Friends of Dave #221: what did I come in here for?
We have met our own worst enemy....and he/she is us.
I'm absolutely exhausted this week Friends.
Took on an ambitious project, poured a ton of time and energy into it, and probably bit off more than I could chew. While I think the finished product turned out great, I am definitely paying the price mentally and physically -- and will probably be doing so throughout the weekend.
This is not the first time I have done this, and something tells me, it won't be the last.
It reminded me of that late 90s song:
Please tell me why
My car is in the front yard and I'm
Sleeping with my clothes on
I came in through the window last night
It's no surprise to me, I am my own worst enemy
'Cause every now and then, I kick the living sh** out of me
Think about it. Don't we all have something we do or say (and usually cannot resist), from time to time, that kicks the living sh** out of ourselves, even though we know better?
It may be big or small, but ultimately we end up wondering why our car is in the front yard....scrambling to recover from it...yet again...
How can we stop ourselves from being our own worst enemy?
First step is to acknowledge you have a problem. You have seen your worst enemy, and know it is you.
Next, thinking back, can you see a pattern across situations or series of events that has precipitated you creating problems for yourself? Maybe you have been stressed or doubted yourself or presented a challenge/task that you make bigger than it really is.
This helps get you to the "why" you do these things.
Then, understand the cause and effect of allowing your own worst enemy to get the best of you. It's as simple as completing the following sentence:
Because I do __*this*___, ___*this*___ happens and then, as a result, I end up feeling like ___*this*___.
By dissecting the chain of events that occurs, you can start to uncover all of the components that give your enemy its power.
Finally, now that you have essentially discovered the triggers, you can apply the best defense when you are battling any enemy: get your enemy to subdue before it has a chance to fight.
What does that mean when this enemy is us? It's accepting that we have the ability to control our actions BEFORE they create problems for us.
We are our own worst enemy because we allow ourselves to be. The simplest way NOT to be your own worst enemy? Just stay out of your own way in the first place.
If you can't control this, then I guess it's another "you" problem.
Okay, that's about all for now. Enjoy the links below and for our US friends, don't forget to Spring Forward this weekend!
XOXO
Dave
Think on This...
Persuading the Unpersuadable Research shows that asking questions instead of giving answers can overcome people’s defensiveness.
For Your Day Job...
The Next Wave of Industry Cloud is Data — www.emcap.com
Great look at the market for building vertically-focused data businesses that can power an entire industry.
Please Stop Reading Off Your PowerPoint Slides. Here's What to Do Instead — www.inc.com
We've all been in that meeting.....maybe it was even this week......
People are more likely to trust—and buy—purpose-driven brands When someone sees a logo of a brand they know is purpose-driven, they automatically associate it with words like “responsible,” “compassionate,” and “ethical.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
World Beer Index 2021: What's the Price of a Beer in Your Country? — www.visualcapitalist.com The global desire for beer prevails even in a pandemic. These maps compare the average beer price in 58 countries—just how much do we drink?
What Did I Come in Here For? New Study Explains The Weird 'Doorway Effect' — www.sciencealert.com
And you may also ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile?"
Philly skyline will go mostly dark at night starting April 1 in an effort to save birds
That's funny, because I thought I read somewhere that birds aren't real...
Burger King incites rage for tweeting ‘Women belong in the kitchen’ on International Women’s Day
'It was either that or "Hey ladies, I'll show you a Whopper...." We thought this was the safer route" -- someone in BK marketing....
And The Last Word....
The rise and demise of Subway’s $5 footlong promotion — thehustle.co
Subway’s famous promotion made the sandwich franchise billions — but the deal wasn’t as sweet for individual shop owners.
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