In our last couple +1s, we talked about Seneca’s wisdom on the importance of “fortifying our pertinacity” until our will to do the right thing becomes a disposition to doing the right thing. That’s basically EXACTLY what we talked about a little bit ago when we explored the Algorithms Module we recently went through in the Mastery portion of our Optimize Coach program. As you may recall (bonus points and high fives if you’ve already tattooed this line on your Optimizing consciousness), I often say that it’s all about using our Willpower wisely to install Habits that run on autopilot via Algorithms. Here’s a super-quick recap of the basic idea that I think we REALLY want to get. (btw: I just got goosebumps as I typed that.) (Yes, as we’ve established by this stage, I’m weird. Things like this get me that fired up.) So Our basal ganglia is an ancient part of our brain. In fact, it’s 500 million (!!!) years old.
Optimize with Brian Johnson by Deborah OR on Rating: ★★★★★ i LOVE this guy. Have been following him for several years now. Bought Philosophers notes when it was a few sheets of brilliance. Now I watch his videos and listen to audios. The top ideas is brilliant. I get the information I need without having to read the whole book.
All mammals have it. Among other things, it basically figures out what behaviors seem important to us (because we do them often) and decides to save us all the effort of having to think about doing them by helping us do them automatically. Thank you, basal ganglia. Now, this is super helpful for the good stuff. My hunch is you don’t need to negotiate with yourself every night when it’s time to brush your teeth. And, you probably just automatically put on your seat belt when you get in a car. Thank you, basal ganglia.
Of course, this isn’t so helpful for the sub-optimal behaviors. We’ll save that chat for another time. Today I want to talk about a handy-dandy little framework I developed for our Coaches to help them Master the process of (I repeat!) using their Willpower wisely to install Habits that run on autopilot via Algorithms. I encouraged them to think about a Pilot, Co-Pilot and Autopilot.
That’s your Daimon. That (Optimus!) best part of us that basically always knows the right thing to do and is always whispering in our ears.
(If we’d only slow down long enough to listen!) The Co-Pilot? Our job, as I see it, is to simply PAY ATTENTION to what that Pilot is guiding us to do and then, of course, DO IT more consistently. The Autopilot?
That’s our basal ganglia. It’s WAITING for us to program the optimal behaviors. It’s almost like the basal ganglia is our pre-installed brain “hardware” and our job (as Co-Pilots) is to listen to the Pilot then program the behavioral “software” that gets us doing the right thing more and more consistently. Obviously, part of a longer chat but there ya go.
That’s Today’s +1. You playing your role well? What little behavioral software upgrade is your Pilot asking you to program these days?
Is TODAY a good day to fortify your pertinacity such that the (Optimus!) best you becomes the default you? F A N T A S T I C. Happy Optiflying!! Skipping the longer philosophical chat about the ethics of being a conqueror, Today we’re going to chat about Alexander the Great.
More specifically, we’re going to talk about him and a knot. The Gordion Knot. You know the story?
Wikipedia tells us that legend has it that, once upon a time, the ancient people known as the Phrygians (who lived in what is now modern Turkey) didn’t have a king. An oracle declared that the next man to enter their capital city driving an ox-cart would become king. (That’s one way to do it, eh? ) So A peasant farmer drove an ox-cart into town and, lo and behold, became king. His name was Gordias.
In gratitude, his son Midas dedicated the ox-cart to the main Phrygian god (kinda like their version of Zeus) and tied it to a post with a super-intricate knot. As in, 'good luck untying THAT knot” kinda knot. A Roman historian described it as 'several knots all so tightly entangled that it was impossible to see how they were fastened.” Fast forward. Another oracle declares that whoever can unravel the crazy knot would become the ruler of all of Asia. (That’s one way to do it, eh?) Fast forward. Many men attempt to unravel the knot. Fast forward.
It’s now 333 bce. Alexander the Great cruises into town. He tries to untie the knot himself and has no luck.
So Being Great and all, he just decides to pull out his sword and slice the knot in half with a single blow. (That’s one way to do it, eh?) And then, of course, he went on to fulfill the prophecy as he conquered Asia. Enter: The Gordion Knot. Back to Wikipedia which tells us: “It is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem (untying an impossibly-tangled knot) solved easily by finding an approach to the problem that renders the perceived constraints of the problem moot (‘cutting the Gordian knot’).” That’s Today’s +1. Got any seemingly impossible knots in your life?
How’s the unraveling going? Is there, perhaps, a more direct and/or forceful approach to resolving the issue than you may have tried so far? Here’s a sword. Just in case it comes in handy. We’re kinda on a roll with the whole envy-squishing theme, so why not one more? In our last +1, we talked about the fact that if we’re going to compare ourselves to others (please don’t! Lol) we might as well do it right—recognizing the fact that EVERYONE experiences ups and downs en route to their particular flavor of awesome.
That wisdom reminds me of some parallel wisdom from Alan Stein’s great book Raise Your Game. Here’s what he has to say about envy: “My friend Paul Bioncardi of ESPN loves to say, ‘You will always lose the Comparison Game.’ Why is that? Because it’s rigged.
It has no function besides enlarging self-doubt. I’m typing this chapter on board a flight to South Dakota.
Among the 250 passengers on this plane, I can quickly find someone better looking, funnier, more successful, taller, more muscular, smarter. It won’t take long to find someone who scores higher than me on almost any metric.” Alan concludes: “ If I use these people as my measuring stick—to determine my self-worth and value—I will always lose.” The Comparison Game.
Want to know who ALWAYS loses that game? And everyone who plays it.
But only every single time. (Reminds me of Byron Katie’s wisdom: “When I argue with reality, I lose—but only 100% of the time.”) (Also reminds me of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s wisdom: “ Envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide.”) That’s Today’s +1.
Let’s channel our inner Faulkner and play the Optimize Game: “Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” P.S. You know who ALWAYS wins the Optimize Game? And everyone who plays it. But only every single time. (Remember: Simply striving to be your best is a pre-win.) +1. FOR THE WIN!!!
In our last +1, we reflected on the idea that little (and big) oopses provide us with opportunities to appreciate that we’re still alive as we practice gratitude that something much worse didn’t happen. “ At least THAT didn’t happen! ” For me, when I broke my arm, I was grateful I didn’t break my neck. When I tripped and nearly fell the other day, I was grateful I had an abdominal strain and not a trip back to the ER for my arm. Whenever I think of this re-framing exercise, I think of a dear friend of mine we lost in a tragic speed-flying accident. One of the most beautiful, inspiring, energized people I’ve ever met. Went out for a flight off a mountain he’d jumped off countless times.
Wings didn’t open the way they should have. I have tears in my eyes as I type that.
I often think how grateful he would be if he had just broken an arm or even his neck. Then I alchemize that pain into a virtual fist-bump and hug for his daimon and re-commit to savoring this one precious life of ours. All of which makes me think of our Stoic philosopher friends. For multiple reasons.
Today we’ll chat about their thoughts on death. We actually already talked about one of their practices in our +1 on Rehearsing Your Death. In that one, as you may recall, Seneca tells us: “ Rehearse death. To say this is to tell a person to rehearse his freedom. A person who has learned how to die has unlearned how to be a slave.” Today we’ll let Marcus Aurelius add his perspective. Here’s how he puts it: “Were you to live three thousand years, or even thirty thousand, remember that the sole life which a man can lose is that which he is living at the moment; and furthermore, that he can have no other life except the one he loses. This means that the longest life and the shortest amount to the same thing.
For the passing minute is every man’s equal possession, but what has once gone by is not ours.” He also tells us: “Take it that you have died today, and your life’s story is ended; and henceforward regard what future time may be given you as an uncovenanted surplus, and live it out in harmony with nature.” That’s one way to think about it, eh? And that’s Today’s +1. If you feel so inspired, let’s actually do the exercise.
Imagine this: You just died. You got the good fortune to come back starting.
Now, let’s see if we can live with a fresh appreciation that every (!) moment (!) is a gift. Here’s to appreciating the “ uncovenanted surplus” of moments. This morning on the Trail I was thinking about Mister Rogers and his challenges creating (recall our “tortures of the damned”!) along with Dr. Seuss and all his creative challenges. Then I was thinking about all the challenges I (and we all) face as I (and we all) strive to do my (and our) life’s work.
(And I was thinking about that gap that pretty much.always. exists between what we see in our mind’s eye and what winds up on our proverbial canvases.) I thought to myself, “Are there any artists truly happy with their work?” At precisely the moment I finished framing that question in my head I glanced down and saw a snail a few feet ahead of me. And I smiled. It was a just a normal, mid-size snail.
The kind we see all the time and usually just kinda take for granted and ignore. But this morning I could see just how elegantly perfectly his (or was it her?) shell was designed. I mean, it was a piece of art!!! And then it hit me The “Guy” (or was it “Gal”? Or was it?) who created THAT piece of art? He/She/It was definitely happy with His/Her/Its creation.
Then I looked around and saw all the other imperfectly perfect art on display—from the trees to the dirt to the rocks and the weeds and the shrubs and the sky and, well, everything. It was kind of an epiphanal moment for me. That’s Today’s +1.
Let’s celebrate all the art in our lives. And try to emulate the satisfaction of the ultimate Creator as we diligently, patiently, persistently, humbly and JOYFULLY strive to make our lives (and all its creations in it) a masterpiece! Continuing our trip through Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky’s brilliant brains and equally brilliant book Make Time, Today we’re going to have fun with a little history lesson combined with a super-simple way to start chipping away at all those twitchy smartphone touches. (I still can’t believe the average person touches their phones 2,617 times per day!!!) Jake and JZ give us a ton of great tactics to rock their four-step process.
(Recall: Highlight + Laser + Energize + Reflect! Btw: You know YOUR Highlight for Today?) In fact, they share 87 tips and tricks to Optimize! In the “Laser” section, after teaching us how to create a “distraction-free phone” (hint: clear your home screen, remove email apps, social media and unnecessary notifications) they encourage us to consider getting a simple watch—you know, those things that just tell time. Here’s the little history lesson.
They tell us: “In 1714, the British government offered a £20,000 prize (that’s $5 million in 2018 money), to anyone who could invent a portable clock that could be used aboard ships. It took nearly fifty years and dozens of prototypes until finally, in 1761, John Harrison created the first ‘chronometer.’ It was a technological marvel that changed the world even though it was barely portable—the clock had to be mounted in a special cabinet and stowed belowdecks for its maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the HMS Deptford.” Isn’t that awesome?! They continue: “ Today you can buy a portable clock—that is, a digital quartz wristwatch—for ten bucks.
It’s always accurate. It’s lightweight and waterproof. It can wake you up after a nap or remind you to take dinner out of the oven. It’s an amazing piece of technology.” That’s Today’s +1.
Want a super-simple and equally powerful way to reduce our compulsive smartphone usage? Consider getting a portable clock. And Let’s salute the crew of the HMS Deptford on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic as we appreciate that miraculous moving time piece we can put on our wrist as we remember to appreciate just how awesome our modern lives are—ESPECIALLY when we Optimize how we choose to use all the amazing technology! A couple +1s ago, we hung out with Mister Rogers in his barrelful of songs.
Today I want to hop in the pool with him and then do something extra special. First, some more wisdom from The World According to Mister Rogers. Fred tells us: “I like to swim, but there are some days I just don’t feel much like doing it—but I do it anyway! I know it’s good for me and I like to keep my promises.
That’s one of my disciplines. And it’s a good feeling after you’ve tried and done something well.
Inside you think, ‘I’ve kept at this and I’ve really learned it—not by magic, but by my own work.’” Of course, I LOVE the fact that Fred swims every day. Whether he (insert whiney voice) feels like it or not. He knows it’s good for him and he likes to keep his promises. So.splash. See ya in the pool!
But it’s not his discipline to swim every day that I want to talk about Today. It’s what he does AFTER he gets out of the pool. He steps on the scale. And what does it say? “143.” When did it say that?
Basically EVERY. Of his adult life. Do you know WHY he was so enamored with his scale saying “143”? Well, “I” has 1 letter, “L-O-V-E” has 4 letters and “Y-O-U” has 3 letters. His ENTIRE LIFE—all the way down to his weight!!—was one big expression of “I love you.” Today’s +1.
Makes me wonder: What are YOU committed to? Is there a way to have fun connecting your weight to that mojo? Fred was 6 feet tall.
I weigh a little more than Fred but not that much. Although I’m currently in the 150’s, I’ve been playing around with different potential combos for my weight. When/if it’s in the 140’s again, I’m thinking 149 might be cool. 1 is for our “I’ and 4 is for “L-O-V-E.” What about the 9? Let’s go with: “E-U-D-A-I-M-O-N-S.” I love YOU and YOUR eudaimon. In our last +1, we talked about being the change we want to see in the world.
I asked: What change DO you want to see? (Well What is it?! And Are you being it?!) That makes me think of another 20th century icon: Mister Fred Rogers. In his great little book The World According to Mister Rogers, we get to immerse ourselves in a collection of wisdom-gems from the great man. Including this one: “The values we care about the deepest, and the movements within society that support those values, command our love. When those things that we care about so deeply become endangered, we become enraged. And what a healthy thing that is!
Without it, we would never stand up and speak out for what we believe.” Mister Rogers “enraged”? You want to see his fierce courage in action? Note: Please make sure you notice how he channeled that rage into pure love. Notice how pure love broke through the armor of a hitherto harsh foe. (I’ll be surprised if you, like the Senator in that hearing, don’t get goosebumps (and/or tears) FEELING the soul force of Fred Rogers standing up and speaking out for what he believed in and dedicated his life to.) What’s fascinating for me is how similar Fred’s approach is to Gandhi’s. As we discussed, one of the primary themes of that book is Gandhi’s evolution/transformation in which he learned to alchemize his anger into an unstoppable “soul-force.” He did this via what he called “satyagraha.” Satyagraha is a word he coined combining two Sanskrit words. It basically means “holding onto truth” and is the foundation of his (and MLK’s) “nonviolent resistance” to evil.
What values do YOU care about the deepest? What movements within society support those values and command your love? Are those values endangered? If so, let’s become enraged and celebrate the power of that emotion as we alchemize that fierce love into noble action—standing up and speaking out for what we believe. Today I’d like to let you know that I officially have a new job. It’s one I’m quite excited about. First, a little context.
You know that Ferrari pit crew guy I’ve been obsessing about? You know, the one we watched in. (I’m literally getting that picture framed so I can put it up in my office, btw.) As you may recall, his sole job is to yank off the right-front tire while his 21 buddies play their roles as well as they can as they create some poetry in motion. Well, that’s my new job.
Only YOU are the Race Car Driver. Imagine me poised and ready to yank off your front-right tire so you can get back on track Optimized and ready to rock every day. Because that’s what I’ll be doing for as long as I’m lucky enough to serve in your crew. That’s Today’s +1.
Have a great Race Day, my friend. Two quick little things. What’s the most important thing for you to do in your Race Today?. How will YOU swap out someone’s front-right tire Today?That is all. That and LET’S DO THIS!!! In our last +1, we talked about Twyla Tharp’s thoughts on reading and thinking.
Recall her comment that: “If I stopped reading, I’d stop thinking. It’s that simple.” (Amen!) Today I’d like to talk about HOW she reads. I really like her perspective because it’s pretty much EXACTLY how I read. And, well, people are always asking me how I read a book so let’s go with this wisdom as a perfect proxy to my process. Twyla tells us: “When I’m reading archeologically, I’m not reading for pleasure. I read the way I scratch for an idea, digging down deep so I can get something out of it and use it in my work.
I read transactionally: How can I use this? It’s not enough for me to read a book. I have to ‘own’ it. I scribble in the margins. I circle sentences I like and connect them with arrows to other useful sentences. I draw stars and exclamation points on every good page, to the point where the book is almost unreadable.
By writing all over the pages, I transform the author’s work into my book—and mine alone.” That’s Today’s +1. Here’s a nice bold pen for your archeological reading-digging!
Brianjohnson.me is tracked by us since April, 2011. Over the time it has been ranked as high as 87 849 in the world, while most of its traffic comes from USA, where it reached as high as 32 771 position. All this time it was owned by Brian Johnson, it was hosted by Linode, CloudFlare Inc. And others.Brianjohnson has a decent Google pagerank and bad results in terms of Yandex topical citation index. We found that Brianjohnson.me is poorly ‘socialized’ in respect to any social network. According to MyWot, Siteadvisor and Google safe browsing analytics, Brianjohnson.me is a fully trustworthy domain with no visitor reviews.