193-Good decisions + good people = good results

Sometimes life is made too complicated, but after a potentially messy roster change at work yesterday was made as smooth as duck poo on a linoleum floor, it made me realise that simply being good to other people means they're usually good to you in return.

My wife & I wanted to spend more time together, so I decided to apply to have Monday's off work, and it was all organised without a shred of drama. Getting a roster at work changed may not go down as a lifetime achievement, but it demonstrated how when you keep life simple, things seem to fall your way.

A combination of good decisions and being good to people has resulted in good results for me, so I thought I'd share my process. Life is complicated enough as it is - just watch ABC News 24 one day for proof - so why make it more complicated by worrying about things you can't change? All I've ever done is what my footy coach used to tell us: "focus on the game plan & let the result take care of itself."

Life's not fair, and there are no answers, so don't lose sleep trying to find them - rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, but there comes a time when you just have to get over it and go and play in the puddles.

PS. As I was writing this blog, I got an email from the publisher of my book, IndieMosh Publishing which gave proof that being nice to people can end up in good results. I ordered 111 copies of my book. but  IndieMosh rounded the order up to 115 "as a small thank you for being so nice to work with"

192 - Ange & Barns round the world honeymoon-leg 4-Camden

The round the world honeymoon continues-last week Ange flew a Cesna 182 aeroplane at Camden airport-see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbx62vbxmXY

191-"Playing in the Puddles" on sale

Type 1 diabetic & stroke survivor Barnaby Howarth was three-quarters through writing his autobiography in 2005 when he had a stroke and was placed on life support after being bashed outside a nightclub in Sydney. When he recovered, he finished writing his manuscript and had it self-published, but couldn't shake the feeling he'd let himself down. He didn't feel like he'd done his story justice, but now he's finished what he started and is telling his story in Playing in the Puddles

This is one of the proudest things I've ever said:

My book has been published and is on sale - the story speaks for itself, just buy a copy... 

https://www.createspace.com/5422401

(Or buy it on Amazon if you prefer: http://www.amazon.com/Playing-Puddles-Barnaby-Howarth/dp/192521981X/)

190-Find your drive through disappointment-motivational speaking by Barnaby Howarth

Not everyone is going to get diabetes or have a stroke, but at some stage we'll all be disappointed, and I want to help you find your drive through that disappointment, so I have a special offer for anyone who makes a booking before June 30, 2015.

Any speeches booked before June 30 will be offered at $2500, before increasing to around $4000. The reason for the increase will be revealed in good time, but for now, it is between me and the lamp post, but it means for now, there is a bargain to be had.

What you will get if you take up this offer is a speech by a real Aussie bloke talking about how he used the disappointment he has faced in life (being diagnosed with diabetes at 14,  getting bashed in an alcohol-fueled gang attack and having a stroke at 25, then seeing his girlfriend diagnosed with breast cancer) to find his own drive (which helped him play a season of AFL football for the Sydney Swans, write 2 books, film 2 documentaries, climb Mt Kilimanjaro, play his 100th AFL game for his local footy club and be inducted to the Sydney AFL Hall of Fame, and then marry his girlfriend.)

You will then be told about how the tools you need to find your drive aren't that far away. If you would like to take advantage of this unique opportunity, fill out the booking enquiry form on my website (http://barnabyhowarth.com.au/bookings-contact/).

189-Give it a Crack is back

Did you hear about the guy who lost the whole left side of his body in an industrial accident?

To find out how he is, get your tickets to Give it a Crack, 2015.to be held at Sydney's Comedy Store on Wednesday November 11 at 8pm, where I will reveal the answer in a stand up comedy set.

Give it a crack is a night of comedy by some of the most promising stand up comics in Australia - they have been handpicked by the Comedy Store at the RAW Comedy Festival. They will be nervous and inexperienced, but they will also be passionate and excited, and they will be there to Give it a Crack.

75% of funds raised will be donated to the Pennant Hills Football Club to say thank you for helping me get back on my feet after a having a stroke.

188-Fat’s 200th Blog reading May 14 at MKO

When I played my 100^th game for Pennant Hills, record numbers of Demon’s supporters came along to be a part of an event that Rugby League Legend Garry Jack described as the best day of footy he’s ever been to. 

So when I celebrate my 200^th blog after Penno training on May 14^th, basic maths suggests my 200^th should be twice as good as my 100^th.

After training and while players enjoy a sausage sandwich at Mike Kenny Oval in Cherrybrook, I will read my 200^th blog (about how Penno coaches shaped my life), and you’re invited to come along.

Come & join the Penno community & hear my reflections on my years as a Demon.

*Training starts at 6.30 & finishes at 7.45, I will read my blog at around 8 pm.

187-Change the world by NOT making it worse

Making the world a better place is tough, it takes a lot of traits that only a few people posses, but NOT making the world a worse place is easy - just keep making good decisions.

People often complain "I'm only one person - nothing I do can change the world," but that couldn't be further from the truth - things you decide NOT to do can make the world better. A perfect example of this can be seen in the lead story on ABC News 24 this morning about the school cleaner in Leeton who is alleged to have murdered a young lady who was to be married this weekend. This peanut was obviously battling some pretty big demons, but he (allegedly) made 1 bad decision that has made the world a worse place to be right now. Had he made a good decision, the top story on ABC News 24 would be something less tragic, thus making the world a better place.

Today's society makes us feel that unless we are praised, lauded or gifted with tangible rewards, our actions weren't successful, but if this cleaner had made a good decision instead of an (allegedly) evil one, he wouldn't have got any pats on the back (he should have got a punch in the face just for considering what he [allegedly] did), but his decision NOT to (allegedly) be an evil toolbox would have changed the world by NOT making it worse.

So if you're not getting promoted, pay rises or morning teas in your honor, or trophies, ribbons or medals recognising your good decisions, don't despair - things you decide NOT to do can be making the world a better place.

186- "Playing in the puddles" on the way thanks to Julie Lewthwaite

The biography of Barnaby Howarth  - "Playing in the puddles" - is less than a fortnight away from being printed, and it is there thanks mostly to one person, the girl who wrote it, Julie Lewthwaite.

When I decided to write my biography, I wanted my story told by someone who would do it justice, so I posted the job on E-Lance - a freelance writers website where authors pitch for advertised jobs. I got a number of responses, but one of the best ones I got was from Julie Lewthwaite, a professional writer from Britain, and after reading some examples of her published work, I decided she was my girl.

I sent Julie my autobiography, media articles, documentaries and blogs, and it made me realise how much of a footy-centric life I've lived, and I was a bit worried some of the subtleties of AFL might not be picked up. Not only did Julie get it though, she researched things she wasn't sure on and filled in any gaps I'd left her. One of the best examples of this is how she describes how to kick a "drop punt" - an AFL style of disposal. This probably sounded like it was Japanese when Julie read it in my autobiography, but she has described it in "Playing in the puddles" better than any AFL coaches manual could.

My brief for Julie was to write a true account in an entertaining, fictional sounding style, and she absolutely nailed it - I lived through every story in the book, but I can't wait for the book to come out! Above anything else, I wanted this book to do my story justice, but thanks to Julie Lewthwaite, I think I come out of it sounding like a better bloke than I am in real life.

185-Kokoda-come & give it a crack

Walking the Kokoda Track with friends and family is a prospect that will most likely only come up once in a person's life, and that opportunity is right in front of you, right now. 

To give yourself enough time to prepare, you need to sign up by the end of July. The tour group recommend a 3 month training regime, and there are 20 spots, 4 are taken, and it's first in best dressed.

To help you make a final decision if the challenge of Kokoda is something that tickles your fancy, an information session has been organised for Sunday April 12 at 12.30 in Thornleigh, where a past Kokoda Trekker will be talking about his successful campaign, and a future Trekker will be on hand to answer any questions. There will be a detailed information sheet to take home, but most importantly, there will be sausages - a BBQ will be firing to keep bellies full to help make decision.

FatScooter productions will be filming a documentary about the trip, so if this once in a lifetime opportunity has you interested, please email me at barnaby@barnabyhowarth.com.au.

Details on the trip are:

Kokoda To Owers Corner

• Duration: 8 days
• Departs: 21/10/2015
• Arrives: 29/10/2015
• Price: $3,685
• Led by: Australian Led

To book your spot, email Kokoda Spirit (enquire@kokodaspirit.com) with your full name and preferred postal address and a Booking Confirmation letter will be emailed to you, once the letter comes through, put your deposit down ($500) to reserve your spot.