What’s great about this?
The first question to ask when something bad happens.
“I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear.” – Oprah Winfrey
As soon as it happened, I recognized the feelings my body gives in response to stress: a tightening in my lungs, a tension in my shoulders, a […]
Hey, it’s been a while.
I’d like to show you what I’ve been working on.
As you may know, over the past year or so, I’ve been working on a personal development website for dads.
That was part of the reason I decided to stop sending you this newsletter – as much as I love writing about the habits […]
Stopping At The Right Time
Knowing When To Quit
On my second date with my future wife, I quit smoking.
For seven years, I had been a tobacco smoker. For nearly seven years, I had tried to quit, and a few times, I made some progress. But I never really quit, because quitters never win, right?
After a few weeks as […]
The Bloody Smile
Cheerfulness in all situations, especially the bad ones.
James J. Jeffries came out of retirement to beat a black man down.
It was 1910 when the Great White Hope said, “I am going into this fight for the sole purpose of proving that a white man is better than a negro.” It had been five years since his […]
The Metaphysical Machete
Carving Better Thoughts Into Your Mind
Wearing a machete on your belt is normal in Costa Rica.
When my family and I lived down there, we made our home in a dense part of the jungle far to the south. The inland of Costa Rica is very mountainous; the country consists of two mountain ranges, […]
This is now a Monthly Newsletter.
I’m Making Room for What Matters More.
Today is my birthday! Now, I know it’s tacky to ask for what you want for a birthday present, but here’s what I would really like: please read this newsletter all the way through to the bottom, and click the link at the end. That would […]
What went well this year?
Plan your next year around your victories.
Over the past month, we’ve talked about Quarterly Reviews, Weekly Reviews, and Daily Reviews.
These are mainly tactical reviews of your activity, and plans for getting things done. To view your life from a high enough perspective that you can make serious decisions, you need to look from […]
What should I be doing?
Decide what is (and isn’t) worth your time.
Last week, we discussed the power of the weekly review, and before that, the power of daily reflection.
Now, let’s look a little longer term.
When you compare things in your life month-over-month, you are able to assess your systems from a high level. What is […]
What will I do this week?
Take the pulse of every active project for clarity and ease.
The feeling I had when I first entered my office was gone. Ninety minutes earlier, when I sat down at my desk first thing on Monday morning, I was vaguely confused and apprehensive about all the things I had to do […]
How did your day go?
A simple question to keep your life in perspective, today.
After a particularly draining afternoon, I was ready to shut my laptop and leave my office in disgust. The day, it felt like, had been a failure.
But then, before I put on my coat, I cracked open my daily notebook – a […]
Don’t make decisions when you’re stupid.
First thing in the morning, you are the dumbest you will be all day.
When I wake up to my alarm at 5:30, my body tells me very clearly that it wants to stay in bed. Every time.
But the alarm is ringing across the room. To make the noises stop, I […]
Weakness is where the most excellence can be found.
When making new habits, aim for your weak spots.
“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” – George Halas
Theodore Roosevelt lay gasping in bed. At twelve years old, his asthma was so bad that his nightly attacks often left him bedridden for days.
“Theodore, you have the mind but […]
Hacking the Habit Loop.
Cue + Routine = Reward
“A habit is a formula our brain automatically follows: When I see CUE, I will do ROUTINE in order to get a REWARD.” – Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit
When someone joins Alcoholics Anonymous, they are actively hacking the habit of drinking.
Every habit, as Charles Duhigg lays out […]
Backups of your Backups
The best habits are passive, redundant, and easy.
“Opportunity is a haughty goddess who wastes no time with those who are unprepared.”
– George S. Clason
Last Monday morning, my Weekly Review was interrupted at the reboot.
To start every week, I tidy up my digital space. Every file and folder on my desktop is […]
To make a new habit stick, remove your willpower.
Your willpower can be depleted, if you’re not careful.
“Willpower is a finite resource. Don’t pick a model that has failure built into it and requires that you constantly drain a finite resource.” – Scott Adams
Sara was a ballet dancer in New York City. She knew she could […]
The Best Of My Weekend
13 Powerful Quotes from Pioneer Nation
“Success leaves clues, and the people who produce outstanding results do specific things to create those results.” – Tony Robbins
This weekend I went to Pioneer Nation, an intensive retreat for online entrepreneurs. Hosted by Chris Guillebeau, it’s a sister event to the World Domination Summit. While […]
A little gratitude goes a long way.
Especially when it is hand-written.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Toni Morrison
When Facebook reminds you that it’s the birthday of a random acquaintance, that means it’s time to click […]
Everything You Could Almost Be Doing
Avoid At All Costs
“Do your best every day and your life will gradually expand into satisfying fullness.”
– Horatio Dresser
One hundred years ago, Ivy Lee stood in front of a room of executives at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, waiting patiently as they nervously laughed. The advice he gave them was so […]
Which would you choose?
A long and safe life, or a short and daring adventure?
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! […]
Thanks for being a subscriber to my newsletter.
After the changes made this year, I’d love to know what you think.
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” – Lao Tzu
The format of this newsletter has changed significantly from when it was called Laptop Living. I used to include lots of […]
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!
Park the Farthest.
Every time you search for parking, you spend more time in your car, and less time on your feet.
“Habits gradually change the face of one’s life as time changes one’s physical face; and one does not know it.” – Virginia Woolf
When we pulled into the parking lot, the first thing I noticed was all […]
Do it right then.
If it takes less than two minutes, do it right then.
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Henry David Thoreau
Last Friday afternoon, I was ready to get out of the office and play in the sunshine. One of my […]
The Time it Takes to Stick
28 Days of Consecutive Momentum.
“Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex.” – Norman Vincent Peale.
NASA conducted an experiment on proprioception that uncovered a surprising fact about our subconscious mind.
A team of astronauts were asked to wear a special […]
Automatic Positude
How to answer “How are you doing?”
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar
My new Danish friend came to me with a confused look on her face. It was 2001, and I was enrolled in an international physical theater school, with clowns and mimes and jugglers from all around the […]
A Day Well Started is a Day of Power.
10 Tricks to Wake Up Early (And Like It)
“The world belongs to those who get up early.” – Jules Renard
Frank Lloyd Wright was never seen working during the day. A friend of his observed that he could be seen taking phone calls and meetings, answering letters, and working […]
Prepare your morning the night before.
Set yourself up for success – before you need it.
“It’s been said that the first hour is the rudder of the day. I’ve found this to be very true in my own life. If I’m lazy or haphazard in my actions during the first hour after I wake up, I […]
Make things happen.
Completion is a habit you can master.
“Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” – Thomas Edison
This past weekend, I spent my time manning (or personing, if we’re going to be all gender-neutral about it) a table at the World Domination Summit. This table was the checkpoint for everyone running around on a […]
Weekly habits are the best.
Welcome to my new email newsletter, Habits of Excellence.
“Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits. In order to be creative you have to know how to prepare to be creative.” – Twyla Tharp
This newsletter has gone through a bit of a bumpy year.
You […]