CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 19 | 30 day challenges and learn about blogging.

22 january '14

Wordpress is not as easy as it looks like.

It's hard for me to get used to the interface of wordpress. I've been busy for an hour straight on themes, writing content etc. This will be a short message just a note about what I did. 

Sorry more to come next time!

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 17 | All about creativity

20 january '14

What do Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Richard Branson have in common?

The names are not random. Their ideas are not common. Why do I read about these people? Everybody knows Albert Einstein. Off course, why wouldn't you. Relativity etc. But did you know that he never wear socks? Or did you know that he failed is entrance exam for university? This is weird, that's what I think is interesting.

Everybody knows +Steve Jobs. But, and this is a shame, not everybody knows +Richard Branson . Fortunately almost everybody knows Virgin Atlantic or +Virgin *something*.

But did you know that all three guys share the same disability called: Dyslexia.

What is the link between dyslexia and creativity?

I'm going to research this tomorrow? Anyone who already knows the answer? Please comment below!

CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 17 | 30 day challenges and learn to blog

20 january '14

10 reasons to redesign your life!

When I see and read other blogs I doubt myself. Is my writing good enough? Do people really read my story? Why would they read my story? Is it a story?
I started this blog because I wanted to research my own passion and inspiration. And I think there are more people with this questions in life.

To be weird in life is not very difficult, to be unique is! So I'm weird but probably not the only one in this big world in search of passion, inspiration. Ready to re-design life as I know it.

Why would you re-design your life?

1. You only live once
2. It's to easy to live somebody else's life instead of your own
3. Did I mention, you only live once!
4. There is more in life then just work
5. Experience is just one mouse-click away
6. If you need stimuli, this is the path to choose
7. Even if you are in a relationship, have kids or a very busy job, you can also re-design
8. Taking matter in your own hands is a choice
9. An idea gets value if you put it in to action
10. O, before I forget: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!

This blog and journey, is my action into re-designing life. Today I've bought a new domain. www.extremelifestyledesign.com. In the future this will be my blog site and I won't be using blogspot anymore.

Sharing my journey, try to inspire as many people as possible. And it starts with YOU! I made a choice and I'm going to stick with it. Why? What's the value of 'choice' if you quit after a few weeks. It's just a loss of time and energy.

This year will be all about designing life, redefine my goals, purpose and find passion, inspiration and take action.
Experience life, meet new people. Why? Because I can! Can you?

ONE TIME CHALLENGE | MMA

17 january '14

Nobody can hurt me without my permission
by Mahatma Gandhi

Today I wanted to start with a nice quote. People use them all the time. Sometimes there are a few people who try to live by some quotes and make them rules for life.
Some rules I live by are in my post of yesterday. About the title quote. I just found it on the internet, because I wanted a catchy title to start this blog about my first 'fighting' experience.

I did a lot of judo, but for me, that is not fighting. Today I had my first lesson MMA. Mixed Martial Arts. MMA is a full contact combat sport. It's about striking, grappling. Standing and on the ground.

A hardcore training with conditional excersices. Learning some basic techniques. And getting really tired, stoked and creating doubt. For your interest, I'm the guy in the white short!
I would expect to enjoy this so much. The title says a one day challenge, but there is a big chance that I will go again. Also because I made a pact with a good friend, who happens to be my fishmonger. LOL. We gonna take a period of structural lessons MMA.

To see how I did, here are some pictures and a video.

 


Video

CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 12 | 30 day challenges and learn how to blog

14 january '14

What's your plan?

I went for an update today. Did some research on different topics. Didn't feel like to search about the blog. Went for planning and structure of the program today. And I ordered a few books about creativity online! Yeah, looking forward to do some reading as well.

30-day challenges
1. All about creativity
2. Be a broker
3. Drums
4. Lifehacking
5. Project management
6. Hold my breath for 5 minutes
7. Start a new business
8. Learn magic
9. Develope a unique product
10. Write a E-book
11. French language
12. Selfmade communication expert
13. Didgeridoo
14. Swedish language
15. English language
16. Google adsens
17. Car mechanics
18. Live without buying plastic
19. Maori language and culture
20. Fixed gear bouwen
21. Zen budism

Multi challenges (challenges that can't be done in one month for some reason)
1. MMA
2. Skydiving
3. Ballet
4. Run a marathon
5. Pole dancing
6. One arm pull ups

One day challenges/experiences
1. Tango
2. Singing
3. Writing

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 11 | All about creativity

13 january '14

How to capture your creativity

First note
Our creative potential is virtually shut don by early schooling. When there is no time for fun, eventually creativity will vanish.

Second note
The myths about creativity keeps us shore bound.

- With the right skills you can boost your creativity by a factor 10 or more.
- Creativity is an extension of what you already know
- New behavior and ideas emerge as old behaviors interact
- Behavior flows and it never stops changing
- Creativity is always an individual process
- Groups are better at selecting good ideas than at generating them.

4 techniques for a creative boost

1. Capturing
- Pay attention to new ideas that occur
- When an idea or thought flows in your mind, write it down
- Three B's for places, which are popular, to capture ideas. The Bed, Bath and Bus

2. Challenging
- Put yourself in difficult situations
- Go for open ended problem solving. As many as possible solutions
- Try to solve "Ultimate Problems"
a. You have 24 hours to create world peace
b. One year to stop pollution and prevent future pollution 
c. Stop the process of aging
- Failure is a great wellspring of creativity

3. Broadening
- Train often
- Train diverse
- Take courses in subjects you know nothing about

4. Surrounding
- Surround yourself by diverse and ever changing stimuli

Source: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200910/capturing-creativity

CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 11 | 30 day challenges and learn to blog

13 january '14

Things I never thought I would do or try 

1. Ballet
2. Singing 
3. Pole dancing course 
4. Sky diving 
5. Mixed Martial Arts 
6. Writing

Will I master them to perfection? No! Will I fail? A lot I think. I will try to fail as often as I can, to learn as much as possible.

I'm going to participate in a writing course 16th of march at +www.schrijfatelier.nl. Just a small extra challenge to learn more about writing. Costs €150,- for a day course in Amsterdam.

Ballet is at my hometown and costs me €195 for 30 lessons. So this can be a 30 day challenge of course. I'm going to check how this works, and what the possibilities are for a grown man with no experience at all! Fun!!

MMA is on friday nights. It starts at 6 pm and stops at 7.30 pm. I will try it this friday 17th of january. The nerves are already in my stomach, when I think about it.

Singing really gives me the nerves. I really, really can't sing. That's my opinion. This is really out of my comfort zone..... We'll see. Lesson cost around €20,- for half an hour. Reasonable prices.

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 10 | All about creativity

12 january '14

Challenge yourself, know your space and die empty.

I started the session with a video. The video of +Todd Henry. Coincidence? Luck? I don't think so. Nothing happens without reason. An interesting video especially when he started to talk about "Unnecessary Creating". After that line I listened very intrigued and careful. 

It gives goose bumps to hear, see and notice this video. This moment at this time. This moment of doing challenges, planned everything ahead. And then hear someone on the other side of the world talking about the things I'm doing now. Without any knowledge at the start. 

Creativity as a challenge subject. Why the first subject? All questions that come to mind now! I don't know why, just a feeling. Coincidence? Hmmm.....

Question: What's the most valuable land in the whole world? 

Answer: The graveyard, because of all the unchallenged ideas, unwritten books, business ideas which stayed just an idea.

And +Todd Henry decided to write two simple words on his wall after hearing this.

DIE EMTY

Thank you +Todd Henry. I'm looking forward to meet you some day. 

Anybody who wants to know what I mean because you've been reading this blog? Just check the video below.

CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 9 | 30 day challenges and learn to blog

10 januari '14
You know the feeling of being stuck in life? You don't know why you live on this planet? 

What can I do so I contribute to this planet? I live a crazy and different lifestyle already. Most people I know work 9 - 5. Get married. Have kids. Buy a house.
Me I'm 28 and I got nothing of that matter.
 There always are a lot of people who envy what I do. I'm free, I can choose, nevertheless I'm not happy and don't know my core-passion at this moment.

I started this blog for many reasons. The three that immediately come to mind are:

1. I lost my passion. I'm in search of. And I think this can help me on that journey
2. I really like to inspire people and be inspired
3. Keeping track of all the stuff I do with my life. A sort of diary.

Like I said in this post. At this moment my life is all about two companies. A boulder gym with two friends and a educational company. That's work wise.

Things I really enjoy are:

1. Food
I'm a food maniac. Vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds, fish, chocolate, super foods and small amounts of cheese and eggs is all I eat. And for drinking, I only drink water or green tea and fresh herbal teas. Only on saturdays I allow myself to eat some 'bad' stuff.

So,
- I don't eat bread
- I don't eat pasta
- I don't eat rice
- I don't do caffeine (just what's in green tea)
- I don't do alcohol (occasionally red wine)
- I don't do drugs

Portabello with homemade pesto, cherry tomato,
goat cheese and some pine seeds,

For example, I start my day with a smoothie build form a green vegetable like Kale, Spinach, Lettuce, Paksoi. Put this in the blender with banana, avocado, oranges, papaya, kiwi, chia seeds, maca powder and hennep proteine. Depending on the season I also use strawberry, dragon fruit, lychees, pomme granate.

2. Sports
I climb. I climb a lot. But I started with judo when I was young. After judo, came breakdance. From the breakdance I went into kitesurfing. The difficulty I encounter is that after I while I've seen the world of the sport and look for a new challenge. Now my challenge is climbing, and I still keep going and don't feel bored at all!

I need a lot of stimulus to keep me going. Some people suffer from Burn Out. I sometimes suffer from a Bore Out. Same symptoms like a burn out only an other cause.


3. Training
I like the principles of training. And as you can see, the other to topics have a connection with training. Food is important, it depends on the type of sport your doing. But for example, this week I train not much because I do full maximum power training for climbing. But in regular weeks I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, climb 3 times a week, walk with my two dogs (at this moment three)

CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 8 | 30 day challenges and learn to blog

9 january '14

Why?
This subject is on the list because I was a little bit afraid that I wouldn't start. Or that it would be difficult. But I really enjoy writing about my experience. It is still difficult, but that is because i'm a perfectionist. Especially creativity is not hard at all. But I find it really hard to write about learning to blog or shaping my 30 day challenges.

Shaping my challenges is not a difficult task I already have until september. Maybe some subjects will switch, but there are only a few that need serious planning.

Yesterday I decided that Singing is going to be a new challenge to put on the list. Another one which I want to do is create an E-book instead of just writing à book.
And this sounds a bit crazy but I always wanted to learn some basic Ballet.

Extra:
- Ballet
- Singing
- Write an E-book
- Adsense

I just made a Facebook page. I don't know if that's a good thing, but since I'm still a newby in business I listen to most people around. Everybody tells you, face book is a thing you need to do, especially when you're in business.

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 7 | All about creativity

Creativity and why we all want it!

I want to be creative, because I think it's a skill that can enrich my lifestyle. Maybe creativity gives you more choices, perspective and even opportunities? I don't know.
What I do know is that we all want it. What I now know, because I've done one week, is that we can all learn to be more creative! And learning is a choice you make.

For example
Why am I always a bit jealous, on the person who get's amazing critics in talent shows. Especially the singers. I really love the singing. Singing for me is a form of vocal creativity. For me it's expression, music gives me a feeling. Music is something you can share with others. And for me, it feels like a connection tool for human beings. (Same for me, when I'm talking about or doing sports.)
With a song you can connect with people. They can identify, I can identify, you can identify.

But in my head it goes: "Awh, I wish I could sing like that. But unfortunately I can't sing."
Why do I/we say that?

Did I really (really) try? No. (shower sessions don't count)
Did I take lessons? No.

How can I or we be jealous on a skill we all possess. I have a voice. I can sing a song. My opinion is that I really suck in it! But let us put this skill into a challenge.

Let's go and take lessons. At least then I can say I've tried and really suck in it. It's easy to say: "I suck in this or that", without exploring all options and trying or training.

Creative above average
Ideas, movement expression, verbally all areas in which I can say: I'm creative. But when I thing about creative, I think about

- Writing poems or a novel
- Singing
- Painting
- Sculpting
- Drawing

Most of the time skills where people create something out of nothing. This is what I want to do to! Why?

the funny part now, while I'm writing I see the headline and I already know the answer.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WANT TO BE CREATIVE! But I know I want to learn it and try to become more creative. Do you want to learn it?

Note: I'm going to put a new challenge on the list: Singing lessons

For the people who like to see one of my Interest and Happy videos, check below.

CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 7 | 30 day challenges and learn to blog

8 january '14
How an intense reading session on different blogs, can change your perspective and motivation!

Today was hard. I've been really tired and had no energy. Completely drained from all the work. Work which most of the time I don't even get paid for.
(Again time for a small insight.)

I'm a entrepeneur. But a weird one. I run two business. One on my own and one with two friends.

What moves you is my own company and is all about lifestyle sports education. I teach PE teachers all about 'the power of choices' with Freerunning. Breakdance is all about 'Failing with confidence' and another one is Capoeira, you're stronger together. So it's physical work. Courses, workshops and education.

Gropo Bouldergym is with two friends. And this is a sporting facility in the city Groningen. This is a special business.
We are a non profit organization and all the money the gym earns goes back in to the business. We don't get a paycheck out of this business. The doors openend november 2012 and we get around 40 - 60 visitors a day, depending on the day!
It's all about society, community and feeling. It's build by volunteers and run by volunteers. Sometimes people ask me, why are you doing this.

We are doing this because we can. It's a choice.

A lot of my time goes in this form of business and since we all got 24 hours a day my weeks are fully packed. Yesterday I worked from 7.30 am till 1.30 am! And because of the non profit, all the money goes in to the business. Because volunteers don't get money, we don't get money.

Why this choice for 30 day challenge? I want to do something different with my life! I live an extraordinary lifestyle, but still i'm searching for new opportunities. Most people think I'm crazy and I should be happy with the things I've build and do. But, weird as I am, I am not.

Search, learn, innovate your life, design it etcetera.

And today I read +www.smartpassiveincome.com. And it motivated. I am going to try and build up a form of passive income, to create more time. More time to do stuff that matter to me, but as important, matter to the world.

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 6 | All about creativity

Creativiteit in 7 stappen +raphael diluzio 

1. Vorm een idee, vraag of probleem!

2. Ga op onderzoek uit. Wees nieuwsgierig!

3. Genoeg is genoeg. Weet wanneer je klaar bent. Je kan zoeken tot je dood en nog niet klaar zijn.

4. Maak een metafoor van het idee, vraag of probleem. Visualiseer.

5. Aha moment. Het moment van vertrouwen in het idee.

6. Aan de slag. Handel zonder angst, maak fouten! Deel de uitkomst.

7. Test, wees kritisch, deel het met de wereld.

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 4 | All about creativity

5 januari '14

Elke dag ga ik het internet op en lees, leer en exploreer de wondere wereld van creativiteit. Voor 30 dagen is dat mijn onderwerp en challenge. Mijn verhalen zijn daarom ook niet altijd even samenhangend omdat het om informatie gaat die ik heb gevonden en interessant vindt. Deels probeer ik wel door te borduren op eerdere opgedane kennis.

Creatieve Adaptie

Het is lastig om vanuit niets, iets te maken. Met behulp van creatieve adaptie probeer je van een bestaand iets, iets nieuws te vormen. Zoals veel dingen in onze wereld, is bijna alles wel ergens op gebaseerd. Volledig uniek en vanuit een nulpunt ontwikkeld is lastig.

Verschillende vormen van creatieve aanpassing

Directe adaptie – Een boek verfilmen bijvoorbeeld

Losse flodder adaptie – Een onderdeel zorgt voor inspiratie voor een nieuw geheel zonder hierbij de oude vorm echt te herkennen.

Patroon adaptie – Patronen gebruiken en toepassen in verschillende situaties.

Constructieve adaptie – Doorbouwen of verder borduren op de reeds ontwikkelde basis van een ander.

Wanneer het om adaptie gaat is het erg van belang dat je het nieuwe idee of product ‘van jezelf maakt’. Authentiek.

Wanneer je veel lijkt op het origineel, wordt het gezien als plagiaat. Wanneer je afdwaalt, wordt het een nieuw product en heeft het geen zin meer te spreken van aanpassing.

Iedereen is op zoek naar ideeën. Iedereen heeft wel eens ideeën, maar wat zorgt er nu voor dat je een idee krijgt?

      1.     Je moet er voor open staan. Wees je volledig bewust van alles in je omgeving.  

      2.     Probeer zaken van uit een ander perspectief te bekijken.

      3.     Combineer en creëer.

      4.     Omgeef je met mensen die jouw inspireren.

      5.     Slaap voldoende. De nachtrust is voor informatieverwerking

      6.     Neem altijd een klein notitieblok mee. Schrijf op wat in je op komt.

      7.     Stel je probleem ter discussie.

      8.     Ga wandelen.

      9.     Geen tv

     10.  Geen drugs  

     11.  Lees zoveel je kunt over de meest uiteenlopende onderwerpen

     12.  Train je hersenen. Lees, praat met ‘slimme’ mensen’, voer discussie

Anti Conventioneel Denken (ACT-anti conventional thinking)

Passend in het straat je van CPS en brainstorming. Anders omdat het gericht is op met name vanuit een ander perspectief kijken.

Bij CPS en Brainstorming is er meer sprake van kwantiteit. Veel ideeën, vaak vanuit een klein aantal perspectieven.

ACT werkt als volgt:

      1.     Ontleed het creatieve doel middels een flinke hoeveelheid vragen. Kom niet gelijk met ideeën en oplossingen

      2.     Formuleer een ‘sexy’ doel. Provocatief, interessant, en wenselijk

      3.     Construeer een groot, creatief idee. Een sexy idee om het sexy doel te behalen.

      4.     Actie plan. Het idee in stukken knippen zodat het behapbaar blijft.

      Vandaag heb ik mijn eerste echte 'Doodle' gemaakt. Een doodle is een lijnenspel, vaak betekenisloos, op een witte achtergrond. Met een andere kleur probeer je een eigen creatie te maken binnen vijf minuten, met behulp van de lijnen die je ziet. De foto hierboven is het resultaat. De zwarte lijn is de 'doodle' en blauw is bijgetekend.

Bronnen:
Succes from the nest
Jeffrey Paul Baumgartner

CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 3 | 30 day challenges and learn to blog

4 januari '14

Het hele uur is zoals je ziet in het blog gaan zitten. De teksten zijn overgezet van een word document naar een echt blog!

Het is nog een beetje zoeken naar de juiste vorm. Zo loop je tegen verschillende opties aan.
Je kan links maken.
Je kan foto's bij plaatsen.
Je kan lay out aanpassen.
Er moeten 'tags' of ook wel 'labels' genoemd worden bedacht.

Veel te doen. Voor nu ook een relatief kort bericht. Nog bezig in mijn hoofd om de laatste 'challenges' te bedenken, maar t/m september ben ik goed zoet zoals je hebt kunnen lezen.

Wanneer iemand tips of trucs voor me heeft, dan hoor ik het heel graag natuurlijk! Altijd blijven leren, altijd blijven communiceren.

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 2 | All about creativity

3 januari ’14    

Wie zijn de groten op aarde als het om 'creativiteit' gaat? Hiermee bedoel ik niet de grappenmakers, maar wie hebben gezocht? Wie zijn geraakt door dit bijzonder fenomeen? Een kleine, maar interessante zoektocht naar de mannen en vrouwen die iets hebben betekent op het gebied van creativiteit.

Interessante namen:

Johan Huizinga (Homo Ludens)

Peter Gray (Free to learn)

Robert F. Eberle (Scamper)

Donald Mackinnon (In search of human effectiveness: Identifying and developing creativity)

George Land (Grow or die)

E. Paul Torrence (Ook bekend als 'the father of creativity)

Rene Berneche (Creative Problem Solving)

Interessante websites:

Creative Education Foundation
Over de KJ methode vanuit Japan
De Nederlandse site leren.nl 

Vervolgens kom ik uit op www.mindcamp.org. Een conferentie in canada gericht op creativiteit. Er zijn hier ook nederlandse sprekers aanwezig geweest afgelopen jaar. Eens kijken of ik deze mensen te pakken kan krijgen voor extra informatie op het gebied van creativiteit.

Koen Zonneveld www.breinvoorkeuren.nl

Morgen gaan we verder kijken. Het is weer tijd. Helaas en gelukkig want het is ook door de drukte wederom een prettige nachtzit. 

CHALLENGE 1 | DAY 2 | 30 day challenge and learn to blog

3 januari ’14

Het is weer zover. De hele dag is het door mijn hoofd gedwaald. Alle drukte voorbij en eindelijk mag ik weer.

Twee uur aan de challenge. Niet verplicht achter elkaar, maar het werkt toch lekker. Voor jullie idee, alles wat je nu leest is in de nacht geschreven. Ik mag van mezelf niet eerder gaan slapen dan wanneer de challenges zijn gedaan.

Dit hele uur heeft in het teken gestaan van het aanmaken van een blog.

Prettig om deze en alle volgende berichten op te plaatsen. Het blijft lastig om een blog prettig vorm te geven. Keuze van achtergronden, kleuren en lay out. Er is zoveel mogelijk.

Voor nu ga ik eerst werken met www.blogger.com. Een website waar je gratis een blog kan aanmaken. Misschien ga ik verderop in het proces proberen nog via wordpress een blog te maken. Echter heb ik hier geen verstand van. Misschien een leuke challenge!!

Het blog heet: Challenge your status quo. Een knipoog naar sleur en regelmaat in onze levens. En natuurlijk de woordspeling met ‘challenge’.

Voor nu een overzicht van de challenges t/m september en de side challenges.

Januari

1. Leren bloggen

2. All about creativity

Februari

1. Beleggen

2. Drummen

Maart

1. Lifehacking

2. Projectmanagement

April

1. Start a new business

2. Holding breath for at least 5 minutes

Mei

1. Zweeds                              

2. Car mechanics

Juni

1. Leren goochelen

2. Ontwikkelen van een uniek product

Juli

1. Een boek schrijven

2. Frans

Augustus

1. Selfmade communication expert

2. Didgeridoo spelen

September

1. Engels

2. 

Side 1. Plastic not so fantastic

Side 2. Skydiving

Side 3. MMA

Side 4. Build a Fixed Gear 

Side 5. One arm pull up

Side 6. Marathon

CHALLENGE 2 | DAY 1 | All about creativity

2 januari ’14 

Wauw, dit is leuk zeg ! Net een uur bezig geweest met alleen het onderwerp creativiteit. Wat kun je veel leren in een uur? Ik heb veel ontdekt en graag vertel ik je dit.

Voor creativeit zijn 5 ingredienten cruciaal (volgens John Cleese)

    1.  Ruimte            Ongestoord, eigen ruimte, Oase van stilte

    2.    Tijd                 Afgebakend, duidelijk start&stop, 1,5 uur | break | 1,5 uur

    3.   Tijd                 Benut de bedenktijd maximaal. Voor optimale originaliteit

    4.   Zelfvertrouwen Openheid tot alles wat kan gebeuren

    5.   Humor            Een essentieel onderdeel voor spontaniteit en “play”

Wees vooral nieuwsgierig! Wanneer je in groepen aan het werk gaat, zorg er altijd voor dat je dit doet met mensen die je leuk vindt maar vooral vertrouwt!

Closed mind vs. Open mind

Wanneer we in een werk modus zitten, met focus, doelgericht, vaak spanning, stress misschien zelfs. Iedereen kent het wel. Een modus van moeten die we kunnen bestempelen als de closed mindset. In deze mindset is geen ruimte voor creativiteit. Het is geen knopje wat je kan aanzetten.

Creativiteit onstaat in de open mindset en deze creeer je door mideel van de 5 gegeven factoren eerder.

- Creativiteit heeft niks met IQ te maken.

- Creativiteit is niet een talent maar een manier van werken.

- Creativiteit is niet mogelijk in de gesloten modus.

 Johan Huizinga:

“Play is distinct from ordinary life, both as to locality and duration. This is it’s main characteristic, it’s secludedness, it’s limitlesness. Play begins, and at a certain moment it is over. Otherwise it’s not play.”

Alan Watts:

“ You can’t be spontaneous within reason”

  

Bron