Strike the Match

Flobots

The Flobots are a music group that is cultivating a devoted following.  You may have heard their hit single Handlebars.  You can hear it and some of their other songs here.

I love their style, their sound, and I especially love the conviction in their lyrics.  It's obvious that they are passionate about their music and about inspiring social change.

They are a great example of taking action towards an extraordinary life.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Peaks and Valleys

Four years ago I met an individual who has played a large role in my development and who I'm lucky to call a close friend. He was presenting at a convention I attended and this is a lesson he shared that has helped me through tough times.

Most people have high expectations of happiness. They believe their happiness should always be increasing. Graphed, their expectation of happiness over time looks like this:

What these people fail to realize is life is a series of peaks and valleys. No matter how hard they try, they cannot always be on an upswing. Because they don't accept this fact, they are devastated every time they hit a valley.

Instead of attempting to always be on an upswing, your goal should be to trend upwards. Work to extend the upswings higher and longer and attempt to shorten the downswings. Similar to the graph below:

Once you accept that downswings occur, they can become a source of growth instead of a place for despair.

So, if you find yourself in upswing enjoy it with all your heart. And if you find yourself in downswing, utilize it to catapult you even higher.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Don't Get Tied Up

Knowledge is Bondage highlights a common dilemma that traps many people.  They allow their education to tie them up instead of utilizing it to set them free. 

Just because someone wrote down some rules about business or music or parenting doesn't mean we must follow them.  We're free to make our own rules.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Get Rid of the Junk

Looking for ways to simplify life so you can focus on what matters?  If you're like me, you may have trouble parting with useless junk you've accumulated.  If it's been years since you've last touched those pink flamingos but you still can't bring yourself to throw them out then here's a tip for getting rid of your junk.

Gather your useless "stuff".  Pack "stuff" into brown boxes and seal them up.  Don't label the contents, instead write "Throw Out" on the box and put a date at least a year into the future.  For example "Throw Out - July 25, 2009".  Pack boxes away in your storage space.

Once that date scrawled on the box comes, throw away the box without opening it.  You probably won't remember what's inside and if you haven't needed the "stuff" in over a year you'll be happier without it.

This works great because you have a safety net.  You comfort yourself with the fact that you can change your mind.  If absolutely need the pick flamingos, you have plenty of time to save them from the trash.  But if they're still there in the box on the throw out day, you'll be free of a couple more useless items!

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Find A Mentor

If you're going somewhere you haven't been before, getting there's a whole lot easier if you have directions.  Same goes for life.

Whether you're just starting college or entering retirement, whether your goal is own a dive shop or make it big in Hollywood, find a mentor.  It will greatly increase your chances of success.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Correcting Diminishing Returns

I read a lot of information in the business, investing, and self-help genres.  These genres are key to living my extraordinary life and for a long time every piece of information I collected was rewarding. 

Then something changed.  I noticed the information was becoming less intriguing and finally realized I was experiencing the law of diminishing returns.  I've typically associated the law with manufacturing or having a second piece of pie at Thanksgiving dinner but apparently it applies to information as well.

After I realized the problem, I spent some time figuring out how to correct the situation.  I came up with two idea's:

1. Focus on Quality over Quanity-  If it's not high quality information, stop reading immediately
2. Utilize Collected Info- Use my time to apply the information I've already collected instead of putting so much effort into collecting more

Is there an activity taking up a chunk of your time that's no longer providing the value it once did?  What changes can you make to improve the situation?

(I typically leave comments closed but I'm opening them on this post to see how it goes.  Please feel free to add a comment)

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

What's Done is Done

I apologize for the sporadic nature of my posts over the last few days. I've been experiencing a number of computer issues including a fried wireless router and a hard drive failure. Both are frustrating but I keep reminding myself that neither are the end of the world.

This is another perfect time to reflect on the importance of attitude. Whatever challenges you may be facing, realize what's done is done. Accept that it can't be changed and move forward, preferably with a smile.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Startup Weekend

Looking to get involved in a startup but not sure where to start? Try Startup Weekend.

According to their website:

Startup Weekend is a intense 54 hour event bringing together brilliant tech minds (developers, designers, marketers, ect.) together to create a company (or as many as the community wants) from concept to launch!

I discovered it through a friend who participated in the Columbus event this weekend. He said it was definitely intense but that it was a positive experience.

If you want to "take action" towards starting a company, this would be a great place to start.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Focus On Your Strengths

Yesterday's post highlighted the importance of standing out. A great start to standing out is to focus on maximizing your strengths instead of the common effort on eliminating your weaknesses.   This runs contrary to our educational systems belief that people need to be at least average in every subject but it's a provocative lesson from Now, Discover Your Strengths.

Eliminating your weaknesses is a great way to not get fired, it's not so good if your goal is to be extraordinary.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Don't Follow The Pack

Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite by Paul Arden is a great book that Bryan Roberts recommended to me.  Bryan is the founder of Traction, one of the top 3-dimensional fabrication companies for billboards in the nation.  He credits this book to motivating him to start his company.

I devoured the book it in one sitting (Yes it is that good but it is also a very quick read).  It does a superb job of illustrating the importance of standing out in a world where the tendency is to conform.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.