George St-Pierre: My body. My mind. The tools that I have.

Read in a Canadian-French accent for fuller effect!

"... I give [sic] everything I have tonight... (thinks)
You know... (thinks)

I am like I am.
I use my body the best that I can.

I don't have the knock-out power of Rampage Jackson.
I don't have the athletic ability of Jon Jones.
I don't have the accuracy of Anderson Silva.
I don't have the wrestling of Chael Sonnen.

But I use my body (points to self)
- the tools that I have -
the best that I can.

And that's why I win fight [sic].

It's not always about muscle.
It's the mind.
And I use my tools the best that I can, to win the fight..."

Geore St-Pierre at the UFC 154 post-fight press conference talking about his tenth straight title defense.

One life (BBC Earth)

Brilliant. The best animal/nature compilation I've come across. Good pace. Jumps animal/location every few minutes, enough to make the intended point and never too long to drag. I believe this feature is a condensed version of the larger 'Life' series, so maybe not worth buying if you've already got that.

Watching it and the closing conclusion in particular is thought-provoking. It's clear animals display intelligence, adaptability and ingenuity. So what is our edge? There's definitely something that differentiates humans from other animals. So what is it that makes us unique? Perhaps this ability to pose questions?...

The indispensability trap

Great article on good management in the November 2012 issue of Management Today: The Indispensability Trap, by Richard Jolly. In summary...

The curse of bad management:

"You are fantastic: indispensable.
Which is why you're the last person I'd promote!
You are far too important where you are."

The goal of good management:

"The team is working so well
they don't need me any more!
I am ready for my next challenge."

Book Review: Living with a Black Dog, by Matthew and Ainsley Johnstone

Depression I find to be as fascinating a topic as it is sad. Questions such as: what brings it about; why so few of those who suffer from it, see it; and, particularly, how comes the percentage of people who suffer from it rises year on year, even in places where quality of life is supposedly on the rise. But! This book is not so much about depression itself or the sufferer of it, as it about the caregiver - the partner, friend or colleague of the person experiencing depression ("harbouring a black dog"). A good, small, useful picture book summarising nicely advice for caregivers. The advice is split into things the caregiver may notice about the person experiencing depression, things not to say and do, things good to say and do, tips on embracing/acknowledging the black dog together, and, lastly, self-preservation so that the black dog does not rub off on the caregiver.