Bluebird - A pint of Ale and the world water spped record

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About Me / Contact Me david@thoughtoftheweek.co.uk		WHO SHOULD USE THIS SITE? This site is a Personal Development site which is designed to help us think. As the writer & thinker Bernard Shaw said "Most people don't take the time to think. I made an international reputation for myself by deciding to think twice a week." This site takes just 2 to 3 minutes to read or listen to (via the podcast) every week and it's free. The site doesn't tell us what to think, but it purpose is to direct our thoughts down new roads. The Thoughts are based on material from great authors like Brian Tracy, Napoleon Hill, Steven D Levitt, John Elliot, Dave Allen, Jim Collins, Peter Thompson plus many more, coupled with a little bit of my own thinking. In addition I have chosen my favourite resources which are accessible from the menu on the right. I hope you enjoy this weeks thought (below) and don't forget to check out the archives (below) for any thoughts you've missed. Till next week - David Gardner _______________________________________________________________________ THIS WEEKS THOUGHT The Bluebird Experience - 9th September 2007 *Reading Time 2 minute 48 seconds* FOR A PODCAST OF THIS THOUGHT CLICK HERE Or To Subscribe Here The sky was dark blue stretching over a perfect mountain range above the quaint village of Coniston. I was sitting at the toe of the "Old Man of Coniston" which just happens to be a pub "The Black Bull", sipping a smooth golden pint of "Bluebird Ale". It was a very different scene from what I had just experienced. I had been on the lake viewing a scene that had happened thirty years earlier. It was the 4th January 1967 and Donald Campbell was racing down the lake, he was attempting to break his own water speed record of 267mph, he opened up the throttle and the boat cruised across the measured mile at 298mph. He had completed the first run but to gain the official stamp would have to return back up the lake at the same speed. Without hesitation Donald swung the boat around, deciding for the first time not to refuel after the North / South run. He opened up the throttle and headed back up the lake. He reached the first marker at 328 mph (a speed not repeat even to this day). He said "Pitching a bit down here...Probably from my own wash...Straightening up now on track...Rather close to Peel Island...Tramping like mad...er... Full power...Tramping like hell here... I can't see much... and the water's very bad indeed...I can't get over the top... I'm getting a lot of bloody row in here... I can't see anything... I've got the bows up... I'm going...oh..." and the boat somersaulted back into the lake, killing Donald and his dreams instantly. The cause of the crash has been attributed to Donald not waiting to refuel after doing a first run and hence the boat being lighter and the wash from his first run not having time to flatten. Now there are loads of ideas and thoughts you can get out of this profound story. But back in the pub I sipped my Ale and wondered what had been going through Donald's mind as he flung the boat back round without stopping. Had he considered the risks verses the benefit associated with this action, and if he hadn't considered this, would he have made a different decision if he had.. Then a self realisation hit me. How often do fail to consider the risk v benefit case of my actions, what about that risky overtake I did or that impulsive comment I made. How often, before I take action, do I give myself those precious seconds to consider the risks I am about to accept.. I shuddered, do you? Till next week consider you actions David Gardner
Recommended Audio CD's THE MUST HAVE "THE ACHIEVERS EDGE" By Peter Thompson More Great CD Programs Think & Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill Good to Great - Jim Collins Psychology of Achievement - Brian Tracy Discover Your Strengths - M Buckingham 7 Habits of Highly Effective- Stephen Covey Rich Dads Secrets - Robert Kiyosaki Maverick Mindset - John Elliot Vocal Power - Roger Love Quantum Memory - Dominic O'Brien Getting Things Done - David Allen A Short History of Nearly Everything- B Bryson
Recommended Books Good to Great - Jim Collins 7 Habits - Stephen Covey Discover you Strengths - M Buckingham Richard Branson's Auto biography Brilliant Memory - Dominic O'Brien Think & Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill Freakonomics - Stephen Levitt Getting Things Done - David Allen The Machine That Changed the World Watching the English - Kate Fox A Short History of Nearly Everything- B Bryson


Archives Bluebird - A pint of Ale & water speed record Visualising an Argument with Alien Bowling Old Friends lead to New Thoughts Bad Driver Space Shuttle designed on a horses backside Back to the Future The Mexican Boatman & "Harvard MBA". The World in Perspective Acres of Diamonds First impressions in 30s The Two Minute Rule Noughts and Crosses Think and Grow Rich 3 Blind Men & An Elephant Someone Everyone Anyone No-one 12 Questions to High Performance The Bee Can't Fly but No-one told the bee The Maverick Mindset of Baseball Three Men and a Boat Stop Two Cannibals & a Beautiful Girl The Meaning of Life What was your name again? Two Frogs Is Common Sense Possible An Architects Vision Does Edison Turn Your Light On Other books and CDs I've mentioned can be found here There are loads of great audio programs at Nightingale Conant's ,web site here,