Do you set New Year's Resolutions? I've found that they've become a bit of a punching bag. In a very unscientific survey of those around me, most people seem to have given up on setting resolutions. Most people pay lip service to working on their goals, but they rarely make concrete plans. Instead, they express vague desires to improve in the new year. Resolutions get dismissed as a waste of time. Why start when you're just going to give up on them? I get it. We've set resolutions and goals before. And we've disappointed ourselves by giving up or not following through. So why put ourselves in a position to fail … [Read more...]
You are the Final Arbiter of Your Life
A Mathematical Argument for Mindfulness
Human beings are wired to notice novelty. It's a really helpful trait to develop - it helped our ancestors become aware of changes in their environment and the people around them. That's useful when you notice things that might indicate threats, like the quiet that meant a tiger was stalking us by the watering hole. Mindfulness or Novelty? These days, though, with few threats to our daily lives (beyond the existential), our devotion to novelty finds itself without something to attach to. So we constantly buy new clothes, go to new restaurants, and even look for new partners. It also pushes us to look for our happiness in the "next" big … [Read more...]
The 4-Hour Work Week – Timothy Ferriss
This article was originally published on May 9th, 2008. This was before Tim was the household 4-_____ name that he is today. It was the first time I encountered a lot of these ideas. They've been hugely influential - as I agree with some of them more and more...and disagree with others more and more. In my mind, that's the hallmark of a good book! I’ve read the 4–Hour Work Week twice now, in detail. The first time I read it I was so blown away that I had to put it down, digest it, and then come back for a second go. I think I was checking to see if I would still think it was great – which I did. Timothy is basically starting with … [Read more...]
Planting Seeds
Sometimes I have to go searching for metaphors to use in my writing. Sometimes they are right in front of my face. For example, this summer I have a small window herb garden. Nothing fancy; just some basil, mint, chives, and a few others. I wouldn't say that I have much of a green thumb (I'm becoming an expert at ruining thyme), but it been quite the learning experience and has led to some tasty meals. The care and cultivation of plants is a powerful place to practice life. It requires patience, mindfulness, and consistency. It's hard to balance just the right amount of water and sun, pruning and fertilizer. There are successes and … [Read more...]
Leadership Lessons from The Commitments
When people ask me about my favorite movies, they're usually unprepared for one of my top choices, The Commitments, the tale of a scrappy Dublin soul band struggling to break away from the travails of working class life. Even though many people haven't seen (or have even heard) of it, the exploits of Jimmy Rabbitte and his band have deeply influenced my approaches to music, business, and life. The fact that it's also full of witty Irish repartee and has a solid soul soundtrack helps a little bit. There are some powerful lessons on leadership that can be pulled from the story. Are you putting together a soul band or a new … [Read more...]