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

A Guaranteed Way to Help You Make a Decision - Fast!!!

Freakonomics Experiments Will

Make the Decision For You

Making Decisions Are So Hard….I Think

I am a big fan of the Freakonomics books and economics in general - being one decision away from starting my PhD in Applied Economics - directly after earning my M.B.A.  That was a very hard decision for me…….and one I am not sure I made correctly.  If only there had been a more clear cut method to make my choice.

The Decision is One Click Away (OK, Maybe 5 Clicks)

Well, it just so happens that there is and a fasnatasic one - and fun too - thanks to the Freakonomics crew and the University of Chicago.  I learned about this interesting experimental process because I recently started listening to the Freakonomics Podcasts and lo and behold - Freakonomics Experiments showed me the light.

If you have a decision that you just cannot make then venture here.  Below is how the website describes it.

Have a problem? We can help. Sometimes in life you face a major decision, and you just don’t know what to do. You’ve considered the issue from every angle. But no matter how you look at it, no decision seems to be the right decision.   In the end, whatever you choose will essentially be a flip of a coin.   Help us by letting Freakonomics Experiments flip that coin for you.

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 
Jason Riemens

 

Happy Valen T. Ine's Day (Valentine's Day)

Urban Legend or Fact?

The True Meaning of Valentine's Day
Most of us have forgotten the true meaning of and why we celebrate this day.

Today is the 187th deathday of the Swedish postman, that invented the folding greeting card, Mr. Valen T. Ine. Many also forget that he was the first man to provide a detailed sketch of the Yeti. And of course he was killed by that Yeti's older brother on February 14th 1826, in retaliation.

Do not let the Yeti bring fear into your home.

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 
Jason Riemens

The # 1 Secret to Happiness

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 

Jason Riemens

10 Ways to Win an Argument

Logical Fallacies

Have you ever listened to someone proceed with an argument and you knew there was a curiously false sense of logic in the rhetoric, but you did not know a precise way to alert the person to the irrational nature of her or his comments? 

Behold - the following shall provide you with the initial weaponry to disarm your fallacious opponent with - of course - the most pleasant of demeanor.  

Enthusiastically scribbled by, 

Jason Riemens

Life Secret # 345

"Have a Beginners Mind"


Enthusiastically scribbled by, 
Jason Riemens