Handbook for Survival in the Nineties and Especially the New Millennium

By Craig Lock

A collection of writings on various subjects to help the every man or woman survive in a rapidly changing, uncertain world after the easy living and prosperity of the seventies and eighties, (especially for me living in South Africa under
apartheid).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Craig Lock
• Release date: Feb 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781927157145

Craig Lock

I’ve been writing about my passions since 1993.Craig has been involved in the corporate world (life assurance) for over twenty years in South Africa, Australia (briefly) and New Zealand. However, through a strange set of circumstances and finding himself in a small town near the bottom of the world ...and with nothing else to do, he started writing. Five published books later (well they turned out to be a vanity publisher and he and his family lost everything, their life savings, including the kitchen sink* - that episode is a book in itself!). Now many years later, “recovering“, having written another twenty manuscripts (on widely differing subjects - well what else is there to do here?)... this is where Craig is in the "journey/adventure" that is life.Craig has taught at the local Polytechnic, as well as running a successful creative writing course (not teaching sheep!). Together with his “technowhizz”friend, Bill Rosoman, he was the author of (as far as we know) the first creative writing course on the internet and this has developed to new writing and publishing courses we have introduced on our new Creative Kiwis.com website (www.creative kiwis.com)* that’s a metaphor, btw (“by the way”)*Craig has many varied interests and passions. He is particularly interested in the field of psychology – studying the human mind and what makes different people "tick-tock grandfather clock". He is fascinated by the "overlap between psychology and the dimension of spirituality".One of his missions in life is helping people make the most of their hidden potential and so finding their niche in life... so that they are happy.Craig’s various books probably tell more about his rather "eventful" life best (no one could believe it!). He writes books with serious messages and themes, then as a contrast "rather crazy, wacky stuff"...to keep him sane here. As an ‘anonymouse’ person wrote: "All of us are born mad; some of us remain so."Well nothing else much happens in quiet provincial New Zealand, other than headlines like "Golf Ball Thrown at Policeman" and "Beach Toilet Closed for Season.". True!The “writer” loves to encourage and empower people to be the best they can possibly be, and to create what they want in life. Craig has learnt plenty from the "school of life" (still "battered and bruised") and also from a few "hard knocks on the head". He is an extensive world traveller (on a "shoestring budget") and failed professional emigrater who has spent most of his lifes savings on airfares. He is still sliding down the razor blade of life on the beautiful undiscovered island that is New Zealand, somewhere near the bottom (rude!) of the world near Antarctica. There he talks to the 60 million sheep!So here goes...# HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERECraig Lock is an extensive world traveller and failed professional emigrater who has spent most of his life's savings on airfares. He is still 'sliding down the razor blade of life', stuck on a deserted (other than a few brilliant rugby players) island at the bottom of the world near Antarctica, where he is 'trying to throw a double six' to get off and go out into the real world - but he doesn't know where!In the style of Bill Bryson, HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE tells tales of his hilarious hair-raising adventures in his younger years through 'Grate' Britain and the Continent.‘’Dropped out in Godzone‘’: Craig Lock's humorous travel book about his adventures in provincial New Zealand...One man and his family - and their experiences "Down Under".The author and his wife contrast life in colourful, vibrant South Africa with calm and kindly New Zealand - and with large dashes of humour offer much understanding of, and sympathy with the social attitudes of the two worlds.A new immigrant's impressions of life in provincial New Zealand (after coming from a large city in South Africa) ... and there were one or two rather funny adventures, nay escapades in "Sleepy Hollow" from time to time!REVIEW:"DROPPED OUT IN GODZONE is an original and agreeable piece of work. The picture it gives of New Zealand- to one who has never been there- has a ring of complete authenticity. The feeling of the country is relaxed, and perhaps rather unstimulating, but we get an overall impression from the writer that he views his time there with some affection, and above all with tolerance."This book breathes a natural humour and kindliness, which is what gives it the individual character that is so appealing.Autobiography has a particular value as a literary form. It is a shared kind of writing and I'll continue to bang the drum. It is unusual to encounter two such different manuscripts from the same author. Both (THE END OF THE LINE is the other book) have quality and share an easy and assured writing style that is a pleasure to read.Both of these short books are of first rate quality."Craig is presently working on his latest novel 'The Awakened Spirit', based on some true and inspiring stories of the indomitable human spirit, that lies within each one of us. Stories of endless possibilities.He firmly believes in the motto: "Find what you love doing, then you will never have to do a days work in your life." Craig is certain he has found his niche in life... anyway, what other job would be suitable for him?##PPS: Well there WAS a big earthquake here in "Sleepy Hollow" last week with buildings damaged. It made international news!********Craig has a 'passion' for writing books that tell stories about people doing positive things in this often so hard, sometimes unkind world, occasionally cruel, yet always amazing world - true stories that leave the reader feeling uplifted, empowered and hopefully even inspired. Craig's mission is to encourage people to believe in themselves and try to help inspire people around the world to achieve their goals and dreams in life, whatever they may be.www.craiglockbooks.com and www.selfgrowth.com/experts/craig_lock.htmlThe various books* that Craig "felt inspired to write" are available at:http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/craiglock(e-books http://www.creativekiwis.com/index.php/craigs-ebooksand http://www.creativekis.com/amazon.html* Hard copies and e-books - fiction and non-fiction: novels, self help, personal growth, inspiration, travel, humour and money books.All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children -MINE!PSDon''t worry about the world ending today...its already tomorrow in little scenic and tranquil New Zealand

Book preview

Handbook for Survival in the Nineties and Especially the New Millennium

by Craig Lock

Copyright 2007 Craig Lock

All Rights Reserved,

No reproduction in any form without

the permission of the Author,

Copies of this ebook can be ordered from

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/craiglock

This book is available in print at

http://stores.lulu.com/craiglock

Bill Rosoman

PO Box 4155

Hamilton East 3247

New Zealand

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/leftfieldnz and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ISBN 978-1-927157-14-5

Table of Contents

TOP

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter One What is Success?

Chapter Two Motivation

Chapter Three Where are you Coming From?

Chapter Four Self Image

Chapter Five Setting Goals

Chapter Six Attitude

Chapter Seven Time Management

Chapter Eight Stress

Chapter Eight Stress

Appendix

Other Books that may interest you

A collection of writings on various subjects to help the every man or woman survive in a rapidly changing, uncertain world after the easy living and prosperity of the seventies and eighties, (especially for me living in South Africa under apartheid).

About the Author

Craig Lock was born in Cape Town, South Africa where he spent most of his life. He graduated from the University of South Africa and since then has been working in the corporate world in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. He is presently living in the slow lane in New Zealand with his twin boys, where they have been for the past six years. They live in a small town where from his perspective nothing very much happens (but don't say that to the locals!) - the reason why Craig has been able to pursue a career in writing full-time for the past year.

His works include a novel about South Africa and his latest epic describing his efforts to be a tourist as he bumbles around Europe in his youth ...creating chaos and mayhem. He has also written a more serious book about stress and another, at times humorous, book about money management, drawing on his many years in this field. He has also written articles for magazines.

He is a sports fanatic/maniac and an avid traveller. This is his first book to be published.

"I'm gonna fly from my cocoon

And put my footsteps on the moon.

All I've ever hoped to be

Is free to be that person... me!"

Anon

TOP

Acknowledgements

If writing is 10 per cent inspiration and 90% perspiration ( a statement with which I wholeheartedly agree!), I would like to thank my dear wife*, Marie and my secretary, Pamela Francois for doing the excellent job in editing and typing this manuscript. Also great thanks to Birgitta of Minerva Press in London for the excellent job in editing and adding many commas to my original transcript.

In this work I acknowledge the excellent material from the NZI Life Training programme which was produced by

LYALL LUKEY RESOURCES in Auckland, New

Zealand, especially in the fields of goals and motivation. It has helped me greatly. Much of my research has been substantially based on developing these concepts.

* At the time. I did say that the aspirations of a new writer has extreme stresses...and we certainly paid the price.

Acknowledgements to the following people:

Dr Abraham Maslow

Earl Nightingale

Zig Zigler

Alan Lakein

Dr Maxwell Maltz

and especially,

Dr Denis Waitley

All these writers (especially Lyall Lukey's and Waitley's work) gave me many original ideas to develop, as well as great inspiration in my insurance career here in New Zealand. They also gave me inspiration to start this work, while the courage to venture into a totally new field came from within... as everyone has it in them- a lot more than they may think they have!

I would also like to thank my dear parents, Ray and Hazel for sacrificing so much for my education and instilling in me an inquiring mind.

I would like to thank my wife (at the time) Marie for introducing me to reading. Before I met a foozybookworm like you, I never read much at all. So you have helped open up a whole new world to me. Also thank you New Zealand, a beautiful and tranquil country, for giving me the peace of mind away from the stresses of daily living in big cities - to think clearly enough to write this manuscript.

This work is dedicated to my dear boys Gareth and Sean who have brought me so much happiness. Thanks Marie for the time and effort you put in. I'm sorry our partnership didn't work out. But especially my heartfelt thanks for hopefully allowing me to find my niche in life...at long long last.

Gisborne, New Zealand

August, 1993

TOP

Introduction

My friends say that I had a very varied, unusual and interesting life... and they have always said that I should write a book. I suppose we all have a tale to tell, but most people don't have the time or inclination to do it.

Like all of us, my life has had it's ups and downs. I hope that my experiences and writings might help in some small way those people who could be finding things not too easy in the rapidly changing uncertain nineties (and especially as we approach the new millennium). As one humorist put it, many of us are sliding down the razor-blade of life. Having got out of the rat race of the corporate world, I find the peace and tranquility of New Zealand especially conducive to thinking about life and writing.

I have written this manuscript in the form of subjects coming from my personal experiences in these fields. I then did quite a bit of research on the theoretical side with many, many hours spent in the excellent HB Williams Library here in Gisborne.

I am a South African, sort of still married to a New Zealander, living in beautiful New Zealand and have a Bachelor of Arts Degree (majors in sociology and psychology) from the University of Cape Town. I have spent my entire working career in the life assurance field in South Africa and in New Zealand and