Scott, Author at Scott's Thinking

So Now What?!

Posted on March 2, 2021

Once you reach your goal, and the celebrating is over, you may be feeling this way. I’ve finished that other thing, so now what?!

This feeling can come along very gently or can hit like a ton of bricks. Often the more significant the achievement, the more hollow the aftermath can be. Though his can be tempered by having additional goals and aspirations to pursue immediately after completing other goals.

Of course some of this comes down to how much you have hyped up the goal in the first place. If the goal was considered life changing, it could feel like a bit of a denouement when you realise that the basics of life remain the same.

Regardless, this is a good phrase to say to get your brain thinking of the next goal. Although it may be more helpful to say something like, “What will be next?” Then you can at least start the thinking process about after the event, before you get going. Make it all part of your plan.

For example, I’ve finished writing my book. It’s been edited. And now I am in production, marketing and distribution mode in March. “What will be next?”, is certainly on my mind.

So now what?!

Action Health & Fitness Observe Think About It

I Don’t Feel Like It

Posted on March 1, 2021

Some days this is a very accurate statement. I like to think everyone else has days or moments like this. “I don’t feel like it”, has got to be an acceptable feeling and response at various points in life.

Today I felt that a few times. Always so much to do and there’s always more joining the queue. Sometimes you just want to go on a crazy, do-nothing holiday. Or is that just me?

It’s ok to not feel motivated. Or to feel quite lethargic, exhausted, burnt out, etc. Sometimes you just can’t be bothered. The effort doesn’t feel worth the reward – if there is any.

For some of these things, you just have to push through. You would be quite remiss to not do it. For example, not taking your life preserving medicine (cancer meds, type 1 diabetic, etc) or not feeding your children. You may not feel the desire to do so, but you really should do it.

I’d had enough excitement by 2:45 pm, so I had a nap on the sofa as the kids arrived in the living room for some after school screen time. I don’t think we really even noticed each other.

You don’t have to do everything and certainly not all the time.

When I don’t feel like it, I mix things up a bit. And you should too.

Action Observe Progress Think About It Time

Learning A New Skill

Posted on February 28, 2021

It can take some time and energy to learn a new skill. A lot of thinking goes into this endeavour. Learning a new skill is often a longer journey than anticipated.

First you have to decide you are going to do it. Then you need to build in some decent frequency and consistency. And you have to fit this into your day somewhere. Given you are like most people, there will be little time for this type of thing. You may have to kick something out of your schedule.

Where to learn the new skill is one thing. Who will give the best material and support. Do you simply need a brochure? Or is a book more relevant to what you are trying to do? For some people and certain circumstances, a book will be enough. Then again, maybe a short webinar will provide enough information. Other people will want a team or a mastermind to be involved. Finally a course or a series of one-to-one sessions might be the most desirable or simply required.

Then you need to put in the pushups. No one can do the learning for you. You have to put the work in and make these new habits fit in your schedule.

Learning a new skill is rarely easy. Though it is simple and highly beneficial.

Action Think About It

Let’s Go!

Posted on February 27, 2021

I love a great call to action. I can clench my fist, pump my arm and shout it out. This one has a lot of power in it. Let’s go!

This phrase is fantastic for getting the blood flowing and building huge enthusiasm from the start. People rally around it because it includes everyone when it is said.

Some phrases invoke almost warrior status. This is one of those phrases. I coach U14 rugby for London Scottish and it is a phrase I use quite a bit. I am missing the training sessions during this lockdown. And it has been almost a year since our last match. I know the boys are getting antsy for it too.

So come on! Let’s go! We will be getting back into it soon.

When you want to rally the troops and you need a good phrase, this one fits the bill. It implies we are going together. And this is what makes it so great. You feel like a team when you use it. And it can really get people full of passion and intensity.

The team that can harness this phrase in a positive way, will succeed. They will also feel greater camaraderie. So use it and unleash the passion.

Let’s go!

Observe Time

Nothing Lasts Forever

Posted on February 26, 2021

It was a huge adrenaline rush jumping off the Pipeline Bungy Bridge in Queenstown New Zealand. It was a long way down but nothing lasts forever. Eventually, as my head stretched toward the thin ribbon of water carving between two giant walls of rock, I went no further.

Then as the bungy cord began to have its effect, I slowly began to be pulled back up into the sky. Then more rapidly, as I was slingshot back toward the bridge that I had lept off less than a minute before. The time did seem to freeze and last forever. Then gravity kicked in and had its way with me once again.

I remember peaking high in the air, like the coyote after running off the side of the mountain in a roadrunner episode. Everything seemed to stop.

Then my rapid descent started again.

It’s a bit like life. There are ups and downs. Moments that freeze in time. Fascinating moments of adrenaline. But in the end, things keep moving. We don’t linger very long at any point. Things that are scary become less so. Anxieties that seem to get worse will get better. Success and amazing outcomes soon return to the normal.

You can find things to be amazing, awesome, frightening and challenging.

Nothing lasts forever, so enjoy the full range of emotions.

Action Observe Reframe your thoughts

Argue For Your Limitations

Posted on February 25, 2021

Have you ever told someone the reason why you can’t do something? What if they try to help you? Do you argue for your limitations?

We can be our own worst enemy. By saying that we can’t do something, we are making our own lives more difficult or miserable. Why do we do that?

If I say, “I can’t learn to use a computer,” I am telling you the problem I have. Then, if you say to me that you think I can learn to use a computer, you’d think I would hear you and agree. Maybe I could get curious and ask you why you think I can do it. I could look into courses, books or people who could help me learn.

However, many times we explain why we can’t use the computer. We might say that phrase about old dogs and tricks. Or maybe we note how we tried once and it did not work out well. Sometimes we might even resort to blaming someone else for not showing us in our youth.

Please, be a person who says they will give it a try. Be that person who will put some effort in and get started. Learn to grow and improve.

When we argue for our limitations, we usually get to keep them!

Action Gratitude Observe Think About It

Put That Can Back

Posted on February 24, 2021

The environment is an important topic for many. Yet often people will be discussing ways to reduce emissions while drinking. Put that can back! And that bottle of whatever.

People forget that the main cause of pollution and emissions is people consuming things. So look at what you are consuming and reflect on how things could be different.

I’m an advocate of being sensible and practical and reducing all unnecessary consumption. Every time we consume something, it creates a chain of events of disruption, pollutions and emissions. The can or bottle you are holding in your hand while at your own home is likely to be unnecessary.

When I am at home or in an office, I try to drink water from the tap. As much as I would like to have a different drink, I try to use the one that is contributing the least to greenhouse gases. This is often plain tap water.

No kettle required. No heat needed to boil water for a hot drink. It’s very simple. No machines created to dig up metals and minerals. Those materials then aren’t required to become cans or bottles. If they do, they are then filled, shipped and distributed locally. It feels like an awful lot of effort to get some flavoured water in you.

If you actually want to help reduce emissions, put that can back!

Action Financial Health & Fitness Observe Think About It Time

Gen X Will Be skipped

Posted on February 23, 2021

Reading an article yesterday struck a chord. It noted that because Baby Boomers have held onto their jobs so long, that Gen X will be skipped in the career process.

I used to think that all those Baby Boomers would be retired by 60 or 65. They were wiser, better with their money and more aware. Consequently, my overriding thought was that there would be incredible opportunities. Many senior level leadership roles would open up as the ageing work force meant declining numbers available to work.

30 years later it may be that the opposite is true. People are healthier now. They feel they have to work longer as they know they will live longer. They will require more money. Some want to work longer as they enjoy their career and enjoy the experience.

Whatever the reason, Baby Boomers are not retiring as early or as quickly as I had anticipated. This seems to be adding a strange overhang in the market. Without the OG’s retiring or moving on, the Gen X’ers are stuck on the second or third rung with little upward mobility.

There are worse places to be in this world. If they have a nice job and are waiting for the other person to die or at least be sidelined, they may be disappointed. But we will all carry on. Soon roles will open up a plenty. Though it may be the Gen Z’ers that fill them.

Gen X will be skipped.

Action Observe

All Creators And No Consumers

Posted on February 22, 2021

Social media content creation is to the 21st century as radio was to the 20th century. It’s early but rapidly growing. Imagine all creators and no consumers.

Now that creating content for social media channels and platforms is virtually no cost, it is within the grasp of the majority of the people on the planet.

This mass distribution method is not only effective in distributing news and opinion, almost anyone can do it. If nearly anyone can do it, well that is interesting.

What if we get to the point where we simply live, post and share it? There is no time to consume content. If we are all mini media moguls, churning out our perspective on the world, the full continuum of thoughts could be represented. But what if we were so busy creating and posting that we couldn’t read the posts of others?

What an interesting world we could be living in.

All creators and no consumers.

Action Financial Gratitude Time

Stay Focused On Your Plan

Posted on February 21, 2021

There are two levels to this. We are able to spend our time in a variety of ways. Some good and some less so. Stay focused on your plan to progress your highest priorities.

It can be so easy to get distracted. And it can be easy enough to think there is nothing you can do for a situation. You might even think that you can do something but it might not truly progress your highest priorities. Make sure you play the best game possible and forget about the rest.

Should you spend your time and energy on arguing that someone has done something unjust? Or are you better to simply start making the situation better in any way that you can?

In addition, do you help someone because you can, or no one because none of the others get the benefit of your help? Should you help some children because you are able to? Or should you wait until you can help all children equally?

People tend to have thoughts like these everyday. Some will freeze and do nothing. Others will go off trying to change something in the past. Your highest priority, however, should be to stick to your vision and work towards that alone. Ignore the naysayers. Brush off the trolls and critics.

Stay focused on your plan.