Robert Watson Watt, a British physicist, gave the world the cult of the imperfect. It’s a philosophy we would all do well to adopt. Watts said, ‘Always strive to give the military the third-best because the best is impossible and the second best is always too late.’ Watt reiterated Voltaire’s earlier pronouncements that perfect is … Read more
What do a few top researchers, at least six bestselling authors*, umpteen media articles and blog posts, Ben Franklin, I, and now you have in common (I added you to the list, assuming you are here because of the title)? Answer: An interest in pondering whether practice makes perfect. *Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers), Angela Duckworth (Grit), … Read more
That patience is a virtue is a lesson we’ve all been taught. Unfortunately, our current cultural context makes it difficult to practice patience. Try surfing the internet on a dial-up modem, if you don’t believe me. And if you haven’t seen a dial-up modem in your life or don’t understand what that is, you probably … Read more
Newsflash: We humans are not always rational decision-makers. We make some questionable economic (and other) choices, because, in Nobel prize-winning Professor Thaler’s words, ‘We are humans, not econs’. We operate in a world of sales pitches and marketing traps. To avoid severe buyer’s remorse, we would be well served to understand three fundamental concepts in … Read more
This article continues the discussion on how to set achievable New Year’s resolutions. In my earlier post here, I tried to impress upon you why New Year’s resolutions matter, what goal setting means, and how to set SMART goals. If you think I’m crazy for even attempting to make New Year’s resolutions because they are … Read more
A 1988 research study by researchers at the University of Scranton showed only 19% of people who made New Year’s resolutions stuck to their goals. A 2007 University of Bristol study by professor Richard Weisman showed a 12% success rate in achieving New year’s goals. More recently, a 2018 study showed only 4% of respondents … Read more
If you are keen on personal growth, you need to take unqualified personal responsibility for your behavior and actions AND adopt an internal locus of control. I understand I’m stepping into the dare-zone with this talk of personal responsibility. I hope you will too by the end of this article. First things first, though. Personal … Read more
There are few life lessons worth making a bumper sticker for. In my opinion, the expression ‘Embrace the suck’ deserves one. Especially in a society obsessed with instant gratification and consumed by digital distractions. What does embrace the suck mean? ‘Embrace the suck’ is a military expression to stay the course when things seem pointless or … Read more
The practice of silence has been traditionally valued across all cultures. Now, more than ever, as we talk ourselves into greater strife and chaos, there is an urgent need to get started on this practice. Discover the benefits and power of silence and how to get started on the practice of silence. Silent beginnings As … Read more
To live well and be present, we need to learn the art of letting go of negative thoughts. Here’s a simple strategy to strengthen resilience. Two Monks and a Maiden This is not a bar joke. Just so I’m clear… Two monks had started to cross a river on their way back to their monastery. … Read more
Don’t let limiting beliefs undermine what you can do. Find a way to think outside the box. That’s where the magic happens. First, a couple of stories Let’s begin with the stories of two people. The two stories seem unrelated in many aspects, but there’s a common thread between these two that we’ll analyze later. … Read more
To be happy, you first need to define your enough. Understanding three key theories that impact happiness will help us go from always wanting more to saying we have enough. Travel Diary Years ago, on a visit to India, I was on a road trip with my family. We were traveling between two major cities, … Read more
Pretending to be someone else is hard work. Authenticity is a city that most of us have lost the directions to. To be peaceful and content, we should remap those directions soon. A morning encounter On an early morning run, I spotted an older lady about a quarter-mile ahead of me. From my vantage point, I could … Read more
Cicero: Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues but the parent of all others. Here are the insights I gained from SpaceX’s successful mission. The Mission Very few man-made objects can match the jaw-dropping spectacle as a rocket being launched into outer space, especially a human spaceflight. Like many others wanting a break … Read more
Why do we indulge in behaviors that aren’t in our best interests? What are the signs of self-sabotage? How do we stop self-sabotage and why does it matter? Captain Cautious A few mornings ago, I woke up, determined to get an 8-mile run in before work. I was about 4 miles in when I got … Read more
If you stop learning, you start dying. Learning something new is key not just for growth, but for survival. Let’s learn why. When was the last time you truly learnt learned something new? My Commonwealth upbringing keeps wanting to use the term ‘learnt’ but my location-based spell-check software (in California) keeps correcting it to ‘learned‘. … Read more
I closed the 3 rings for Activity, Exercise, and Movement on my Apple Watch for 200 consecutive days. This essay contains the 11 lessons on Grit I learned through the process. Mihajlo Pupin I stumbled upon this story by accident but I’m so glad I did. It’s about a scientist named Mihajlo Pupin (1858–1935). Pupin … Read more
If you are someone with a Type A personality or if you have to deal with a family member, coworker or friend with a Type A personality, then this post may be of interest to you. Lessons from furniture About 50 years ago, Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman, two cardiologists in the Bay Area, bucked … Read more
In the age of information overload and distorted truths, it has become ever so important to know what to believe. This is why a little skepticism is good for you. In the 16th century, when tobacco was first introduced in England, it was seen as a reliable prophylactic against the plague. Kids were encouraged to … Read more
Today, I’d like to discuss one of my favorite leisure pursuits – Worrying. And how to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Emma Morano and the Redwoods Pop quiz: Who is Emma Morano and what’s her claim to fame? No googling allowed. Scientist Sports person Political leader Actor All of the above None of the above … Read more