‘Opening Doors’ is a must-see for all entrepreneurs in South Africa. ‘Opening Doors’ is showing 1 day only: 31 March 2011 – book at www.sterkinekor.com or call Ticketline 082 1 6789.

You can join the discussion and win!
In the lead up to the screening, Ideate asking their readers, business owners, managers and dreamers to enter the conversation around entrepreneurship in South Africa. What are their goals? What are their hurdles? Where do they find inspiration? Exclus1ves will be awarding one book away per day to contributors in these discussions. Ideate will continue the conversations on the Opening Doors Facebook page and the Ideate Twitter profile. Ideate also has 50 Opening Doors tickets to give away.

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