the art of the deal

I must admit there are parts of my job I quite enjoy. When you close a deal it's almost as if, for a brief moment, all the toils and troubles leading up to it are expunged, forgotten. You don't remember the 6am wake-ups and the weeks of soul-sapping rejection. There's a an almost tangible release of pressure, yet simultaneously adrenaline courses through your body as you congratulate yourself on managing to create business where before there was none. And someone has put their faith, their trust, in you. And once that deal is announced, you are king for a day, both the pride and envy of your colleagues. There's a spring in your step and a smile is never far from your lips.

To many more days like that in the near future.

self-help books are evil

This is going to be short, I'm not sure how sweet. I've come to realize it's important to be accountable, to take responsibility, to take hold of your life. Guide it, direct it. Leave the excuses behind. They're a crutch for mediocrity. You are where you are in life because of actions you have taken or failed to have taken, decisions you've made or chosen to ignore, comments you have made and those left unsaid. So if you're happy, healthy and successful - well take pride in it. It's not luck or chance or fate that swung the pendulum of fortune your way. You've earned it. And if you're unhappy of where life has "taken" you, or you are tired of getting the raw end of the stick, well then stand up and take a measure of yourself. YOU control your life; your happiness, your well-being, your good fortune. Our future is not predicated on a die cast by a gamble-crazy diety. You alone have the power to control your life. So what are you waiting for?

"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michaelangelo

"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise." R. Fritz

Coincidence

In thinking about this blog entry I find myself in a unusual position, knowing exactly what I want to say but lacking the words to explain it all. Usually it's the opposite way around. It involves the influence that certain people have on our lives - not friends or family but people on the fringe that enter our orbit and make a lasting impact on our thoughts or actions. They probably don't give the encounter a second thought, but they remain in our consciousness for days, weeks, even years, never realizing the impact they have. It makes you wonder whether one should consider our daily interactions a little more closely. Anyhow it's not gelling and I probably shouldn't even post this but I've come this far so...

Bye Bye Studio 60

So, sadly my prediction has become reality. Studio 60 has been pulled from the NBC lineup after getting maimed in the rating wars that take place on our TV screens every week, the pillaging and plundering occurring unbeknownst to an apathetic general viewing public. I think it's a great show - terrific characters, good writing and a fairly unique view of the mysterious goings on behind the scenes at a SNL-ish TV show.

I look forward to it every week, because even if some of the story lines are ridiculous, at least the world is populated by actors that I enjoy watching, and characters I want to see more of. Of course the next logical step is for the series to be cancelled. RIP.

We all know Bobby DeNiro can act (in gangster movies). But whether he can direct is another matter. Case in point: The Good Shepherd. Long, meandering and ultimately lacking any suspense or excitement or even passion. It's a long, dour, boring look at the beginnings of the CIA. It might be an accurate portrayal, but it's a joyless one. Matt Damon's role is to look serious and bored and speak in monotones - the character is one of the most boring to ever be put on screen. Angelina Jolie plays the pathetic wife in a loveless marriage. Give this one a miss.

Good weekend to y'all.

thanks to sneaky

Thanks to Sneaky Pete for finding me my long sought after song:

Supermode - Tell me Why. If you download it, you will remember it as the song you heard when you were drunk and thought was awesome, but couldn't imagine yourself ever finding out the name, simply because a) you were drunk and b) who is ever able to find out names of songs you here in a club? Enjoy. For a good ol' Euro trash time check out the video on YouTube here.

Tonight my manager is taking a colleague and I out for a nice dinner. We were given carte blanche over which place to pick, and we went with Hy's which apparently does steak good, real good. Will let you know how that goes. G'nite.

ramblings, are you havin' a laff? Is he having a laff?

Well it seems whenever I open this blog lately I draw a complete blank. It's like I'm playing some weird role in a sequel to "Memento". But here goes anyhow.

Tomorrow my company is taking us out for cosmic bowling, a reward for having a great month. The best reward however is taking off early and having a couple of free brewskis. And the glowing fluorescent particles on people's shirts - that shit is awesome. Like totally wicked man. Bowling is actually fun, mindless entertainment, it's sort of like the only individual team sport out there.

Here's the question: does anybody actually improve measurably in their bowling skills from age 14-28? Because come to think of it, when I bowl my strategy/thought process is exactly the same as it was when I was a kid. First I try some skill and start the ball on the outside with hopes it'll curl into the centre and knock some pins, like those beer-gutted, mullet wearing pros on the TV. When that fails, and it usually does, I go for sheer brute strength and toss that motherfucker straight down the middle hoping to either get a strike or break a pin in half. When that fails, and it usually does, and my ball screams along the gutter like Rosie O Donnell chasing an ice-cream truck, I make a funny face and hope no-one noticed. If they do notice, I make out as if I'm playing the fool for their benefit. That good friends is the trick to bowling.

P.S my new video iPod kicks some serious arse. So far this week I've caught up with a few movies I was interested in: Last Kiss, Snakes on A Place and Children of Men. Also watching episodes of Extras, which is probably one of the funniest yet most torturously awkward series of the last decade. The Office meets Curb your Enthusiasm. Have a good weekend. I will be plastered by 4pm, and that's a guarantee!

Long time no blog

I have been an absentee blogger this last week, I can't promise this coming week will be any better. Trying to sort a lot of things out. Been clubbing the last couple of weeks, and as much as I have been saying lately that I am "past the clubbing stage" I have really enjoyed myself. I am now searching for a couple of good club hits to put on my iPod. A couple goodies are from some bloke called Bob Sinclair: 1) Love Generation 2) World Hold On. Old school, feel-good hits...I like!

There is also a great song that has a chorus of "Run Away Run Away....." that I can't find. It sort of sounds like A-Ha singing, so it might be some sort of remix. Any help on this would be appreciated. So get to work people.

Signing off.....yours truly, ML.