Life on Salt Spring

Digital Salt Spring

Last night we made it to a meeting of Salt Spring Digital - a new group that has sprung up on the Island to bring together folk that work in the digital domain - or in their own words...

"Salt Spring Digital is a coming together of local, socially conscious community members who work in the I.T., Tech, Communications, and Knowledge fields.

It is a collective effort to share skills and resources with each other, to collaborate on projects, provide professional development and support for each other as well as developing our community’s digital infrastructure to build a sustainable economy."

What a great idea - we  had a fab time meeting people - thanks to the dedication of the organizers and the Raven Street Market Cafe for making this happen.

You can find out more and sign up here:

Salt Spring Digital Site

Salt Spring Digital Facebook Site

Looking forward to more fun events and seeing what the group can achieve (maybe we can even get high speed internet to the South End....!)

 

First update from Duncan

Boring Electrical Stuff - and a Generic Electric Load Calculator for you...

OK so you are probably used to Emma writing things about me - but there have not exactly been a lot of updates from me.  What does Duncan actually do? (I hear you thinking...)

Well at the moment I am growing tomatoes, peppers and various squash from seed, getting our veg. garden underway, planning our guest cottage, and trying to get our previously mouse infested hallway renovated. That's 2 sets of 'scale plans' and 2 'permit applications', plus trying to track down the various tradespeople that I need - excavation (which will of course be courtesy of the fabulous Ryan from Bradley Excavating), concrete work, septic etc etc. 

Well as part of all of this the question came up as to whether I can connect all our planned buildings (the cottage and the eventual garage/studio) to the existing 200 amp supply from BCHydro. Or do we need to shell out for Hydro to put a whole new supply in. So that is what I have been figuring out today. And after a conversation with the electrical inspector (they really are very nice here - where else could you wander in to see the building or electrical inspector and ask, "How exactly do I do this?"

So, after that and much consulation of this book ---->

I figured out that I can use the existing supply. Hurrah. I know you are all breathing a sigh of relief.

Anyway - this was so exciting I thought I would share my excel spreadsheet.  If anyone out there needs to do a load calculation for a new house, addition, suite etc based on the BC electrical code - this is for you!  Enjoy!

Download Generic Electric Load Calculator (BC Electrical Code)

Right, well that's enough "riveting reno ramblings" for now.  Next post - my favourite power tools...

 

Day 291 - February 26th 2009

The Coaching Tools Company.com has finally launched!!

I''m really excited to announce (after months and months of preparation and work!) the launch of my new venture catering to fellow coaches and therapists:

The Coaching Tools Company.com - Professional Coaching Tools to Boost your Business and add Pizzazz to your Coaching Practice!

If you are a coach or therapist and are interested in a free sample coaching tool, click here >>

Day 205 - December 2nd 2008

Email Sabbatical Update ( and Confession!) 

OK, so I confess. I have been checking email. It started off innocently enough: I had some tasks to do for a networking group for which I am on the board - and most things are done by email. But while I was there I would just quickly check other things and open and delete others. And before I knew it at the end of last week I was - again - feeling overwhelmed by email.

So this week I am REALLY testing myself. I last checked email Sunday night - and whilst I have sent one email (I promised a website link to someone) I have not hit the very tempting "Send and Receive" Button.

Now it is only Tuesday afternoon. But I think (apart from holidays) that this is a record for me.

Interestingly what I have learned so far:

1. Basically I am the problem... Yes, others (that I know and don't know) may send me email - often when a phonecall could be simpler or faster - but it's ME that interrupts my work to check email.
2. If I don't check my email until lunchtime (I have done this a lot recently) I have a VERY PRODUCTIVE morning.
3. I keep checking email because I fear them growing out of control. It's the old, "A stitch in time saves nine" metaphor - but on steroids! Constantly checking email to avoid a backlog just interrupts my work, feeds any procrastinative (is that a word?) impulses I may have and makes me significantly less productive.
4. I feel obliged to reply to all my emails. And with the volume I get, that means I feel like I am constantly sprinting just to stay on top of them. I worry that people will think I am rude if I don't reply. Isn't it interesting that we have this societal need to be polite - to not hurt other's feelings. In the email arena this means we put other's needs before our own - by spending our precious time replying to unsolicited emails - sometimes from people we don't even know!
5. I worry what I might be missing out on. This is a very human condition - we don't like to feel excluded! And in business who knows what might come through via email? For example - I recently got a lucrative contract as a spokesperson via an initial email - and replying promptly. The most valid fears are the hardest to beat...

Technology is amazing AND yes, we are using it to stay in touch (and get back in touch!) more. But somehow we are becoming more DISconnnected with what's really important. Real 'in-time' contact - whether quality time with family and friends, a business meeting or a phonecall.

Like everyone else I use email because it's very convenient. We can fire something off quickly and with little effort by email. When we pick up the phone we need to think things through beforehand, and make an effort to be pleasant and professional. Email allows us to just type, review (some people miss this step...) and send - whatever mood we are in - with least effort.

So. I'm not going to check email until next Monday - and we'll see then if the world has ended...

Watch for future updates!

Day 168 - October 27th 2008

Email Sabbatical - Progress Report 1

What is an email sabbatical? That's a very good question. Well, since July (August really) I have been trying to make/find/create the time to work on life-coaching products. This is my dream - to have a website that is a resource for individuals AND fellow life-coaches.

So, I start things, I have great ideas - and for a lot of the products it simply means simply tweaking what I've been using with my clients. But my dream never seems to happen or move forwards.

And I know email is a big part of the problem. 1) Volume, 2) New and interesting opportunities and enquiries that come through via email and 3) My inability to NOT CHECK EMAIL, distract myself and get caught up in 1) and 2).

So, this email sabbatical is an experiment. The auto-responder telling people went on last Thursday lunchtime at 12.00pm. And since then I have had a few realizations...

REALIZATION NUMBER 1. In preparation for switching on my auto-responder, I began to unsubscribe from lots of newsletters and ezines. I hadn't realised I subscribed to SO MANY! and by this morning my email had already reduced significantly! I unsubscribed from a few more and it seems by head is already clearer...

REALIZATION NUMBER 2. The pull of email is stronger than I realised. I spent an hour going through my email (although I did make a couple of phone calls instead of write emails) before I even realised that the time had gone. And each of those emails I responded to already knows I'm on sabbatical because they will have received my auto-responder response. I am more of the problem than I realised...

REALIZATION NUMBER 3. The phone - takes more 'personal' effort than email. Maybe that's why we use email when really a phonecall would be quicker/easier. If you phone, you have to think about what you're going to say, be bright and cheery, look up the phone number and USE YOUR INTERPERSONAL SKILLS! It's more tiring than sitting down and whizzing off an email. But the phone is also better for creating a HUMAN CONNECTION. More on this later.

I think I am going to have to wean myself off email rather than go cold turkey... Enjoy your week people!