Healthy Lifestyle

  • Are You Ready For The Holidays?

    As we near the holidays, you'd think people would be getting cheerier. Jollier, you might say. 

    Instead, the holidays tend to bring out the worst in people. 

    Why is it often easier to be nice to a stranger (or a dog) than someone you deal with regularly? Emotional baggage is likely the answer. Things like anger, resentment, pain, fear, uncertainty, and doubt are inhibitors that can affect how we interact with others. Frustratingly, our challenges often stem directly from what we bring to each situation ourselves.

    It reminded me of one of the earliest videos I shot almost 10 years ago. It highlights the importance of allowing energy to flow freely, enabling individuals to remain focused and resilient in the face of challenges. It doesn't matter what happens … what matters is what you choose to focus on, make it mean, and choose to do.

     

    Sometimes, things don't seem to go well. Despite the annoying evidence to the contrary, it's probably not them … Which means it is probably you (or at least what you focus on). 

    The antidote to negative situations is simple – focus on your progress and the reasons behind your efforts.

    The recipe for success (and happiness this holiday season) isn't eggnog … it is to choose to let energy flow and to have an unrelenting focus on your bigger future.

    Bring on 2025!

  • Ready Fire Aim!

    Michael Masterson wrote a book called Ready Fire Aim: Zero to $100 Million In No Time Flat. It is a practical guide for entrepreneurs and business leaders, focusing on the different stages of business growth and the key challenges and priorities at each stage.

    A core message of the book is to start taking action quickly (instead of getting bogged down in over-planning) and use rapid iteration and real-world feedback to refine strategies.

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    The concept is presented in the context of growing a business – yet the lessons apply broadly. 

    Swift action should be your focus … not over-planning or perfect timing.

    Too many companies get stuck in a cycle of brainstorming, getting internal feedback, making changes, and failing to release the product.

    Even for released products, too many fail because they took too long to launch or ignored market feedback. 

    Masterson stresses that the value of live performance is that it helps you course-correct. He also cautions that there is no such thing as perfect timing. The best timing is almost always ‘Now!’

    Now, let’s extrapolate. 

    Let’s say you’re pondering a tricky work problem. You know you need to figure it out before the end of the week … but your brain keeps going in circles. 

    You don’t believe you can take decisive action and course-correct because you feel you have to get it right. 

    So, what can you do? Write it out. Write out the potential paths, ramifications, and worst-case scenarios as holistically as possible. 

    You’ll find that simply by writing it out instead of just ‘thinking,’ you end up more creative with more insight. 

    Writing aids in organizing and clarifying your thoughts. 

    AI As Your ‘Action’ Partner 

    AI can make this process easier, faster, and more manageable. Tools like ChatGPT can help you explore complex topics, run scenarios for you, and provide external feedback. 

    It’s not the same as real-world feedback, but it can shorten the ‘Aim’ part of the process. 

    As you externalize your thoughts in writing them to whatever AI you choose, you also get the same benefit you did writing your thoughts out in our previous example. 

    The business environment is changing faster than ever. Technology is advancing faster, adoption is getting easier, and the average Joe is becoming bullish on AI. Because of that, Masterson’s book is even more relevant now than it was in 2007. Here are a few of the other key takeaways from Ready, Fire, Aim.

    • Adapt Your Role: As a company scales, leaders must shift from “doing” to guiding and from tactics to strategy.
    • Be Sales-Focused: Keep revenue generation as a core priority, especially in the early stages.
    • Build Scalable Systems: Invest in operations and leadership at the right time to support sustainable growth.
    • Innovate Continuously: Avoid complacency by fostering an organizational culture that balances efficiency with creativity.

    AI and exponential technologies are going to compress cycle types. What used to be long-term planning will just be planning. You have to act fast, not only to capitalize on these trends but also to avoid being wiped out by them. 

    Are you keeping up?

  • Thoughts From a New Beginning

    My son Zach got married this weekend. 

    Watching how thoughtfully and carefully they planned the wedding to keep it intimate and meaningful was heartwarming.

    IMG_3193

    The wedding was for them, with parents and siblings as the only guests. They did it at the location of their first date, had their favorite desserts, and wore non-traditional outfits. I believe they will have a party in the spring.

    A wedding is a significant life event. So, I’m sharing a few of the thoughts it triggered.

    Since they were born, I have been struck by how similar and different my two sons have been. My older son, Ben, is very analytical and yet surprisingly heart-centered, while Zach is very emotionally-centered and yet very intelligent. That slight difference in their center of gravity has been impactful. Ben has always been a “less is more” kind of guy, while Zach has always been a “more is more” kind of guy.

    Nature is funny … and I believe that how you do something is how you tend to do almost everything. For example, Ben always had a plan — yet, Zach was different … until he fell in love with rugby, and everything changed. I saw him approach fitness, health, schedules, time, and almost everything differently. That exposes an interesting truth – You don’t tend to win races you don’t want to win. Something deeper has to inspire the effort. When you find something deeper, the rest becomes easier. Even in his 30s, rugby is still his passion. 

    As a parent, a small part of me wished that Zach’s focus on rugby had gone to school or business or something … But that’s not how I really felt. As a father, I knew that once I saw that he knew how to focus on what he wanted, he could focus on anything he wanted. Because once he knew how to do it for one thing, he could do it for anything.

    It was like that for me when I met Jennifer – everything changed. I knew so fast. So, when I saw how everything changed for Zach when he met Sloane, I knew the same thing happened.

    Here's how I knew he really loved her. Zach’s favorite food groups are cheese fries, bacon, and extra grease. So, his falling in love with a gluten-free vegan (and not only tolerating it – but defending it) showed me something massively important. For the record, he’s been protective and focused on Sloane ever since. And because of that, I know how this turns out.

    I want to say how proud I am of Zachary and how happy I am for both of them as we welcome Sloane to the family.

    Her love has brought out the best in Zach, and we can’t wait to see the life they’ll build together.

    That reminds me of something I thought about several times during the wedding … it is that love is both a noun and a verb. It’s a thing (a state, a feeling, or even a target) … but it’s also something that you can choose, commit to, and do. The noun without the verb is frustrating – because you couldn’t move towards it and would have to get lucky to experience it. But the verb without the noun would be exhausting because you’d always be searching without finding or driving toward something that you don’t arrive at. This perspective on love as both a state and an action resonates as a natural truth for me. It is like inhaling and exhaling … one without the other is futile.

  • Finding The Path Of Least Resistance …

    There’s a concept in design and transportation called Desire Paths. 

    A Desire Path is the path users take instead of the path intended by the builder. 

    Here’s a great example. 

    6tj18p093vb81Reddit via itstartswithani

    If you are interested, there is an active online community forum that shares examples of Desire Paths. It may give you some ideas and knowing laughs.

    I am a creature of habit, and even though much of what I think, feel, or do seems to be happening based on real-time choices or decisions, much of that is just a well-worn rut of unconscious behavior.

    As a subtle reminder to my son, who just got married, expect many of your existing Desire Paths to change (even if you don’t want them to).

    The lesson … It’s often easier to account for or take advantage of human nature (or nature) than to fight against it. 

    Here is a short video on how this relates to your business and tech adoption. I call it Functional Mapping. Check it out. 

     

    The video provides additional depth and detail beyond what’s covered in this post. I encourage you to watch it for a more complete perspective.

    Understanding the natural path for both technology and people makes it easier to understand and anticipate the capabilities, constraints, and milestones that define your path forward.   That means you actually have to understand the different types of users and what they expect to do. Here’s a diagram that explains how we build AI-enabled applications.

    6a00e5502e47b28833026bded38d1b200c-600wi

    Each stage is really about the opportunity to scale desired capabilities and automation.

    It isn’t really about building the technology; instead, it is about supporting the desire.

    You don’t have to get it right. You just have to create momentum in the right direction.   Meaning … if you can anticipate what is coming, you don’t have to build it. Instead, you should figure out where you want to build or create something that will move things in the right direction to help make that happen or benefit from it when it happens.

    You’ve probably heard me talk about how Capabilities become Prototypes. Then, Prototypes become Products. And, ultimately, Products become Platforms.

    This model is fractal. That means it works on many levels of magnification or iteration.

    What first looks like a product is later seen as a prototype for something bigger.

    SpaceX’s goal to get to Mars feels like their North Star right now … but once it’s achieved, it becomes the foundation for new goals.

    This Framework helps you validate capabilities before sinking resources into them. 

    It helps you anticipate which potential outcomes you want to accelerate. Rather than simply figuring out the easiest next step … you have to figure out which path is the best next step to your desired outcome.

    The world is changing fast! Hope you’re riding the wave instead of getting caught in the riptide!

    Onwards.

  • Why I’m Still Excited About The Future of GPTs as a 20+ Year AI CEO

    Last week, I explained how to create content by simply talking to your computer using ChatGPT's new voice interface. In that post, I multi-tasked in a whole new way by writing the article by merely talking with ChatGPT while walking around my neighborhood to get some fresh air and "exercise."

    In that article, I shared my conversation along with the end result – a quick and dirty article about the applications of AI voice agents. I didn't edit the article the way I usually would, but that was intentional to demonstrate what it could create on its own. My evaluation was that it produced content that met the minimum standard and provided a great starting point for me to enhance.

    Next week, I'll redo that process, emphasizing the prompts used to interact with the AI. I also used some additional prompts to refine the writing.

    As I find new tools, prompts, and applications, I can't help but share them with the people around me. Technology has always excited me and given me energy.

    Meanwhile, as I share these tools and prompts with my son, Zach, it's clear he's not as excited as I am about them. For context, Zach and I work on these articles together. So, when I find a new writing tool that I think will make our lives easier, I'm quick to share it.

    This past week, I shared some prompts with him that I thought were profound (because they were simple – but produced useful productive output). Through simple prompts and appropriate context settings, we can now get ChatGPT (or other tools like Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity) to perform functions a small business may not have internally. For example, a company could use AI as a comptroller or product manager. It can also help create reports and summarize meetings better than my assistant or I would.

     

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    Zach acknowledged the utility of capabilities like these … but described them as 'pedestrian.' He was unimpressed because, in his eyes, these were capabilities that were already possible early into the public release of ChatGPT.

    He does appreciate more specific use cases for generative AI – but focuses more heavily on apps with a singular utility. For example, he likes a writing app called Lex, which works more like a standard Word Processor (but with several nicely done AI assists) … or the Hemmingway Editor app, which helps make your writing concise and correct (by suggesting fixes for lengthy, complex sentences, and common errors).

    Instead of focusing on the new generality & ubiquity – and automating tasks outside his wheelhouse – he gets excited about supplementing his ability or improving his efficiency.

    His lack of excitement helped me understand more why I'm excited.

    Since the '90s, I've been fascinated by AI. For much of that time, two types of people shared my excitement. The first was Hollywood executives, who created cliché dystopian depictions to perpetuate a false human vs AI dichotomy (think The Terminator, I, Robot, or 2001: A Space Odyssey). The other were other people like me. Entrepreneurs or academics looking to leverage exponential technologies.

    The average person had very little practical exposure to AI outside of the hidden-in-plain-sight applications that were often glorified decision logic. Eventually, you got tools like Siri or Alexa that put it into everyone's home.

    My son takes for granted that even when ChatGPT grew popular, using it well took expertise. You had to be clever, deliberate, and patient to get results that weren't verbose garbage.

    AI is genuinely becoming not just available but accessible.

    Three great examples are Letterly, Talktastic, and Rosebud Journal.

    Letterly is an application that allows me to dictate whatever I'm thinking. It runs a process behind the scenes to organize and clean up disorganized text. Then it gives me dozens of rewrite options that allow me to choose the tone (Business, Casual, Friendly, Clear and Concise, etc.), the purpose (Email, Social Post, Journal Entry, etc.), and the type of output (Structured, 2X Shorter, Meeting Takeaways, Detailed Summary, Outline, etc.). It sounds much more complicated than it really is. The primary reason that I like it is that it's so simple that I take it for granted. 

    Another tool like that is Talktastic. For short burst dictation, TalkTastic is better than speech recognition tools (like ChatGPT, OpenAI Whisper, Google Speech-to-Text, or Apple Dictation). It is a game changer because it interprets what you're saying based on what it sees on your computer screen, regardless of the app or website. That means when you trigger it to run, TalkTastic analyzes a snapshot of your chosen app and automatically understands your conversation's tone, style, and substance while accurately spelling people's names and easily confused words. So you can turn your rough ideas into thoughtful and articulate language everywhere. I use it dozens of times every day to create short messages, emails, and even some of the sentences in an article like this. Currently, Taltastic only works on macOS devices (and is totally free while in beta).

    Rosebud is a journalling app reimagined to incorporate AI in many subtle and clever ways. I've been tempted to journal many times throughout my career, but always found reasons to abandon the practice. That's not true anymore. Rosebud's AI journal has fundamentally changed how I look at and use tools like this. Chatting with AI tools is one thing (I wrote about that in a post called Conversing With AI), but Rosebud is a level beyond even that. It has all the benefits of a traditional journal, but it adds intelligent responses, subtle prompts, and reminders to think about certain things. It's interactive and collaborative. It challenges you to re-examine certain beliefs, set goals, or measure success in different ways. Try it!

    Each of these tools is a great example of something you quickly take for granted because it's easy to get used to nice things.

    Expect a lot more things like that.

    Isn't that exciting?

  • The NFL’s Halftime Hack

    When you think of food meant to help athletes, you might think back to when parents would give orange slices or Gatorade to kids during soccer games. Now, fast forward your thinking to the best options available to fuel today's performance athletes. What do you imagine they would use before or during a game? 

    I quickly went to protein bars or energy gels (like GU) … But, I was wrong.

    According to research from The Athletic, The NFL's favorite halftime energy booster is now the uncrustable.

    What is that? An "uncrustable" is a crustless sandwich consisting of a filling between two layers of crimp-sealed bread. They are convenient, portable, and they tend to come in homey flavors like PB&J. While you can theoretically make one at home, Uncrustables, in this context, are made by Smuckers. 

    GaxdbP-WoAA2_mCThe Athletic via X 

    Based on this math, it's reasonable to assume that NFL teams go through ~4000 Uncrustables a week (on top of however many PB&Js or other sandwiches they consume). Regardless, it is a lot. 

    Why the sudden surge in popularity? It's a combination of factors:

    • Nostalgia and Comfort: The uncrustable taps into a sense of childhood nostalgia, offering a comforting and familiar taste.
    • Nutritional Balance: It provides a balanced blend of carbohydrates for quick energy, fats for sustained power, and protein for recovery.
    • Convenience: Pre-packaged and mess-free, uncrustables are perfect for a half-time snack when you have very little time to eat. 

    If you think about it, it makes sense. PB&Js are universal. Regardless of geographic region, socioeconomic status, etc. – it's a staple. 

    They're easy to digest, convenient, and comforting. Hitting all the marks a professional athlete might be looking for. 

    Even in a high-tech world, people still crave simplicity and effectiveness.

    I've never had one … but now I kind of want to try. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure they used to call this a Pop-Tart. But I guess that just makes me seem old.

  • The Human Experience Is An Endurance Sport …

    Life can be hard. For most of our existence, even 'living' was difficult. But humans survived and multiplied not because of their speed or their ferocity … nor their comparatively flabby bodies or bipedal motion.

    It was endurance.

    In history, it wasn't the strongest that survived but the most adaptable and the most enduring. 

    Some take that to impossible heights. 

    That's where Ultrarunner Nedd Brockman comes in. 

    You might have heard of Ultramarathons. Ned took it a bit further. He managed to run 1000 miles in 12 days … and he did it around a single track. Since he's Australian, we'll call it 1600 kilometers. 

     

    via 7NEWS Australia 

    Nedd is an electrician turned ultrarunner in Australia who raises funds for good causes. In this case, he raised funds to support homeless Australians. 

    While he was originally trying to beat a world record in his attempt to run 1000 miles, even when he missed that mark, he kept running. Through swollen feet, hip issues, injured toes, and more … he kept running. 

    As a result, he raised over $600,000. He ran for 12 days, 13 hours, 16 minutes, and 45 seconds. He averaged 79 miles of running a day. 

    Over the course of Nedd's Uncomfortable Challenge series, he's raised over $1.9M for charity.

    Though this may teeter on the "stupid" side of endurance, this is clearly a testament to the indomitable human spirit and challenging our limits. 

    “I just never could have imagined it to be this bad. And I’m forever grateful for it all. Wouldn’t change a … thing. Post traumatic growth coming right up.”

    How are you challenging yourself today?!

     

  • Multi-Tasking with ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Interface ‘or’ Unlocking the Power of Voice Agents: A New Frontier in Content Creation

    This article was created using a unique process compared to our usual approach. To test ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice capabilities, I decided to talk with it while walking around my neighborhood. I wanted to explore if it could help me be productive while getting fresh air and exercise.

     

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    What follows is the transcript, with only some light editing and formatting to better provide insight into the process and its outputs.

    The embedded mini-article that ChatGPT produced isn’t the main takeaway here. What interests me is the quality of the article, considering how little effort went into creating it. It was so painless and quick that I found myself contemplating how easily I could use this process for other types of productive output. In fact, that concept is a key focus of the mini-article below.

    That said, this is just a snapshot of AI’s current capabilities. If I were to repeat this experiment in six months or a year, I’m confident the results would be even more impressive. I'm also confident that if I'd asked it to flesh out the article, I would have been more impressed as well.

    I’d probably consider this article “good enough” if I weren’t someone who takes pride in my writing and thinking. Nonetheless, I believe it’s a solid starting point. For the record, my son (who helps write these weekly commentaries) disagrees. He liked our article and its premise – but "hated" what ChatGPT produced.

    Sure, some additional work and deeper reflection could make it meaningfully better … but it’s impressive how quickly and easily we came up with something valuable (that could become even more valuable with a little extra effort).

    In conclusion, these content creation capabilities represent a key shift: the content bar will rise, and the minimum standard for what’s acceptable will get higher. But as the bar for “acceptable” rises, I think fewer people will strive for greatness. That’s where you can extend your edge … if you’re willing to do the extra work.

     

    Here is the Chat.

    “Hello.”

    00:00

    Hey there! How’s it going?

    “Going pretty well. Today, I want to work on a blog post.”

    00:06

    That sounds great! What topic are you thinking about for your blog post?

    “How voice agents like you can help to create articles in a new way.”

    00:07

    That’s a fascinating topic! Exploring how voice agents can revolutionize content creation could really capture readers’ imaginations. You could delve into how it streamlines the writing process, adds a conversational tone, and even opens up new possibilities for interactive or personalized content. What angle are you thinking of taking?

    “Everything you just said, but I also want to add a piece on instant feedback.”

    00:01

    Fantastic! So, you could structure the blog post around how voice agents enhance the writing process by making brainstorming more dynamic, offering immediate feedback, and allowing for a more fluid, conversational tone. Is there anything else you want to explore in the post?

    “An example where I’m walking around the neighborhood, but instead of simply walking, I talk to the AI agent and have it even ask me questions.”

    00:16

    So, while strolling through the neighborhood, you engage in a productive dialogue with the AI agent instead of just walking. It can prompt you with questions …

    “And help me consider and refine the post; yes.”

    00:020

    So, while strolling through the neighborhood, instead of just walking, you engage in a productive dialogue with the AI agent. It can prompt you with questions, helping you refine your ideas and shape your article, all while you’re getting some fresh air and exercise. It’s a great way to maximize productivity in otherwise idle moments. Want to include anything else?

    “Yes, a couple of other examples and challenges for the reader to think about other uses of this technology that open up AI and exponential progress in ways that they haven’t thought of before.”

    00:21

    Great idea! You could include examples like using voice agents for language learning, where they act as conversation partners, or for project management, where they help organize tasks and deadlines through natural conversation. For challenges, invite readers to think about how voice agents might transform areas like mental health support, creative collaborations, or even scientific research. This approach could really spark some innovative thinking!

    “Great. Please come up with a detailed outline for what you’re thinking.”

    00:08

    1. Introduction
      • Brief overview of how voice agents are changing content creation.
      • Mention of the growing role of AI in everyday life.
    2. Voice Agents: A New Way to Write
      • How voice agents can turn walking time into productive writing sessions.
      • The ease of having a conversation with an AI to generate content.
    3. Benefits of Voice Agents in Content Creation
      • Brainstorming: How voice agents can help generate ideas.
      • Instant Feedback: Getting immediate responses to refine ideas.
      • Conversational Tone: How speaking thoughts out loud can create a more natural writing flow.
    4. Examples of Voice Agent Applications
      • Language Learning: Acting as a conversation partner.
      • Project Management: Organizing tasks through dialogue.
      • Mindfulness and Mental Health Support: Providing an outlet for expression and guidance.
      • Creative Collaborations: Assisting in the co-creation of stories or projects.
    5. Challenges for the Reader
      • Encourage readers to think of other areas where voice agents could be transformative.
      • Provoke thought on the broader implications of AI in accelerating exponential progress.
    6. Conclusion
      • Summarize the key points discussed.

     

    “Okay, please write that blog post for an executive or entrepreneur audience, making it simple, engaging, and relevant to their interests.”

    00:15

    …Got it. Here’s the blog post:

     

    Unlocking the Power of Voice Agents: A New Frontier in Content Creation

    In today’s fast-paced world, efficiency and innovation are essential, especially for executives and entrepreneurs. One of the most exciting developments in this arena is the rise of voice agents — AI-powered assistants that are transforming how we create content. Imagine turning a simple walk around the neighborhood into a dynamic brainstorming session or a full-fledged article creation process. Let’s explore how voice agents can open up new horizons for you.

     

    A7f1fa55-67b2-48ae-af46-297621450debThis image was created using X’s Grok AI to pair with this article.

    Voice Agents: A New Way to Write

    Picture this: you’re out for your morning walk, and instead of just enjoying the scenery, you’re also creating content. With a voice agent, you can do just that. Engage in a conversation with your AI assistant, and the spoken ideas seamlessly transform into written words.

    Benefits of Voice Agents in Content Creation

    • Brainstorming

    Voice agents excel at helping you brainstorm. Throw ideas at them, and they’ll help you explore different angles, often sparking new thoughts in the process.

    • Instant Feedback

    Gone are the days of waiting for feedback. With a voice agent, you get instant responses. As you articulate your thoughts, the AI provides real-time feedback, helping you refine your ideas on the fly. It’s like having an editor by your side, 24/7.

    • Conversational Tone

    Speaking your thoughts can lead to a more natural, conversational tone in your writing. This style is increasingly popular, as it engages readers and makes complex topics more accessible.

    Examples of Voice Agent Applications

    • Language Learning

    Voice agents can act as conversation partners, helping you practice new languages in a low-pressure environment. They can introduce vocabulary, correct pronunciation, and even engage in dialogue, making language learning more interactive and fun.

    • Project Management

    Organizing tasks and deadlines through natural conversation is another strength of voice agents. Discuss your project needs, and let the AI help you prioritize tasks, set reminders, and keep you on track.

    • Mindfulness and Mental Health Support

    Voice agents can offer a safe space for expression and reflection. They can guide you through mindfulness exercises, provide mood trackers, or simply lend an empathetic ear, offering support whenever you need it.

    • Creative Collaborations

    Imagine co-writing a story or developing a project with your AI assistant. Voice agents can contribute ideas, help you overcome creative blocks, and add a new dimension to collaborative efforts.

    Some Challenges to Consider

    As you consider these applications, think about other areas where voice agents could revolutionize your work or personal life. Could they streamline your decision-making processes? Might they open up new avenues for customer engagement? The potential is vast, limited only by our imagination.

    Conclusion

    Voice agents are changing how we create content, offering benefits beyond simple convenience. From brainstorming to project management, and from language learning to mental health support, the possibilities are endless. As we continue to integrate AI into our daily lives, voice agents will evolve into increasingly powerful tools for innovation and growth. So, the next time you head out for a walk, consider inviting your AI assistant along — you might just discover your next big idea.

     

    “Okay, thanks.”

    00:01

    You’re welcome! If you need any more help, just let me know.

     

    I’d love your feedback on this … and I’m curious to learn how you’re using AI or want to use AI.

    As I’ve said before – we live in interesting times.

    Onwards!

  • Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading – October 19th, 2024

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    Here are some of the posts that caught my eye recently. Hope you find something interesting.

    Lighter Links:

     

    Trading Links:

  • Atoning & Rebuilding

    Yesterday was Yom Kippur, which translates to “Day of Atonement” and is one of the High Holy Days in the Jewish religion.

    As part of the holiday, participants read a list of sins (available here), apologize for those committed, and ask for forgiveness. Read the list … even though much has changed in the World… apparently, human nature hasn’t changed much.  

    Even if you have managed to stay on the right side of the Ten Commandments and haven’t killed or stolen … you have most likely been frivolous, stubborn, hurtful, dismissive, or judgmental (I know I have …).  

    I’ve had a reasonably challenging year. Instead of feeling like a victim or using the struggles as excuses, Yom Kippur is a day to look back honestly, reflect, and choose to be better.

    To help mark the day’s importance, participants read a prayer called the Unetaneh Tokef. Below is a brief excerpt that captures the spirit. 

    Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquillity and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted.

    On one hand, you can read that and pray for Divine intervention (or perhaps favor), or you can recognize that we each have a choice about who we want to be, how we show up, and what we make things mean. Your choices about these things have real power to create the experience and environment you will live in next year.

    This time of year, we can also learn from many other cultures. For example, the Japanese art of Kintsugi. In Kintsugi, the Japanese mend broken pottery by gilding the fractures with gold, silver, or platinum. This treats the breaks and damage as an element that adds value and enhances the beauty of an object (preserving a part of its history) – rather than something that diminishes the object. 

    Diapositive5

    This concept is an excellent reminder as we unpack the “trauma” of shootings, culture wars, actual wars, and more. Our steps backward are just as much a part of our journey as our steps forward. As you heal, it is also important to remember to heal the World around you. In the Jewish faith, that concept is called Tikkun Olam. 

    One of the themes of Yom Kippur is that you’re only one good deed from tipping the scale towards good for yourself and others. As you recognize and repent for your sins, it’s also important to appreciate the good you did (and do) as well. 

    As I look at my year, atone, and look forward, I'm reminded of two definitions I heard recently. 

    One is that “intelligence” can be defined as the ability to get or move towards what you want … and the second is that “learning” is the ability to get a better result in the same situation.

    I choose to look at going forward as a chance to clear the slate and Be and Do better … personally, professionally, in the business, and in relationships. I know that there’s lots of room for improvement, opportunities for growth, and the ability to simply put the past behind me and focus on a better future.

    Initially, I looked at Capitalogix as a technology company that built trading and fund management capabilities. Over time, I realized that the team, our tools, and the things we do backstage are more valuable than the front-stage results that we produce. We can leverage these to amplify intelligence in virtually any industry.

    The future is going to be about making better decisions, taking better actions, and continually improving performance. That won’t really change. Almost everything else will. So, the business is really about the things that don’t change.

    I think this is probably true in life as well. Many parts of you change … but the part of you that doesn’t is really the core of who you are.

    There are Less Than 100 Days Left in 2024.

    There are only 80 days left until 2025. Many will spend those days stressing about the upcoming election, grumbling about inflation, and pretending it’s the universe’s fault they didn’t accomplish what they set their mind to … yet, it’s also enough time to sprint, to make a change, and to end the year on a high note. 

    There is plenty of time to make this your best year yet. What can you do? What will you do?

    What could you do to make the life of someone around you better? Likewise, how can you let others know you’re thankful for them?

    To reference a book by Ben Hardy and Dan Sullivan, transformational change is often easier than incremental change (because you don’t have to drag the past forward).

    So, what can you do that would trigger 10X results?   Will you?

    I hope you all experience growth in your mental state, your relationships, and your businesses.  

    Best wishes for a great day and an even better year!