Be strong,

The waves vibrate

And message delivered.

Fear abandoned,

The source is I.

Yes ladies, you heard me right, it is not dead, it's just under cover. Like Jack Bauer infiltrating a Columbian drug cartel, Chivalry has assumed a new identity and trying to fit in or die. Men blame their lack of chivalrous behaviour on women (as we do with most things) and to be honest we are a bit confused with what should be done and what should not be done. I believe that most men would like to open doors, help little old ladies cross the street and help neighbours with their groceries, but, how many times has this backfired on the average man? In today's world of sexual innuendo it seems that every gesture is framed as a possible attempt to hit on the person on the receiving end of the gesture. Just recently, I saw two ladies moving a table down a flight of stairs. They seemed to be struggling a bit, so I asked (I've learned from experience that you just don't rush in to help anymore!), "Would you like some help?". To which the response was, "I don't need a man to do anything!". Now, it was clearly said as a joke but with undertones of determination. Like most things in life, men aren't necessary to women, but we are nice to have . The statement really took me by surprise. It's not that I was being macho, but more that I was genuinely willing to help, if it were two men doing the same job I would ask the same question. To be clear, there are jerks out there, men who have no regard for anyone in the rush of getting through their day. However, there are some diamonds in the rough.

So today ladies, take a step back, look around you and see the hints of days gone by where men still do the little knightly things that make us nice to have around......sometimes.

There is a saying that you can never really ever go home once you've left. This may or may not be true. When you consider that home is a tropical paradise of which people in tiny, cold, cubicles day dream, how can you think you can never go back? I left my home 8 years ago at the age of 23 with a wife and young daughter in tow, off to make something of myself in the land of opportunity. By most standards I've done pretty okay. By most standards, not my own. Being a foreigner in the big world is always a challenge. You constantly have to worry about visas and picking your family up and moving around. There comes a point where you get tired of jumping through hoops just so you can have a home. What is worse is trying to stake your claim on anything in your profession. It is very difficult when you are not a native national to a country, you don't talk the same way, you have different views and you are almost always seen as an outsider stealing the job of a local. Many would not like to admit it but it is a sad fact. I have many friends who, after leaving Trinidad and Tobago, went to school and served in various roles abroad echoing the sentiments that they are tired and frustrated and just want to go home.

And so, one of my best friends is on his journey back to the land of the Steel Band, Limbo, Calypso and Soca. Today, you can keep in contact with people using all of the tools on the web. Video chats, emails, Twitter, blogs, Facebook which keeps you in contact but there is something about sitting in a pub, chatting over a pint that the Internet will never be able to replicate (well at least not in the next couple of years). The intimacy of a friend expressing his love for someone, or his frustration at work or the simple pleasure of having a laugh. I have no doubt we will still be in contact and still remain the best of friends but I will miss the times when he comes over to sample some of my wife's curry or after visiting another friend we found ourselves at 5AM wandering around town trying to find something to eat.

His journey is one of discovery and a fresh start and even though I wish him the best and hope that everything he is about to experience is great, I will miss my friend.

Airing your deepest thoughts on the Internet has never been particularly appealing to me. I like the concept of blogging, a journal that embraces technology and allows you to write. There are many people who can communicate much better by writing than by trying to express emotional issues verbally. The anonymity of being able to say something is no longer there though, but should one be ashamed of their own feelings? Maybe saying what you feel may encourage someone to assist you if you have an issue or it may uplift someone if it is motivational. Being a professional, with your life increasingly scrutinized before you actually meet a prospective employer it may not be the best thing to put your life in digital bytes for the world to see (and remember!). Will we be seen as weak if we speak out on our frustrations? Or will we be seen as open and willing to share. It depends on the content I suppose.

I've lived my life always chasing the cheese. A life of reactionary decision making rather than having the luxury of using the blueprint that has been shelved for such a long time. I can honestly say, I have been blessed. Firstly, with parents who have done just about anything and everything to provide me with the best life anyone could have. Yes, there were tough times but I can never forget, repay or give enough thanks for the sacrifices they have made for me. Next, my wife, who has stuck by me now for 17 years (10 years married). We were both very young when we met and in the years we have become very good friends. Yes, being married is frustrating at times but would I rather be single and lonely? The grass is always greener on the other side and sometimes the temptation of crossing the fence enters your mind but I believe tending to your own garden can give you much greener fields in the long run. My daughter has been so much of a star in my life that I cannot even begin to express. I am not the model dad that I see around me. Being a young father I have never felt prepared but I try to steer her on the right track. I am a tough father, like my father before me but I hope I can raise my daughter half as well as my father raised me. There are also many people and extended family members who have passed through my life. I say this because I've met so many amazing people, in person and via the web and have had to say goodbye too many times.

With all of the things I've faced, the highlights and the lowlights, I still feel a bit frustrated. I believe I am an ambitious person, I have been gifted with the ability to adapt quickly. I can learn anything very quickly, even if just the basic concepts. I have, however, been stuck in first gear for a long time. The clutch is down but I can't seem to shift. We all have killer ideas, but what differentiates the really successful among us is the ability to execute. My brain wanders way too much. I've had great  (okay so maybe not great but promising at the very least) ideas and just let all of them sit next to the blueprint, get covered by dust and get executed by others. I've seen people I've confided in, take my ideas and run with it, complete it, execute it. Good for them. I then look at my shelf and see the pile of ideas on paper and feel depressed. Can anyone blame them for executing? No.

Will I continue to chase the cheese? Or will I start milking the cow to make my own cheese? I will tell you one thing though, I've had enough of chasing.

The now iconic book Getting Things Done by David Allen, provides an excellent blueprint for, erm, getting things done. Some people seem to be able to work so efficiently that it is irritating while others struggle to accomplish one task. After struggling, like most people, I've come up with a very simple solution to my problem which may help you:

1. Lists are good - Writing things down in lists have a two fold purpose, the most important of which is that you have the task written somewhere so it can get out of your head and it also provides a way for you to prioritise. You can choose your medium, it doesn't have to be paper, it could be on your phone, your computer, your arm (okay so maybe not your arm) but you get the idea. This tip is taken directly from Mr. Allen's book.
2. Do one thing at a time - We can't multi-task. Focusing on one thing at a time is the key to getting things done. All of the people who seem to be super human and appear to be doing a million things at once don't, they just put it on a conveyor belt and work through the items individually as they come in.

Give it a try today and hopefully it will work for you as well.

Is the glass half full, or half empty? I say neither! The glass should ALWAYS BE FULL. All you have to do is imagine a smaller glass. Does this sound like a load of horse crap (or worse, bull crap)? There are too many people who are unhappy with life because they seem to be looking over the fence and wishing for more. While there is nothing wrong with ambition and striving for more, to be happy, you have to realise that what little you have is a blessing. This is easier said than done, as we all know.

This train of thought can make one lazy though and some will fall into the trap of settling for what they have and never trying harder. I would challenge people to always strive for a bigger glass. This may sound contradictory but you can be content with what you have while working to achieve more. I don't have any scientific facts or studies to back this up but it's a simple concept that I think should be adopted by more people.

So it's that time again, the point where we say goodbye to the old and promise that this year we will stick to the resolutions we've set forward. Even though today is just another day, it serves as a significant milestone in our life time. Let's take it one day at time, live life today like there was no yesterday or tomorrow. Do the things that will make you and others happy and make the most of the day.

Happy New Year to all!

I know this is a bit off topic but I felt I had to write about my trip to Paris, France. I'm not the most travelled person in the world but I have to say that Paris has to be my favourite city so far. Sure it was for vacation and maybe if I lived and worked there I may not feel that way but you just get the feeling that there is something special about that city. It truly is a very beautiful place.

I had the opportunity to stay in the best hotel in the world! Hotel Jules on Rue LaFayette is a design hotel in Paris and one of the world's most exquisite locations. What does it mean by design hotel? Well just look at the photos on the site and you will see. The very slick interior design is very pleasing and very chic. The staff is temendous and the hotel itself is superb. It really was one of the highlights of the trip. It is located about 10 minutes from Gare du Nord train station. If you would like a really nice place to stay, I strongly recommend this hotel.

Paris is a city for walking. From the hotel it was a straight trek down to the Arc de Triomphe which was our first stop. After visiting that monument we hopped on the metro over to the Eiffel Tower. The lines were daunting but you can't come to Paris without going up the tower. We decided not to go up to the third floor because that was an additional 60 minutes to get up there and after having spent an hour to get tickets we really weren't going to do that. Here's a tip, get tickets in advance when you want to go. The view was awesome. we could see all of Paris from the second floor. We even caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty (yes, there really is one in Paris as well). It is much smaller than the one in the US but it really is a bit strange when you see it there the first time. Next we did a cruise on the Seine. I would recommend taking this trip at night as well as the day. The history of this city is truly amazing. After a  long day out we had dinner in a superb little cafe, Au Petit Riche. The service was wonderful and the food excellent and the prices were not that bad. Paris is expensive. Eating out can cost you so be aware of this when you are budgeting.

The second day had miserable weather. It drizzled all day long. We, however, went indoors and visited the Louvre. This was the highlight of the trip for my wife, who is a huge Da Vinci Code fan. There wasn't much of a croud and getting in was quite quick. I like the ticket machines, this makes things very efficient. The most crouded part of the museum was the Italian Painters section and of course the painting of the Mona Lisa. We had to slither through to get a picture. But in the end my wife was happy to see it up close (well as close as they would let you get to it, which is about 10 feet away).

One thing to note for people with young children (under 12) most attractions are free, which I think is a huge plus because the cost of taking the kids is basically the cost of transportation and lodging.

Visiting Paris is one of those things you must do once before you die. I intend to return for a longer time next time, time to start saving!

I spent the evening yesterday without my computer (mostly). I spent some time with a friend, helped my daughter with her homework and played some Wii. It was quite a refreshing change and I think this is something that most IT developers need. The ability to let go. This is something I have struggled with a lot in the past but learning to change my ways. I went to bed at 2 AM but I am functioning at 100% today with only 5 hours sleep without even the smell of coffee!

So today, take a walk at lunch, do something different tonight, pick up a hobbie but get away even if it is just for a short period.

This is just a completely random post about several small things that have been whirling around the periphery recently. Firstly, I've almost completed Seth Godin's excellent Small is the New Big. This book is a must read simply because it reiterates the need for independent thought. You may have the next huge idea but because most of us have been brainwashed by cleverly scripted marketing and publicity campaigns we believe that the way it was done by the huge organisations it is the only way of making it big. It's not. Mr. Godin concepts are rooted in common sense and I believe they are the right way to go.

Alexandra Burke was the winner of X-Factor, congratulations to her. Now, I never watched American Idol in the 8 years I lived in the states and only started watching X-Factor because there was nothing else on but on Saturday I actually voted, and twice! I understand the concept of this program and it's about money for the creators and producers of the show, however, after listening to this young woman sing, this show (even though it may be a money making farce!) does provide some people who are truly talented get the exposure that they probably would not have received had they not been on the show.  This concept actually proves part of what is in Mr. Godin's book, give control to the customers and you may just have a smash hit on your hands...good one  Mr. Cowell!

It's amazing how comfortable I feel at the gym. I am very self concious about my size however at the gym I go to it's really cool that you can work out and people are so very supportive. The staff is great and the place is always very clean and in order. I think this is one of the reasons I've been going so consistently. The next stage is for me to start eating right!

Clint Eastwood is one of my all time favourite actors/directors. He truly is very good and won't be duplicated any time soon!

I'm 31 today...4 more years to achieve my goal of makin my first million...better start working!