Complaining makes you fail?

Somebody starts complaining and hesitating in the middle of action. Wanting others to know that there lies a risk in the activity. And more the complaint is overlooked, the louder it gets.

I remember a trip to Chamonix, which ended up me wondering that do I really complain. I though I was just making notions on the circumstances.
Complaining and negativitity spread from people to others. Although the intention might be neutral, the effect might be that somebody else starts focusing on cold feet insteads of good skiing.


Hesitation and negativitity grow from fear. A fear that something is getting worse and not having control over it. -Withdrawing while still able might feel like the rational thing to do.

Working in organizational environment and extreme sports have much in common in this. Going to the mountain and making strategic decisions contain risks. In both cases the missunderstood fear can lead to not getting the run planned or failing in business. Sometimes even to fall of mighty organizations.
-Do we have the skills? What do other think if I can't?
-Are we strong enough? Can we make it in time?
-Do we have the right gear? Have we covered all the risks?
-Am I able to take care of myself? Is this getting worse?

Both in organizational environment as well as in extreme sports there are times that you to make leaps of fait. Have the confidence on yourself and on what you are doing.

There are three good anti-dozes for fear:
Experience creates confidence, that all the challenges can be tackled and all the needed skills and gear is with you.
Positivity makes you focus on the solutions - not the problems and make sure you don't spread the hesitation to others.
Finally, if there is a fear behind a complaint, treat it as such and discuss through to diminish it.
-Monsters are as frightening even if they are put under the bed.

In both environments, not keeping noise about real problems can be lethal too. Good question is that how to recognice the serious stuff? -Mutual trust maybe?

Egolocical thinking as a strategy; Patagonia and Basecamp Oulanka

Some might say that Patagonia is crazy company when launching a campaign with the motto "Don't Buy This Shirt Unless You Need It".

For me, it made read through their values and find out that Patagonia is one of the leading companies in the world really finding ways to produce it's outdoor gear in the most ecological way possible.


Outdoor lovers use enormous amounts of different kind of synthetic fibres, plastics and composite products. It's about time that there are some leaders in making our consumption leaner so that we will not destroy our environment while enjoying it.

Another good example of ecological thinking in nature travel is Basecamp Oulanka in Kuusamo. They arrange a range of wilderness activities from extreme adventures to well-being holidays - all with high environmental, social and economical standards.
Seeing what modern wilderness tourism has done to many areas of Finnish Lapland, doing things really in the original way and minimizing operational footprint in every way is a refreshing, delightful and not a bit less fun.

Buy a Patagonia - if you really need one, and go to Kuusamo to enjoy some real experiences!

Exped Airpillow - instant classic

When hiking or traveling my weak spot is the pillow. Having a poor sleep can ruin a lot. After trying many versions from regular ones to high end down -versions I can say that I know guite a lot of pillows.

Exped has made a good job in ensuring excellent sleep in winter conditions with their Downmat. Now I dare to say that they have made a iconic travel pillow:
Airpillow M is extremely small, lightweight, has comfortable surface and is easy to fill and empty. Also it looks good. Only down side is that it's so popular it's hard to find at least in Finland. I found mine in Scandinavian Outdoor Store :)

Perfect combination - Tsokka

Sometimes nature and technology create a perfection.
Tsokka, Pyhä.

I have to say that Tsokka is a refreshing exception on the Lappish service scene. (Not the typical ripping your money on your holiday) Really good food, great selection of drinks and dedicated staff.

Hating wet weather - no wonder!

Found one possible reason for me hating these current wet weathers.
My dear old boots seem to be in the end of their journey. These boots have walked on Copacabana, hiked on the Scotland highland, been carried on a tray by security woman in Tokyo airport and in almost every other place I've been in last 7 years -year around.
Since I'm from Laihia, I should understand that these are still in perfectly good shape othervice than the soles, and repair these or at least start using these only on dry weather. Or propose these to the Museum of stingyness in Laihia, where there's bunch of interesting items that has been used to the very end. But these are bit too normal for the museum, so I'll drop them to the bin with good consciousness. But for certain, my next boots will also be made by Jalas!

It's smelling like winter

Nice sun shiny autumn is turning into winter. First morning frost was visible this morning.

Finnish summer (27.6.08)

Perfect evening at lake Inari

Posted from N73 through Flickr

First evening was still, warm and absolutely No mosquitos. In the morning it was raining slightly, but it doesn't really matter while paddling. -You end up getting wet anyway.

The lake itself is remote, quiet and complex with all it's islands. Great place for kayaking and camping. The water is really good and clear even on finnish scale.

Flexible polymer armour for sports

Hilavitkutin wrote recently about a polymer developed by d3o that is flexible until you hit it. In that case it hardens instantly and in this case protects you body.
-I would like to have that kind of stuff on my knees next time I go off-piste. -I would be great if it could support joints in similar manner, only when you need it.

Vuosaari by bike

Posted from N73 through Flickr

After living in Helsinki for awhile I think that this city is heaven for XC-biker!

Today I took the subway to east and we started to explore forests around Vuosaari. Kallahti was a great place, felt nothing like Southern Finland. Also Uutela with the beautiful cow sculptures by Miina Äkkijyrkkä is a sight to see! (On Google Maps)

And don't forget the sausages. -Plenty of places to grill, but unfortunately no axes.

Midsummer

Posted from N73 through Flickr

Building sauna on the eve of midsummer; We made everything ready before the midnight, and the löyly was great =)

The thing about festivities is to prepare those. -Like christmas, the thing is to make the food and decorations. If those are done already, what's the point just sit around..

But sauna is finished and tomorrow is just for sauna and games. And hopefully some more sun 8)

Update

I kept a long weekend, and what a nice weekend it was :)
Saw Tamminiemi, went to Turku to see Mikael, grilled in Aurinkolahti, saw Hietaniemi cemetary and finally had a hike in Uutela. -And all this in great company!

Btw: our companys official 'lähiökuppila' Luna has been mentioned in City-magazine. -Along with the next place I try to check, La Place..

Cold

*edit*
Remember, driving without your hands with a bicycle is an obligatory thing to survive (and keep your fingers warm) in Rovaniemi..
-Darn it was cold!

Foreigners often ask me while staying abroad that why is it that I'm feeling so cold.. -My respons usually is that it is a matter of evolution. Such scandinavians that thought they could resist cold weather without a proper clothing or shelter -they just vanished..

My pics @Flickr

We often talk about Wow!-feeling. Somehow I think that for a professional, experiencing a Wow ! is more that just a Wow. -Maybe one starts to be so cynical..
Anyway, Flickr probably gives you one of those Wows. There has been a need to use your hundreds digipics somehow - not just collecting those. Flickr is a nice way to publish your pics and much more.

www3.flickr.com/photos/perttu

The thing about the Flickr is open API (application programming interface). And almost all the things you can imagine has been done. -My personal favorite of the tools is Retrievr, just sketch the pic, and Flickr will find it to you! =D
More @ fd's flickr toys and Flickr Services

Even Picasa should be jeallous, although they are in a different branch. (Now when Google came up: Did you know that they put 'Office' into web :D)

Korouoma on Saturday

Afterlife?

No this is not the afterlife. -This is a life after an exam..
-Made up some theories of my own about design research. ;D





















Btw: It was a nice move what Aki Kaurismäki did, by not allowing his movie Laitakaupungin valot to have an oscar nomination!
-His reasons were that he protests US politics as well as Hollywood nonsense. *thumbs up*

Colors of autumn

Despite the flu that coucht me, outdoors are great at the moment :)