Would the real DeckChair Danny please step forward

How's this for awesome. A man has flow over 300km in his lawn chair, suspended under about 100 balloons filled with helium.

the courier mail story can be found here

Just goes to show that if you really put your mind to something you're going to pull it off.

On a semi related note, I can't remember where I heard this, but I've been thinking a whole lot about what it takes to be great and some of the points I've either heard or been inspired with are as follows

1: Be focussed.
Achieving something great or with a great impact is akin to the difference between a shotgun shell and a sniper rifle.

2: Don't let good enough get in the way
Good enough is a sure fire way to make sure that everything you do is mediocre. I think that was pretty much my attitude throughout school. If I could get away with the minimum amount of effort, that's all I'd do. The result of that was a spate of HA's and SA's throughout highschool. It was only when I started getting picky about my assignments and putting the effort in to make sure the details were correct, and everything was in order, instead of "that'll do" that my results started picking up.

3: Greatness requires sacrifice.
It might be time, effort, or even choice, but there will be a sacrifice there somewhere. Just make sure the sacrifices are worth it. Is the greatness that you're going after driven by a selfish pride or by a desire to elevate those around you to a higher place in relation to their lives?

4: Greatness requires teamwork.
I'm pretty sure Nehemiah couldn't have rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem by himself. With this point also comes the recognition that people fulfil different functions within the team. Some will be leaders, some will be do-ers. There's a new team function that I've realised can actually be really powerful, and that is the solution developer. Basically I'm trying to exploit a characteristic of mine where I can come up with an awesome solution to a problem but never pull it off. Now I'm sure I could but for some reason I rarely finish stuff. But I really think that some people are awesome for thinking up solutions to curley problems, and then others who aren't so creative are the ones who can take the idea, run with it and finish it off.

I guess this is a bit preachy, but what it boils down to is me wanting to make an impact in the world. And really greatness has nothing to do with it. If I want to make an impact in the world then I need to pray as my father in heaven taught me. It's got nothing to do with me and what I do, but with God and what he chooses to do through me.

The lords prayer NIV
Matthew 6:9-13
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[a]'

Or the Message translation
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.