Smells are strong and trigger all sorts of memories.

Whether it is the smell of the roast in the oven, the smell of baking cakes filling the house or that dirty smell of sheep poo when you enter Wales and the most immature person in the car points at someone else and says ” ARHH Did you fart!”

When you catch a good smell of something you don’t know much. You might not know what it is, where it is, how much of it there is, who owns it, whether you can have it or whether it actually will taste or look good but you damn well know you want to find out more!

Sometimes in life we get a whiff of something and we instinctively know it smells good or bad but we can’t necessarily qualify or quantify it.

What can you smell?

]]> http://www.daviderasmus.com/whats-that-smell/feed/ 0 http://www.daviderasmus.com/the-truth-shall-set-you-free/ http://www.daviderasmus.com/the-truth-shall-set-you-free/#comments Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:04:33 +0000 David Erasmus http://www.daviderasmus.com/?p=245 Everyone knows we are meant to tell the truth.

The interesting question though is how much truth should we tell?

Should you tell your partner that their butt did look big in those new jeans?

If it helpful to point out every flaw in that new song your friend has written when he asks for your opinion?

I think a good question to ask is are you saying for them or for you?

All I know is that when honest conversations happen more often than not its awkward and painful but afterward you achieve new levels of intimacy.

Personally,I also love someone knowing everything about me, good and bad as that way they can make an informed decision.

If they still choose me after knowing everything whether business, client, family or friend I know I have been truly chosen and its a very satisfying feeling, if they don’t choose me it hurts but at least I didn’t hurt them by blagging my way into their lives.

I am reading an Interesting book called Radical Honesty, take a look on YouTube at Brad Blanton being interviewed.

Tell me your thoughts……

This is the letter I wrote to them this morning, lets see what they say……..

Dear Clas Ohlson,

I went to your store for the first time the other day……Brilliant!

Its like an Ikea Metro thank you for bringing it to Kingston.

I have an apology to make, I came in with my Girlfriend looking for a few bits and bobs for my bedroom which she is helping me do up. I was carrying a BIG bag from Primark I put it down and found 2 silver dimmer switches, Perfect.

I then however accidentally with no spare hands available put the dimmer switches in my Primark bag so I could carry everything ( I stress I did this totally sub-conciously.) We then decided that we would go to TK Maxx to see if we could find cheaper picture frames and if not would come back and purchase the lovely frames from your store, we did not however come back.

That was that but later in the evening thinking about how I was looking forward to putting up my new Clas Ohlson dimmer switches (it’s sad I know) I thought to myself “we didn’t check out at Clas ……..but I am sure I have the simmer switches?” Low and behold when I checked my bag I had in fact accidentally nicked 2 dimmer switches from your store. I found it highly amusing as I think its the first physical good I have stolen since I was 5.

My dilemma continued, knowing that I should bring the switches back to the store but really wanting to put them up!!! I gave in they now look brilliant on my wall and I can set the mood lighting however I please and sometimes change it up and down just because I can. This is my apology for stealing from you.

I like Clas Ohlson and want more of your products that I want to pay for them. Please tell me where I can send the money for the dimmer switches, I would much prefer not to come into the shop again as its quite far for me and petrol is flipping expensive at the moment.

Thanks for reading this.

I look forward to hearing from you as to which bank account I can send the 20 odd pounds.

Thanks again

Dave

There is a balance to be stuck between writing stories and telling stories.

If all an author did was lock himself in his cupboard and write continuously no-one would ever hear of his work and it would have no impact.

If all he ever did was talk about his writing in interviews and reviews then he would just be full of hot air.

We are all writing our own stories and telling them to the people around us whether we know it or not and different seasons demand different priorities in the writing / telling balance.

I know for me the next three months is a writing time!

The next chapter in my book. “Mobile Micropayments”

I will tell you about it once its written!

He maintains that there are 3 facets to the best leaders he has seen.

• The ability to articulate the vision
• The right kind of ambition
• The ability to achieve the vision

I am sure we all know plenty of people who only carry 1 or 2 of these attributes and cant get out of the starting blocks.

Seth Godin talks a lot about The Dip. When a business is about to fail is the only point in which you can truly see a leaders relationship equity. Horowitz commends Steve Jobs on his ability to get through these Dips against all odds.

The most exciting leaders I want to follow are ones who’s whole lives revolve around serving a purpose bigger than themselves.

I guess that falls under the right kind of ambition.