The Lifelong Learner
:: What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? -Robert Schiller ::
The Lifelong Learner
:: What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail? -Robert Schiller ::
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Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
–Theodore Roosevelt
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Don’t complain. Just do it. Be happy with what you have. We all have our own talents. Let’s use them to the fullest potential. My advice: find your talents, and utilize them to the fullest potential.
Each one of us is unique. We all have our own talents. You might be second guessing yourself. Don’t. You might be bad in some things, but great with others. I know that’s how I am. And I don’t really care.
Sure, my wife would like me to be somebody else. I would love to be like somebody else sometimes. But I am not. I am who I am. I accept that and I’m happy with it. I spend time on things I like to do.
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Maybe the most any of us can expect of ourselves isn’t perfection but progress.
–Michelle Burford
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I love this quote. Too many times we focus on the end result. Too many times we think we are a failure because we’re not like somebody else. Too many times we stop because we have not achieved our goal. Instead, if we focus on progress and perseverance, I think we’d move ahead further.
Am I making progress? Am I better today than I was 6 months ago? If yes, then you are on a right track! Keep going!
One great example for this is Toastmasters. I attend meetings because I want to improve my communication skills. It’s a long term process. Sure, I would love to have the skills of somebody else that I admire. But that’s not the point. I have my own talents and skills, and the most important question for me is, am I making progress. It’s really a great feeling to see progress. Yes, I’d love to have excellent eye contact, vocal variety, body movement and other skills. But I am happy to see improvement in these areas. I am happy to see results from the changes that I try. And that’s what keeps me going. I don’t get discouraged.
Focus on making progress and you’ll reach excellence.
ReferenceSpeak and Lead Toastmasters — the club I belong to (currently serving as President)
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I care not so much what I am to others as what I am to myself.
–Michel de Montaigne
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The bottom line: be yourself. A lot of times we don’t do something because we are afraid of what somebody else will think. It happens to me a lot. Stop, I don’t do something because of what somebody else “might think?!” Time to put a stop to that! There is something seriously wrong with that. I read a great quote that has been on my mind: “It’s none of your business of what somebody else thinks of you.” It’s much more important to do something that you think is right for you, without concerning yourself about others’ thoughts.
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You’ve got to be original, because if you’re like someone else, what do they need you for?
–Bernadette Peters
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When looking for a house, one of the most important things for me is how good the schools are. It’s not the easiest task trying to find that data. I did come across a very good website that just a very good job. It gives you a quick view on how the school district is performing.
In the August issue of the Money magazine, they list 100 Best Places to Live. This year, the focus is on small towns with population of 8,500 to 50,000.
On a related note, here’s a list from July’s Kiplinger’s.
Leo Babauta is the master behind Zen Habits, a movement (blog, books, and more) towards becoming a more productive person. He offers great advice. I recently read a very good book from him, The Power of Less, and have been a subscriber of his blog. Today, he has a blog entry that has links to 20 Classic Zen Habits Posts. Some very good articles.
ReferenceThe Power of Less, my recommended book20 Classic Zen Habits Posts – blog posts at Zen Habits
While looking at the top-rated articles on Hacker News, I came across a very good, inspiring article: Ten Things I Have Learned by Milton Glaser. I don’t know Mr. Glaser, but these are really good.
Reference
TenThings I Have Learned, Milton Glaser
A very good post by Leo Babuta.
How to Beat Your Fears — Summary
- First, acknowledge your fear.
- Write it down.
- Feel the fear.
- Ask yourself: what’s the worst thing that can happen?
- Just do it.
- Prepare yourself for battle.
- Be in the moment.
- Small steps.
- Celebrate every success!
Check the link, below, to read the full post. Recommended.
Reference
A Guide to Beating the Fears That Are Holding You Back, zenhabits
I just StumbledUpon a very good self-improvement site: Dale Carnegie’s summary of How to Win Friends and Influence People book. It’s a great refresher of the classic rules for becoming a better person. (If you have not read the book, I highly recommend it. And hundreds other people.)
Here’s just a glimpse:
Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.
