I began this series of posts back in January but stopped as other things took priority. Now COVID-19 has been taking center stage and we’re all adapting to a new way of living. I’ve settled into a routine and decided to start this back up.
Below are some of the things from the past week that I’ve come across and felt were worth sharing. As always, feel free to leave a comment on the blog or on social media if you’d like to add to the discussion. And if you like what’s in here, please use one or more of those buttons at the bottom of the post to share with friends.
What I’ve learned:
- I’m currently re-reading “The Millionaire’s Secrets: Life Lessons in Wisdom and Wealth
” by Mark Fisher. It’s an older book (1997), but it teaches the power of focus, goal setting and positive thought via a fictional story. I enjoy these types of books. They’re an easy read and I find the story helps me visualize the lessons better.
- A friend recommended 75 Hard by Andy Frisella. It’s a free 75 day program to help you get mental toughness. I tried it and got through Day 4, but had some issues on Day 5 that prevented me from getting my workouts in. So I’m starting over. It’s definitely worth a try and I’ll post progress on this. In the meantime, check out Andy’s Podcast (note: he’s brutally honest and uses strong language, but his advice is excellent).
- I came across these powerful, motivating words from Jocko Willink a while back that are especially relevant during these times. The video is a short, good watch and the following words stood out to me: “Things are gonna be tougher than anything you can imagine, but that storm that you’re in, from your perspective, it seems like that storm is enveloping the whole world. But I am telling you it is not. The storm that you’re in, it is hard to see out of that storm, it’s hard to see past it, it seems like the storm is everything. But the storm is not everything. And it won’t last forever. You can get out of the storm, and you will get out of the storm, and when you get out, you’re gonna see the sun again.”
What I’ve written:
- I’ve started working on a few posts for the coming week. Tomorrow I will publish a post on useful tips to protect against COVID-19. Later this week, I’ll provide a review of some of the things I’m doing to stay productive and motivated
- I’m in the process of working on my first novel. I’ve been spending a few hours each week tweaking it. I’m currently working on character development within it as that’s an area that needs work.
What I’ve found:
- I remember wanting to send away for a Monster Mansion based on Monsters Cereal when I was a kid. You’re probably familiar with Count Chocula of Frankenberry and I used to love them as a kid. So of course I wanted to send away for the giant cardboard playset that was advertised on the cereal. I never got it but I found this page that has a copy of the original ad plus some pictures of a recreation that someone made.
- I’m often asked about my favorite tools for productivity. Below is a list:
- WordPress is my blogging platform of choice. It’s easy to set up and configure but it can take some effort to master.
- I use Evernote to track and organize my ideas for books, blog posts, videos, etc… and also use it to organize my to do list.
- I use a Fitbit Surge watch
to track my steps and exercise and use the Fitbit app for tracking food and water intake. I’ve had the watch for a few years so I would recommend something newer such as the Fitbit Versa 2 .
Quote(s) of the week:
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”- Martin Luther King
Joke of the week:
My friend claims that he “accidentally” glued himself to his autobiography, but I don’t believe him.
But that’s his story, and he’s sticking to it.
I’ll be publishing this list each week on my blog, Facebook, LinkedIn and via my email list. Please feel free to share this with anyone who might find this helpful. You can also click one of the buttons below to share to your favorite social media service.
James Feudo owns the Boston Web Design Agency JVF Solutions and loves blogging about personal development and communication in his spare time.
