When the shit hits the fan, how do you handle the situation?
In my brief time here on this earth, I have learned that most people panic. They lose control of their minds and bodies. They make poor decisions based on limited logic and high emotion. The end result is usually disastrous.
Great leaders and heroes through history are generally known to be calm, cool and collected under pressure. Their ability to size up a situation, regardless of its circumstances, and then make a logical decision is very powerful and practical. Read more…
Have you ever written someone’s achievements off as good luck or coincidence? Do you think it’s possible that some people are luckier than others?
This idea of luck is a comfortable excuse to explain away another person’s triumph. Luck is mostly a matter of preparation, skill and hard work.
If you really think about it, the idea that there is a magical force randomly granting some people luck or favor, while damning others, is outrageous. It all boils doing to statistics and probability. Fortunately for us, these chances can be influenced. Read more…
Becoming highly effective at any skill requires two things; an understanding of the material concepts (science), and an ability to creatively apply them in abstract form (art).
Generally, poor decisions and failure occur because of two controllable variables:
- Over analysis
- Emotional complication
Over Analysis
We often slow or halt our learning process by over analysis. In other words, we do not allow our creative side to grow through abstract trial and error. The time spent researching and analyzing different technical aspects of the goal take away from the time that should be dedicated to practice… Read more…
How often do you catch yourself checking out that cute girl or guy across the room? It seems our eyes and attention are magnetically drawn to the people we deem attractive.
In a study titled “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You: Attentional Adhesion to Mates and Rivals” conducted at FSU, researchers found heterosexual people of both sexes spend most of their attention and eye contact on people they considered a potential mate or competition… Read more…
If you know me or have read some of my past writing, you will know I advocate living in the now or in the moment.
The ability to be fully aware of your surroundings and what is happening in your mind is very important to your well being. It promotes relaxation, mental focus and increases your ability to connect with others.
It has been found that the ability to delay gratification, as opposed to succumbing to instant gratification, directly correlates with success, intelligence and general health.
Marshmallow Experiments Read more…
I have to give President Obama credit. He is a phenomenal public speaker and orator. His ability to inject emotion and passion in his words is uncanny
The examples and rhetoric he uses make it very hard for anyone to disconnect with. He tells stories that force you to agree with in fear of being labeled heartless and uncaring towards suffering people
Obama’s ability to market his ideas and message has rarely been seen before in a President. All marketeers should take lesson in how Obama orchestrated his path to the white house. It was pure marketing and persuasive genius.
These skillful tactics that Obama employs make it easy for people to rally emotion behind. Unfortunately, Obama’s messages seem to be more fantasy than truth. More idealistic than feasible. It seems that more and more people are beginning to discover that there may not be much substance behind his powerful rhetoric, as seen in his tanking public opinion poll numbers.
His promises and plans all seem great when he talks of them. Not once did he explain how his plans will actually work. He only stated his intended outcomes; not the necessary leg work, sacrifices, and risks involved.
Proper health care reform is critical for this country. Unfortunately reform can either take us in two directions. Either to a more efficient and effective method to support our citizens; or towards a more bloated, debt-ridden, corrupt system that burdens our future.
I personally do not know the answer or plan to solve this country’s health care crisis. However, I do recognize that people must learn to pull the wool off their eyes and examine the facts and concrete plans that lie underneath the rhetoric.
I found the GOP response by Rep. Boustany quite interesting and I encourage you to check it out. You can find the video here.
Here is another essay on the Obama’s address last night that examines the promises he made in more detail.
Breaking the law is a pretty serious thing. When was your last time?
You may have broken it and not even noticed…
If you drive above the speed limit, even by a couple MPH, you are breaking the law. If you J-walk, you are breaking the law. If you text while driving, at least in NC, you are breaking the law. There are even laws that have been passed that restrict what sexual positions you can enjoy.
It is a comfortable thought that law enforcement and the government have our best interests in mind. Unfortunately, this complacent thinking could land you in jail. Learn to flex your rights! Read more…
Most people dread diets. Images of starvation arise. Neglecting your favorite foods and going through your day with a constant feeling of hunger does not sound very appealing.
What if there is a way to shed those fat pounds, increase your lean mass and still eat some of the foods you love!?
The bottom line to losing weight is to burn more calories than we consume. However, the weight we lose, be it fat or lean (muscle) mass, is largely dictated by our diet and exercise regimen. Generally, most people want to retain lean mass and burn fat.
As we age, our metabolisms begin to slow down. Even though I am still relatively young, I have noticed a significant drop in my body’s ability remain fit with little effort. After prolonged times of heavy eating and drinking (alcohol), coupled with inadequate exercise, a beer belly and a second chin begin to grow.
Most of us hate this unsightly increase in body fat.
What can we do to maximize our bodies’ ability to stay fit with minimal effort? Read more…
In the past, I have focused my writing on productivity and efficiency. On getting more done with less time.
Today, I will discuss anti-productivity and getting less done. More importantly, enjoying your (limited) time…. Read more…