Legnered & CO

I will now be taking a break from this blog and start writing in Swedish for a while. I might stumble back from time to time though. You never know. Please go to Frukostläsning.

Dancing is liberating in so many ways. The body in movement to rythm and music. The pulse accelerates as the body gets warmer and softer. Mind och soul in coordination with body. Like a wave the body flows through various movements and emotions are created.

Sometimes the danceclasses are a challenge. I need to struggle in finding a good flow. I see the teacher doing the movements and the combination. Normally I imitate the combination not with total ease but with some thinking and observing. Often I need to go through the combination a couple of times before it’s there. I don’t count. I don’t think. But I somehow use my mind and make my body follow. Sometimes I struggle alot. Sometimes I struggle less. But when I make it at the end of the class I feel a sence of accomplishment. It feels great and I’m all sweaty and I can already feel how my muscles are hurting. So I stretch. And that feels good. It’s a good kind of hurting. I know I’ve done my best.

When my mind isn’t present it just doesn’t work. When I’m not focused it’s not as much fun. Usually this happens when I’m stressed and have too much to do or to much on my mind.

I hereby swear I will from now on do all I can to get things done and sort out stuff I don’t need to be thinking of.

From now on I will enjoy life fully and dance like crazy.

Peace and conflict go hand in hand. Take this time to reflect on why life is like a rollercoaster. Or why it is not. Should it be?

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Ups and downs in life make living a tad bit more exiting. If we knew there would be no downs, there would be nothing to struggle for. Nothing to overcome. Nothing to learn from.

But when you’re riding a rollercoaster the downs are the most fun. And the ups are the most exiting. That’s when your blod rushes and your heart beats a hundred miles per hour. When are downs in life fun?

Perhaps a better analogy could be visualizing life as a rolling landscape with green hills or blue hills if you will. There are plenty of hills and they are high and low. Some are soft with rich grass you can lay and roll around in and get all messed up. There you can hide. There you can get stuck. Wether you’re stuck or hiding in the midst of the grass you might find an ant. If you sink deeper into that hill you might stumble upon a worm. Some hills have a hard surface and though it might be one high as Mount Everest you can run right across it. It might take you some time but the surface is excellent.

During your path through life you will travel high and low. You will learn, sort and gain. Don’t forget to remove those blinkers that tend to grow on you as you get wiser. You don’t want to miss out on a new perspective do you?

Yesterday was my first day outside after staying home several days, sleeping, watching bad series on tv and cursing my tonsills humongeous like balloons.

Went to the bank. Guess what number I got: 666

Um..maybe I should just go home again and hide

Went to the grocery store today to fill up on my vitamins. I got this sudden urge for avocado yesterday and again today. Don’t usually like avocado like most people do. Ohmigod. I’m turning into most people…

In line at the grocery store this lady infront of me seems a bit stressed. I’m usually also stressed. Especially at the grocery store. First of all I hate standing in line. Second of all I don’t find it amuzing choosing inbetween this or that cuz it takes me forever to decide. Getting better at it though. SO my shoppingstrategy: Grab a shopping basket (preferrably the blue one with wheels). Run down to the vegetable dep and grab whatever you can as fast as you can. (Usually cucumber and oranges or grapes). Use the same method while continuing down toilettpaper lane, ham, cheese and then fast food dep. Grab a pizza and a pasta dish. Sometimes I’m adventureous and grab a meal with some Indian or Thai spices. (Usually taste Swedish anywayz.) Moving along to bread and then finally milk and juice dep. Maybe eggs on the way. YES! I’ve filled my basket and now the search starts for the right line. How many people in line? How much are they shopping and then most importantly: Who’s at the register? The new ones have proven to be slower so I usually go with the oldies. Then stand in line with no expression in your face. Just wait. Dammit the other line is moving faster. I should have calculated it!

Wild strategy huh? This is a normal day at the grocery store. But I have decided to leave that strategy effective immediately and start noticing what’s actually on the shelves.

Today this stressful lady infront of me puts up her groceries on the band and then when all is up she violently tries to put her red basket amongst the other red baskets. After trying two times she simply gives up and puts it on the pile of blue baskets instead. Um? What went through her head that moment? One size fits all?

Remember when you were a kid and had to put figures down a box. The square figure in the square part of the box, the triangular in the triangular and so on. How did that work for you? What I’m actually wondering is: How did that work for the lady infront of me?

She made me smile. Then I thought: Why stand there pouting when you can smile and perhaps inspire someone else? Have you ever seen a person walking down the street with a huge smile? What did you do then? Well, either you smiled too or you just uttered something like: What is he/she so damn happy about?

By the way, ever been to the grocery store planning on only getting milk or only getting those tomatoes you forgot to get before? You don’t reach for a basket at the entrence because you’re just picking up one or two things. When you’ve picked them up you realize you need toiletpaper. Then you think it would be nice with some ice-cream and perhaps cheese cuz you’re tired of just eating ham for breakfast. But the basket is by the entrance. And you can’t get all of that without a basket. Should you go back to the entrance? Is it worth it? Nope. Why isn’t there a pile of carts somewhere IN the store?

Ok, well atleast stop pouting and make the world a happier place. Did you read Metro today? I picked it up right after haveing my epiphany about smiling.

I’m sick. My inspiration is gone. I don’t like it at all. Tonsillitis…go away

Like in any relationship your relationship with your job will change during time.

The other day me and my friend discussed how people easily check the market before they break up with someone. Often it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in a relationship because you normally need to know that you still have a chance of meeting someone new before breaking up. Some end up checking it out to see if they still get a glance here or there or even better up get a number. Some end up cheating. This is to me normal behaviour.

This same behaviour is also common in you worklife. Take for example this girl and guy right next to me here at Espresso House. They seem to be around 30, well payed, well dressed with Canadian Goose and tailored jacket and well mannered. They look happy at first. She has just bought a new perfume at Arlanda Airport and asks him to smell her neck to get his opinion if he likes it. He does. And she giggles and lets him know it’s Britney’s new perfume. But a couple of sentences later I notice they are not happy with their life. They both talk about their work and how great they are at what they do but they are not satisfied. The girl works as a consultant for Proffice and is no longer motivated. She hopes to find work as a teamleader for some other company. Working more closely with employee matters and not so much customers. She’s not at all content with the competition within the organisation. Inbetween business goals and so on. The guy gives her some tips about companies he knows she can apply with. The guy works as a recruiter and also wants to move on. He’s also worried about moving to the new apartment with his girlfriend. She gives him advice on how important it is to not just find a solution that works for the moment.

They talk openly about this and I can hear every word they say. People in their organizations and so on. I reflect on how companies must work harder to keep employees motivated and happy. I read an articel in Sydsvenskan today. It was about the new generation Y born after 1977 and how they strive to have a job they feel can make them happy. The new generation is creative and do not stay long at one place. Their goal is to achieve self-actualization. According to Maslow’s hiearchy of needs you must first achieve physiological needs then safety and love and belonging followed by a sence of esteem. I wonder if the hierarchy would look the same if he pondered about it today.

It’s much harder to try out a new company without your old company noticing you’re cheating. You just have to do some research about the new company without actually getting involved.

Research, follow your intuition and leap. Cuz every new thing you try out is a challenge.

She says “Remember to keep all of this to yourself. He replies “Of course I will. That’s one of my strenghts”

Hahaha I’m laughing now because I’m at Espresso House, and I never thought I would actually again visit this god forsaken new version of McDonalds but coffeeDonalds. The thing is though that I do visit McDonalds once in a while since a cheesburger á 10 kronors is sometimes esential for my survival when time does not exist and my stomach has realized it needs feeding.

The windows here at Espresso House (Skomakaregatan) are sure enough a challenge if you’re a window washer. There’s a lady here right now and she’s struggling away. This lady has a partner in crime. Together they clean Skomakaregatans windows. It’s a sight for sure but I don’t fancy the disgusting windowcleaning smelly detergent whatever thing my nose wants to disappear. Why don’t they do this before opening? Seems weird to me.. Mmm how about a cappuccino flavoured with detergent?

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Breakfast at Espresso House is not a horrible experience. At least not at this one here at Skomakaregatan in Malmö. When I stepped into the coffeeshop this morning I wondered why it was so quiet in here. I didn’t bother to say anything to the guy working there because he was very nice and I instantly felt how a wave of service hit me. He will soon enough put some music on. And an hour later he put some nice relaxing music on. Fantastic.

Two minutes later an annoying couple sits down in the window right next to me and starts babbling away about annoying stuff I don’t at all bother about knowing. This is my gratest challenge when I go to a coffee house.

1. Don’t sit next to people who you know will loudly chat away about their life sorrows (often sorrows)
2. Don’t be bothered about other peoples conversations

Easy solution: Stay home goddamit

Yesterday on my way to café Solde I ran into my friend Mange nowadays working as a Party Starter at Torso Twisted. He was on his way to Restaurant Moccasin and since I haven’t been there since they renovated I decided to join him there. T’was super nice! Brother and co-partner in business Michel joined us. We sat down in the couch and the weird thing is that this couch reminds alot of the couch illustrated on our businesscard for ekia! Adding a brickwall in the background like our businesscard. It’s destiny I think. It was a rewarding coffee and lunch. I’ll be back for more for sure.

On to my interview with Lars at JS-gruppen. I went from selfassured steak tartare to over grilled Whopper! He sure knew how to get the most out of an interview. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what respons I get.

After being totally disected like a frog I had to have a moment by myself to reflect. And where would be better to do that than Solde. Solde here I come.

Solde was everything I excpected of course. Wonderful double cappuccino and great service. You may now ask why I haven’t been there more often. I have two excuses. One: Lilla Kafferosteriet has been very cosy and comfortable for me to hang out and work. Great coffee and great environment as well as close to my home. Two: I have had the perception of Solde as a typical Italian espresso place with a simple board against the wall and bar chairs. Not a place where you go to take a “Lång-fika” as we say in Sweden. You go there to enjoy a great coffee and then you’re on your way. Proven otherwise yesterday when managed to get some work done on my computer. I love the service there. Love the wallpaper. Also love the christmas tree with picture-decorations. Simply love Solde.

GTD

Man does this guy rock or what

I think I wanna be a writer…As a writer I can sleep all day and work all night. Or maybe I should go to New York and be a bartender. I will turn 29 this year. What am I supposed to do the rest of my life? I can’t be a bartender the rest of my life. But I enjoy the attention. And I enjoy selling. So why don’t I find myself a job as a salesperson? Right. Just find the right product to sell. And the right company. I need to work. That’s just how it is. Perhaps I should find a job that goes in line with ekia? Now where would that be? It could be as a bartender at Möllan. It could be working for a media company. Newspaper? Magazine?

I need to find my passion in life and work with it. Just find it. Or as Nike put it: Just do it.

What consequences? Enjoy life and make the most of it.

To make a decision is not always an easy task. To make the right decision is even harder. Perhaps is it the fear of making the wrong decision that paralyzes us and leaves us doing nothing at all. But with a little help from my friend- da Booz - the problem seize to exist. In vino veritas (Alkaios 620 BC - 580 BC)

Decerno, preacto et exigo (Mina Legend 1979 - present) - Decide, act and complete

And then she asked: “What happened to men?”

There was no need for thinking thus the answer was simple: “Men turned into boys and vaporized.”

The world does not serve you. It’s you who must serve the world.

Bis repetita non placent

Seriously!

Why does it have to be so cold in the airplane? And the air is so dry up there my contacts feel like glue and my eyes like the sahara desert. It’s totally annoying. So I’m getting new glasses ok!

• SAS: No I don’t like flying with you because you don’t feed me. I have to buy a sandwich, snack or even water. Totally not nice. The ticket is so darn expensive you could think a small sandwich or something could be included. Your flightcrew is old maids and they speek swenglish. “Vee arr now abaaot teo teak åff. Pliis pot ån yeår seaftibelt”

• Malmö Aviation: Yes I like flying with you because you feed me! It’s so nice not to have to worry about bending down to take out your wallet. Or not to have to watch out to see if the crew is on the way. They pop by you and hand you the package. And I say package because they usually include alot of stuff. A well-thought sandwich, not just ham and cheese. Youghurt, cake or fruit and juice. It varies. It’s a surprise every time! I like it!

Hey, I know what I’m doing now!

It took a while, but hey…Potius sero quam numquam*. My new job makes me push myself to the limit. I am to work daytime now. You know 8-5? I’m taking on tasks I haven’t done before. For example drawing these flowcharts. Can anyone please explain to me why Microsoft Visio isn’t more userfriendly? Jesus..I mean Microsoft..please update!

So anywayz, my job consists of travelling to various sites to interview key people about their way of handling an inquiry or order. Following with analyzing and reporting my findings. Let me tell you, the stainless steel industry is not extremely sexy. I’m trying my best to think otherwise but it’s not an easy task. See..it’s hard and it’s steel..ok well if you put it that way… Ok, well jokes aside it is a mighty industry and it’s quite impressive to stand there in the production haveing all these massive pipes alongside. And oh, the machine that puts pressure on the iron to bend and shape it: the pressure equals 4000 cars on top of eachother. Pretty amazing huh? I’m immensly impressed anywayz.

Travelling was glamourous in the beginning but just as everything else in my life it fades away and becomes something ordinary. I’m such a restless person who needs continous development at all aspects of my life not to get bored. If it slows down I get weary and lazy. All creativity just disappears. And that’s just the thing you see, cuz when I’m not creative I don’t get anything done. Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who can do their work with complete and utter discipline. They go to work at 8 am. Work, have coffee,work, eat lunch, have coffee, work, have coffee, work and go home at 5 or 6 pm. Then they have the entire evening off and the weekends too. They also have paid vacations and they can call in sick without the whole world falling apart. It would just be so god damn nice to be one of them. To have some kind of routinized life. Wouldn’t it? Or would it?

*Latin for Better late than never

…turned out to be my lucky day!

After two hours of sleep I wake up at 4 am to get ready to take the airportbus at 5.25. My flight leaves Sturup Airport at 7.10 and I’m totally excited. I’ve done my homework and had four cups of coffee. I arrive at Kungsbron 1 in Stockholm and get myself up to the fifth floor - Outokumpus office. I’m now about to enter one of the world’s leading stainless steel manufacturer. I take a deep breath and say to myself: “I can do this! I know I can!” And so I did. We got along very well and I am now Outokumpus newest employee. My job: Interviewing eight units across Europe to find out the readiness of the organisation to implement a new enterprise resource planning system, SAP. I am so excited. This is what I’ve been preparing for the last ten years. This is what I’m born to do.

Have you ever had that tingeling sensation in your belly? The feeling of complete joy and harmony. Your body just seems to float on clouds and you can’t stop having that dorky grin on your face. It’s a feeling very similar to being in love. You know what I mean. I know what I mean, it’s just that I never thought I could come this close to that supersensational feeling of being in love with someone, when I’m simply in love with life.

It’s been a hard couple of weeks and I’m just starting to heal. When you’ve been down in the dump for such a long period and you start to feel a little bit of hope, that’s when it just get’s better. I’m now convinced of it.

Friends…

I love my friends

Right this moment I’m sitting at my favorite softspot in Malmö, Lilla Kafferosteriet. It’s a wonderful oasis with excuisite coffee. Love it! Also love my MacBook! Maaaaacbook!

But you know, it’s no wonder we tend to sink into a bit of depression now and then. Especially when the summer came and then got lost somewhere on the way. Hello?

Swenyways, let me share my todo list:

• Arrange with a new apartement
• Enhance my jobsituation

How? When? Where? What? Well…to be continued

Hmm..from totally desertish to cold autumn in a day. Today supernice again followed buy a raging thunderstorm. And now again, summer and sun. Weird, it’s just weird