“They say talk is cheap, but based on usage, most folks must think texting is cheaper…
Truth is we live in a world dominated by mobile phones – there are actually more phones than there are people in the U.S. – yet we barely speak to each other anymore.
Our phones have become everything but a device to speak into (unless you’re one of the iPhoners who talk to Siri).
Phone or no phone, we should talk more, don’t you think?”
What more can I say – Genius.
Simply Said. Find Something.
If you enjoy these random cartoons and would like to see them on your wall – Hugh MacLeod and Gapingvoid are having a half off sale on April uno. It could be an April fools joke… so no guarantees – but I doubt it.
Life Reset Button – PUSH
18 years ago I quit gymnastics. Now that my gymnastics body has undoubtably worn off – It’s time to get back into shape and get my ass kicked a little.
Thanks to Matt D’Amico down at Body Lab – he has a program for this.
3 Month BodyLab Adventure Begin!
“What determines who we are? Is it that we settle? What is good enough? Do we find happiness? How do all of these things shape who we are?
Our “potential” is infinite. As endless as the cosmos. We are endowed with the power, ability and opportunity.
What gets in the way of our potential? Lack of drive? Lack of interest? Distractions? More likely: Not knowing what you really want.
More than ever, we live in a world where on a personal level, nearly anything is possible. We ARE the sum total of our choices, and these choices should lead us to happiness. I’ve always thought that a key to happiness is aligning what you want with what you are willing to do to get it.
We’re not talking morality, we are talking your appetite for 16 hour work days, travel, ass-kissing, office politics, screaming kids, etc. If you can live in that sweet spot of doing and getting what you want, you are living your potential.
And, your potential is all about being happy.
God Bless.”
Are you happy?
While playing in Winter Park with Mom for Leap Year – I came across a nice little email from Seth Godin while relaxing by the fire.
“Leap year meditation
Once in four years, just once, perhaps we could:
Forgive, forget, relax, care, stand out, speak up, contribute, embrace, create, make a ruckus, give credit, skip, smile, speak truth and refuse to compromise–more than we usually do. Pick just one or two and start there.
Hey, it’s just one day.
Careful, though, it might become a habit.”
Thank you for the inspiration you provided us throughout the rest of the day Seth. We had already accomplished most of your meditation techniques… just needed to focus on a little skipping!
Rock on!
Greg Hydle
[YouTubeUlar] <— 52,449
Innocent until proven guilty... nope.
Guilty until proven innocent... yep.
“Time Warner has called… and they want us all back on the couch. Just consuming. Not producing… not sharing. And we should say no.”
Get educated… watch it again.
Or go crazy over at TED.com
“Sometimes being happy is just a choice. It’s just what you look for every day. In your work, in love, in friendships.
It’s really about how you view your place on earth. You look for joy, and that’s what you’ll find.
We all know people who make the ‘other’ choice. Nothing is good enough. They find fault everywhere. Their default mode is discontent.
For a lucky few, they eventually reach the abyss. The point at which being confronted with the dire-ness which is their life, becomes transformative.
Instead they choose joy.
Everything becomes better.
It takes nothing more than changing an attitude.
Today, take the hand of someone who you think should choose differently.”
[Vimeeeeo] <— 39,000 The future of women's freeskiing just popped up in the form of 10 year old Kelly Sildaru.. And where was this facility when I was growing up?
Who wants to open a freestyle training facility like this here in Denver? We weren’t allowed to play play play like this in gymnastics as a kid. We’ll call it Scorphy Raddogs.
This is really about leadership. Leaders understand, often innately, what it takes to inspire action.
Inspired action is a much different animal than top down directed action.
Inspired people will walk through fire to achieve their goal. Directed people are in it for the paycheck.
It was the difference between the Roman legions and mercenary adversaries.
It is why so many businesses these days are focussed on finding their true purpose, and why we spend a lot of our time helping companies communicate that purpose.
Purpose allows for inspired action with amazing results.
[YouTube] <— 3,688
As 2011 draws to a close and 2012 comes upon us... I would like to insert the event of losing Steve Jobs as the most impactful story that crossed my life this past year. Welcome to the memory bank Steve, you were here before and you will forever remain.
More on this from me to come at a later date...
For now you can consume these.
[WIRED — Steven Levy]
[UNIX – Where it all came from]
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After all, the economist wonders, what’s in it for you?
The very same non-economic contribution is going on online, every single day. More and more of the content we consume was made by our peers, for free. My take:
People like the way it feels to live in a community filled with decorated houses. They enjoy the drive or the walk through town, seeing the lights, and they want to be part of it, want to contribute and want to be noticed too.
Peace of mind and self-satisfaction are incredibly valuable to us, and we happily pay for them, sometimes contributing to a community in order to get them.
The internet is giving more and more people a highly-leveraged, inexpensive way to share and contribute. It doesn’t cost money, it just takes guts, time and kindness.
No wonder most people don’t insist on getting paid for their tweets, posts and comments.
Two asides: First, it’s interesting to note that no one (zero) gets paid to put up Christmas lights, but some towns are awash in them.
and second, I think there’s a parallel to the broken windows theory here. Broken Windows asserts that in cities with small acts of vandalism and unrepaired facades, crime goes up. The Christmas Light corollary might be that in towns (or online communities) where there’s a higher rate of profit-free community contribution, happiness and productivity go up as well.
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That’s a question you hear a lot. “Was it worth it?”
Not certain what either “it” refers to, but generally we’re saying, “was the destination worth the journey? Was the effort worth the reward?”
The thing about effort is that effort is its own reward if you allow it to be.
So the answer can always be “yes” if you let it.
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A few things came up over coffee the other day. His idea is good, his funding is solid, there are many choices. Some of the questions that don’t usually get asked:
Are you aware of your cash flow? The thing about a fish in the stream is that it doesn’t care if the water is six inches deep or a foot deep. As long as it never (ever) goes to zero, it’s fine. What’s your zero point? What are you doing to ensure you get to keep swimming?
Are you trying to build profit or equity? A business that builds a brand, a footprint, a standard and an audience might end up being worth millions (witness Tumblr, which has many millions of value but zero profitabilty). On the other hand, a business with no exit value at all might spin off plenty of profit (consider the local doctor’s office). It would be great if you could simultaneously maximize both the value of your company and the profit it produces (in the short run), but that’s unlikely.
What’s your role? Do you want to be a freelancer, an entrepreneur or a business owner? A business owner is the boss, but it’s a job, a place that is stable and profitable. An entrepreneur is an artist of sorts, throwing herself into impossible situations and seeking out problems that require heart and guts to solve. Both are fine, but choose.
Are you trying to build a team? Some business owners want to minimize cost and hassle. Others are trying to forge a culture, to train and connect and lead.
Which kind of risk is okay with you? There’s financial risk, emotional risk and brand risk (among others). Are you willing to put your chips on the table daily? How about your personal reputation?
And finally, and most important, why? Why are you doing this at all?
This is a revisit to a previous cartoon which inspired Seth Godin to write a book…
My friend Seth Godin said it perfectly, “What do marketers sell that scales? I’ll tell you what: Belief. Belonging. Mattering. Making a difference. Tribes. We have an unlimited need for this.”