Personal Development

  • Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading – October 18th, 2020

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

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  • The Day of Atonement

    A few weeks ago was Rosh Hashanah – The Jewish New Year, and this evening starts Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement.  The practice around these holidays is a good reminder to take account of where you are and appreciate the blessings around you. It was a reminder to me to sprint towards the end of 2020 with the energy of a new year. 

    Yom Kippur is a lot like a Catholic confession, but it happens once a year. The holiday is a mix of contemplation, mindfulness, and contrition.  Ultimately, we apologize for the sins we've committed against ourselves, our communities, our friends, and our faith.  Also important is the promise to do better next year.  On top of repenting, we fast (no food or water) for a full day to make sure we're mindful.  

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    via Dry Bones

    It's interesting how little human nature has changed in the past several thousand years. The list of sins is just as relevant today as I imagine it was back then. 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 …).  

    To help drive the importance of the day, we ceremoniously read a poem called the Unetaneh Tokef. Below is a brief excerpt because it's a powerful read, regardless of faith. 

    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 very real power to create the experience and environment you will live in during the next year.

    This year, my local Synagogues are closed due to the pandemic. As a result, I happen to be in Cabo for today. As I look at a photo I took, I find myself thinking about that lesson – that we have a choice about who we want to be, how we show up, and what we make things mean.

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    The picture is just a picture.  The story you tell about it (or what it means to you) is actually more important than the image itself.

    One could lament that the sun is going down just as easily as they could celebrate the beautiful sunset.  Someone could complain about the rough desert terrain or decide to notice its natural beauty.  You could complain about the heat and humidity or jump in the ocean to cool off.  You could struggle with how difficult it is to get there or appreciate how nice it is to be somewhere so remote and secluded.  In every case, the choice is yours … this is “free will”.
     
    In addition, some might say that it is wrong that I was in Cabo at the start of Yom Kippur. It reminds me of a story.  
     
    Someone asks their religious leader if they can smoke during prayer time … consequently, they are told “of course not” and reminded to take prayer time seriously and to treat it as a sacred moment.  Meanwhile , a different person says “while walking along the beach, and smoking, they feel close to God and start to pray … they ask their religious leader if this is OK … with that framing, the answer is “of course” because it is always a good time to feel close to the Divine and to pray.

     

    Progress starts by telling the truth.  And Yom Kippur is a time to honest reflection. Equally important to recognizing and repenting for your sins, is recognizing and appreciating that you did good and well … for yourself, your friends and family, or your community. 

    All-in-all, it's a nice framework that highlights how you have grown; and, it also shows where you have room to grow. 

    100 Days Left

    We're currently bringing in the Jewish New Year, but we also have just under 100 days before the normal New Year. Many will spend those 100 days stressing about the upcoming elections, grumbling about how 2020 sucked and pretending it's the universe's fault they didn't accomplish what they set their mind to … but, 100 days is a great amount of time to sprint, to make a change, to end the year on a high note. 

    That's plenty of time to make this your best year yet. What can you do? What will you do?

    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!

  • Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading – September 27th, 2020

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

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  • AI & Intellectual Property With Rich Goldstein

    It has been a crazy ride.

    I studied psychology and philosophy at Duke in the early '80s.  Then I got both an MBA and a law degree at Northwestern University in Chicago. 

    My first job out of school was doing corporate and securities work at a law firm in Dallas.  By the early '90s, I knew that I was an entrepreneur. 

    Regardless, the path seemed random as I was going down it … but looking back, it all seems to make some form of sense. 

    I recently did a podcast with a patent lawyer friend, Rich Goldstein. We talk about that, what it's like working with my son, the difference between practicing law and creating AI, innovation, and the role of Intellectual Property and its protection. 

    I think it's a good listen. Check it out. 

     

  • The Growth of Home Fitness (and Fitness Tracking)

    Home fitness isn't a new trend, but we've come a long way from the Aerobics videos of my youth …

    The technology of home workouts has also improved a lot, even before COVID-19 put it into overdrive. 

    From YouTube channels with any type of workout you could look for, to simple machines for any type of workout you're looking for. 

    I've shared articles before about some of my favorite tools

    • Carol – An AI Fitness bike specializing in High-Intensity Interval Training
    • Power Plate – Whole Body Vibration to help with stretching and bodyweight exercises
    • x3 Bar – Resistance Bands to replace weightlifting equipment
    • Tonal – A smart home gym

    So, how has the quarantine affected the industry?

    Home-fitness-apps-OC_v2-2via VisualCapitalist

    Worldwide, health & fitness app downloads have grown by 46%. With a mass majority of that being in India. On top of downloads, daily active users have also increased by 24% worldwide. 

    Is Home Fitness Here to Stay?

    Health & fitness apps have been a big part of my arsenal, far before social distancing was a thing, and they'll continue to be an important part of my future fitness plans. 

    Many people prefer the gym/class environment for workouts, so home workouts will never represent a major proportion of the market, but it's non-trivial and continues to grow. 

    More likely to continue to grow in use are the tracking and mindfulness apps. 

    I like several guided meditation apps.

    In addition, I like these too.

    • Focus@Will (background music for different moods)
    • Brain.FM (AI created music to enhance focus, relaxation, meditation, naps & sleep)
    • Meditation Music (5-minute songs, inhale at the bell, exhale at the next bell … repeat)
    • Zen Wellness (courses about meditation, Qi Gong, etc.)
    • Muse (brain sensing headband and app to help you know whether you are relaxing)

    I also recommend:

    • Hapbee – A device that lets you choose how to feel
    • Apollo Neuro – Wearable wellness and stress relief
    • 40 Years of Zen – This is a 5-day program that leverages neurofeedback technology and guidance to help you unlock and expand your potential.

    For fitness tracking, I use: 

    • Oura Ring (personal health tracker that specializes in detailed sleep tracking & Heart Rate Variability measurement)
    • Whoop (similar fitness tracker but targeted towards athletes & recovery)
    • Apple Watch

     

    Let me know if there is something that I should add to the list.

  • Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading – September 12th, 2020

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

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  • Innovator Mindsets

    To some, new technology is a good thing.  To others, less is more.

    Most people simply "tolerate" technology transitions, some people drive them, and others crave them and use them as a catalyst for growth or strategic advantage.

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    In the image, above, the blue line represents consumer adoption (taken from Geoffrey Moore's "Crossing the Chasm", while the yellow line represents market share. 

    As you can see, only 2.5% of the population drive innovation (or adopt it early enough to help drive the Alpha & Beta versions of emerging technologies). 13.5% make up the Early adopters, who help get it ready for the mainstream.  Then the early and late majorities are the groups that ultimately consume (or use) the mature product. Meanwhile, Laggards are often forced kicking and screaming into “new” technologies as the early adopters are well on their way to subsequent iterations. 

    Even if you are not an innovator, here are a few Innovator Mindsets that I find useful. 

    1. You Believe There’s A Better Way
      • Wherever you are, you know that there is a best next step and you are eager to find it and take it.
      • You recognize that the opportunity for more (or better) often lies just beyond the constraints or problems of the current way.
      • The bigger future fuels your efforts. When initial excitement fades, understanding what the bigger future can bring helps you power through.
    2. You Are Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
      • You understand that Pioneers sometimes take arrows in the back.
      • When creating a new reality, you expect some resistance as a result of the law of averages. Escaping the status quo takes a lot of momentum, but it’s worth it. 
      • You recognize when victory is near.  In a quirk of human nature, too many people quit just before they would have won. Don’t make that mistake.
    3. You Know Where You're Going, Even If You Are Not Sure How You're Going To Get There
      • Your goal should be your North Star. A clear direction is important to ensure that activity leads to progress.
      • Measure progress and momentum rather than the distance from your goal.
      • It is easier to course-correct while in motion.
      • If you’re too committed to a path that isn’t leading in the right direction, you might find what Blockbuster, RadioShack, and Kodak found.
    4. You Are Married To Questions (Not Necessarily Answers)
      • Everything works until it doesn’t; and nothing works forever.
      • It’s easy to find an answer and think it’s the right one, but there’s always a best next step or a better way.
      • Figure out what you want and how to get it. This is much more empowering than focusing on what you don’t want or why you can’t get it.
      • Ask questions that focus on opportunities or possibilities rather than challenges or what you want to avoid.
      • Energy flows where focus goes.
      • Commit to finding a way!

    I plan on sharing more Innovator Mindsets.  Let me know what you think.

  • Turning Thoughts Into Things

    Well done is better than well said – Benjamin Franklin

    Turning thoughts into things is an important skill set to understand.

    Visionaries tend to spend a lot of their time exploring the future. In and of itself, this is neither good nor bad.

    If you generate a lot of ideas (but don't properly cultivate and structure them) those ideas can easily become a distraction to you and your team. 

    When properly managed and pursued methodically and purposefully – those same ideas become the catalyst for massive progress. 

    There are three main ways, I believe you can make thoughts into things:

    • Focus Your Energy – People often focus more on what they don't want, rather than on what they do want. By directing your energy and focus toward opportunities and possibilities, it becomes a lot more likely that you will recognize and take advantage of opportunities and possibilities when they appear or occur. 
    • Imagine Your Future – One of my favorite quotes is " the best way to predict the future is to create it." Abraham Lincoln originally said it, but I've thought or said it enough it feels like mine to me.  By deeply imagining the future you want to call into existence, and thinking about it with that end in mind, it becomes easier to imagine the intermediary goals or milestones needed to reach your desired goals.  The basic outline brings order to the chaos … and the strategies and tactics needed come from the finer distinctions you make thinking about each part (or what is needed to reach the next milestone).
    • Make It Tangible – Name it!  Naming something is powerful. Whether it's a product in your business, a concept, or a goal. Making it tangible solidifies it in your mind, and in the mind of others.  Think about what happens if you reach it (and what would happen if you fail).  Come up with the criteria that provides evidence of success.  What would it look like?  How would it perform?  What does it make possible? What would it prevent? How would it impact key measures of efficiency, effectiveness, or certainty?  What can you do about it now?

    Ultimately, each of these ideas is entirely dependent on the actions you're willing to take. And how decisive you can be. 

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    What aren't you doing because you're overthinking it? Are there opportunities you are missing simply because you aren't looking for them?

    Onwards!

  • It’s Not About The Nail…

    Apparently, a lot of wisdom can be learned from nails. I've shared the story about the Nail in the Fence in the past. 

    This week a funny video called "It's Not About The Nail" recycled through my inbox again. 

    Have you seen it yet? It has had 20+ million views across various social media and syndication sites.  So, you've likely run across it even if you haven't watched it.
     
     

    via Jason Headley

    The short version is that a woman tries to communicate with her significant other about her headache, which he quickly identifies as (literally) a nail in her forehead, with a seemingly obvious solution: Let’s get rid of that nail. She insists that that is absolutely NOT the problem, and if he would just listen to her, that would be clear to him. She explains, clarifies, objects, etc. Eventually, he does see the light … and gives her not the solution he found so (literally) painfully obvious, but the solution she asked for.
     
    "Don't try to fix it. I just need you to listen." It's obvious.
     
    Good for a laugh, but, also good as a reminder. Simply put, a problem that may seem apparent to you may not be so obvious to the person with a problem … and that might be the real problem.

    Whether your takeaway is that we often miss the answer right in front of our face, or that we have to be aware of what other people need, or that you can't help people that don't want to be helped … you're right. 

     

  • Time Flies – Another Year, Another Lesson

    Tomorrow is my 57th birthday. I can't believe how time flies. Birthdays seem to come more quickly as you get older.

    It makes sense, though, I suppose. When you were four, a birthday represented a quarter of your life. Now, a year represents a much smaller percentage.

    While it's not always pleasant getting older, it sure beats the alternative.

    I made a concerted effort this year to make strides towards being more healthy, fit, and vital in mind, body, and spirit.  If you are going to live longer, your future has to be compelling.  I always strive for my future to be bigger than my past.  

    As time marches on, I become increasingly grateful for the friends and family who share the journey with me. 

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    When I was a kid, I couldn't imagine being where I am today … nor could I imagine the path that got me here. Looking back, it all seems to make sense (even though it felt pretty random while making my way through it).

    I feel lucky to have been in the right place at the right time, so consistently, and to find the gift in most situations (even when it seemed so well hidden).

    I'm grateful for a lot today, and as much as I love innovation, sometimes things are perfect just the way they are. 

    Hopefully, you took time this weekend to let someone know they're important to you. If not, now is a good time for that too!