I know op tempo here on this site has fallen off a bit lately. To all dozen or so of the TNE faithful, thanks for reading, as always.
From here, I'll take another pause to focus on a very intense workweek and then a brief weekend trip to Maine (yes, I said it; yes, it's online; yes, my address is public; and no, I'm not worried but thx for asking).
One thing I've been up to is writing this online identity blog. Besides that, I've been running a business, drilling once a month, and teaching twentysomethings about those oh-so-special properties of 30-60-90 triangles. And the number of ways to arrange three-scoop ice cream cones when you're picking from 20 flavors.
If you want to know what I think about pretty much everything, read David Wong's Cracked article, titled, "The 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person."
If you don't click on the link, you're forgiven. There are lots of links on the Internet, and people are always trying to get you to click on one thing or another.
If you want to skip the entire article, what it's basically telling you to do is to constantly take cues from the world around you.
People who do this will succeed. It doesn't matter where those people start. It doesn't matter what their idea is. Their sensors are constantly operating in "switched on" mode. They have a high Conversational Quotient, as I might say. They don't have "Laugh Ears," as the goofiest guy from Andover might say.
When the world criticizes you, you always have options. You can internalize it and become sullen, you can ratchet up your narcissistic defense mechanisms, and reject it outright, or you can carefully weigh it to consider whether it's worth acting on.
Don't get me wrong -- there is TONS of bad advice and bad feedback out there. Anyone without "skin in the game" is automatically suspect. If you're running a business, always listen to Directors, customers, prospects, and investors -- everyone else gets the Big Filter.
If you need a role model, look to a not-so-goofy guy with Andover ties -- Bill Belichick. That's a guy who gets pissed off a lot. Show me a guy who's pissed off, and I'll show you a guy who cares.
If your doctor tells you to shed a few, you can either think, "What an a-hole, that's none of his business!" or you can think, "Maybe it's time to buy that elliptical." The difference in the reaction says everything I need to know about you.
As the Cracked article says, single guys would be far better off figuring out how to make themselves more appealing/interesting TO girls rather than trying to read up on tricks, stunts, and pick-up lines.
Job seekers would be better off using MOOCs to learn Python, Java, and basic crypto than just complaining that no one is looking for their amazing skill set.
If I've convinced you by now, read the David Wong article. If I haven't convinced you, just remember that:
(1) Everyone wants to be famous...but no one wants to put in the work;
(2) It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll;
and (3) Coffee is for closers.
From here, I'll take another pause to focus on a very intense workweek and then a brief weekend trip to Maine (yes, I said it; yes, it's online; yes, my address is public; and no, I'm not worried but thx for asking).
One thing I've been up to is writing this online identity blog. Besides that, I've been running a business, drilling once a month, and teaching twentysomethings about those oh-so-special properties of 30-60-90 triangles. And the number of ways to arrange three-scoop ice cream cones when you're picking from 20 flavors.
If you want to know what I think about pretty much everything, read David Wong's Cracked article, titled, "The 6 Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Better Person."
If you don't click on the link, you're forgiven. There are lots of links on the Internet, and people are always trying to get you to click on one thing or another.
If you want to skip the entire article, what it's basically telling you to do is to constantly take cues from the world around you.
People who do this will succeed. It doesn't matter where those people start. It doesn't matter what their idea is. Their sensors are constantly operating in "switched on" mode. They have a high Conversational Quotient, as I might say. They don't have "Laugh Ears," as the goofiest guy from Andover might say.
When the world criticizes you, you always have options. You can internalize it and become sullen, you can ratchet up your narcissistic defense mechanisms, and reject it outright, or you can carefully weigh it to consider whether it's worth acting on.
Don't get me wrong -- there is TONS of bad advice and bad feedback out there. Anyone without "skin in the game" is automatically suspect. If you're running a business, always listen to Directors, customers, prospects, and investors -- everyone else gets the Big Filter.
If you need a role model, look to a not-so-goofy guy with Andover ties -- Bill Belichick. That's a guy who gets pissed off a lot. Show me a guy who's pissed off, and I'll show you a guy who cares.
If your doctor tells you to shed a few, you can either think, "What an a-hole, that's none of his business!" or you can think, "Maybe it's time to buy that elliptical." The difference in the reaction says everything I need to know about you.
As the Cracked article says, single guys would be far better off figuring out how to make themselves more appealing/interesting TO girls rather than trying to read up on tricks, stunts, and pick-up lines.
Job seekers would be better off using MOOCs to learn Python, Java, and basic crypto than just complaining that no one is looking for their amazing skill set.
If I've convinced you by now, read the David Wong article. If I haven't convinced you, just remember that:
(1) Everyone wants to be famous...but no one wants to put in the work;
(2) It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll;
and (3) Coffee is for closers.
2 comments:
FIrst line, TEN misspelled.
Man's oldest urge is not for power, sex or money, but the urge to edit another man's copy!
Regards — Cliff
This is great stuff. Thanks for sharing it. (And, Cliff, I think TNE is short for "The New Englander" ;-)
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