From Chad

Gene Kelly did it. You can too. Don’t allow your feelings to be the scapegoat that keeps you from doing what you need to do.

This is the greatest mystery in the world. If you can solve this mystery, you will achieve whatever goals you set.

Something a little different today on a day that is a little different. This is a poem by Wendell Berry titled “Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front,” which encourages resisting conformity and embracing a different way of life. The poem suggest doing things that don’t compute, loving the world, and practicing resurrection.

Today’s message, dedicated to Bella Smith, reflects on how problems can be transformed into positives, using the analogy of an oyster creating a pearl. Just as an oyster coats irritants with nacre to form a pearl, we can view life‘s irritants as prompts for positive habits. This mindset shift can help us navigate life‘s challenges with greater ease and resilience.

Chad suggests imagining starting fresh, like on the first day of a new job, to enhance creativity and problem-solving. This mindset, inspired by Jeff Bezos’s “day one“ philosophy, can help overcome assumptions and foster a beginners mind.

Satchel Paige, the oldest MLB rookie, approached his career with a beginners mindset, ignoring his age and past limitations. A professor used a teacup metaphor to illustrate how preconceived notions can hinder learning, emphasizing the importance of a beginners mindset for wisdom.

The Japanese concept of “kaizen”, or small changes, leads to big results. Jeff Olson, author of The Slight Edge, says this mindset is the difference between the successful and unsuccessful.

A young Toyota worker, Hiroshi, halted production by pulling the Andon cord after noticing misaligned door hinges. This small action prevented potential car recalls and customer complaints, highlighting the importance of addressing issues promptly.

My daughter was hit with goose poop, prompting advice from Martin Luther about controlling negative thoughts. Luther compared unwanted thoughts to birds flying overhead, suggesting we can’t prevent them from flying, but can prevent them from nesting in our minds.

Ants, despite their small size, serve as a powerful example of motivation through their intrinsic drive, planning, and persistence. They prepare for winter during summer and harvest, inviting the importance of being proactive, prepared, and persistent in life.

Mosquitoes, despite their small size, cause over 700,000 deaths annually due to disease transmission, surpassing the impact of larger creatures like elephants and blue whales. This highlights the significance of small things, both positive and negative, in shaping our lives in the world around us.

Ultimately beast mode isn’t about beating your competition, but bringing the best out of others. That is a real mark of a beast.

A poor immigrant, family, unaware of the ships, all inclusive dining, ration to their own food, while others dying above. The story serves as a reminder to question what we may be missing out on due to misunderstandings.

A motto is only as strong as the character of the person saying it.

Arambhashira is a Sanskrit word meaning “hero at the beginning”. There are so many examples of this who start strong, but either fizzle or flame-out. Only those who finish strong are remembered.

Don’t let your feelings get in the way. Feelings will fool you.

Fred Smith, founder of FedEx, faced numerous failures before achieving success. His overnight delivery service, initially met with skepticism and limited demand, exemplifies the importance of persistence and learning from setbacks. The story_is the value of failing well and the transformative power of persistence in overcoming challenges.

Are you willing to fail your way to success?

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s success in bodybuilding, acting, business, and politics is attributed to a philosophy of consistent, focused repetition. He finds joy in the process of repetition, viewing each rep as a progress towards his goals. This mindset has been the key to his success and will be your key too.

The story of Ernest Shackleton’s Arctic Expedition, where his ship was crushed in pack ice, exemplifies perseverance. Despite the hardships, Shackleton did not lose a single crew member, demonstrating that if you dont quit, you can’t fail.

Admiral James Stockdale, a decorated US Navy officer and Vietnam War POW, endured 7.5 years of captivity, including 4 years in solitary confinement and 2 in leg irons. He attributed his survival to his belief in the eventual end of his ordeal and his determination to prevail, contrasting this with the optimism of fellow prisoners who lost hope. Stockdale’s philosophy centered on focusing on contro...

You are telling yourself different stories all day long. They either sustain or drain. They are helping you grow into the best version of yourself or holding you back.

UNC’s Anson Dorrance implemented the “competitive cauldron” system, using daily data-driven rankings to gamify practice and motivate his players. This system, which created accountability in a clear scorecard, contributed to the team success. The concept of a scorecard, whether physical or mental, is crucial for engaging progress in improving performance.

You have to learn to talk to yourself more than you listen to yourself.

Win Hof has become known as “The Iceman”. He has made cold exposure mainstream. His feats demonstrate the marvel of the human body.