Word-Of-the-Week #1014: Learning
January 11, 2024 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1014: Learning
Learning – the act of gaining knowledge.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed about the never-ending stream of information you are exposed to? Have you ever actively questioned information you have received?
This WOW by Steven Handel, “Be Careful of What You Let Enter Your Mind” was originally sent in January 2020 and I found it to be a great re-read since the last four years have been filled with lots of information we never knew about. Some true and some false.
“In today’s world, we are constantly being exposed to new information in the media, news, articles, blogs, books, TV, movies, or conversations we have with others.
In many ways, this abundance of information allows us to reach a new level of education that wasn’t before possible. However, it can also lead to a lot of misinformation which can distort our views and beliefs.
One recent study shows that exposure to misinformation can be very “sticky” in our minds. Even if we are told afterwards that something we learned isn’t true, that misinformation still influences our future choices.
This is especially true if the misinformation we consume conforms to our pre-existing beliefs or if it’s something we have very little outside knowledge about.
For these reasons and many more, it’s important that you are careful of what you let enter your mind.
One of my favorite quotes is: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” – Alvin Toffler
Due to a never-ending stream of new information and misinformation, we need to always be open to learning new things and adjusting our views in the face of this new evidence.
It’s really easy to find evidence for something that you agree with. It’s a lot harder to willingly seek information that could possibly prove you wrong. But this is often a necessary part of critical thinking.
In another study, it was found that the negative effects of misinformation can be diminished if we are critical of what we consume while we are consuming it.
It’s important that you don’t just absorb information passively, but that you actively question everything you let enter your mind.
Whenever you find yourself learning something new, ask yourself:
- How true is this?
- What is the source of these claims?
- What evidence do they have to support these views?
- What evidence might go against supporting these views?
- Do these views seem logical and rational?
- What are other possible views that may be a better alternative?
- Where can I do more research?
In a healthy and functioning mind, beliefs need to be flexible and open to change. We rarely have all the facts and evidence, so when we learn new things we have to be able to adapt.
Everything you let enter your mind can shape your consciousness and beliefs in some way, often times without us even realizing it. By taking a little more caution in what you let enter your mind, you can take greater control of how your consciousness is shaped.
Of course, you can’t monitor everything that enters your mind 24/7 – that would be impractical and a bit paranoid. At the same time, it may do you some good to cut certain things out of your life to minimize their negative influence on you.
At the end of the day, just pay a little more attention to what you let enter your mind and how it may be influencing you.”
This week’s focus is about learning. Are you open to receiving new information? Have you ever gotten misinformation? Are you open to learning new things and adjusting your views if they aren’t the same as your pre-existing beliefs?
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Word-Of-the-Week #1013: Intention
January 4, 2024 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1013: Intention
Intention – a course of action that one intends to follow.
Is the life you’re living satisfying and fulfilling? Is there any part you would like to change? Are your personal and business relationships as harmonious as you would like?
We are starting a brand-new year and there will be lots of talk about making New Year’s resolutions. In one study, only around 12% of people who make New Year’s resolutions felt that they were successful in achieving their goals. I’m re-sharing one of the best pieces of advice I got from Steve Strauss, author of STEVE’S 3-MINUTE COACHING on Intention.
“Occasionally you hear, ‘I’ve set an intention.’ Or, ‘I have a powerful intention.’ Or, ‘My intention is strong.’ Or even, ‘The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.’ In this light intentions sound like something you do, actions on your part. There’s another view.
Intentions simply are. They are to be discovered, not set, played with, not labored over. Intentions serve you rather than the other way around. If this is so, what sort of shift might you make? And why would you?
Where do intentions come from? They come from a soft, gentle, quiet place. They come from your life purpose, your journey, the why-you’re-here place.
Can you make an intention up and then work at it really hard? Sure. But that’s probably based on some unmet need, a perceived ‘missing’ in your life, or some other feeling of not having enough. You’re using an intention to try to accomplish something which may not even be related to what your life is really about. Visit with some old people to learn the wisdom of this. They tell stories of efforting toward what turned out to be empty outcomes.
A real intention is much cleaner than that. And simpler. Intentions come from your future, the unfoldment of your journey. Intentions pull you toward them. Intentions encourage.
Useful goals, desires, and objectives each probably have an embedded intention. Discover the intention within and let it guide.
Coaching Point: Have you yet learned to listen to the soft voice of your intentions?”
Copyright 2024 Steve Straus. All rights reserved
I don’t know about you but the first week of the New Year feels crazy busy for me. While I am not complaining it reminds me that when I am fully prepared ahead of time it makes for a lot less stress and more FUN! So that is one on my intentions for 2024. Along with only having kind, loving and joyful people in my life!
This week is about creating an intention. Do you know what your life purpose is? What course of action do you intend to follow to make that happen? The clearer and more specific you are regarding an intention makes it that much easier to achieve!
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Word-Of-the-Week #1012: Joy
December 28, 2023 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1012: Joy
Joy – a deep feeling of happiness or contentment.
Do you know that feeling joy is strongly associated with subjective well-being, which is essential for human flourishing? When was the last time you felt connected, or reunited with something or someone that’s really important to you?
This week features excerpts from Washington Post writer Richard Sima, “Want to feel happier? Try snacking on joy. Learning to find the joy in mundane experiences is a way to cultivate a more meaningful life. I ran this last year and updated it by adding “My Joy Jar” experience.
“Here’s an antidote to an ever-stressful, busy and uncertain world. Try finding and savoring little bites of joy in your day. I call them “joy” snacks.
By mindfully tuning into the pleasant, nice and sometimes routine experiences of every day, we can transform an otherwise mundane moment into something more meaningful and even joyful.
Lunch with a co-worker. Walking the dog. Texting with a friend. Watching a favorite show. Eating a favorite meal. Calling your mom. Just hanging out.
New research shows that finding and savoring these nuggets of joy can be a way of consistently cultivating a good, meaningful life.
Understanding the science of joy
Surprisingly, joy has been relatively neglected by scholars.
But recent research suggests that joy is a distinct positive emotion for “when we feel connected, or reunited with something or someone that’s really important to us,” said Philip Watkins, psychologist who studies joy, gratitude and happiness at Eastern Washington University.
Big events like weddings or reunions are well-known smorgasbords for joy. But smaller bites of joy in everyday life matter, too, and are easier to attain if we don’t overlook them.
Previous research has shown we derive meaning in life from three key factors — feeling like our life makes sense, having a purpose driven by goals we care about and feeling like our lives matter.
A February study published in Nature Human Behavior involving more than 3,000 participants across multiple experiments reported that valuing one’s life experiences, or experiential appreciation, is another potent way of making life feel more meaningful.
There is also joy to be had when you take the time to reconnect with the person that is always with you: yourself.”
In September I took a trip to Chicago (where I lived in the 1980’s) with my niece. We had such a great time and when I got home, I was filled with so much joy! And I thought to myself, My Joy Jar is full!
So, this year my holiday gift to my special friends was a Joy Jar that I made. The concept is to fill it with experiences or thoughts that make you feel happy and joyful. It can be something little or something profound. Hopefully, you find at least one thing per day that makes you happy, write it down and put it into the jar. After a month, a few months, a year, or whenever you are feeling down and need a pick me up, pull out a note and read it and remember how it made you feel happy and joyful.
This week’s focus is on feeling joy. Do you feel that your life makes sense and that it matters? Does your life feel purpose driven by goals you care about? Have you taken time to reconnect with yourself? How would it feel to find and savor little bites of joy in your day?
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Word-Of-the-Week #1011: Time
December 21, 2023 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1011: Time
Time – what seems to go faster the older you get and what we wish we had more of sometimes.
How well do you manage your time? Do you show up for work or social events on time? Do you feel like you always need more time to finish projects?
This word came to mind as a lot of holiday shoppers wait until the last possible moment to do their shopping. It seems as though the majority of American’s have a tendency to put off doing things until they have no other option.
People living in the Midwest & East, and those sending gifts to those areas are in for a big disappointment as the weather and overloaded systems at both UPS and FedEx have caused major delays in the past. Even parts of the West and South have been affected. Lots of gifts never make it for Christmas. That would a BIG bummer if I had kids!
One of the things that I have diligently worked on over the past 20 years is being on time. I always think I have MORE time than I do or that a project will take less time than it does. Anybody else like me? Knowing that, I now “pad my time.” If I think it will take and hour I plan on two. Plus, I even set my clocks ahead by 5 minutes. Waiting until the last minute makes me feel more stressed out which isn’t any FUN at all!
Then there’s my dear sweet husband who I have titled, “Mr. DIN” Do It Now. He is always ahead of the game. He doesn’t like putting anything off until the last minute. He’s all packed a week before we go on vacation. At times it’s a bit of a challenge for me. But I would take that behavior over procrastination any day of the week! And now I even pretend I am leaving the day before vacations so that I am all ready.
This week’s focus is time and how you feel about it. Are you habitually late? Does that cause problems at home or at work? Are you always on time and waiting for others? How does that make you feel? What could you do to better manage your time?
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Word-Of-the-Week #1010: Defining Moment
December 14, 2023 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #1010: Defining Moment
Defining Moment – an experience that transcends an ordinary experience.
When was the last time you had an experience that surpassed your expectations? Have you ever created a defining moment for one of your guests, clients, customers, members, family, or friends? Who do you know that doesn’t like a nice surprise?
San Diego UT columnist Neil Senturia on “Elevating the ordinary into life-changing stuff” once again makes a great focus for our week.
“Why do we remember things? And how does memory influence customer retention and satisfaction?
When my daughter was younger, and I was still CEO-ing at full tilt, I would gather the junk that the vendors/booths were giving away when I went to a conference. I was really good at scoring pocket calculators (1996-8), which I would send to my daughter who was 11 at the time. She loved them. Now here it is 21 years later and when I get junk from a conference, I send it to her with a note telling her “that there were no pocket calculators available.” She loves it (the last item I sent was a rubber shrimp, since I am now in the sustainable fish racket).
The point of the story is a simple one. We had created “a moment” that informed our relationship forever. Meet Chip and Dan Heath, MBA graduates of Stanford and Duke, who have written a book, “The Power of Moments.” They did some research and found that the top four hotels in Los Angeles on TripAdvisor are the Beverly Hills Hotel ($875/night), the Hotel Bel Air ($1,120/night), the Peninsula ($815/night) and the fourth one is the Magic Castle Hotel ($209/night). Heath describes it as “a converted two-story apartment complex from the 1950s, painted canary yellow with an Olympic size pool, if the Olympics were held in your backyard.”
How does this happen you might ask? Heath says that the hotel creates “defining moments.” The hotel has the “Popsicle Hotline.” You pick up a red phone at the pool and you hear “Hello, Popsicle Hotline.” You then request a Popsicle in the flavor of your choice, and an employee wearing white gloves delivers it to you on a silver platter. That’s it – just a Popsicle.
Now think this one through carefully. The Popsicle costs 10 cents, the employee is already on a salary, the white gloves are washable, the silver platter is not sterling, so the total cost of this extravaganza, this defining moment, this “are you kidding me” experience on a unit-cost-basis is well under $3 – all in. Yet, the customer is nutso, over the top, wow, and the hotel runs 95 percent occupied and is No. 4 on TripAdvisor. You gotta love America.
The Heath brothers had discovered the power of “elevation moments” that transcend ordinary experience. The “I didn’t see that coming” moment – a special glass of wine on the house, a surprise at work, where the cost of the surprise, or the over-the-top delivery is de minimis compared to its effect. They call this the “Power of the Free Popsicle.”
Rule No. 554: Surprise! It’s the little things, stupid.
Heath then goes on to mention three other kinds of defining moments – “insightful moments,” (e.g. the discovery of Velcro), moments of pride (think employee recognition) and moments of connection (think weddings and graduations).
The key is that all of these need to be in the service of the customer or your employee. Heath says, “You don’t have to excel at everything, you only have to excel at a few things that are going to be memorable.” He calls these “peaks.” We know that getting a customer is hard, but once gotten, you should never lose one, never. Whatever it takes. Think about your own relationships with vendors. There are some that you would never switch from. They own you, they have a “connection,” because they never let you down, and occasionally, they just dazzle you. Heath tells of a bank manager who personally delivers the deed to your house when you have paid off the mortgage.
Heath also looks at the power of “pits,” what he calls negative experiences, put downs. He tells the story of Sara Blakely, whose dad would ask at dinner, “What did you fail at today?” And a few years later, when the old white guys told her that footless panty hose was stupid, she went and started Spanx and became the youngest self-made billionaire in history. I love these stories.
You can learn from experiences (pits) and you can create them for others (peaks). But in the end, Heath focuses on one word – delight. You do not need to be perfect, you can apologize for mistakes, but every once in a while, if you just blow their doors off, they never leave you.
This week’s focus is on creating a defining moment. How easy is it for you to remember “over the top” experiences you’ve had? Did they make you want to do more business with that person or company? What one thing could you do to create an “elevation moment” for your guests, clients, customers, members, family, or friends?
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