The Power of Words
Starting Each Day With A Little Thinking...Slack
Slack’s a really interesting word. Consider some of the context in which you hear it:
- He’s a slacker
- Cut him some slack
- There’s slack in the rope
What all of the above share in common is a sense of something extra being available. And while that’s true in some sense, it’s also very misleading. Having extra available suggests that there’s too much or something should be done with the excess. Sometimes that’s just not the case:
- Sometimes folk need a chance to relax and decompress
- Sometimes folks have been through challenges that we neither understand or appreciate
- Sometimes that extra in the rope is there for protection
So while it’s easy to jump to conclusions that there’s slack available to be taken up, it’s not always the case that taking up the slack is a positive.
With that in mind:
Is the slack you’re seeing really there?
As always, thanks for the time.
A FAVOR TO REQUEST – If you enjoy reading these posts, please share with a friend or two. My goal is to help as many folks find ways to learn, grow and live more fully. Thanks!
Example
There are a lot of different ways to learn. However, I’d argue that “learning by example” is probably far and away the most common.
Children illustrate this concept beautifully. Many think that our kids should and do get their education in the classroom. I disagree. Our kids get their education by watching what we do and what those around them do each and every day. If you’ve got any doubt on this one look at the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, and the games they play. But also look at how they greet a stranger, how they treat others that they don’t know, or what professional sports team(s) they follow. If you still have any doubt that they are learning by example from friends, family, and you, I’d be amazed.
Multiple times, I’ve mentioned my fondness for the “discipline or regret” principle that Jim Rohn put forward. He’s got another concept/principle that I also find intriguing. It states:
- We are the average of the five people we spend the most time around
If Rohn’s correct, there’s an interesting corollary in my opinion
- Our behaviors shape those that spend the most time around us.
That puts a lot of responsibility on us to act us good examples.
With that in mind:
What kind of an example are you?
As always, thanks for the time.
A FAVOR TO REQUEST – If you enjoy reading these posts, please share with a friend or two. My goal is to help as many folks find ways to learn, grow and live more fully. Thanks!
Need
I’ve a learned a ton from my wife. If that starting sentence didn’t grab your attention, I don’t know what will! Back to the topic….
One of the most important lessons she’s taught me was in regards to the topic of “need” versus “want”. Early on in our marriage I was convinced that I NEEDED a new fishing rod. She politely let me know that I did not NEED a new fishing rod. While I might WANT a new fishing rod, it’s really not up there on the critical to life list.
While the lesson was taught in the context of the purchase of an item, its impact is far greater. I hear people on a daily basis speak about what they need — normally in the context of material things. And yet, when you challenge them on whether or not they really need these things, you find out that they are nothing more than wants.
Needs go a lot deeper. I’ll spare you a dissertation on Maslov’s hierarchy of needs. Let’s just say that just about anyone reading this post has the first two levels of needs fully fulfilled. It’s when you get to the belonging, esteem, and self-actualization levels that you actually start to have to wrestle with your needs.
So as you spend the next couple of weeks shopping for friends and family. Take a few minutes to think about what they need as well as what they want. It may turn out that there’s other gifts available for you to share with them that will do a better job of satisfying their needs.
With that in mind:
What do you need?
As always, thanks for the time.
A FAVOR TO REQUEST – If you enjoy reading these posts, please share with a friend or two. My goal is to help as many folks find ways to learn, grow and live more fully. Thanks!
Efficiency
There’s only so many hours in the day. And yet some folks seem to get so much more done.
It’s because of their efficiency. Folks that get a lot done, do so because of two reasons:
- They’ve got a system
- They act on it
It’s that simple folks. Take someone that is in great shape. I’ll lay 10 to 1 odds that (i) they have a standard workout / exercise routine and (ii) that they follow that routine religiously. Take someone that always delivers results. What do you want to bet that (i) they have goals and (ii) they make sure their actions are aligned with their goals.
It’s easy to spend all of your time dreaming of the magic potion or silver bullet that will make things easier. Get over it. It doesn’t exist. Ultimately you need to define your process and follow it. That’s where your next big break through will come from.
With that in mind:
How’s your efficiency?
As always, thanks for the time.
A FAVOR TO REQUEST – If you enjoy reading these posts, please share with a friend or two. My goal is to help as many folks find ways to learn, grow and live more fully. Thanks!
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