365QOD-Day332

"Why pay?"- a movie character living on $5 per day

I recently saw an OK movie called $5 per day in which Christopher Walken looked for ways to exist without paying.  He even went to the extreme of having 365 drivers licenses so he can get free birthday meals at participating restaurants.  Since he had 365 cards, everyday was his birthday.

This is not reality for the rest of us.  We must pay for things we use.  I marvel that some things like Youtube are free.  I can type in any music act and find music that I have enjoyed in the past.  Imagine doing that 10 years ago.  You couldn't do it without having a physical copy of the music.

However, the artists get screwed.  They created the work and now are not being compensated for it.  It is not fair but in this case free has won over fair.

Even with patents, copyrights, and trademarks they are not protected against free.

Today's question is:
"Do you believe you can protect the things you create?"

P.S. Happy New Year!

365QOD-Day331

"...after 20 years, the knees of distance runners were actually healthier than those of control group."-Stanford Medical School researcher finding

In another study, by the American College of Sports Medicine, it was found that "physical activity [including running] is beneficial, rather than detrimental, to joint health."

It is my conclusion that the human body is amazing.  We can abuse it BUT as long as we abuse moderately it will spring back and become stronger. I guess the key is moderation and not extreme abuse.

I find that as long as I run a few times a week I can abuse my body by eating a little more than I need and still not gain any weight.  If I control what I eat and still run, then my body responds with a modest weight loss.

If I drink more than one beer, I note that next day I do not feel as well as I usually do.  So for me the key is to stop at one beer.

Today's question is:
"How do you stop yourself from abusing yourself?"

365QOD-Day330

"Why would you want to be like someone else?  It's exhausting just trying to be yourself."- Cigna ad

I find inspiration in many things.  I saw this ad printed on a T-shirt in a magazine I was reading.  The words resonated with me.

Often we see someone do things we admire, dress the way we wish to, and we try to imitate.  However, we are never as good as the original. A clumsy imitation.

I guess it is simply human nature to try to improve ourselves by adapting portions of others.  Hell, that might be the secret to the survival of the human race.  If we were very different and broke away from the herd easily we would have gotten eaten.

However, we should understand what makes us cool.  What makes us original?  This should be our lifetime effort.  Copying portions of others gives us a glimpse of what we like but drilling inside is the key to being yourself most often.

Today's question is:
"What is the true you inside of you?"

365QOD-Day329

“Some people live X years, but most people live 1 year X  times.”-Anonymous

Practice does not make perfect.  

How do I know?  I used to watch little kids practice very hard before a rank test.  They would flare their arms vigorously BUT not with any precision or form.

So what makes perfect? Perfect practice makes perfect.

In order to understand why something works or does not work we must take it apart and examine why we succeeded or failed.  We must take ourselves apart and understand our thinking and beliefs that contributed to the result.

Doing something over and over and expecting better results without examining the reasons is not productive.  We can not improve by doing it more often.  We must do it after we have obtained some wisdom by examining our success and failures.


Today's question is:
"Do you question your successes as well as your failures?"

365QOD-Day328

"So what?"- words on a picture I have on my cell phone

Once in a while I put this picture on my phone that has a guy with his hands raised to the side with a puzzled look.  Next to him are the words so what. 

I have just shared 5 posts which I labeled successful intelligence.  So what?

The ideas behind the 5 posts were based on a study that found that company founders, disruptive innovators, typically have five discovery skills:
Questioning
Observing
Networking
Experimenting
Associating

Again, so what?  Well, unless you and I take a pause and really think about how to apply and improve these skills we will stay at the same level.  The pause is the key.

Maybe listing a couple of actions you can immediately adopt and track your success with them is the way to do it. I suspect that it is unique to each of us.  What might work for me will fail you.

Today's question is:
"So what will you do with this nugget of information?"

365QOD-Day327

"And your name is?"- a question we often pose after forgetting a person's name

Fifth discovery skill of disruptive innovators is Associating.

Rarely do we come up with a solution that solves a problem by itself.  In my opinion it often requires the combination of two or more techniques to come up with something unique.

In a past post I wrote about how I spent a few hours with a world class designer to come up with a solution on how to graph data uniquely.  His approach was one of beauty.  My approach was one of logic.  The ultimate solution married the two into a unique format.

I find it very interesting to speak with people of very different backgrounds than mine.  I learn the most from these people.  Their approaches intrigue me.  They are foreign to me.  It is like learning how to handle a new weapon.

So associating techniques and people can lead to unique approaches.  I often try to associate a person's name with another person by that name to remember the name.  Most of the times it works.

Today's question is:
"How do you freshen up your approaches?"

365QOD-Day326

"I did not fail 10,000 times.. Designing a light bulb is a 10,000 step process" - paraphrase of Tomas Edison's words

Fourth discovery skill of disruptive innovators is Experimenting.

I can not remember ever succeeding at anything on my first attempt.  Now I have done very well at a few things during my initial attempt but I would not call them success.

In order to allow oneself to fail it takes a belief that eventually the experiments will succeed.  But what if they do not? What if after many experiments the result is a failure?

You must completely re-think your strategy, your approach, your execution, etc.  Then be willing to start from scratch with a beginner's mind and try again.  How many times?  It depends on how important success is to you.

Today's question is:
"Do you give yourself  permission to fail?"

365QOD-Day325

"More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject."- Peter Drucker

The third discovery skill of disruptive innovators is Networking.  

I often design new systems. It is rare that I know enough to solve the many problems that come up by myself.  This is where networking comes to play for me.

I have to identify the right person(s) who have the knowledge to nudge my progress forward.  One problem though.  If you only knock on people's doors when you need help then they will initially help but eventually resist your request.

So even though it seems pointless to chat about nothing it is necessary for the maintenance of a relationship.  People want to know that you genuinely care before they will care to help you.

Today's question is:
"How do you show that you genuinely care about someone?"

365QOD-Day324

“You can observe a lot by watching.”-Yogi Berra

The second discovery skill of disruptive innovators is Observing.

By taking the time to carefully observe phenomenons one can learn a lot.  The trouble with observing is not to jump to conclusions too quickly.  To let the event play out and not interfere.

For example, suppose you notice that event B always occur after A.  You are convinced.  You have observed it.  That must be it.  But it could be premature.

What you might not notice is that B is made up of sub-events C and D.  Of which C plays a major part and D a very very minor part. 

You say so what B always occurs after A.  But a better observation is that C always occurs after A.  It is more specific of an observation. D plays a minor role and it can be ignored.

So don't fall for the easy conclusion based on an observation.  Dig a little deeper.  Maybe go back to asking the 5 Whys?

Today's question is:
"How do you slow yourself down to eliminate premature observations?

365QOD-Day323

"When all think alike, then no one is thinking."- Walter Lippman

While reading the November 7 issue  of Forbes I noticed an article about Innovating From Small to Big by Jeff Dyer and Hal Gregersen.  In the article they discuss a study they published in their new book The Innovator's DNA(have not read it yet).

The study found that company founders, disruptive innovators, typically have five discovery skills.  I will like to explore these five in detail over the next 5 days.

The first of these skills is Questioning.  One of the best techniques that I have learned for questioning is the 5 Why.  In this technique a person doing an investigation continues to ask why to establish the cause, effect, and evidence for each why. 

As parents, we often hate when kids continuously ask why.  Well, the 5 why(or more if needed) is the adult version of this game.  It tries not to assume that an event has a single cause but tries to drill into it more deeply.  It gets pretty close to the true cause fairly quickly.

Today's question is:
"Did you ask at least 5 Whys when presented with new information?"

365QOD-Day322

"It was the worst of times; it led to the best of times"- Chris Prentiss

I recently re-read the book Zen and the Art of Happiness by Chris Prentiss.  I had read the book about a year ago and figured while being stuck on a five hour flight to read something.  It took two hours.

After the flight I thought about how true this phrase has been in my life.  Going through the valleys always prepares me for the peaks.  I just have to make sure that I keep my feet moving forward by not getting stuck looking back.

Today's question is:
"Are you in a valley or on a peak?"

365QOD-Day321

"Who you allow into the circle of your life will make the difference in the quality of your life.  As the Buddha taught,'He who walks in the company of fools suffers a long way.  Company with fools..is always painful; company with the wise is pleasure."

Have you ever taken an inventory of the type of people you let into your circle?  Most of us would answer that we never do this.  We are not snobs and befriend everyone.  BUT maybe that is not the best strategy.

Maybe we should strive to befriend the wise?  I always want to meet quality people who care to discuss ideas and not people.  I want to learn about their thoughts and ideas.  Talking to people about other people is a waste of time.  All it does it brings me down.

Today's questions is:
"How and where do you find wise people?

365QOD-Day320

"Bird I hope you win it all"- my words of encouragement

The other night I was in a casino.  One of my co-workers, Robert, sat to my left on a lot machine.  Our machines payed off $4100 is a triple was hit.

After a few pulls I decided that the machine was a loser and moved to Robert's left. 

A couple of minutes later, Bird and Randy, a couple of co-workers showed up.  Randy was to sat down in front of the machine I lost a few bucks on and I told him about my experience.

Bird who was watching behind Robert and I and enjoying one of the many cranberry and vodka cocktails decided to sit down in the "unlucky chair".  I wished him luck and told him that I hoped he wins it all.

He played without paying attention.  We were playing penny slot machines and he did not care if he lost a few pennies.

Maybe it was the many drinks but all of sudden Bird started complaining about the loud ringing sound that his machine was making.  He had won the $4100 jackpot!  WOW!

Today's question is:
"Could some things you perceive as unlucky be very lucky?"

365QOD-Day319

"Brrrrrr"-my words at 6:16 on Saturday morning

One of my goals is to run in every state.  So far I have run in Indiana, Illinois, California, Georgia, Florida, and Texas.

The last few days I went to Lake Tahoe area in Nevada and wanted to run.  The first morning I got up and it was completely dark at 6.  So I ran on the treadmill(something I never do).

Next day the same so I worked out on the elliptical machine.

Third day I ran again on the treadmill.

On Saturday, just a couple of hours before I was to leave for the airport I woke up at 6 again.  I gave myself every reason in the book not to run.  It was a long list.  About 6:15 I simply put on my running clothes and shoes and went outside.

It was about 20 degrees. I ran a mile and came back... My ears were frozen.  But when I returned I felt great.  It was not the distance that I conquered.  It was me.  I made myself do something that I did not want to do. 

Next week I go to Virginia....

Today's question is:
"How do you make yourself do something that you do not want to do?"

365QOD-Day318

"What would you say about yourself"- Unknown

Often we let others describe us.  We let their words define us. 

Unfortunately, when we try to describe ourselves it is often based on our job(s).  But is that all we are?

I told a story of a gentlemen asking me the question, "So what do you do?" in an earlier post and having difficulty to answer it.  Eventually I concluded that the word creator(with a small c) describes me the best.

I create.  That is who I am.  I feel the best when I create something that did not exist before.  Something unique.  And if it is a product, I feel even better.

Today's question is:
"What one word would you use to describe yourself?"

365QOD-Day317

"I am loosing my eyesight, but I am getting insight"- unknown

Our bodies change as we get older.  Physically, unless we exercise we will age faster.  Our metabolisms will change and every little bite will turn into an extra pound that we carry.

These changes are inevitable.  But the quote brings up an interesting question, "Can we convert the inevitable into a positive?"

I like to believe that it is doable.  We must make an attempt to accept the changes and drive them toward positive results.  Noting the change and nudging oneself toward a better outcome must be done one nudge at a time.

When I say to myself that I do not feel like doing X, I force myself to do X.  Amazingly, X gets done and I love the feeling of self-control.  Every time the don't feel like it voice wins I feel terrible.

Today's question is:
"What are you loosing and what insight are you getting?"

365QOD-Day316

"If your life were a book, and you the author, how would you like your story to go?-Amy Purdy Ted speech

The other day I listened to a portion of her speech.  This question stood out. 

I am the author/artist of my life.  Everyday is a canvas on which I place colors that either stand out or are kind of mute.  The ones that stand out are the memorable events.  The mute ones are the day fillers.

Once in a while,  as the author/artist I have to once in a while step back in order to get the full affect of my actions and plan my future actions. 

Today's question is:
"What do you want your life to add up to in the end?"

365QOD-Day315

" If you don't use your head you will do a lot of walking."-my mother's advice.

"You seem to do a lot of walking?"- a statement put to me by another employee.  I had just returned from chasing other employees to resolve an issue.

I do walk a lot. It allows me to get to know a lot of people.  I believe that we too often communicate by sending an email and hoping  that the other person does what you wish them to do.

Like others I send a note BUT often I follow it up by walking over and talking with the person.

Today's question is:
"Do you do a lot of walking?"

365QOD-Day314

"11 seconds"- the amount of time it takes to dial a number on a rotary phone (from the book Crazy Busy)

I remember reading this line.  The author got frustrated when he had to use a rotary phone.  He questioned himself if he had become too busy in his life that 11 seconds drove him nuts when he had to dial a number on the rotary phone.

This leads me to believe that our patience is very limited and we are putting incredible amount of stress on ourselves.

Many years ago I attended a Handling Multiple Projects with Multiple Deadlines course.  The presenter asked how many people felt stressed.  After most people raised their hand he offered the following definition of stress:

Stress occurs when we are working on many items but we never seem to complete them- In other words a lack of closure.  

Today's question is:
"How do you assure that you finish the right things?"

365QOD-Day313

"Wow!"- my internal thought

After church I went to the cafeteria.  My wife and I sat down at an empty table.  After a while a burly gentlemen sat down next to us.

No wanting to be rude I introduced myself and spoke with the gentlemen.  His name is Dario.

To say that I was blown away would be an understatement.  Remember yesterday's quote?  Well it fit just as well today.   (The universe was sending me a message)

He is a truck driver.  That is not uncommon amongst my people BUT he was so much more.  The more was exceptionally intelligent, well read, and very thoughtful.

He loves philosophy and reads many books while traversing the country.  A man who took a car from Houston to come to service in Galveston(about 50 miles away).  I am often on the bleeding edge of using technology for learning BUT Dario was way ahead of me.  Wow!

I hate judging people but I could not resist and I asked him why is it that he driving a truck instead of using his mind.  He explained his plan to me.  Well thought out and it made sense.

One other thing about Dario.  He is a large man.  He is so full of energy that his energy fills the room when he speaks.   Most people suck the energy out of a room.

Today's question is:
"Does your energy add or take away from the room?"

365QOD-Day312

"Don't judge a book by its cover"- an old admonition

Today I went to a Serbian orthodox church in Galveston.  I have lived here for a three months but have always looked for an excuse not to make it to church.  Well, finally I made it.

The orthodox service has always been a disappointment to me.  I was born in the religion but consider myself more spiritual than religious.  I have never gotten a message to think about for the rest of the week.  Until today... The priest looked like he was in his late thirties with long hair and beard.  He looked as close to the image of  Jesus I often picture in my mind. 


The service was your typical service for an hour.  Lots of ritual and standing with most of the service being sung instead of spoken. 

However, after the priest has been preaching a story while singing he finished the service.  Last thing he did was take about 15-20 minutes to relate the story to everyday human failings and what we can do about them.

It was the best live sermon I have heard.  I thanked the priest afterwards and told him that I loved it.  I also told him that I would be back next week to hear his message.

Today's question is:
"Have you exceeded someone's expectations today?"

365QOD-Day311

"Can't be everything to everyone..you will be nothing to no one"-anonymous

I was reading the USA Today newspaper and came across an article that talked about one-dish eateries.  The example talked about a mac and cheese restaurant that focused on mac and cheese only.  Of course you can add topics but overall there were only 10 ways to get mac and cheese and most of the dishes were under $10.

Compare this business model vs. typical Greek owned restaurant that not only covers most Greek foods but also provides most American types of meals.  Why?  The Greeks realized that there weren't enough of them in most neighborhoods to make the restaurant success so they had to encourage other groups.

I personally love the first model.  Do only a small amount of things and do them exceptionally well.  I think these types of eateries will be a success.  You can produce quality instead of quality. 

Today's question is:
"What is the one thing that you do better than anyone you know of?"

365QOD-Day310

"I don't have a strategy.  Hell, I don't even have money!"- a response from a friend

Yesterday gave some interesting statistics on desired income.   So what about delayed gratification?

In another USA Today article I found this table
How delaying Social Security will increase size of your annual benefits.
Age                              Annual payment                 Increase over 62
62                                    17,772                              
63                                    19,044                                   7%
64                                    20,832                                   17%
65                                    22,644                                   27%
66                                    24,468                                   38%
67                                    26,664                                   50%
68                                    28,884                                   63%
69                                    31,128                                   75%
70                                    33,408                                   88%
assuming individuals are currently 62 and earning $100,000 a year until benefits begin.

I laughed at the earning 100,000 per year line.  Most Americans do not have a salary that comes close to that.  But assuming that the percent increases are proportional it looks like we better plan on working till 70 and not taking social security.

Today's question is:
"Do you plan to work till you are 70?"

365QOD-Day309

"I can't retire.  I will have to work till the day before I die"- what most people believe

I read a recent USA Today article.  In it the article there was a table:
Assuming a 5% initial withdrawal rate
To get this much income                         you need
25000                                                    500,000
35000                                                    700,000
45000                                                    900,000
55000                                                   1100,000
65000                                                   1300,000
75000                                                   1500,000

So a million will give you about 50k worth of income.  For every 25k above you need an extra 500k.

Today's question is:
"How close are you to your desired retirement salary?"

365QOD-Day308

"Q: Do you embrace change or fear it.  Why?  A I just sold my house, gave away most of my belongings and I am living around the world without  a plan for the next year or two.  I love the juicy ambiguity of change"  Mary LoVerde answer to Patricia Gras' question

The line "I love the juicy ambiguity of change" is a great line in my mind.  To embrace change as something positive is difficult for most of us.

We tend to want the world to return back to the way it used to be because we understand it and are comfortable with it.  However, change happens and often we are ill prepared to deal with it.  We definitely want to foolishly believe we can control it but eventually we realize that we can not.

Today's question is:
"Do you think you can ever love the juicy ambiguity of change?"

365QOD-Day307

"Q: If you could change one thing about the word, what would it be? A: The vibration of it."- Mary LoVerde answer to Patricia Gras' question

I read a short interview that these two ladies did and few statements stood out to me. The vibration of it.

There are times when I spend a whole day thinking about a statement.  Joel Osteen got me on September 12th 2010 with the statement ...Number your days.

So what does this lady mean with the vibration of the world?  Tesla was a genius who gave us many inventions.  One of the things that he s know to have said is that he knew the resonant frequency of the world and he could easily split the Earth.  WOW!

I believe that we all resonate at a frequency.  We could change our frequency consciously by thinking about a situation in front of us an adapting to it.  This is why I think we click with certain people.  Their vibration frequency is fairly close to ours.  They are in sync.

Today's question is:
"Can you control your vibration frequency?"

365QOD-Day306

"You must stop your running- at least not run 13.1 miles"-advise I received

As I mentioned yesterday I had a scare after a half-marathon.  It is easy for me to say I give up.  But I can not.

Call me stubborn. Call me stupid. But I have to keep running.

I have to have at least one mental goal and one physical goal towards which I am striving.  This makes my life purposeful.

Currently I am working on a book about Steve Jobs(mental) and would like to run the Chicago(and NY) marathons next year.

Today's question is:
"What are your mental and physical goals?"

365QOD-Day305

"Not dead, can't quit"-Richard Machowicz

I ran a half-marathon today(12/4/2011). It was over one long and tall bridge in LaPorte Tx.  I have been training for it and recently ran practice runs that were 13 miles but this race kicked my butt.

I did not sleep too well.  During the night I woke up 3-4 times and every time went back to sleep and had a bad dream.  Finally I woke up at 6 and started my day.  The race was at 8.  By 8:30 I am usually done running when practicing.

The day was miserable.  High humidity about 70 and raining.  I could not tell if my shirt was wet due to rain or sweat.After 2 miles I started not feeling good. By 8th mile I was sluggish and my pace was more than a minute slower than normal.  Last mile was a challenge... it seemed like it lasted forever.

After the race I passed out.  I have low sugar so I rushed to eat something.. a few pieces of pizza..so my sugar was ok.  The medic said that my blood pressure had dropped to 90 over 50..too low. So I passed out and scared the people around me... All day long I have been researching and thinking about why? I believe I lost too much salt and electrolytes.  I drank water and a bit of Gatorade but it was not enough.

I have a lot of time to think about it before my next half-marathon in February.  As the saying goes.. not dead can't quit. 

Today's question is:
"Have you ever been medically scared enough not to do something?

365QOD-Day304

"In summary, for children to develop the capacity to delay gratification, it is necessary for them to have self-disciplined role models, a sense a self worth, and a degree of trust in the safety of their experience"- M Scott Peck M.D.

In my humble opinion, these three things are also true for us as adults.  The instant gratification we often choose leads to many of our problems: overeating, drinking too much, etc...

It is not uncommon that the ills of the parents are passed on to the children.  If your parents smoke you are more likely to smoke.  If one's family overeats one has to fight the desire not to overeat.

These role models become us.  Their self-worth becomes our ceiling.  We become the role model for the next generation.  To raise the level of the next generation we must raise our own level.

The solution for failure in the first two lies in the third portion of the quote.  We must develop a safety net.  A degree of trust that the experience, if challenging, will still not harm us.

We often see life events as either failure of success.  As I point out in my book, The Result, there is a third way of thinking about experiences.  We always get a result.  If we are given an environment in which we are allowed to test ourselves(whether at home or at work) to achieve different results, we will eventually reach the success we are seeking.  Success might not be immediate.  Thus, the first portion of the quote- delayed gratification- is important.

Long time ago I saw a story of a lady who had lost a lot of weight by simply waiting for 20 minutes to eat once she decided that she was hungry.  During those 20 minutes she examined why she wanted to eat.  Was it because she was bored and needed something to do with her hands.  Or is it a legitimate need to replenish her energy source.  

Today's question is:
"Can you delay your desires by 20 minutes?"

365QOD-Day303

"What translates a desire into action?"- a question I often pose to myself

I am reading an old book called The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck M.D.  In it he offers the following statements:

"Desire is not necessarily translated into action.  Will is desire of sufficient intensity that it is translated into action.
The difference between the two is equal to the difference between saying:
'I would like to go swimming tonight' and 'I will go swimming tonight'"

I believe that word choices often determine whether we will do something or just wish we will do something. 

Today's question is:
"What words do you use to turn desires into action?"

365QOD-Day302

"A man can only be beaten in two ways:  if he gives up or he dies"-Richard Machowitz

How easy is it to give up?  The answer for most people is very easy.

We all start endeavors with all of the energy from the universe.  We have hope and we have energy.  After a few days the hope has given way to despair and the energy has become a drain.

As I often run I get a pain I remind myself that pain comes into waves.  As the pain comes I remind myself that it will only last for a short duration.  Amazingly this holds true every single time.  So I have learned to just keep running through it and not to give up.

The second option is death.  Death is inescapable.  However, giving up is always an option. Unfortunately, it is often an option that is easy to choose.

Today's question is:
"What would happen if you took the option of quitting away from yourself?"

365QOD-Day301

"Focus= when clarity concentration and action converge to create a specific result in the present" - Richard Machowitz

I recently listened to a speech by Richard Machowitz.  In it he talks about how we spend time thinking about the past, present, and future.

Consider how hard it is to achieve clarity  if one spends time thinking in these different time frames:
Past  Now  Future
25%   50%   25%       (these are fixations)

In other words you are only here 50% of the time.  A lot of energy is wasted being in other time frames.

Today's question is:
"How do you focus your energy on the present?"

365QOD-Day300

"WOW!"- my rejoice at reaching the 300 post

When we start any endevor that will require continuous actions we start with success in mind.  When something takes many steps to complete or even daily tasks to complete then that success become a challange.

As Jim Rohn cautions, "If something is easy to do, it is easy not to do". 

For the last 300 days my posts have regularly published.  There were a few that published a day late BUT they did publish.  Most of them were early.  I tend to write in spurts.  I might write daily.  Often times I write several posts in one sitting.  Which is scary when you think about the variety from one post to another.

Again, it would have been easy to just stop writing.  The reason why I didn't?  It fulfills my need for a creative outlet.  I feel good after writing a post. 

It is nice to know that many people I do not even know regularly read my posts.  I tried to write from the heart and about what I learn.  maybe those appeal to you guys.

After 300 posts... all I can say is THANKS

Today's question is:
"What is easy to do that you did not do today?"

365QOD-Day299

"80/20 rule should be 90/10"- an opinion

I recently tried to explain to a co-worker the 80/20 rule.  How 20% of our activities result in 80% of our gains.

While reading articles on Behance site I came across a 40-30-30 rule in an article by Michael Schwalbe.  It was relating to ski training.  The author suggested that 40% is physical training.  During this phase you are suppose to fail daily.  You are trying to get your body to perform something that is new so failure is expected. 

The other 60% was mental training.  Of this percentage, 30% was technical skill and experience.  With practice you gain both.

The other 30% is where you take harder risks and increase the chances of failure.  However, you will not fail as often even though you are outside of your comfort zone.

"Only by trying something new, struggling, learning, and then trying again do we improve our performance.  It is simply acclimating to unchartered territory"

Interesting rule...

Today's question is:

"Does the 40-30-30 rule fit your experience?"

365QOD-Day298

"Why would you want to do that?"- a question someone posed to me

A few years ago I read a story about a Microsoft scientist that walks around with a camera that records his life.
He records videos, takes pictures automatically, GPS location, etc...   He is able to reduce his day to a 15min record of it.

I recently read an article in August 2010 issue of Popular Science about a camera from viconrevue.co.  It is a wearable camera with 5 sensors:light detector, thermometer, compass, accelerometer and infrared
120 degree view
Any one triggers a per second
No trigger then 1 every 30 seconds

Today's question is:
"Why wouldn't you want to record your life if you could?"

365QOD-Day297

"All masters started out as disasters"- Harv Eckert

European Journal of social sciences reported that:
"... teens who mentally reheares overcoming adverse competative situations gained the most confidence in their ability to play soccer.  This is called Motivational Specific Mastery (MS-Mastery)"

Visualize yourself actually mastering a challenging situation, not just running through it with good outcome
I think you have to add as many senses to the experience.  You have to think about all of the little steps that it took to get to the mastery. 

Some of us would do those steps by visualizing them.  Others would rehearse them by speaking them out loud.  A few would even have to practice them in order to internalize them.  Each of us has a sequence that is like a magic key that would discover that mastery. 

I watched a student one Saturday morning discover er key.  She had to see me do an example, followed by explaining to another student how to do it, and lastly she had to do a third example.  Once she used that sequence she mastered that concept.

Today's question is:
"Can you visualize yourself actually mastering a challenging situation?"

365QOD-Day296

"Strength is breaking a chocolate bar into four and only eating one piece"-Judeth Wurst

How easy it is to break the chocolate and how hard it is to stop at the one piece.  It does require will.  Or does it?

Long time ago one of my co-workers, Dave, lost a lot of weight after a heart attack.  When I asked him if he went on a special diet he said no. 

Dave told me that he simply ate half of what he normally ate.  If he wanted a candy bar he found someone to share that candy bar with.  Instead of 2 scoops of ice cream he ate one. 

He said that for a month he was miserable.  BUT one day he realized that he still ate what he always ate BUT now he just ate half.  The realization that he ate what he always ate gave him will.  He was not denying himself anything.  He just simply ate half.

Today's question is:
"Can you cut your bad habits in half?"

365QOD-Day295

"It all follows the 80/20 rule"- my response to a medical problem

I recently spoke with a young woman I know about her medical problems.  The discussion was about whether most medical problems were based on heredity or nutrition.

I believe the 80% is heredity and 20% is from the inputs that we provide.  We tend to me very abusive to our bodies.  It is amazing that we last as long as we do. 

This past Saturday I ran 13 miles with my running partner.  My weight was down to 207.  I have been as heavy as 265 in my life.  I work out most days of the week(either with weights or short runs) but my weight is not plummeting.  I eat mostly fruits for breakfast, salads for lunch, and whatever is in front of me for dinner. So why is my weight not dropping like a rock. 

The obvious answer is the "whatever is in front of me".  I am not controlling what I eat at dinner and during the day I snack of a few sweets.  I got to figure out a way to stop eating sweets.  I lose about 100 calories from running 10 minutes.  However, I easily gain a couple of hundred calories by eating one candy bar.  It is about communicating with yourself.  I need to do a better job of that.


Today's question is:
" How do you control the 20%?"

365QOD-Day294

"Manifesto?  I am not the unibomber!"- a friend's response

I recently read Leo Tolstoy's Rules for Life on Behance website.  His rules went something like this:
1.   Get up early (five o'clock)
2.   Go to bed early(9 or 10 o'clock)
3.   Eat little and avoid sweets
4.   Try to do everything for yourself
5.   Have a goal for your whole life, a goal for each section of your life, a short erm goal, goal for every month, goal for every week, goal for every day, goal for every hour and for every minute, and sacrifice the lesser goal for th egreater.
6.   Keep away from women
7.   Kill desire by work
8.   Be good, but try to let no one know it
9.   Always live less expensively than you might
10. Change nothing in your style of living even if you become ten time richer.

I do not know if I can argue with any of these rule he had.  Maybe 6?  I think that I need to come up with my own 10 rules for Life.

Today's question is:
"What are your 10 Rules for Life?"

365QOD-Day293

"Play nice"- a parent's advice to a child

I just got through reading the new book on Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. It is at times not very flattering to the subject.  He comes off as someone having a personal disorder syndrome. 

He is very opinionated and demanding about items and people either were geniuses or not worth the trouble.  He definitely did not play nice.  At times he was very mean and hurtful to the people in his life.

Maybe playing nice is not good advice?  Maybe we all need to be more opinionated?  The people who got the wrath of Steve either did something with the criticism, were asked to leave, or chose to leave. 

I personally think that at times he was an asshole.  You can be critical of people but you must be constructive with the criticism.  Being hurtful on purpose is not necessary.  It does not elevate you or the other person.

Today's question is:
"Did you play nice today?"

365QOD-Day292

"The three most harmful addictions are heroin, carbohydrates, and a monthly salary"-unknown

WOW!

We all would agree that a drug, any drug, would be harmful.  About 20% of people who try any drug get addicted and mess their lives up.

Carbs?  Come on!  But when you think about carbs.. we weren't really designed to process carbs or drink the milk of another animal(ice cream anyone?) for our whole lives.

The last one is usually the deadliest.  It is a life sucker.  It provides for perceived security by getting addicted to regular money coming in.  It trades the control of one's life for the reduction in fear of failure.

Today's question is:
"What is the worst thing that could happen if you fail?"

365QOD-Day291

"Un-executed ideas are same as 'brain crack'- a dangerous addiction"- Ze Frank

It all boils down to executing. 

According to Frans Johansson, it doesn't even have to be a great idea. 

Start with a idea and improve it.  Now you have a good idea.  Improve it some more and make it a better idea.  Then improve it some more and you will have a  great idea. 


Today's question is:

"How many ideas have you so far that would have made you a multi-millionaire if you executed them?"

365QOD-Day290

"It is not where you take things from- it is where you take them to"-Jean-Luc Godard

I am currently reading the story of Steve Jobs.  In the book the author tells a story how Jobs tried to berate Bill Gates, in front of several Apple employees, for stealing the Mac OS system and relabeling it Windows even though Jobs had modeled his version on Xerox Parc's version.

Gates' response was classic.  He told Jobs that the way he saw it that he broke into Xerox's house intending to steal the TV but he found out that Jobs already had stolen it.

History is murky often times.  Tesla sued Marconi that he was the inventor of the radio.  He even won a court decision indicating that he was the inventor of the radio and not Marconni.  Who do most people acknowledge as the inventor of the radio?  Marconni.

Today's question is:
"Where are you taking the ideas of others to?"

365QOD-Day289

"One of the most common mistakes when we are just beginning a project is to set lofty goals from a resting stop.  With images of fame and success dancing in our heads, we set the bar too high, fail to make the grade, and quit because we are discouraged.  Instead build momentum by starting with small, achievable goals, and work from there."-Andy Swan

... from a resting stop. In other words sitting down thinking.  Thinking is free and fun.  Generating ideas make you feel great.

BUT!  Ideas are cheap.  They are like brain crack.  Addictive and you can not stop once you get hooked on creating them.

However, success is not based on how many ideas you have.  It is based on how many you successfully executed.  So..... start with small, achievable goals, and work from there

Today's question is:
"What are your small, achievable goals or are you on crack?(...brain crack that is)

365QOD-Day288

"If you do only what you know and do it very, very well, chances are that you won't fail.  You'll just stagnate, and your work will get less and less interesting, and that's failure by erosion"- Twyla Tharp, Choreographer

I recently read a story by the Behance team title 99 Excuses For NOT Making Ideas Happen.  Fear of failure was excuse number two.  The quote was given as an antidote to inaction.

The idea of being comfortable has never scared me.  Hell, I don;t think I have ever taken a job that played to my strengths only.  Usually the job required me to stretch myself beyond what I already knew and strengthen weaknesses.  Every single one of them.

I remember only during an interview in front of  a panel I was asked why I felt so comfortable.  I then went through a 10 minute explanation, on a white board,  in which areas I have worked on in my life and how they connected.  The committee was blown away and I got the job.

Today's question is:
"Are your skills eroding?"

365QOD-Day287

"Gloria Mark, a professor found out that technology workers who she studied would make it only 11 minutes into a project before being distracted.  It then took 25 minutes to return to the task post-distraction"

A recently read an article called A Day without Distraction: Lessons learned from 12 hours of forced focus by Cal Newport.  The quote above was a part of the article.

I took a spreadsheet and made it count by minutes for a two hour block and a three hour block.  I figured most people either worked 8 hours or 9 hours per day for which they get paid. 

If you use the facts that she discovered(11 minutes of work followed by 25 minutes f non-productive work) and assume that the interruption is so brief, maybe a minute at best, the results are scary.  I determined that in a two hour block an employee is productive only 33 minutes.  For a three hour time block they were only 44 productive minutes. 

In an average 8 hour day(4 two hour blocks) we average 132 minutes or productive time.  For a 9 hour day (3 three hour blocks) we average 132 minutes.  It makes no difference whether we are working 8 or 9 hours.  the total output is 132 minutes.  SCARY!  Again this is on the generous side because the interruptions only took a minute to address. 

Today's question is:
"What is your strategy to maximize your 132 minutes?"

365QOD-Day286

"The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world. The tweaker inherits things as they are, and has to push and pull them toward some more nearly perfect solution. That is not a lesser task."-Malcolm Gladwell characterization of Steve Jobs

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/11/14/111114fa_fact_gladwell#ixzz1d5OqPlh0

I read this article on whether Steve Jobs was a visionary or a tweaker.  The author, whose work I love, shows through several exampled from the book that he feels that Jobs was better at identifying what was missing instead of suggesting a vision.  Even though I think this is an extreme example it probably was true.

In my reading of the man I can see how he was not a technical visionary but a functional tweaker who knew when the design did not meet his desired goal.

One can think of the two types as a step change or a ramp.  It might be easier to tweak than to step change.

Today's question is:

"Do you see yourself as a visionary or a tweaker?"

365QOD-Day285

"Out of abundance he took abundance and still abundance remains."- first line in Upanishads(Hindu holly book)

Most people have a poverty mentality.  If one person is rich then most people falsely believe that that person is taking away from others and that just does not seem to be fair.  They got too big of a piece of the pie. 

I believe that the pie is infinite.  We need to create opportunities if we want to be rewarded.  No one can stop you from creating an opportunity.  Others can make it more difficult for you but they can not stop you.  No time?  Well, no one will call you at 4 a.m. or demand your attention.  You can put a lot of hurt on any project when everyone is sleeping.

We however often stop ourselves when confronted by even a small challenge and we just give up. In one of Tony Robbins CDs I heard a story that Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, got rejected 1009 times before he hit success.  Could you handle this level of rejection to get to abundance?

Today's question is:

"Do you have an abundance mindset?"

365QOD-Day284

"Don't start the day until you have it finished...Plan the day to the best of your abilities.  There will be surprises and innovations and whatever.  Give a good plan, a good schedule for the day.  Because each day is a piece of the mosaic of your life.  You can either just cross your fingers and say, 'I hope it will work out okay', or you can give it some attention and say, 'here's what I would like to accomplish in the next four hours."- Jim Rohn

I begin every day at work by creating a plan.  This is before I check email.  I think about 1-2 items I can accomplish on all of my projects.  I brainstorm them down on paper.  Then I begin my day.

The email items get inserted around the big pieces that I already per-planned. 

Today's question is:
"Did you send your day before it got started?"

365QOD-Day283

"I say gain at least one idea, just one.  You don't have to like me.  Just get an idea out of here that you like and then go do something with it and then teach it to one other person and you'll take ownership of it"- Mark Victor Hansen

In my life I have instructed 68 different courses.  Was I am expert in all of them. No!  Am I somewhat knowledgeable in all of them now.  Yes.

I however wanted to teach the subject and by being slightly ahead of the students managed to make it a pleasant journey for the students.  As I would re-learn a topic, I would think of how to teach it, and by doing so I made the idea my own.

Today's question is:
"What new idea did you learn today?"

365QOD-Day282

"Prosperity is a Latin word, it means 'to be in the flow'.  And everyone of us in the flow when we are thinking right, talking right, acting right, and living right.  We get the right results, right here, and right now.  

And when you think negatively, you're into immobilization.  

When you are thinking positively and correctly, you are into immobilization and start taking right action to get right results!"- Mark Victor Hansen

I believe that the idea of flow is critical to understand.  When searching for a passion one needs to identify the last time one felt in the 'flow'.  This is a time when time just flowed and you did notice that hours have passed yet you felt full of energy.  Think of your last two weeks specifically and identify times when this felt true. If you have not felt it during the last two weeks then go back farther but note that it might be a weaker signal.

I do agree that when in flow you are thinking right, talking right, acting right, and living right.  Everything just clicks.  I have found that in my life when working on creative tasks I enter the state of flow.  It can be at home, at work, and even just running.

Today's question is:
"Are you in the flow?"

365QOD-Day281

"I teach that you gotta have a team and have a dream, and a little bit of a scheme, and then you'll go out and realize it."-Mark Victor Hansen

It is interesting that the order is not scheme, dream, and a team.  I thought that this was backwards.

But then I remembered that Hewitt and Packard (founders of HP) did not produce a single product for two years.  They just knew that they wanted to work together(team) and produce products(dream) and a scheme to sell electronic products.

Today's question is:
"Do you have a team, dream, and a scheme?"

365QOD-Day280

"10k is just a start"-my words to my running partner

Recently I ran a race over the Galveston bridge.  It was a 10k race and it was fun.  We finished in 1:04.
No bad for me... the goal was just to finish.


It is also a start. There is a half-marathon race on Dec 4th over the La-Porte Tx bridge.  My running partner, Reggie, and I are training to run that one.  Last weekend we ran 9+ miles.  This weekend we ran 11 miles.

The other day I read a story title "Behold the agelessness of these long-distance runners" in USA Today about people over 60 who are completing marathons and basking n the physical and spiritual benefits.  One example was 100 year old Fauja Singh who just finished a marathon within 8+ hours.  It became my goal to finish a marathon at 100.  I will keep his picture above my desk for inspiration. 

My grandmother lived to 100.  She walked briskly to answer a phone and did not look like a 100 year old.  I want that for me.  I want to be able to run at least one marathon each year until my 100 birthday.  Maybe then I will stop. I do not want to be in a wheelchair blowing out my candles.  I want to come to the finishing line and blow out the candles.

Today's question is:
"Do you have a goal for your 100th birthday?(maybe you should)?"

365QOD-Day279

"Wow.. last month was not very memorable!"- a conversation I had with myself in the last

The other day I sat down and did an inventory of my activities for the last month.  It does not take a very long time.  I write in my notebook what I eat, do, and read everyday.  So to review the last month all I have to do is open my notebook and read what I did last month.

In the month of September I had to move from Chicago area to Galveston TX.  This makes it memorable by itself.  It is not like I move every day.   Starting a new job with a new company and that also makes it memorable.

This is uncommon.  Most of our days are not memorable.  They look and feel like the day before and transition into the day after very smoothly.  If you sit down a week later and try to mentally reconstruct your day it becomes a challenge.  This is why I write a lot of details down.

At the end of the year I sit down and do a yearly audit and highlight the daily activities that make that day memorable.  In the end I have to strive to do something each day to make it memorable.  It is not always as easy as moving across the country.

Today's question is:
"What will you do today to make it a memorable day? Hint: do not go to sleep until it is"

365QOD-Day278

"Eventually everything changes, the only question is when?"-Unknown

Often we are lulled into comfort and the answer to this question is NOW!  It becomes an emergency and the change takes on urgency.  In the end this suddenness creates stress.

Steven Covey in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People urges us to work on items which are important and not urgent.  This is quadrant two, Q2, type of activity.

Today's question is:
"What percent of your day is spent doing Q2 activities?"

365QOD-Day277

After a medical scare...

"He suggested that I take one day a week to "connect" not just with family or friends or God but with myself.  He said I ought to make sure I was setting aside time to do what fulfilled me.
.....
In the time since I had that chat with my doctor I've learned to be deliberate about how I spend my time on this Earth.  I choose to fill my days with what I'm passionate about and live with purpose.  In the end I want to be able to say, 'My life was what I made it.'" - Ann Curry

While reading a magazine I came across this article.  I have always felt an energy when watching Ann on TV.  After reading this article I saw that she combines her passion with purpose. 

I believe that when pursuing a passion with purpose we are re-energized.  

Today's question is:
"In the end, what will you be able to say?"

365QOD-Day276

"You are on God's most wanted list"- church sign

I used to drive past this sign everyday.  It was a moment that every day warmed my heart.
Every day this sign made my mood more positive.  Maybe it was the belief that there is a connection?
Maybe it was just reading it?

Many years ago, on a different church sign I only saw at night coming home it said "God loves you"
It ended my day on a positive note.

I miss my signs...

Today's question is:
"On whose list are you?"

365QOD-Day275

Joshua Foer's last principle is:


Principle 4 Experts treat what they do like a science.  They collect data, they create theories, and they test them

You have to be somewhat removed from the process.  In order to observe yourself and collect data.  Once you have data, pause and think about the process and the data you are getting.

The pause is worth gold.  Without it it will all seem like noise.  Then you can take the data and formulate a theory of why you are getting what you are getting. 

Lastly, make another attempt and test your new belief.

Today's question is:
"Do you test your theories?"

365QOD-Day274

Joshua Foer principle on becoming an expert

Principle 3 Experts crave and thrive on immediate and constant feedback.

In my last post I discussed my approach for learning how to get a large capital project completed.  I sat down and interviewed three experts and summarized their beliefs and processes into a single process.

After I explained their process back to them.  Then I created my own version.

Next step was critical.  I shared with them my version and asked for opinions.  They offered their thoughts.

Being a new guy I periodically go back to them and ask them if I can improve on anything.  I believe that they appreciate that I am still trying to learn and have been very helpful to me.

Today's question is:
"Do you ask for and give constructive feedback constantly?"

365QOD-Day273

Principle 2 Experts will try to walk in the shoes of someone who's more competant than them
When starting something new it is important to find someone who knows more than you.  It might be a co-worker or a local subject matter expert.  You have to ask for time to drill them on their thinking process and the overall process to get a job done.

What I did on my new job is interview the three individuals that are currently performing my job.  I asked about the overall job flow and their approaches.  I then quickly summarized their work flow back to them.  Lastly, I then merged the three processes into a single process that combined the steps of all three experts.  It became my optimal procedure because it combined the best features.

Today's question is:
"Who is the expert around you?"

365QOD-Day272

"If you are not stretching then you are dying"- Unknown

Decently I read an article on the 99% website about the work by Joshua Foer.

His work deals with determining what makes people an expert.  The article mentions four principles which I will discuss in next four posts.


Principle 1 Experts tend to operate outside their comfort zone and study themselves failing.

To me, working outside of my comfort zone is a daily activity.  My last few jobs placed me in positions for which I was not prepared at all.  I had to enter a job where I was familiar with some aspects but I had to work hard to learn new subjects.

For example, I have a background as an Electrical Engineer(I spent 12 years in the power industry) but in my last job I worked on instrumentation projects.  Instrumentation and power are related BUT yet completely different. 

My boss gave me a choice if I wanted to continue doing power(easy and comfortable choice) or develop my instrumentation side(difficult and time consuming).  I jumped at the opportunity to work outside my comfort zone.  So I fully understand the first part of Principle 1.

The second piece of the principle is very interesting to me.  How does one study themselves failing?  Well, when you do projects, like I have, you fail at times.  You are learning but the information is not complete and you make the best call you can.  Just because you had a failure, you must study and understand the failure AND yourself.  It is you who failed.  I would review my past mistakes and always ask myself.... if I had to do this project over again, what would I do completely differently? Often times the answer was very clear. 

I also think that when attempting something new it is easier to study yourself failing.  The opportunity is there and success is not guaranteed.  You must pull yourself outside of your body and observe yourself attempting this new challenge.  It is strange to be the doer and observer.. Give it a try!  Look for your thinking process, your body position, your thoughts(beliefs of success or failure).

In my new job I am working on large capital projects.  I previously did small capital projects. I am streeeeeaaaaaaaatching!

Today's question is:

"What have you learned by studying yourself failing?"

365QOD-Day271

"I'm don't want to be rich.  I want to be comfortable"- a mistaken belief

I remember reading this line in a Herb Ecker book about the Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.  I agreed with him.  If a person chooses the comfortable level, that person will never be rich. 

Why?

I believe that once you settle for the OK Plateau you no longer push yourself to get to a higher level.  I used to tell my students that the enemy of being great is not being bad but being good.  If you a jack of many things it is unlikely that you will work hard to be "an expert"( a king of one).

The reason this occurs is that once we get to that "good enough" level we start working on autopilot.  We know what it takes to keep us at that level and we keep the foot of the pedal and just cruse.

Today's question is:
"Are you at a plateau?"

365QOD-Day270

"I can't do that"- the easiest excuse

One of my favorite things to do is put my wireless headphones on and listen to different presentations from people on websites like 99% or ted.com.  However, my current employer does not allow streaming video.

So what am I to do?

One of the options is to download the transcript.  I can do that and then do one of two things: 1. create an audio by using a text to speech converter or just print it out and read it(and then get rid of the paper).  I have done both.

As the old saying goes, "If there is a will, there is a way."

Today's question is:
"What artificial barriers are in your way?"

365QOD-Day269

"What's in the box? Whatever it is must be pretty important, because I've traveled with it, moved it, from apartment to apartment to apartment."- 

I recently read a transcript of a Ted speech by Graham Hill.  In it he talks about purchasing a 420 sq. feet apartment in Manhattan and creating a space that fits his stuff and needs.

He has a website lifeedited.org.

I have been living in a studio apartment for the last month or so and I can completely agree with him.  We move boxes and stuff that we have "outgrown".  We hoard.

I feel lighter.  I sometimes wish I had an extra bedroom but most of the time I think in terms of getting rid of stuff instead of collecting more stuff.

We forget that "stuff" has energy and we own that energy while we have it.  Do you still want to hold on to energy of a shirt you used to wear ten years ago?

Today's question is:
"Are you hoarding stuff?"

365QOD-Day268

"In the information age, information should be free"- a common belief

I have been working on a product recently.  It is a product that provides information.

The other day I received a video from Greg Hasbitt in which he said the following
"Don't sell information.  Information is a commodity.  
Sell a transformation.  Transformation is priceless"

The more I thought about it he is correct.  Anyone can sell information.  But what will your information do, how will it do it, how will it make your customer feel, etc.  that is the transformation.

Back to the drawing board...

Today's question is:
"Are you in the information or transformation business?"

365QOD-Day267

"Life is great"- the only way to live

I recently watched a How I made my millions video
      http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=1157136755


It was a story about the company Life is Good.

I love the idea of a company espousing positive values.  I believe it starts at the top. If the CEO is negative, what do you think the people next to them are going to be?  And the ones below them and so on....

So each company needs a Chief Executive Optimist.  The greatest example is the former CEO of Southwest- Herb Kelleher.  He modeled it.  Southwest has had an incredible growth over the last 40+ years of existence.  The amazing culture has continued to thrive even after he retired. 

Today's question is:
"Can being an optimist thrive as a corporate value?"

365QOD-Day266

"I know what I am doing"- so you think

As an example let us consider a new employee and their progress:

Imagine a staircase based on competence.  

When you enter a new company on the bottom rung you would be

     UI unconsciously incompetent
You start working on it and soon you become
     CI consciously incompetent
you still don't know much but at least now you recognize that you do not know much

After a few years you have taken time to develop your skill set and you eventually become
     CC consciously competent
Towards the end of your career you become so good at what you do that you are
     UC unconsciously competent
you can do things you don't even have to think about how or why...

Today's question is:
"Where are you on the stairs?"

365QOD-Day265

"Am I bringing up a nutrient or an irritant?"- Today We Are Rich

We all have opinions.  When we see someone else having a problem we jump into solver mode and want to help.

There is nothing wrong with that if it is done properly.  The phrase above should be used as a pause.  Before offering advise ask yourself  whether the advise will serve as a nutrient to that person.  Will the advise make them stronger or wiser?

If not, then you are providing an irritant.  One that will simply upset the person and not help solve the problem.

Remember that being a "realist" is another way of playing a devil's advocate.  In an earlier post I urged you to instead be an angel adviser.  Ask the person if they see any difficulties up ahead.  Let them offer the solution that they will have to live with. 

Today's question is:
"Have you provided nutrients to your friends?"

365QOD-Day264

"There's mighty big difference between working hard and being willing to do the hard work required to prepare for your life's opportunities.  The best prepared will always win.  To be the best prepared, you need to do some things that aren't necessarily fun or easy"-Billye from Today We Are Rich

I often see young employees work more than 40 hours per week.  They feel that they are working hard.  And they are.  But as the quote above states there is a difference between doing the hard work vs. working hard.

Often times hard work involves taking a pause and thinking about what will make the greatest impact instead of just plunging ahead.  That pause and thought process are worth gold.

It is like leaning a ladder vs. leaning a ladder against the wrong building.  You are working hard in both instances but with the first one you make sure your effort is placed in the direction needed the most.

Today's question is:
"Do you work hard or are you doing the hard work?"

365QOD-Day263

Based on Carol Dweck's work on fixed mindset vs. growth mindset in the book Little Bets

Let us explore a fixed mindset in this post.

1. Fixed mindset sees intelligence as something that can be developed
    In other words you learn and become smarter over time.


Once you perceive yourself as someone who can become smarter you have a a tendency to
2. Embrace challenges even one where you can fail


And when confronted by difficult obstacles a growth mindset person will. Persist in the face of setbacks and attempt to solve them for longer periods of time

Because a growth mindset person sees
4 Effort as the path to mastery

So when given criticism, even constructive criticism,
5.  They will learn from the criticism

Because they realize that other people might be smarter than them
6. Find lessons and inspiration in the success of others

As a result
7. They may reach even higher levels of achievement

All this gives them a greater sense of free will.


Today's question is:
"Do you have a growth mindset"

365QOD-Day262

"I changed my mind"- a good thing

I recently read a book called Little Bets.  In it the author talked about the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset.

Let us explore a fixed mindset in this post.
1. Fixed mindset sees intelligence as static.  In other words you are born with it.
    What this leads to is a desire to look smart

Once you perceive yourself as smart you have a a tendency to
2. Avoid challenges where you can fail

And when confronted by difficult obstacles a fixed mindset person will
3. Give up easily

Because a fixed mindset person sees
4. Effort as fruitless or worse

So when given criticism, even constructive criticism,
5.  They will ignore the useful negative feedback

Because they realize that other people might be smarter than them
6.  They feel threatened by the success of others

As a result
7. They may plateau early and achieve less than their full potential

All this confirms a deterministic view of the world.

Today's question is:
"Do you have a fixed mindset"

365QOD-Day261

"I always lie"- a lie to stop the conversation

The cookie tragedy continues...

At this point you decide that you have no willpower.  You have been beaten by cookies and milk.  You will never be able to not have cookies before you sleep.  You just saw yourself eat the whole bag.  It is now confirmed in your brain.

Now the only thing to do is... tell yourself the third lie
Lie#3 "give up"

This process is not unique to cookies.  Have you made a plan to exercise at 4:30 a.m. before work and after a few days of strong willpower given up?

Any change effort is difficult.  It involves the rider(the mind), the elephant(the emotions) and the path.  Your mind will only take you so far.  The elephant will pull you towards a point you do not want to go unless you set yourself up on the path.

For example, if you want to start running at 4:30 put your running clothes on before you go to sleep and the gym shoes with socks by the door.  Your mind now knows you will run.  Your elephant now knows you will run.  At 4:30 when it is warm in bed, jump out and run towards the door. Quickly put your socks on and your shoes.  RUN!  After a while you will succeed...

Today's question is:
"Are you fibbing to yourself or do you want to change?"

365QOD-Day260

"OK maybe once in a while I tell a lie."- another lie

Continuing with our cookie story...

You are sitting there eating the cookie.  It tastes great.  Yummy!  You are halfway done with the milk when you decide that one is not going to be enough. 

This is where the second lie occurs:

Lie#2 "mess it up good"

You decide to bring the cookie jar closer to you and place the gallon of milk next to it.   Now the only thing that can stop you is you.  BUT you decide to mess it up for good and start again tomorrow.

Today's question is:
"How do you like the taste of the second cookie?"

365QOD-Day259

" I never lie"- a lie

We often fib to ourselves.  It could be a small fib or a large one.  A lie is simply a gap between you and the true you.  The less you lie the closer those two you become.


In the book  The Millionaire Mindset by Gerry robert urges us to avoid three lies we tell ourselves
#1 "Once will be enough"

At times we all want to change something about ourselves.   Suppose you decide to stop eating cookies before going to bed.  You realize(the mind) that this is not a great strategy for losing weight and decide to stop doing it.

One night you are having a lot of emotions running through your brain and you decide to calm yourself with a cookie and glass of milk. Your mind quickly tells you not to do it but you say to yourself
"One cookie will be enough"

That is the first lie...

Today's question is:
"When was one cookie enough?"

365QOD-Day258

"Yeah I heard you"- a  typical response

Recently while searching Ted.com  I came across a speech by Julian Treasure. In his speech he suggest that we try practicing:
1. Silence - 3 min a day
2. The mixer- focus for a while and see if you can identify how many channels of noise you are able to identify
3. Savoring mundane sounds- the hidden choir
4. Listening positions
    active/passive
    reductive/expansive
    critical/empathetic
5. A good communication contains
    Receiving
    Appreciating
    Summarizing
    Asking

Today's question is:
"Are you a good listener or do you need to practice?"

365QOD-Day257

"I am just large boned"- a fat defense

I have been taking care of myself better.  I exercise most days and eat better(fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch, less for dinner). So at 6'1" and 212 lbs. am I OK?  I recently read the short article below:

"To calculate your body fat percentage

The body adiposity index (BAI) is a new test proposed as an alternative to calculating your BMI. The BAI can be used to find your percentage of body fat.
How it works: To calculate it yourself, first convert your measurements into metric numbers. Here’s how: Hip circumference (in inches) x 2.5 = hip circumference in centimeters. Height (in inches) x 0.025 = height in meters. Then plug your metric measurements into the BAI formula: [(Hip circumference in centimeters) / (Height in meters x square root of height in meters)] - 18.
For example, if you’re a 150-pound woman with 30-inch hips and you’re 5'5", the math would look like this:
Hips: 30 x 2.5 = 75 cm
Height: 65 x 0.025 = 1.625 m
[75 / (1.625 x 1.275)] - 18 = approximately18% body fat
American Council on Exercise says an “acceptable” range for body fat for women is 25 to 31%, and for men 18 to 25%. You’re considered obese if your body fat is 32% or greater for women, and 26% or greater for men.
If you don’t want to pick up a calculator, let online tools take care of the math. Enter your height, weight, hip measurement (taken at the level of maximum extension around the bottom area), gender, and age in an online calculator, at  http://bai.azarbadegan.net/
"

Using the formula

BMI= [Hips in cm / (Height in cm x sqrt(Height in m))] - 18 =  ___    % body fat

For me...
Hips: 36 x 2.5 =  90cm
Height: 73 x 0.025 =  1.825m
BMI= [90 / (1.825 x sqrt(1.825))] - 18 = % body fat
BMI= [90 / (1.825 x 1.351] - 18 =18.5 % body fat
so I am "acceptable"

Today's question is:
"What is your BAI?"

365QOD-Day256

"When you give and then expect a return on your investment, you are an investor.
When you give and expect public recognition in return, you are a self-promoter. 
But when you give only for the love of giving, you are a generous person.


The word generosity stems from the Latin word generous, which mean "of noble birth"
Rich have given to poor without expectation of repayment.  This lies at the heart of what it means to be truly noble." from Today We Are Rich

I believe that in many life situations we find ourselves an investor, self-promoter, or a generous person.  We should strive to be noble but often we will fail.  It is OK to fail as long as we strive towards that goal.

If in the end we are judged as a giver then our lives will be noble. 

Today's question is:
"Today, during different situation ask yourself what type of giver are you?"

365QOD-Day255

"It is conscious thinking which is the 'control knob' of your unconscious machine"- maltz
 
Have you ever eaten a meal and not remembered the way it tasted?  Have you ever driven to work and not remembered the drive?  Many things we do are done unconsciously.

I recently changed jobs and by design placed a table away from my computer on which I eat lunch.  Every morning I place my lunch box on that table and during lunch I transition to it. This has allowed me to eat my meal without the distraction of a news story or email.

During my drive I listen to different audio books.  This forces me to focus on the book instead of the mindless chatter on the radio or the latest Brittney Spears song.  Ooops I did it again...and again and again...

I am working on transitioning the things that I do unconsciously into the conscious side.  Why?  This will give me the control knob to the unconscious mind.

Today's question is:

"Do you have control of your control knob?"

365QOD-Day254

"In the beginning all dreams are obstacle free"-Collin Sewell

When beginning anything we often find ourselves dreaming about a potential future state.  We think this will result in X where X is the desired state.  X can be anything: wealth, love, opportunity, etc.

Then we proceed to move towards X and Y happens. The Y is the obstacles: interference, loss, nudge towards another direction, loss of passion for X, desire for Z.

It is not surprising that we don't end up at X.  Dreaming is good but when the actions start requiring effort and you have to fight/react to Y many of us loose the momentum to go forward and just stop pursing X.

We must dream.  However, we must dream and ask ourselves what are the likely interferences that we will have to fight.  Once those obstacles have been identified  then we can proceed to go around them to eventually reach our destination X.

Today's question is:
"Do you identify the obstacles(Y) of your dreams(X) before you start?"

365QOD-Day253

"Ichi-nichi issho:  'Each day is a lifetime.'  We arise in the morning newly born.  As we pass through the day, we age and gain experience.  When we tire at day's end, we 'die' and take our rest.  That one arc serves as a miniature of our entire life.  What we do during a single day- and how we do it- becomes the foundation of our whole lifetime.  For what is life but the sum of our days?

This very day can be a life's turning point.  In a single moment we can decide to walk the path that has no end.


Starting now.


Let the day begin."  - from Zen 24/7 by Philip Toshio Sudo

On Wednesday Oct 5th 2011 Steve Jobs passed away.  In many articles I have read about him the idea of living each day as your last day is mentioned.  He lived the way of the Ichi-nichi issho.

Today's question is:
"What changes do you need to make to live the Ichi-nichi issho way?"