Friends of Dave #134: Exploring Mindfulness
Be the ball, Danny....and some summer reading suggestions.
For those that are close Friends of Dave, you are quite aware that the words "laid back" or "chill" have seldom, if ever, been uttered in the same sentence as my name. Most will agree that, for good or bad, I tend to have more in common with a honey badger than a sloth....
And while long time Friends of Dave are fully aware (and have enjoyed) in the past that I have been an advocate of some periodic, honest (NSFW) meditation, I have never really been a student. Until recently....
As I posted on LinkedIn earlier this week, I have made it a goal this summer to regularly work being mindful into my daily routine....like literally scheduling it. If you are unfamiliar with the power of mindfulness, you can click here for a great short video on it.
I've always been someone who's mind is constantly in motion -- multi-tasking everything. Go for a run but also solve a business problem while pushing to make a certain time or distance. Go for a bike ride but think about this or that issue with the kids. Sit on the beach but keep looking at my phone every few minutes. Read to get up to speed on a topic because it will help me at work. I seldom do something to just do it or for the pleasure of it...except maybe make omelettes.... Perhaps some of you can relate?
After just about a month, I must say, I am pleased with the early results. By taking anywhere from 5-45 minutes per day to do a mindfulness exercise, meditation, or just be more aware of my surroundings, my state of mind, my breathing, what sparks joy, keeping the phone in my pocket or other room, etc., I can introduce a sense of calm that I had never been able to previously achieve. I am also amazed at how much of life's details one can miss by robotically going from task to task. I know I am still a novice, and it is going to take some time to make it a habit, but I am improving.
If this sounds like something you might like to try, I highly recommend downloading a great free app for your phone called "Mindfulness Coach." Originally designed for soldiers who are battling anxiety and PTSD post-service, this app is like MapMyRun for meditation training -- it provides structured, interactive lessons, let's you keep track of progress, provides practice exercises, and even allows you to set up reminder notifications at a specific time to take a mindfulness break.
One other thing I also mentioned in my LinkedIn post this week is that, as part of this exercise, I am also trying to schedule time each day to read for the sake of reading. I had been trying to get through Hillbilly Elegy for quite a while, and after assigning time to read a chapter a day over the past week and a half, I was finally able to complete it (two thumbs up!). So I turned to my LinkedIn connections for some suggestions on my next book.
Here's a sample of what came up on the thread:
K: A History of Baseball in 10 Pitches -- courtesy of FoD Christian Eidt
Wherever You Go, There You Are
Deep and Simple -- previously mentioned in Issue #72
Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World
The Start-Up of You
Bossypants
The Power Broker
Lila: An Inquiry into Morals
Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance -- courtesy of FoD Kamila Simon
If you have any good mindful reads that you like, please pass them along (or post them to the thread on LinkedIn).
Something like 90% of the US is going to experience record heat this weekend, so if going outside is too much, stay in, stay cool and check out some of the links below. It's gonna be a scortcha!
XOXO
Dave
Think on This...
Einstein on Sifting the Essential from the Non-Essential
The biggest mistake that most of us make is that we try to consume more information. We do this because we feel like we’re missing something.
Einstein knew that few things have more of an impact on your life and career than your ability to zero in on what matters most. Good one and fairly quick.
Being Mindful For Your Day Job...
How to fight work BS (and keep your job and your dignity)
Don’t let the BS'ers at work get you down: get them to explain themselves instead.
Why more brands are ditching the CMO position
I've talked about this before -- in order to be effective, marketers need to be less about marcom and more about commercial growth. Check out this look into why companies are beginning to rid themselves of the chief marketing role.
How 20+ Fintech Startups That Have Each Been Able to Cross The 1 Million Account Mark
As usual, CB Insights conducts a great takedown of FinTech startups, spanning from micro-investing and credit scoring to digital banking and cryptocurrency exchanges, and digs into how they have added 200M+ combined customer accounts globally. Even if you are not into FinTech, this is an insightful look at customer acquisition.
Breathe in Some Randomness...
Autonomous Boats Will Be On the Market Sooner Than Self-Driving Cars
In related news, I hear Netflix plans to reboot "The Love Boat" with a cast/crew completely comprised of robots...."AI-ssac" will be Your Bartender.....but sadly, might have trouble with the finger guns...
This Guy Paints Random Characters Into Old Thrift Store Paintings
FACT: I recently started watching a documentary on PBS painter Bob Ross on Amazon Prime (his voice was so soothing it literally knocked me out before the end)...shocked to find out he was missing a finger AND also faked the famous 'fro....
Why People in Cities Walk Fast
I don't know, maybe they are just not being mindful?
...And Breathe Out This Week's Last Word.
The women who win hundreds of sweepstakes per year — thehustle.co
“One time, I even won a meeting with Sting,” she giggles. “He smelled so good.”
Winning online sweepstakes is supposedly an act of pure luck — but some contestants claim to have it down to a science.