10 Tuesday Aug 2021
Posted in Thinking Tuesday
I am a huge fan of Elon Musk. The guy is smart and efficient. Here is a quick YouTube video discussing how he learns quickly, by placing his focus on the core ideas of a topic. Enjoy!
Have a great Tuesday, folks!
Until next time…
Dave
15 Monday Feb 2021
Posted in Motivation Monday
Tags
Consistency, duplication, habits, Knowledge, Learning, Mindset, motivation, realistic, Sources
How do you get up on Monday, attack your goals and priorities, and feel great consistently? You do other things consistently. If you smoke, drink, and stay up until 3 am binge-watching a series on Netflix, you probably will not be your best at 6 am. Makes sense, right? The same follows with working out. If you are not eating right and getting enough rest, your performance in the gym is probably going to suck pretty bad too.
When I worked, I did my best to be in bed at a reasonable time every day. I went to the gym at the same time every day. It was my consistency that allowed me the same performance at work, in the gym, etc. Self-discipline is the key to anything we want in life. If you want to write a book, you have to discipline yourself to write on a schedule with deadlines and all the rest. If you want to get in shape, you have to go to the gym or exercise in some way consistently, coupled with eating right, drinking water, and getting enough sleep to recover. I’m not preaching some new thing today. This is the way things work–period.
So, if your goals are going off the rails, those New Year’s resolutions are not progressing, re-evaluate. Do you really want those things that you wrote down, or were they a pipe dream? This is one of the biggest problems with goal setting and achievement. We write things down, but fail to plan how to achieve them. Many times I have begun planning in the past and realize that the commitment to achieve something I think I want to achieve is just too much. I’d like to write some books someday. I gave this a chance a year ago, and it didn’t go anywhere. Why? Because other things came up that took a priority, and I couldn’t do what most authors do–work on their books consistently. I had too many other things on my plate that were a higher priority for me. Make sense?
So, here’s what you do if you are having trouble with consistency. First, reevaluate what your goals are. Second, examine what it will take to achieve your goals by the date you set. Third, be honest with yourself about your motivation levels around certain goals. Are they really something you want to pursue, or is there something else that is higher on your list? Fourth, put those goals on hold that you struggle to commit to. You can always pursue them next year or at some other time.
Motivation is about mindset. It is about pursuing the things you really want vs. pursuing things you think others want you to have. It’s your life. Pursue what you want. Also be realistic. If your schedule does not allow you to go to the gym every day, then start working out at home. If that doesn’t work consistently, then reduce the number of times you exercise and stick with that. At a minimum, if all else fails—walk. Walking is healthy. It is something most of us will be able to do for most of our lives. Any exercise is better than no exercise.
This same process can be used for any goal you have. Are you doing the things necessary to achieve it? Do you know what those things are? If the answer is no to both or either of these questions, there’s a quick fix. Simply do some research to see what other people do? Writing? You can find tons of information about writing books, articles, blogging, etc. all over the place. You can find out what other people are doing and try that. The first place I turn when I’m looking at doing something new is the Internet. Then I tag the things other people are doing and begin experimenting. Someone will have done what I need to do, and they will tell you. These can be found on YouTube, on some online schools/universities, or you may luck out and know someone that does something you are trying to do. All these resources are available. You just have to get out there and look. Once you begin to learn what it takes, then you have to decide: Can I duplicate what they are doing? Do I really want to do this? Can I fit in these steps or processes into my day? If yes, then you are all set and ready to go. If not, you may have to decide to put it all on hold.
The mindset we have is critical to achieve our goals. We have to know what we have to do consistently to achieve the things we want. We have to learn about what others are doing to achieve their results. We have to be willing to apply what we learn consistently in order to achieve what we want to achieve consistently. Make sense?
Ok, folks. Have a great week!
Until next time…
Dave
01 Tuesday Oct 2019
Posted in Ted Talk
17 Tuesday Sep 2019
Posted in Thinking Tuesday
Image by TeroVesalainen from Pixabay
Today, we learn about anesthesia. I have always wondered how they determine what to use when we get surgery. Just like this video explains, I did not make it beyond 95, when asked to count back from 100 and awoke 7 hours later with my back repaired.
I hope you like this short little video and enjoy it. These educational videos spurred me to re-title my Tuesday posts to “Thinking Thursdays”. From today forward, I’ll be changing today’s blog post from Ted Talk Tuesday to Thinking Thursday, which will also include videos from other sources or some book or course suggestions for you to take, if you’d like.
I hope you’re having a great Tuesday!
Until next time…
Dave
04 Wednesday Jul 2018
Posted in Wisdom Wednesday
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/socrates_101212?src=t_wisdom
Knowledge is so fleeting, isn’t it?
We learn something, gain some knowledge, apply that knowledge and learn more. So much of what we learn, gain, and apply is unique to each of us. Our unique nature drives us to learn things that others are not interested in, but literally, drive us to learn more. The more we learn, gain, and apply, the more nuances we discover during the process that are specific to us.
I find that knowledge, along with any skill we develop, evolves. The better we get at something; the more opportunities arise that allow us to grow again. Learning then is evolutionary and continuous. Each time we learn something new or gain proficiency in something provides more opportunities. These opportunities are more like capabilities. The more capable we are, the more things we can do, the more things we must learn, and the upward spiral continues. Each time we elevate to a new level compels even further learning, further improvement, and even more discipline than we had before.
This plus factor is continuous. There is always something more to learn, something more to explore, something more to experience. There is a catch, however. If you fail to push your limits continually, you will stagnate and digress.
The best analogy for this is exercise. Your body is an incredible machine that will adapt to new environments. If you stress your cardiovascular system, central nervous system, lymphatic system, musculature, tendons, and bones, the body responds by making them stronger. The body by itself is very stupid. It doesn’t know that you are curling a 20lb dumbbell or a 40lb dumbbell. It only knows the stress that is placed on it is greater than its current capability to lift or move this weight. Subsequently, the body over adapts by repairing that muscle to meet the demands that were placed on it. The same follows for every system in your body.
Each of us is unique but the principle of the plus factor is active in all aspects of our lives. Take advantage of this factor by improving all aspects of your life. Push yourself to get better physically and mentally. Increase your social circles and your network. Pursue improvements in your spiritual life. Each time you reach a new level, you’ll be able to do more. Then push again.
This is what this quote means to me. Each time we learn something or achieve something, we are on new ground. That new ground requires us to learn the new rules that only exist at this plateau. Be the very best you can be and continue to raise the bar. Growth is healthier than decline.
Until next time…
Dave
27 Wednesday Jun 2018
Posted in Wisdom Wednesday
“The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.” – John F. Kennedy
Boy, is this a good one!
When I was studying for a Doctorate, I truly began to realize how true this and other statements are about our limited knowledge in so many fields. When we discover something new, we begin to discover more avenues to follow and begin to discover there is a lot more to understand. It’s almost like running down a never-ending rabbit hole, much like the one in Alice of Wonderland. The key difference is the rabbit hole only leads to other ones, and other ones, ad infinitum.
I think we just need to understand that this seeking will never end. There will always be something more to know, more to apply, more to do. It is never ending because with each new discovery, more doors open in other fields, more doors open for commercial application, and more doors open to refine the idea just discovered.
Subsequently, science needs to keep seeking to understand that it needs to seek some more only to understand that this answers this question and presents ten more. We need science, but science will never discover the truth about our reality. Truth is only experienced. Truth is known when we see it. Truth is unchanging. When you find the truth, you don’t need to continue looking. Truth just is.
Our search for knowledge also concerns other aspects of our lives. Think about happiness for a moment. Are you happy? If not, why not? Happiness is a state of mind—an attitude. You either are happy, or you are not happy. Happiness, like truth, is within. We must learn how to be and nothing more.
Until next time…
Dave
19 Thursday Oct 2017
Posted in Quotes
Today’s quote:
“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
I love to learn new things, particularly things that help me pursue my goals. I enjoy learning a new workout routine, discovering a new supplement that may be helpful, or learning something about writing.
Learning these things is great, but why learn anything if I don’t use what I’ve learned. This is what Goethe is talking about. I would argue that learning is meaningless if we do not apply these things to our work.
With all of the information available to us, it is really hard sifting through what is true and what is crap. Subsequently, we have to filter what we use as a source when we learn something new. When I find some information online that could contribute to my work, I look at the source before reading it. Why would I take the word from someone just like me without any proof of their expertise?
When reading about writing, I enjoyed Stephen King’s book. He is a successful writer. He is credible. The advice he provides is worthwhile because he has demonstrated success in his field. When reading about managing my time, David Allen (author of Getting Things Done and creator of the GTD methodology) is a credible source. When reading about the character ethic, Dr. Stephen Covey, is by far the world’s expert.
Pay attention to what you use for your learning. There are a lot of posers out there. Research the person claiming their expertise. Have they been successful in their field? Are they offering advice in that field? If you want to learn about football, read a book by a professional football player. If you want to learn about investing, read books written by successful investors.
You get my point. Put some extra effort into the sources you learn from. These sources should demonstrate success in the field they are teaching about.
Thanks for reading!
Until next time…
Dave
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