Sebastian Terry – 100 Things

Sebastian Terry – 100 Things

Synopsis from www.borders.com.au

Everyone has at least one thing they want to do before they die. Some even write a list. But how many goals and dreams on this list are actually ever achieved? At the ripe-old age of 26, Sebastian Terry realised that like most people, he had not achieved anything on his long-forgotten list. The death of a close friend combined with a naturally abstract view on life sparks a moment of clarity.

In the midst of overseas trip, Sebastian decided to put pen to paper and created a list of 100 Things. His goal, to tick off everything on that list. It’s the start of a crazy, no holds barred adventure that sees Sebastian travel to the ends of the earth on a quest to prove that anything is possible, including true fulfillment.

Along the way, Sebastian strives to raise $100,000 for Camp Quality, a fantastic organisation creating happiness for children and families affected by Cancer.

Support for the journey has been unexpected and also world-wide “What started as a journey based on my own goals and imagination has turned into something so much bigger. Never in a million years did I think anyone would take inspiration from this trip, but I now receive emails from people everywhere offering support, asking for advice and even thanking me! It’s very humbling”

Seb Terry 100 Things is a humorous, action packed adventure dedicated to anyone who’s ever worried about their age, or dreamt about living every day like it was their last.

CHRIS’ REVIEW

When I saw this book on the shelf just prior to Christmas I knew it was right up my alley and so added it to my list. Little did I know that this book was all about lists and the journey taken so far by Sebastian Terry to cross things off during his lifetime. Having a bucket list in your mid twenties is probably not the norm but Seb has an amazing insights on life and he is driven by his values and achieving his dreams whilst inspiring others along the way.

What I really like about this book is that it starts off with the death of a friend prompting Seb to make changes in his life. But as he meets people around the world and ticks items off his list the goal becomes about others not himself.

It is an interesting transformation and what Seb has done takes courage to go against the idea of financial security to be where he has to be which could be anywhere in the world at any time.

An easy read as it is broken into short chapters, some covering items on the list, others on insights and lessons. I’m looking forward to seeing this story continue on the www.100things.com.au website.

No Comments

Chris Bellesini, January 3rd 2012 | Posted in Uncategorized

62 – The Amazing Race!

The Amazing Race is a reality TV show that has been a worldwide hit now for many years. I rarely watch TV so can’t say that I have ever watched more than a handful of episodes in my life but I love the concept of The Amazing Race.

What I like about the show is that like most games, it reflects life. The Amazing Race requires fifty-fifty decisions, working under pressure, mental and physical fitness, constantly reassessing your position, teamwork, victory and failures. Along the way as a consequence, the contestants have what is considered good luck or bad luck and those that come out in front are not always the ones that you would expect. I think the law of averages will generally reward the ones who are most determined, but the game is not always fair, that’s life!

The other day I went for a run through the Dandenongs in Melbourne and basically allowed myself to ‘get lost’ in amongst the trees and various paths knowing that I would eventually find a sign beside the path directing me back to the carpark. I thought of The Amazing Race as with each fork in the road I had a choice, just like a roadblock. I had no idea what sort of terrain I would be faced with by my choice and whether it would get me closer to me goal or further away. My initial decisions would appear to be the right ones as I was treated with some magnificent views of the city and had an easy run mainly downhill. But what goes down must come up and I knew the run home would be harder, but in my eyes more enjoyable as a love a challenge!

For those who are participating in my own version of The Amazing Race at the moment. Thankyou for taking your time to read this. You know what to do next to earn your points. I also mentioned that The Amazing Race has some lucky breaks. Once you have commented on this page, do the same at this page to earn some unadvertised bonus points!!

The Amazing Race is just like life, we can sit back and watch the box and watch from the outside as others have amazing experiences. Or we can commit to doing this ourselves by each year going on a holiday or doing new things.

Chris Bellesini
Remember, You Too, Can
Choose Your Own Success

35 Comments

Chris Bellesini, July 11th 2011 | Posted in Uncategorized

Malcolm Gladwell – The Tipping Point

The following synopsis is from
www.borders.com.au

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference

The New York writer Malcolm Gladwell looks at why major changes in our society so often happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Ideas, behavior, messages, and products, he argues, can often spread like outbreaks of infectious disease. Just as one single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a few fare beaters and graffiti artists fuel a subway crime wave, or a satisfied customer fill the empty tables of a new restaurant! These are social epidemics, and the moment they take off, they reach their critical mass, or the Tipping Point. Gladwell introduces us to the particular personality types who are natural pollinators of new ideas and trends; the people who create the phenomenon of word of mouth. He analyzes fashion trends, smoking, children’s television, direct mail, and goes back to the early days of the American Revolution for clues about making ideas infectious. He visits a religious commune, a successful high-tech company, and one of the world’s greatest salesperson to show how to start and sustain social epidemics.

The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just like a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a popular new product, a fashion trend, or a drop in the crime rate. This widely acclaimed bestselling book, in which Malcolm Gladwell explores and brilliantly illuminates the tipping point phenomenon, is changing the way people throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.

Chris’ Review

I have to admit that I struggled to finish this book. I found it fascinating and took away some great ideas and insights but it was repetitive at times and I’d find myself jumping back and forth to see where I was actually up to.

Why is a product popular? Is it the clever marketing, luck, or the fact some cool kids starting wearing a certain brand and it caught on. Often it is a combination and having the right people spreading the word about the product to make it stick. Some people are naturally great sales people and the way they deliver a message is what makes it stick.

I recommend it as a great book to learn about social trends but don’t feel you have to read the book in its entirety when the same examples repeat themselves in later chapters.

No Comments

Chris Bellesini, May 3rd 2010 | Tags: ,
Posted in Uncategorized