Day 94 – What a Steep Learning Curve Means – A Good Thing
When you hear the term steep learning curve, you might associate it with something difficult, maybe even daunting. But in a technical sense, the steepness of the curve often indicates rapid progress within a short amount of time. While this informal usage of the term is widely accepted, the scientific basis behind it paints a […]
Day 63 – Embrace the Chaos
We have this incorrect notion that the world swirling around us is an organized place. We do this all the time, we think that “they” have it all figured out. “They” must have a process or “they are tracking all of this. There is obviously structure in the world around us, but order is not […]
Day 43 – The Goal is Failure
Day 43 of the commitment brings a paradoxical but transformative perspective: failure should be our goal. If that statement feels uncomfortable, you’re not alone. For much of my life, I misunderstood what goals should be. I followed the advice to make goals “specific, measurable, and achievable.” But as time went on, I realized something profound: […]
Day 33 – Shorten the Defeat Cycle
Day 33. I’ve been thinking a lot about the cycle we go through when we fail. It’s something we all know all too well. We set out with big plans, we’re pumped, and then… we fall short. Suddenly, we’re in this strange place where our hopes and the reality of our results are in two […]
Day 281 – Perseverance
Looking back at my life, I have only really come to one solid conclusion about what leads to success. Although there are always many factors, the one ingredient all my successful experiences have had is perseverance. This leads me to this conclusion: if you want to have success at anything – the most important thing […]
Day 266 – Circumstance is Contextual but Not Certain
Today is my birthday, and I was born into a certain circumstance. I had no control, influence, or say in the matter. I entered the world and was dealt my hand of cards, and that was the way it was. I do not remember the moment, but according to my mother, I was not very […]
Day 212 – Courage is Not the Absence of Fear
“You, Lion, are under the unfortunate delusion that simply because you run away from danger you have no courage. You’re confusing courage with wisdom.” – L. Frank Baum, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” A Surprising Revelation in Sales Leadership Recently, I took on the leadership of a seasoned sales team, feeling the weight of my […]
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 162 – Success Flows Like Water
When I was a child, I spent much of my time inventing small games to play in the fields surrounding my family home. This was before the advent of console video games. In later years, I would find myself playing Asteroids, Pitfall, Maze-a-Tron, and, of course, Pong. However, during these early days, I was left […]