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Learning by reading.

I am a learner. And I think everyone should be one too. There are many ways of going about it, I simply try them all. One of course, is reading. An activity perfectly praised by Naval on The Tim Ferriss Show (starting at 01:50:20):

„(…) the great thing about reading is that you can use that to pick up any new skill. If you learn how to learn – it’s the ultimate metaskill (…) you can trade it for any other skill – and that all begins with reading.“

Earlier in the conversation (around 01:43:55) he also offers a simple strategy to get started:

„Don’t feel the need to read anything you don’t want to read – read the stuff that’s fun to you. And don’t feel the obligation to finish any book. (…) Pick up a lot of books. Start reading them all and put down any book instantly that doesn’t grab you.“

Or even simpler, start like a friend of mine who elegantly reframed a common birthday wish. Instead of „A book.“ he asked for:

„A book I read.“

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Reclaiming depth.

It’s a widespread picture these days. A picture you’ve made fun of – a picture you’re probably part of yourself on a regular basis:

People are sitting in pairs or in groups, i.e. in a restaurant, and every individual is hooked to the screen of their smartphone.

Here’s the simple reason why you don’t find me doing it anymore:

„If you have your phone with you (…) and you put your phone on the table, all the research studies show that that will change what you will talk about, because the conversation will get lighter on things where you wouldn’t mind being interrupted. You won’t really talk of anything of consequence. And not only that, – you will feel less connected and less emotionally invested in the conversation.“ Sherry Turkle on GLP Radio at 00:06:20

I can think of a million good reasons to keep an eye on the screen during lunchtime. But being aware of the consequences of my phone lying on the table had an immediate consequence in my dealing with it:

I just leave it in my pocket ever since, simple as that. Now every get together starts with a little offer from my side:

A little more depth.

Changing choices.

Chances are high that the following question has already crossed your screen: „Are you happy?“

If you’ve noticed it, chances are even higher that you got the following instruction (if you admitted room for improvement to yourself): „Change something.“

Now here comes the tricky part. Even though it’s an attitude I embrace on a day-to-day basis, I still find myself in situations I don’t necessarily like.

A used to be standard case at work: we committed to a project based on incomplete information, but we had to finish it in order to not harm ourselves i.e. our reliability.

But it changed. Not radically fast – but radically.

Here’s why: even though we sometimes have to compromise on what we do, we never compromise on how we approach and do things – and this is consequently reflected in the solutions we deliver. Clients realized it – and projects changed in our favor.

This really is a long-term observation so it’s worth a try:

Change the choices you get – by the choices you offer.

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Casey’s idea of being nice.

„When you share positivity out there it comes back in such a big way.

And that’s such a lame like tv-evangelist thing to say but the truth is like that is so meaningful.

It is so cheap, it is so inexpensive, it is so easy to be cynical, to be negative, to be someone who brings other people down and bring yourself down a lot is really easy to do.

Being nice, being positive, is really hard work – but you feel so much better at the end of the day.

It’s just like exercise. You don’t want to get out there and do your run, you do not want to go to the gym – but when you do it, you feel so glad, you feel so much better, you’re so much better off that you did it.

And at the end of the day, at the end of life, at the end of the year, the aggregate of having done that.
Having put in the work to be a more positive person. That’s really tremendous.

We have two kids now so I say all this in their shadows. The older I get the more I really believe in that and I work hard to achieve that every minute of every day.“

Casey Neistat on the Tim Ferriss Show: „How Casey Neistat Gets Away With Murder“ starting at at 1:33:00. What I love about the sequence is its honesty, realness and the intensity of how Casey delivers it. Listen to it – and you can’t help but immediately try to apply and work on it. Have a nice day!

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Introducing #SpokenTreasures

I listen to podcasts – a lot. I rediscovered the medium a few months ago and this time I completely fell in love with it.

It’s a place where our scarcest resource unfolds it’s magic: time.

Sometimes the conversations last two to three hours. Just two people talking in absence of any pressure – without the necessity of having to „make a point“ quickly. It gets real, personal and to places we don’t get to that often anymore (at least in public).

For the same reason, why the magic is happening, it isn’t necessarily easy to access – it takes time. But as I do (enjoy) the hours in any case, I thought, why not offer a little shortcut now and then …

I will point and build on specific sequences that affected me in a way. Powerful thoughts and facts that really changed something – be it perspective or behavior, be it for a minute or maybe forever.

In other words: #SpokenTreasures

You say jump,
I say how often.

The other day I went swimming, it was earlier in the day so the place wasn’t too crowded yet.

Quite a number of older folks were in the water, moving slowly and taking it easy. And then there was one younger guy who jumped wildly from the highest diving board.

The older people had routine. He had fun (and all the attention). Spectacle won, like it mostly does.

Funny somehow, considering how much harder it is to establish the routine of going for an easy swim three times a week vs. jumping from a three meter diving board once. And how much more valuable such a simple habit can be (if you think of the health effects in this case).

Keeping up the writing. Dropping caffeine (maybe). Just being present… my 2016 will be all about „more often“ and some boring, simple things.

It will be spectacular.

Wishing time.

The most remarkable christmas wish list I’ve received so far wasn’t actually a list but a simple email from my niece. At the time she was eleven years old and it read like this:

Dear family, this year I do not have any wishes. But I am saving for a 13’’ MacBook Pro. So instead of gifting me something you could support me there.

I really was amazed by the crowdfunding approach of the young lady. But on the other hand it really made me think. At the time I was sitting in an office with two other dads. All of us earning a family’s living – with less powerful machines. So I wrote back to her:

Of course I will back you. But just so you know: Technically, you now officially have the power to reinvent the world.

I wrote it to her. But it was addressed more to myself and had been a constant reminder ever since. I, too, had and have the computing power to reinvent the world. Today, anyone with a smartphone has.

So this year – again – the only appropriate wish for me is to remember this quote by Arthur Ashe more often: „Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.“

Actio: Re:Re:Reactio

A few years ago, I quit. I didn’t exactly change jobs. I’ve rather changed my organizational relationship with the things I do for a living – from permanent to self-employed.

After the hugs and handshakes my last official act as an employee was writing a goodbye email. And off I was.

It was the kind of email I do not get anymore. Just like sick notes, „to notice“ and „to all“ messages, press reviews, invitations …

A few months ago I came across a blogpost with some decluttering tipps. And I followed one advice: I’ve unsubscribed from every newsletter I didn’t actually read.

And my inbox became much less noisy again.

Most of the time, this is a very peaceful thing. Sometimes, it’s a bit scary (being a freelancer). But it always reminds me of something really basic and yet powerful. If you want something to happen, you have to do something (i.e. write an email to get an email). And the better you do it (i.e. honestly), the more you will get in return.

Inspiration by default.

After attending a conference, lecture, workshop … After reading certain articles or watching certain talks online, usually two things happen:

I am inspired.

And someone who attended the exact same event as I did, or read or listened to the exact same words – is not.

And I am wondering … why is that? Why not let it happen as often as possible? I mean, why miss out on so much?

These perspectives you didn’t have yet?
These questions you didn’t ask before?
These search fields you didn’t examine yet?
These people you haven’t known before?
These discussions you haven’t followed before?
These lessons you haven’t learned yet?
These dots you haven’t connected before?
These surprises you haven’t experienced yet?
These possibilities you didn’t know existed before?

Of course, a lot of these journeys lead to dead ends. But for all of them a proverb couldn’t be more true:

These journeys are their own reward.

Why, where and when
not to give a fukc.

I’d like to apologize. Not for my language. But for my English. I’m not even sure if English is my second language. But for now it’s definitely my first choice for this place.

Even though I will make some embarrassing mistakes. And it takes me much, much longer to write a post. And it’s not easy. And it doesn’t feel comfortable (yet). And it may be confusing for you and limiting for me (sometimes). And… And… And…

And then, on the other hand:

Who cares anyway? Shall aspiration rule – or punctuation rules? Every sentence I write is a little lesson I learn. It’s universal. I asked for help. And got some. Which is a nice thing by the way (thanks)! And it forces me to think twice and keep it short.

That’s why.
Here is where.
Now is when.