Category: Think About It

CategoriesActionGratitudeObserveThink About It

Being The Very Best Matters

Posted on March 10, 2021

Or does it? It seems to me that it’s mostly big names that are featured in mainstream media articles and interviews. Being the very best matters, or at least that is the signal we send to our kids and everyone else.

I love reading about successful people. It’s always been an interest of mine. Discovering how people got to where they are and what adversity they had to overcome make the stories interesting.

And it is great to see the top people in the world. These people can inspire us, teach us and be great role models. Their success can rouse each new generation to ever greater achievements.

Though at what cost? Being the best and better than others is a worthy target. Though winning by nefarious means such as illegal drugs or other cheating methods is not acceptable. And the pressure to excel at younger ages, for longer periods, with higher risk of mental or physical strain may not serve our youth in the best way.

Is winning the gold or being the wealthiest, youngest, smartest person the only admirable aspect of life? Perhaps we could put more focus on the grind, the grit, the process or journey along the way.

We can learn a lot from everyday people. Many put in the same grind and process, albeit their outcome may not be at the top.

Being the very best matters. Or does it?

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CategoriesGratitudeObserveProgressReframe your thoughtsThink About It

How Much Is Enough?

Posted on March 9, 2021

We all start out looking for more. More air, food, water, sleep, stuff, etc. But we don’t always say what enough is. How much is enough?

Take, sleep, for example. How much sleep does one need? Many experts say 6-9 hours of sleep per night on average. But you might be chasing some amazing opportunities. Then your sleep time might go down to 2 or 3 hours per day. After a week like that, you might need a few days with 10 hours of sleep to catch up back to a normal equilibrium.

Money is a topic we discussed in a Clubhouse room on Monday. Often people will set a specific goal to achieve. But once achieved, people don’t always stop. People can get caught up in the chase and forget what they are even chasing.

If your goal is to earn $3 million, could you make $5 million? And if you can make that much, why not use those learned skills to earn more. Soon you could be on the treadmill of more more more and not stop to smell those roses.

It is a good idea to note, at the start, how much of something will be enough. Then you will know when you can let up on the chase and maybe broaden your focus.

How much is enough?

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CategoriesObserveReframe your thoughtsThink About It

Generalisations Hurt

Posted on March 7, 2021

Generalising can be useful. However, it can also be quite unhelpful. When someone uses them too liberally, generalisations hurt.

Positive references are fine to be generalised, such as “These children all look thirsty”. However, try to steer clear of using any general comment if there is a negative connotation to it.

Some people like to use sweeping statements as a shortcut. For example, “Americans are X”, “Children aren’t capable of Y” and “This city is a disaster” are too broad in their scope. When you identify something you aren’t happy with, please try to single out the specific person or situation. Otherwise, this is where a lot of isms and ists are born.

A whole movement can be created when a couple of dozen or a few hundred people act in a certain way but it is extrapolated across 50 million. I do believe that most people have a hard time knowing what their Mom, spouse, kid or boss thinks. So how do people feel they can accurately group thousands or millions of people in any meaningful way?

I know it feels better to have a large group of people with you. And it is easier to comment on whole groups of people. But, expediency and magnitude will exacerbate the problem. Unfortunately, one needs to take time and get specific to identify the actual issue that needs attention.

Generalisations hurt. Generally speaking.

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CategoriesGratitudeObserveThink About ItTimeUncategorized

Sully Is A Great Movie

Posted on March 6, 2021

If you haven’t watched everything on Netflix, or every movie ever made by now, I highly recommend this one. Sully is a great movie.

On paper it looks good. It stars Tom Hanks, is directed and produced by Clint Eastwood and is based on actual events from January 2009. It is also 96 minutes long and made several shortlists as one of the top 10 movies of 2016.

We’ve watched this movie with our children who were 8, 10 and 12 at the time. We’ve now just watched it again at the suggestion of the now 11 and 13 year olds.

It’s very well done and a real joy to watch. I don’t watch many movies twice. But I know I will watch this one for a third some time in the future.

The movie has you thinking and cheering and feeling as if you were right there in so many scenes.

It is full of great lines and good lessons. It is thoughtful and funny too. The filming and sound are both great quality.

Even when you know how things turn out, from coverage or having seen the movie before, it is still gripping and enjoyable.

Sully is great movie. Go watch it now.

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CategoriesActionObserveProgressThink About ItTime

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?!

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CategoriesActionHealth & FitnessObserveThink 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.

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CategoriesActionObserveProgressThink About ItTime

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.

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CategoriesActionThink 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!

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CategoriesActionGratitudeObserveThink 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!

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CategoriesActionFinancialHealth & FitnessObserveThink About ItTime

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.

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