Why You Shouldn't be a Jack-of-All-Trades

BE A MASTER AT ONE THING, THEN BECOME MASTERFUL AT EVERYTHING ELSE

Don't Try to Be Well-Rounded Before Any Skills Have Been Obtained
Many people try to become "well-rounded," which is an admirable desire, but they often pursue this lofty goal while they still have 4 metaphorical square corners as their skill set.  In other words, they have not become exceptional - a master - at anything yet.

Observation Knows Best
From observation - and nothing else - it has become clear to me that persons who attempt to really master one skill attain two huge advantages over those simultaneously trying to master numerous skill sets:

1. They are in a select group of people who are masters at their thing and thus are in much higher demand.  Thereby, success is more likely be obtained.
2. They have learned what behaviors, processes, and effort is needed to become a master, and thus becoming masterful at many things will take far less effort.  To me, this is the magical blueprint.

Cautionary Note
I must make a note for those who read this and think I am suggesting not to attempt to learn multiple things at once - akin to multiple classes in formal schooling.  I applaud those who desire to be a polymath, but what I am encouraging is not trying to master all things at once before you have learned proper behaviors and processes that have truly taught your mind to think.  

Therefore, be a master at one thing, then become masterful at everything else. 

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 
Jason Riemens

Why is Doubt a Remarkable Indicator You Have a Great Idea?

TURN THAT AGREEMENT INTO DOUBT
***The Never Give Up Series***

The Unknown May be Your Key
I used to love it when somebody thought my ideas were great or that my plan of action had all the right steps.  But then after many bland projects and ideas that never took flight, I realized that - in general - people don't readily accept the new or unknown.

Resemblance is Not the Key
The idea that resembled something that was already successful got the praise.  When something that is not understood because it is includes the unknown and high uncertainty - the first reaction by many is doubt.  Doubt that it will not succeed - not because it is not a brilliant idea - but because there is no comparison.

Listen to Your Inner Monolgue
You are the only one that has thought through your vision for days, months, or years and have had an inner monologue about the greatness of your idea far longer than you could ever have an external dialogue about.  Embrace the doubt.  Don't let fear stop you.  And, in fact, tell yourself that "if not enough people doubt you then you're not making a difference." 

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 
Jason Riemens

The Truth About Anxiety

ANXIETY IS ACCEPTING FAILURE BEFORE TRYING

Accepting Failure is the Problem
Is there a reasonable reason to worry?  Worry causes anxiety and may even be the best synonym for such a useless mental activity. Among the many negative aspects of worrying - having anxiety - is that at the root of the issue, anxiety is really accepting failure before ever trying.

Is failure bad or is failing the end of the world? It is neither and is in fact the stepping stone to success.  But, the problem with anxiety is that you have accepted failure without determining if you could succeed.  Additionally, you have mentally welcomed defeat prior to obtaining the greatest amount of learning from the failure.

Success With an Asterisk
You may still succeed under the weight of an anxiety burdened mind- but with an asterisk - because of the negative emotions and reduced performance that accompanies anxiety.

So........the moral of this story is that worrying accomplishes nothing positive and in reality it has far reaching negative consequences.   Don't accept failure until you have made an effort and if you then fail, welcome it and learn from it.

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 

Jason Riemens

Last Impressions are Lasting Impressions

You Never Have a Second Chance...Not to Have Fallen Down Those Stairs

Is There a Last Impression?
In a previous post I posed the ubiquitous, if not paradoxical, question of whether there is indeed a second chance to make a first impression.  The post was about ensuring that when you are leaving a room, a conversation, your workplace, or some other interaction - as well as at the end of the email - you have something good to say.  In fact, I went so far as to assert that you never have a second chance to make a last impression. 

Make it Last
This post takes it a step further to state that - last impressions are lasting impressions - meaning be weary of not only what you say, but also how you perform your exit.  Is it covered in ketchup?  Dragging toilet paper behind you? Stumbling down stairs? Pouting like a small child that did not get a new flat screen TV?  Red faced and irritable?  Or did you just sneak out like a ninja after a successful assassination?

And to continue a major the me of this BLOG.  It's your choice how you are remembered.

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 

Jason Riemens

Is It a Crazy Idea or a Breakthrough?

The Difference Between a Breakthrough

and a Crazy Idea is Timing

***The Never Give Up Series***

And in This Corner: The Never Give Up Series
Today I introduce the "Never Give Up Series" of motivation quotations, idioms, analogies, metaphors, and stories.  The series is specifically dedicated towards positivity, drive, and motivation where the difference between hopelessness and grand success is one day, one act of bravery, or one encouraging word. 

______________________________________________

Yesterday You Were Crazy
When I read a review of a book or an article and the person is raving about it....especially when the words are generic or vacuous, like great or interesting, without an insightful explanation - I put it in my outbox (aka trash can). 

This is because what is understood or accepted is rarely innovative, new, exiting, or world changing.  It's the crazy - or to be more politically correct - unknown idea, that makes a difference.  Everything else - to borrow the phrasing - is an incremental improvement.

Today It's a Breakthrough
So...when I have an idea and somebody looks at me like they just hand signaled the closest person to get the straight jacket, then I know I may be on to something.  If I am told "that is a great idea" or "I have heard someone suggest that before," then it goes on top of the pile of the ubiquitous raving reviews (unless of course they are raving lunatic reviews).



Enthusiastically scribbled by, 

Jason Riemens

Why You Should Not Be The Smartest-est

Do You Like Being The Smartest

Person in the Room?

OK, here is my likely bad recollection of when I realized I should stop trying to be the smartest person in the room.  It was while reading a book I cannot recall at the moment and apologize for not giving credit to the author. 

We Just Discovered The Meaning of Life
Two guys were in a bar - yes this sounds like the beginning of a bad joke - and were joyously celebrating something over a couple of frosty beers.  A drunken patron stumbles over to their table and asks what all the hubbub is about.  One of the men reply that, "We just discovered the meaning of life!"  The bar patron sloppily asks how'd they manage that.  The other gentleman wryly retorts, "By not being the smartest people trying to find it."

Be Willing to Ask Others
So, what this all came down to is they - James D. Watson and Francis Crick - had proposed what is now accepted as the first correct double-helix model of DNA structure, for which they received the Nobel Prize.

The meaning of life!

Whilst whom should actually receive credit for the discovery is disputed by some, the person who was "destined" to make the discovery was Rosalind Franklin.  However, she was not known for taking the counsel of others - basically because she felt she did not need it as she was metaphorically the smartest person in the room. If she would have been more receptive to Watson and Crick's openly offered insight, then she likely would be alone in the history books and a household name. 

Dare You Not Listen to My Counsel?
Therefore, I advise you to never be the smartest person in the room because you are likely to stop listening to others and consequently they stop offering their insight.  Thereby, you never reach your potential.       

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 

Jason Riemens

Foolproof Method to Determine Importance

What's Important to Someone Else Should be as Important to You, As That Person is to You

How Do You Measure Importance?
Are you in a relationship?  If yes - then way to go!  If not, do you have friends and family?  Coworkers?  Do they ever ask you to do things that you don't want to?  Do they like things that you don't?  If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you're in great company.  About 6.79 billion people also will answer yes (or approximately thereabouts). 

And I will tell you a secret.  Although 6.79 billion people answered yes, they also say that it bothers them - because they feel what's important to them should be important to you.  Well, at least the really important stuff.  But, how do you measure importance?

The Secret Sauce of Importance
Well, if you have any desire to maintain these relationships - or better yet - to improve them, then you need to take on a new attitude, or perhaps a new philosophical mental attitude is a better way to put it.

You need to tell yourself and then live by the philosophy that: "What's important to someone else should be as important you, as that person is to you."  If you do, I promise that you will be liked more, have more influence, and in turn - increase your happiness (as well as that of many many others).

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 

Jason Riemens