Some Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Earlier in Life

by Paul Singh

As I get older, I realize I’ve learned some lessons that I wish I had picked up sooner in life. Most of these lessons were learned through experience, many through the various mentors (Thanks, guys!) I’ve had along the way and a few from various books I’ve read here and there.

When most people today hear the word “lesson,” they usually don’t think of it as a good thing. Teaching a lesson may be looked at as being bossy or perhaps a know-it-all. While having learned a lesson may be viewed as a sign of weakness.

However, learning lessons is far from being weak. In fact, George Washington once said, “We ought not to look back unless it is derive useful lessons from past errors and for the purpose of profiting by dear bought experience.” Well said, sir.

Without further ado, here’s the list:

1. The 80/20 rule.
2. Parkinson’s Law.
3. Batching.
4. First, give value. Then, get value. Not the other way around.
5. Be proactive. Not reactive.
6. Mistakes and failures are good.
7. Don’t beat yourself up.
8. Your attitude changes your reality.
9. Don’t compare yourself to others.
10. 80-90% of what you fear will never really come into reality.
11. Don’t take things too seriously.
12. Write everything down.
13. There are opportunities in just about every experience.

In order to save you some time, starting next week and continuing each week, I’m going to highlight one of the lessons that you can focus on throughout the week.

Until then, why not send me a note and tell me about the lessons you’ve learned along the way. I’ll add the good ones to this list.

Do You Realize What your Words Can Do?

We have all been judged at one point. But if you have ever judged others, particularly if you feel your judgments — no matter how small — were inconsequential or meaningless, you have to watch this video.

My wife shared this video with me yesterday, and I had a hard time trying to stop myself from tearing up. Watch it. Notice how even the toughest and biggest bullies react. It’s quite amazing.

Just press play to watch the video. To all of the people that have felt the brunt of my keen wit, and been on the receiving end of some of my harsh words. I truly apologize. God Bless.

What a Great Wife - Surprised me with Big 35th Birthday Party

My wife deserves a medal. For one…having to spend her life with me, what an effin challenge for this lady, right?

Well, she organized a surprise 35th birthday party for me on Saturday, May 17th. And it was totally unknown to me, a total shock. Plus, as an added surprise 22 friends and family showed up to wish me well.

I had NO idea, one of my friends picked me and my kid up, as he asked me to help him do some errands with him, so we end up on a huge ass goose chase, that takes us to Maryville, Missouri, 100 miles away and back again over to my home in the suburbs of Kansas City. Over 200 miles in his 2007 Ford F-150 to drop off this tempurpedic mattress and this cat “pagoda” wtf that is. We also pick up his fiance and her brother.

Anyways, the party was supposed to begin at 5:30… we don’t get back until 7pm. Actually a couple of my guests had to leave to go pick up their kids from the babysitter. Some of them got to the house around 4ish, so they were waiting upwards of 3 hours.

Anyway, my mom and dad were there, my in laws, bro, bro and sis inlaw, 3 friends from 4th grade, one from kindergarten, and like 8 from college on. What a trip.

Some other great news, today we went garage saleing today, and we ended up picking up this solid oak kick dining room table w 4 chairs that is super sturdy and kick ass… Originally, $1200+ got it for $175. Pure Garage Sale Ownageness.

I had no hint or idea this was transpiring. What a great wife I have… and just the other day, i was jokingly bitching because her birthday is April 27th, then Mothers Day, and tomorrow is our anniversary… this is like the Ms Wright - 3 week arsenal holiday bonanza.

She busts out a surprise bday party. Complete with a Jayhawk Birthday cake! My first cartoonish birthday cake since like age 11 or there abouts. Plus, my 6 year old son came with, and didn’t tip me off about the party either.

Life’s great joys are kids, friends and family. I’m so grateful to be loved. And now, if I died, I know that at least 22 people would come to it. And that is comforting to know. Hah.

Thanks everyone. I felt the love.

Successfully,

Travis Wright

The Art of Persuasion

By Ross Bonander

The art of persuasion represents the history of shrewd but diplomatic manipulation — getting people over the fence and onto your side without the use of force. Its ultimate goal is basic, but difficult: To convince your audience to internalize your argument, then embrace it as a part of their core belief system.

In his book, Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion, author Robert Cialdini defines six weapons of influence: reciprocation, commitment/consistency, authority, social validation, scarcity, and liking/friendship. Below, we’ll look at a number of persuasive techniques and how some of Cialdini’s “weapons” can be applied, along with some hints from Aristotle and one rather innovative technique offered up by two guys with distinctly Hollywood backgrounds.

Manufacture a need
Attempting to persuade others to believe you when you lack an identifiable urgency is pointless. If the thing you want — support, money, approval — isn’t obvious, you’ll need to make it obvious by manufacturing a profound need and lacing it with urgency. Cialdini’s weapon of scarcity comes into play. He writes, “People find objects and opportunities more attractive to the degree that they are scarce, rare or dwindling in availability.”

Advertisers rely on first creating a need for you (Nothing else can dehydrate your food like a Ronco Food Dehydrator), then on creating the notion of scarcity (and you have five minutes to buy one at this amazing price). In the professional world, you have two such agents on your persuasive side: time, and the indeterminate actions of your competitor. In order to get your audience on your side, you have to convince them of a need they may not be aware they had. For example, you need to get a program off the ground immediately because now is the only time it can be implemented with the best possible results.

Use loaded words
Politicians and advertisers use loaded words every day. Consider the commonly used phrases “war on terror,” “defending democracy” or “all natural.” What precisely do they mean? Not even an effectively drawn-out response could deliver the connection and the true meaning of these terms. In the desire to persuade, meaning itself is often secondary when loaded words are used.
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