We have so much to be grateful for. From the mundane turning of a tap to see water pour out of the faucet to our friends and family.

In this world of the 24-hour news cycle it often feels like we are being deluged with bad news. This video is about good news. I share some of the things that I’m grateful for in my life. I have some good news for you. It does something to your soul when you share with others what you’re grateful about…..it also inspires others to do likewise.

COVID-19 may be the fodder of the media empires, but the stuff of life is all around us in our relationships with one another, our jobs, hobbies and the fact there is food on the table. This is good news and we must not lose sight of this fact.

I would encourage you to reflect on what you’re grateful for in your life. In fact, don’t just reflect, share with others here in the comments or on my Youtube video comments.Don’t hold the love in, share it with us all and then pass on the video. Hopefully you get the sense that there is at least one Australian that wants to hear good news rather than the endless bad news we see to be fed.

Have a great weekend.
Michael

Are you a person of your word? In a world of contracts, non-disclosure agreements and other legal paraphernalia a person’s “word” appears to be a bit of an archaic concept. Why is it then that the fictional character of Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice is so revered?

Being a person of your word is ultimately at the heart of every relationship, whether it’s familiar members, friends or in business. When you say you will do something then you will do it…..but what happens when you can’t?
In this Saturday Musings I attempt to explore what it means to be a person of character where your word is your bond and how to overcome the problem of failing the “Mr Darcy” high bar.

One thing is for sure, the world could use more people that do what they say and say what they will do. I wonder what it would be like if you were a little more like Mr Darcy and the impact you would have on the people around you. I would encourage you to take some time-out this weekend to consider the challenges posed in this video.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel or the browser notifications on the website. Don’t be a stranger….or a lurker, feel free to share about your own experiences on this topic.

Have a great weekend!
Michael

While attending the recent NamesCon conference I was sitting in the bar late one night and I was asked a question that had nothing to do with business or domains. It was how I managed to stay married to the same woman for the last 32 years.

I was initially a little confused by the question as it was highly unexpected, but the friend opposite me was really seeking how they could make their own relationship richer. With a sense of humility, I began to share some of my own experiences and lessons from over the years.

I openly admit that I don’t have all the answers about how to make a perfect marriage, but I have learned a few things along the journey. Sure, like any relationships they’re have been some road bumps along the way but through it all we’ve managed to grow our love for each other and enjoy a little "slice of heaven on earth".

I would welcome hearing from readers/viewers of the video if it provokes you to reflect on what has worked for your own relationship with your significant other. No one hands out a manual on how to have a great marriage....so let's share so we can all learn. Also, don’t forget to like/subscribe to the video or sign-up to the alerts so you never miss out on another blog.

I’ve been enjoying blogging now for near enough on 12 years and to be quite honest with you it’s been one of the joys of my life. Sharing my thoughts each week with readers from across the world has been a privilege and I would like to thank you all for your kind words of support.

After considerable thought I decided that Whizzbangsblog needed a little shake up and that it was time for a change…..and it’s all good!

For a start, I plan to update the look, feel and functionality of the website so that it’s easier for readers to find articles they are after. If anyone knows a good Joomla template designer, then please don’t hesitate to let me know.

As well as my normal blogs I plan on doing a LOT more videos as well as introducing a podcast. The vlogs and podcasts will cover a number of main themes:

• Business and entrepreneurship.
• Extended, long-form interviews with interesting people from all sorts of backgrounds.
• Getting the most from life (ie. video musings).
• My other writing (scifi book, children’s adventure etc.)

What I would like to know is which topics you would like to hear more on. Is it a specific part of domain investing, business, life or something else entirely? Please let me know as I plan on scheduling the content over the coming weeks.

I find that everywhere I go I here hear from people who are stressed, anxious and feeling overwhelmed by the world around them. This is particularly true of the current generation who are constantly talk about being “stressed out”. Is there a solution to this pandemic of mental anguish? I think there is start anyway....

I will be the first to say that there is not a panacea that will fix every stressful situation but when I talk with people about their pain, there is quite often a few common threads. I hope that unpacking some of these will assist those of you that are stressed and put your feet on more solid ground.

Slow Down
Today’s world is nothing short of frenetic. If you’re a student, then the volume of material you need to learn seems to be ever increasing. If you’re at work, then the inbox never seems to get emptied.

No matter how many extra hours you spend trying to get your work done there always seems to be more just around the corner. There’s a saying, “No good deed goes unpunished.” If you’re good at your job, then guess what! We’ll load you up with more because you’re one of the few people that can get things done.

Many years ago, I found myself in this situation. I was literally working from about 7:30am until 2-3am, with a break for lunch and dinner. No matter hard I worked I couldn’t get through everything and the pace seemed to be relentless.

I shared about my miserable existence with a friend of mine and he gave me some great advice. If you get a good night’s sleep, then you’ll be more potent the next day. I thought the world would end if I didn’t put in my ridiculous hours but boy was I wrong.