Do you ever look at other people and think they are lazy, fat, snobbish, awesome, cool, interesting, etc? These are first impressions, and they are among the most powerful impressions we make about people.
Think for a moment about how many amazing people you may have already missed an opportunity to know because at a simple glance you may have assumed something untrue about them. The effect could be staggering! For example there a dozens of stories out there about a person going to an interview somewhere, and while grabbing a coffee on the way they may have cut someone off in line for coffee only to find out later that the person they cut off just happened to be the interviewer...or worse the owner of the company!
Be your best self everyday. Don't think your problems are bigger than anyone else. Just be a good person.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
The Impossible Goal of "Catching Up" on lost time
We all wish we had more time. Neigh, we all want to have more time. Or is it that we want our time back that we have so often squandered? Whatever our reasons, we all at some point want time.
Not too long ago I Started listening to some very motivational and informative podcasts about starting a small business and being successful in life. Many of the guests would recommend books to read and I started buying them with the intention of learning everything that these already successful people have learned, I wanted to find the inspiration they found and follow the path they were on. Before I knew it I couldn't keep up with all of the podcasts that I was subscribed to, hadn't finished any of the books I had bought, and hadn't started a single one of the goals that I wanted to do.
Many people get caught in this game of trying to "catch up" with the people around them and this is ridiculous. Think about it. If you tried to read every book recommended by all the successful people around you, not to mention the fun books you simply wanted to read, the list could go on for days! You would be insane to think you cold get through them all. Then while you are trying to plow through and retain the info in them...even more books are released and recommended. You are building a mountain around your goal that is literally insurmountable. You are essentially creating a Sisyphus punishment for yourself.
Stop doing this. Simply get Started. Read a little here, listen to a podcast or two there, but most importantly: Get Started!
Not too long ago I Started listening to some very motivational and informative podcasts about starting a small business and being successful in life. Many of the guests would recommend books to read and I started buying them with the intention of learning everything that these already successful people have learned, I wanted to find the inspiration they found and follow the path they were on. Before I knew it I couldn't keep up with all of the podcasts that I was subscribed to, hadn't finished any of the books I had bought, and hadn't started a single one of the goals that I wanted to do.
Many people get caught in this game of trying to "catch up" with the people around them and this is ridiculous. Think about it. If you tried to read every book recommended by all the successful people around you, not to mention the fun books you simply wanted to read, the list could go on for days! You would be insane to think you cold get through them all. Then while you are trying to plow through and retain the info in them...even more books are released and recommended. You are building a mountain around your goal that is literally insurmountable. You are essentially creating a Sisyphus punishment for yourself.
Stop doing this. Simply get Started. Read a little here, listen to a podcast or two there, but most importantly: Get Started!
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Music Metamorphasis
When a band or musician creates something that moves people it can have a meta-inspirational/transformative effect on those people. The creativity of inspired people is an awesome thing to see.
With music you can easily see this by going to youtube and looking up cover versions of your favorite songs. Chances are high that you will find dozens of videos with fans either trying to recreate the song themselves, or trying to put a completely different spin on it.
One of the most amazing transformations that I have found were two covers of a Bomb the Music Industry (BTMI) song called "FRRRREEEEE BIIIIIIRRRRD!!!!!!". The original version is a loud, chaotic, energy and sound bomb of punk/ska frustration:
Bomb the Music Industry - FRRRREEEEE BIIIIIIRRRRD!!!!!!
Then I found a video that was posted by a guy who played an accoustic version of this song at an open mic night as a "fuck you" to people who kept yelling for him to play Free Bird by Lynyrd Synyrd, and it came out awesome:
Evan R - "FRRRREEEEE BIIIIIIIRRRRD!!!!!! FRRRRREEEEEEEEE BIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRDDDDD!!!!!!!" acoustic cover live
Lastly, Euro band called 7 Seconds of Love put together an amazing and emotional slow tempo version of the song. There is an amazong dichotomy between this version and the original and this one, but all versions are great and can hold a completely different feel than the original:
7 Seconds of Love - Bomb The Music Industry - Free Bird
Have a listen and see what you think. Creativity is awesome.
With music you can easily see this by going to youtube and looking up cover versions of your favorite songs. Chances are high that you will find dozens of videos with fans either trying to recreate the song themselves, or trying to put a completely different spin on it.
One of the most amazing transformations that I have found were two covers of a Bomb the Music Industry (BTMI) song called "FRRRREEEEE BIIIIIIRRRRD!!!!!!". The original version is a loud, chaotic, energy and sound bomb of punk/ska frustration:
Bomb the Music Industry - FRRRREEEEE BIIIIIIRRRRD!!!!!!
Then I found a video that was posted by a guy who played an accoustic version of this song at an open mic night as a "fuck you" to people who kept yelling for him to play Free Bird by Lynyrd Synyrd, and it came out awesome:
Evan R - "FRRRREEEEE BIIIIIIIRRRRD!!!!!! FRRRRREEEEEEEEE BIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRDDDDD!!!!!!!" acoustic cover live
Lastly, Euro band called 7 Seconds of Love put together an amazing and emotional slow tempo version of the song. There is an amazong dichotomy between this version and the original and this one, but all versions are great and can hold a completely different feel than the original:
7 Seconds of Love - Bomb The Music Industry - Free Bird
Have a listen and see what you think. Creativity is awesome.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Motivation
Get out of your comfort zone.
Be vulnerable.
Do not be afraid that you are afraid, but do not let the fear stop you.
Give an honest effort.
Start right now. RIGHT NOW. Stop waiting "to be ready".
Put yourself out there.
Stop talking about what your are/were, start speaking in the voice of the person you want to become.
Pursue leads.
Screw up, and then get up and try again. Try again better.
Actually do the thing you want to do...If you want to learn how to do a good cross-over dribble in basketball, do you watch a bunch of videos and then talk about it or do you go to a basketball court and actually practice it? If you want to climb the Himilayas, stop complaining about never being able to afford it and start hiking/climbing any hills/mountains you have in your vicinity. If you want to backpack Europe, don't just daydream about it, start backpacking in your own town or state!
People can make up a million and one excuses why they can't or aren't living their dreams right now:
"I can't afford it."
"I am too busy / I don't have enough time."
"I'm not smart enough."
"My friends don't motivate me."
"I'm just not creative enough."
"I don't know how to meet people."
"My ideas are all dumb."
This self defeating crap ruins many dreams. It may be that it would simply be too much effort to pursue your dream. Or perhaps you are afraid of the change that would come to your life if you succeeded. Maybe You are afraid to try a new thing and fail. Maybe you are afraid of people laughing at you because "your idea is dumb."
Whatever your excuse is, know that it is you and only you that is stoping you from doing it. You may have a million and one reasons to not get up and start on your idea or dream right now...but there is only one small thing you would need to do to start to achieve it: Get up.
Get up right now. If you need to know more about your dream, start reading. If you need to build endurance for your dream, start walking. If you need to know more, start asking questions. If you want to actually have a fulfilling life, start being a part of life.
Get up, right now.
Be vulnerable.
Do not be afraid that you are afraid, but do not let the fear stop you.
Give an honest effort.
Start right now. RIGHT NOW. Stop waiting "to be ready".
Put yourself out there.
Stop talking about what your are/were, start speaking in the voice of the person you want to become.
Pursue leads.
Screw up, and then get up and try again. Try again better.
Actually do the thing you want to do...If you want to learn how to do a good cross-over dribble in basketball, do you watch a bunch of videos and then talk about it or do you go to a basketball court and actually practice it? If you want to climb the Himilayas, stop complaining about never being able to afford it and start hiking/climbing any hills/mountains you have in your vicinity. If you want to backpack Europe, don't just daydream about it, start backpacking in your own town or state!
People can make up a million and one excuses why they can't or aren't living their dreams right now:
"I can't afford it."
"I am too busy / I don't have enough time."
"I'm not smart enough."
"My friends don't motivate me."
"I'm just not creative enough."
"I don't know how to meet people."
"My ideas are all dumb."
This self defeating crap ruins many dreams. It may be that it would simply be too much effort to pursue your dream. Or perhaps you are afraid of the change that would come to your life if you succeeded. Maybe You are afraid to try a new thing and fail. Maybe you are afraid of people laughing at you because "your idea is dumb."
Whatever your excuse is, know that it is you and only you that is stoping you from doing it. You may have a million and one reasons to not get up and start on your idea or dream right now...but there is only one small thing you would need to do to start to achieve it: Get up.
Get up right now. If you need to know more about your dream, start reading. If you need to build endurance for your dream, start walking. If you need to know more, start asking questions. If you want to actually have a fulfilling life, start being a part of life.
Get up, right now.
The paradox of "Being an Adult"
As children we are told to "grow up", "act your age", behave like an adult"...and we do our best to follow this guidance. The strange thing is, as an adult I feel like most of the "adults" around me behave exactly like children.
Look at behaviors of your co-workers. In most large corporate settings people often form clicks, gossip circles, and even ostracize other co-workers. If you study the behavior patterns in an large office or work environment you will find similarities in nearly all social patterns between the children and adults.
The idea of "acting like an adult" is profound because it implies, maturity, stoicism, wisdom/knowledge, yet most people's adult identities are complete acts. Take your boss, or the owner of your company for example, if you get them around a group of their high school or college buddies for a weekend you may see a completely different person come out. Get them around the parents and family again you may see a completely different person come out.
The paradox is that "being an adult" is largely just an act to maintain social orders or structures in a world of business, just the same as popularity, or nerdiness, or athleticism help maintain identity and order in school. Most of what we know about our coworkers or acquaintances is largely a wall of small and harmless lies. What a joke.
Look at behaviors of your co-workers. In most large corporate settings people often form clicks, gossip circles, and even ostracize other co-workers. If you study the behavior patterns in an large office or work environment you will find similarities in nearly all social patterns between the children and adults.
The idea of "acting like an adult" is profound because it implies, maturity, stoicism, wisdom/knowledge, yet most people's adult identities are complete acts. Take your boss, or the owner of your company for example, if you get them around a group of their high school or college buddies for a weekend you may see a completely different person come out. Get them around the parents and family again you may see a completely different person come out.
The paradox is that "being an adult" is largely just an act to maintain social orders or structures in a world of business, just the same as popularity, or nerdiness, or athleticism help maintain identity and order in school. Most of what we know about our coworkers or acquaintances is largely a wall of small and harmless lies. What a joke.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
