Suck Less
I still suck… but I suck much less than I did yesterday, a week ago, a month ago and definitely less than last year. Today will mark the 100th day of me practicing Japanese for at least 15 minutes a day. It’s amazing what 15 minutes of consistent effort can accomplish. I am surprised how such little daily efforts can create such huge change. Japanese is hands down one of the hardest languages to learn, and as I said I still suck but…. I am now able to read two of the three Japanese alphabets, tell someone the time, count to 10, say a few phrases, and greet a person morning noon or night.
Doing something small with continuous focus and improvement every day adds up to something really big over time.
Where do you want to suck less? Public speaking, sales calls, drawing, golf, your fitness? Join me for a 30 day SUCK LESS challenge. Spend the next 30 days focusing on one thing you want to “suck less at”, practice every day and use this printable sheet to help you track it! Practice now, improve daily, and suck less 😎!
“Little strokes fell great oaks”. –Benjamin Franklin
Notes that Resonated
Kaizen… continuous improvement every day
Good change every day… 1% better = BIG long-term gain
To get good, you first must be willing to be bad . Don’t practice getting good, practice to suck less
Effective strategy is choosing a direction that is different than those around you
Schedule time for weekly reflections and corrections (Where do you need to improve? What do you need to be working on this week?)
Create space to not get swept up in the minutiae of the moment
Have routine “monk mode” time
The First Monday of the month… set aside quiet time, schedule it (even 15 min) choose to set the tone and direction for what you will accomplish this month
Set a theme for focus
Meet with your team and communicate it
If you could be excellent at only one thing, what would it be?
What is the most important thing I need to do today?
Choose, daily, how you spend your energy and time
Certain efforts yield more quality results than others
Be the editor of your life… eliminate what doesn't matter and won’t get you where you want to go
Things I read:
Interesting read on the psychology of words and how choosing correctly can improve your public speaking, sales pitch or help get your whole organization to see things differently.
Podcasts I listened to:
Designing a Day that Really matters
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-greg-mckeown-podcast/id1513285647?i=1000598513131
Productivity:
7 unique power focus habits/ tricks
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-life-project/id647826736?i=1000606011644
Bilateral stimulation
Binaural Beats
2 min task series
Peripheral vision training
Breathing Habits- (box breathing)
Peppermint, rosemary, citrus
Brain body coordination exercises
Videos I watched
Likeability dilemma for women (spoiler alert successful women are often not very likeable): Ted talk https://youtu.be/T2I4tus05hI
Top Quotes:
A LITTLE NONSENSE NOW AND THEN, IS CHERISHED BY THE WISEST MEN. —Roald Dahl
“Lower your standards for what counts as progress,” writes Adam Grant , “and you will be less paralyzed by perfectionism.”
Desmond Tutu -“ language doesn’t just describe reality; language creates the reality it describes” (watch your language)
We can wake up every day and choose our personality -Wayne Dyer
Things I Discovered:
Can they really already deliver food to you!
Zip line drones’ video: https://youtu.be/DOWDNBu9DkU
Food & Drink:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/300263500168478869/
Cool Stuff:
Smart, stem toys you make yourself https://www.crunchlabs.com/
Super fun stuff for kids and maybe even a few adults to challenge your brain while still having some fun.