Day 242 – Wanderin’ Around
I think I have perfected the art of wandering around. There are times when the structure of life, the repetitive nature of tasks, and the constant pressure of performance start to wear me down. The best way I know to overcome that is to go backpacking in the wild with no internet access. Sleeping on […]
Day 234 – Self Version 6.2
This morning, I was thinking about version control. You know what software developers do when they release a branch of fully reviewed code that is ready for a major release. It is common to create a numbering system internally that is used to track what version is in production versus what major changes are in […]
Day 226 – Goals Should be Unobtainable!
We are inundated with advice these days about setting goals, creating specific and measurable objectives, and devising OKRs. We’re regaled with stories of exciting and successful people who attribute their incredible achievements, at least in part, to their meticulous goal-setting practices. We’ve developed elegant software to set these goals up and track progress in real-time. […]
Day 225 – The Donut Shop and the Gym
Every morning, I am faced with a significant decision that encapsulates my daily struggle: the choice between the donut shop and the gym. This decision has become a literal and figurative symbol of my commitment to choosing vitality over indulgence. A few blocks from my home lies a gym, a place I frequent in pursuit […]
Day 186 – ‘Get There First’ Disease
To explain this concept, I will relate a situation that I think many of us can relate to. This occurs at the airport. You get to the airport and have plenty of time to get to your gate before the scheduled departure date. You might want to buy something to eat or get snacks before […]
Day 184 – The Impact of Daily Writing – Part 1
This is the 2,286th article I have written in a row since I started on January 7th, 2018. I make a note of this because I had to deal with an archiving issue last night that was an annoying disruption to my process. This caused me to have to go back and re-index several articles […]
Day 177 – Art of Decision-Making
The Undervalued Skill of Decision-Making Throughout most of my life, I have undervalued the skill of making decisions. I have not considered the significant impact that decision processing has on my time. Nor have I really considered the challenges I face when not making decisions in a timely fashion. How often are you delayed or […]
Day 171 – Resilience is Earned
People admire resilience, presumably because it’s a defining characteristic of humanity: our ability to survive. Our most beloved art forms, like theatre, often incorporate themes of resilience. You’ll frequently encounter showcases, news stories, and biographies celebrating individuals who display remarkable perseverance against formidable odds. Sports enthusiasts cheer louder for the underdog or Cinderella team when […]
Day 169 – What to Do When Failing
I get a lot of advice about how to succeed, to improve, and to maximize my potential. What I receive less of is guidance on what to do when I know that I am failing. There’s plenty of encouragement to fail frequently and to embrace failure because that is how you learn. “Failure is good,” […]
Day 168 – Naming the Beast – A Key Technique for Overcoming an Obstacle
Embarking on the journey to overcome obstacles in life can be daunting, but there are tactics that offer a beacon of hope amidst the challenges. One such strategy, which I frequently employ to confront and overcome my personal hurdles, is what I like to call “naming the beast.” Let me share an example from when […]