If you’re looking for a little jazzy inspiration to help you think about how 2011 might be a different year for you, then watch this video from Box of Crayons.
Michael Bungay Stanier always has great words of wisdom – and great videos. Plus, he was one of our featured authors in 2010 (Do More Great Work).
Take a look and tell me what you think in the comments below!
Are you a list maker? If so, you already know how helpful – as well as how distracting – they can be. If you aren’t a list maker, chances are you think they are a waste of time at best, and the sign of an empty life at worst.
I admit it – I’m a list maker. I’ve even been known to add something to my list that I just completed, just for the pleasure I get from marking it off. That’s a perfect example of how lists can become distracting.
Of course, that’s not the kind of list Atul Gawande is talking about in The Checklist Manifesto – How To Get Things Right. A “checklist” is not the same thing as a “to do” list. A checklist is used for routine or repetitive tasks, where getting it right makes a difference.
![checklistmanifesto1 The Checklist Manifesto how to get things right [book review]](http://personalgrowthprincess.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/checklistmanifesto1.jpg "checklistmanifesto")
The Checklist Manifesto is a scientific examination of how checklists can help. Gawande is a surgeon, so he was looking specifically at how using checklists for medical procedures or processes could make a difference in terms of accuracy and care. He shares some rather remarkable statistics – such as how implementing a checklist for one routine procedure in one hospital reduced infection rates from 11% to 0%, saving 8 lives and $2 million in costs.
OK, so it makes sense to use checklists in order to get things right when you’re talking about people’s lives, right? You can see how it would be helpful to use them in medicine, fire prevention, airline pre-flight checks, etc.
But what about for regular people living regular lives? Can using checklists actually make enough of a difference to matter? Are there really noticeable benefits to using checklists? Read More→
You already know about earning compound interest on your money, right? The earlier you start putting money away, and the more consistently you do it, the more you will have when you retire. Exponentially more.
Have you considered that the same may be true for your approach to personal growth and the payoffs it can have for you?
I came across this concept reading an old post about earning compound interest on your knowledge, by Colin Wright. Here’s what he said:
Consider this: making connections between a new concepts and tidbits of knowledge that you already posses increases recall (that is, you are more likely to store it in your long-term memory if you have some context to put it in). The chances that you will know something that relates to a new concept are increased with every new bit of knowledge you already posses. It would seem, then, that it is in your best interest to learn as much as possible about as many topics as possible in order to achieve an optimal learning situation.
– Colin Wright
Extrapolating from that, it makes sense that the more you connect what you learn about yourself with new personal growth information, the more likely you are to retain it. As you do more and more of this, consistently and over time, the greater the awareness and personal insights grow, and theoretically at least, the more likely you are to apply what you know. This, in turn, produces more self-learning, followed by deeper insights, etc. As this compounds, and you know yourself better and better, the more you will come to appreciate yourself, acknowledging the gifts and talents you have, as well as the inherent greatness within you.
What suggestions does Colin make for compounding your knowledge?
He gives three:
Since one of the characteristics of personal growth princesses is that we are a bit on the book-junkie end of the spectrum, this fits right in with our natural tendencies.
In other words, it ought to be easy for us to do this.
But it’s not always easy, right? Life is busy. We have a lot on our plates. We might still buy the books, with all the best intentions of reading them, or at least skimming them, but if we’re honest, we’ve spent thousands of dollars over our lifetime on un-read and un-helpful self-help books.
That’s actually why I have such a passion for providing the self-help book summaries via PersonalGrowthPrincess.com. I just had not thought of it in terms of “compounding knowledge” before.
What do you think about that idea? How do you compound your personal growth knowledge and experiences? Or do you?
Leave a comment below and let us know!
If you are exposing your mind to things that are noble, beautiful, full of integrity, generous and innovative, your mind will take on the shape of those characteristics – your CHARACTER will take on those characteristics.
But what if you consistently exposure your mind to worry, anger, frustration, feelings of unworthiness….
You guessed it – your mind takes on that shape instead.
The key, obviously, is to consciously think about what you exposure your mind to.
EVERY DAY.
EVERY WEEK.
EVERY MONTH.
EVERY YEAR.
This video gives a quick explanation of how this works…plus shares a cool idea called the 100-day challenge.
As of today there are 99 days left in the year. What will you exposure your mind to over the next 99 days?
Watch the video, then click directly on the video to join me in the 100 day challenge! [superemotions file="icon_exclaim.gif" title="Exclaimaition Mark"]
If you like moving quickly toward your goals, and expanding great, positive feelings at the same time, a program like The 100 Day Challenge with Gary Ryan Blair may be your speed.
This video is a quick intro to the program to help you decide if it’s for you. It doesn’t require Herculean effort, but it’s also not for the faint of heart…so watch the video and make the right decision for you.
100 days may seem like a long time…but it’s actually all we’ve got left in 2010.
What is your plan for making the most of the final days of 2010?
We’re a whole decade into the new millennium. Does your life reflect the wonder of that?
Or are things a wee bit slumpish?
For me…if I’m honest…there’s been a little slumping going on. I’m psyched about really focusing and enjoying the last 100 days of 2010. I hope you’ll join me in the 100 Day Challenge.
Watch the video, then click right on the video to go to the signup page. See you there!! Woo-Hoo!!
How many times have you been disappointed about something and had a hard time “letting it go”?
You might have been disappointed about the way something turned out…or disappointed in something about yourself…or disappointed that all your efforts didn’t pay off the way you were expecting.
One of the places disappointment shows up is when we haven’t achieved the success we wanted, or we aren’t “being” the person we want to be. That no matter how hard we try at something, we just can’t make it happen.
In the world of personal growth it often shows up as trying to be something you are not. This leads to all sort of issues – low self-esteem, frustration, lack of faith, depression, feeling like an imposter and fearing what will happen if people find out the ‘truth” about you.
Remember, though, that one of our mottoes at Personal Growth Princess is:
To be someone you are not is to waste the person you are.
Honoring who you really are – your talents, your skills, the things that make you happy, the areas you aren’t so strong in…all of it – is part of the process of turning disappointment into Joy.
And that, of course, is one of the keys to resilience and overcoming adversity.
I found this video that tells a perfect story of turning disappointment into joy – into truly overwhelming joy.
As you know, I’m an animal lover and donate a portion of all proceeds to animal rescue organizations, so it should be no surprise when you see the role a dog plays in this video.
What may surprise you is how moved you are by what you see.
As you watch…ask yourself, “Where am I trying to make myself something I’m not? What am I truly great at? What really brings me joy?”
I have no doubt you’ll find a remarkable and beautiful point of intersection between the skills you’ve gained by trying to be something, and the thing that really brings you JOY.
It’s only 5 minutes long. Trust me, you WILL want to watch all the way through.
Enjoy – and share your thoughts below in the comments section.
What would happen if you let go of who you think you “ought” to be, and instead reveled in knowing you are perfect just the way you are?
I just received the most delightful gift from Alicia Smith – a long-time colleague and lovely supporter of PersonalGrowthPrincess.com.
It is a ring shaped like a crown. I made a short video of it so you could actually see it in action, as it were.
In the video I also mentioned the place you can get it if you want one…or if you want to send it to another princess in your life. The site is Personal Growth Cards – it’s an innovative card and gift service. You really have to see it to believe it!
You can select a card that will then be printed, written in your own handwriting (if you want), have a real stamp applied, and then mailed through the regular postal service. It’s pretty amazing. And for less than you can buy a card anywhere else. Gifts, of course, cost more, but it makes it so so easy to send a special, delightful gift to that special someone.
Anyway, take a look at the video. You’ll see how delighted I am!
What do you think? Who would you like to delight today???
Last month’s self-help book summary was on The Trophy Effect: Destroying Self-Doubt, Discovering Your True Self, & Taking Control of Your Life Forever by Michael Nitti.
(If you haven’t had a chance to read the book summary, it will be available for 2 more weeks in the members only area.)
Michael Nitti is making it easy for you to get the Trophy Effect experience first-hand. You may remember me talking about the individual Trophy Effect coaching session I had with Michael. It was powerful in that it provided such a simple reframe – that resulted in an overwhelming shift. I continue to use the lessons from the Trophy Effect – sometimes laughing at myself for the silly traps I get myself into.
Michael is offering a teleclass on The Trophy Effect – this time for free. He says this will likely be the last time it is free. My guess is that after hitting the best-seller list, and handling the swell of coaching clients at the Anthony Robbins Companies that have flowed in since the launch of the new television series, he isn’t going to have a lot of time in the future for doing a lot of “freebies”.
During this transformational teleseminar, Michael will be leading you on an extremely revealing (and entertaining) tour of your own mind, where you will not only observe first-hand the source of that “little voice” that seems to thwart your every intention, but will actually learn how to over-ride it every time! In less than an hour, you will discover how to break free of all your fears and to move toward your future with clarity and purpose. After the seminar, you will be provided with access to an amazing series of Exercises (also free), which will empower (and condition) you to live “intentionally” rather than “in reaction” to your circumstances; resulting in a greater sense of freedom, connectedness, and joy!
I highly recommend registering for the teleclass which will be held on Thursday, August 26th, 6pm Pacific time (7pm Mountain, 8pm Central, 9pm Eastern).
p.s. You can participate in this class whether you are a member of Personal Growth Princess or not, though I highly recommend reading the book summary prior to taking the class. You can become a member of Personal Growth Princess by going here.
(Remember, for a limited time, new members will receive a copy of The Think Big Manifesto by Michael Port as a special Founding Princess gift!)
Seriously. Has anyone ever suggested to you that a cookbook could actually be a self-help book, too?
I had not heard it…until I met Deborah Nelson, author of From Rainy Days to Sexy Nights Cookbook: Simple and Inspirational Recipes to Fit Your Mood.![DeborahNelson 199x300 Can a cookbook be a self help book? [interview]](http://personalgrowthprincess.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/DeborahNelson-199x300.jpg "DeborahNelson")
Deborah is the spunky – fiery? – owner of SaucyWellness.com – with the tagline “healthy living one juicy bite at a time”. Her cookbook is really about living a juicy life – savoring all aspects of your life – with a healthy eating twist.
Food affects everything – from self-esteem to happiness to your level of confidence.
Food creates the environment in your body – an environment of stress or an environment of peace. There are many other factors affecting stress, of course, but food is one that many of us turn to. Deborah’s goal is to help people turn to it in a way that serves their goals and soothes their souls, rather than a short term relief that creates longer-term challenges.
The recipes are divided into 4 categories: Rainy Days, Summer Sensations, Heal Me, and Sexy Nights. In the interview below she explains what these categories mean and how to use the food we select to alter our mood. She says that “food creates who you are – you choose your mood in the moment by choosing your food.”
Below is an interview I conducted with Deborah a couple of weeks ago. She has also generously agreed to provide a set of 5 recipes to members of PersonalGrowthPrincess, as well as a free complimentary consultation session. If you want some support on how your eating habits affect your mood, energy levels, weight and also your libido, I encourage you to take her up on it right away! Info is available on the Members page. (Please note, this is an additional fabulous bonus – on top of your regular monthly bonus tools.)
Listen to the interview and get another free recipe
The Trophy Effect
Motivational Press, Inc. (2010)
216 pages (paperback)
NOTE: The book is being featured in a Best-Seller campaign on Wednesday, June 16th. When you purchase the book from Amazon.com during this campaign you will receive thousands of dollars worth of free gifts from some of Michael’s closest associates.
To participate, purchase the book at Amazon, then go to The Trophy Effect, enter your purchase code and you’ll be given access to all the bonuses.
Until you know what the trophy effect is, you might think the title is referring to how people are striving for more and more achievements, at the expense of fulfillment. At least that’s what I thought it would be about before I read it.The Trophy Effect, by Michael Nitti, actually gets the the heart of the reason people focus on their shortcomings rather than on their strengths and accomplishments.
The trophy effect is subconscious and innate, meaning that it originates in the mind, and you generally aren’t even aware of it. That’s what makes it so hazardous. It is a way of thinking and reacting that leads us to give up on things, magnifying feelings of doubt rather than hope.
The real clincher is that we usually don’t realize it is going on, which means we don’t realize it’s something we have control over. That’s because it is tied to our survival instinct, and it takes some serious effort – or at least consistent action – to override an instinct that is designed to help us survive the dangers in the world, whether they be real dangers – such as a speeding car jumping the curb coming right at us – or more imagined dangers – the fear of embarrassment, of not being good enough.
The Trophy Effect walks you through a process that helps you understand that your mind is not your self, and how the effect has been playing out in your life.
Not only did I read the book, I also had the privilege of a one-on-one “trophy effect” session with Michael Nitti.
I’ve obviously been around the personal growth block a time or two, so it’s hard to impress me. Most books are a new perspective on something else we’ve tried before (that’s why the book selections at Personal Growth Princess are so powerful – they are new and unique). And, of course, when I saw the title of the book, I thought I knew what I was going to learn.
I was wrong.
In his book, Michael Nitti leads you through, in clear, colorful detail, what kind of trophies you are really collecting, and why they simply serve to increase your self-doubt. What you learn seems counter-intuitive at first, but he aptly helps you see the logic behind it, and then you get to see and feel firsthand what the effect has been.
Of course, for the book to be fully effective, you need to be honest with yourself and be willing to try on a new perspective. And you will want to do the exercises. It’s like getting a blueprint for destroying self-doubt, but you actually have to use the blueprint as you build – otherwise you’re back to the same catty-whompas state of letting your mind rule your life.
I have to admiit, the work I did from the book and with Michael was so intriguingely powerful that I selected The Trophy Effect as the July feature book for members of Personal Growth Princess.
(Not a member? Read more about the benefits of membership.) Not only did I feel different immediately, the difference has stayed with me and continued to expand over the last several weeks. It’s not without effort, but the reasoning behind the trophy effect is so sound that your mind will be convinced.
I strongly recommend reading this book – or joining Personal Growth Princess to receive the summary and a special in-depth interview with the author on July 1.
Remember, The Trophy Effect is being featured in a Best-Seller campaign on Wednesday, June 16th. When you purchase the book from Amazon.com during this campaign you will receive thousands of dollars worth of free gifts from some of Michael’s closest associates.
To participate, purchase the book at Amazon, then go to The Trophy Effect, enter your purchase code and you’ll be given access to all the bonuses.
