Pile On Motivation

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Tag: Self Help

  • Do THIS in your TWENTIES

    Do THIS in your TWENTIES

    Daily writing prompt
    What is something you wish you could tell your 20-year-old self?
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    Are you in your TWENTIES? This is for you

    If you do this in your twenties you are sure to lead a fulfilling life as your career progresses.

    Due to the lack of guidance and proper experience, at this age we run the risk of making mistakes which we realize in our forties.

    The following TODOs from Dan Pink sums up what you should do if you are twenty something:

    1. Build a body of work, not a resume: In the long run, people won’t hire you based on a piece of paper or a list of credentials. They will hire you for exactly what you have actually done and created.
    2. Avoid working with jerks: No matter how smart, talented, or well-connected a difficult person is, they will drain your energy, slow your progress, and poison your joy.
    3. Regret inaction more than action: People in their 20s often have equal regrets about things they did and things they didn’t do. In the long run, you are far more likely to regret the risks you didn’t take.
    4. Shortcuts are scams: Anything worth doing takes time. The “quick route” often sends you backward.
    5. Nobody is watching: You think people are judging your choices, but they aren’t. Everyone is too busy living their own lives and thinking about themselves

    For an insightful post around Inaction regret from Daniel Pink, please refer to the below link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/guarding-against-inaction-regrets/

    Do THIS in your TWENTIES
  • Sing this SAYING as a SONG

    Sing this SAYING as a SONG

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s a song that always puts you in a good mood?
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    Turn this Saying into your SONG

    I have always been a huge fan of Simon Sinek and his work. In this blog post I will enlighten you on a great insight from one of his book and urge you to sing this inspirational saying as your life’s favorite song.

    In his book Together is Better Simon mentions about the benefits of togetherness and why it makes sense to humans right from the caveman times.

    This African proverb which finds a mention in his book is truly inspiring to the core:

    Sing this SAYING as a SONG

    This saying has had a profound effect in my life. The essence is to slow down and enjoy the company of your near and dear ones. Since if we travel too fast in life there would come a time where there would be no one by our side.

    For another similar insightful post from this same book, please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/the-positive-effects-of-seeking-help/

  • Conquer the FEAR of FUTURE

    Conquer the FEAR of FUTURE

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s a fear you’ve overcome — and how did you do it?
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    Over the years I have consciously started practicing the art of focusing on the present moment which has helped me conquer the fear of future.

    Without our knowledge many of us start worrying about an unknown future rather than enjoy the benefits of the present moment.

    This is the essence of focusing on the present moment by breaking the worry habit.

    The moment we realize that the present moment is a gift from god and we should only focus on the present it makes our lives all the more fulfilling.

    This beautiful insight illustrates the same:

    Conquer the FEAR of FUTURE

    For similar insights that highlight the benefits of focusing on the NOW, please read this link from The Power of Now.

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/unleash-the-power-of-now/

    If you too fear about an unknown future, start focusing on the present and see the difference it brings to your life..

  • Necessity may NOT be the MOTHER of INVENTION

    Necessity may NOT be the MOTHER of INVENTION

    Daily writing prompt
    Share a proverb you think is completely wrong and make your case.
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    Does Necessity always Lead to an Invention?

    Necessity may NOT always be the MOTHER of INVENTION as explained with certain examples in this blog post.

    Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motors, very famously said – “If I had asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me – A faster horse!”.

    It was his vision that led to the invention of the moving assembly line for mass automobile production. His innovations did not invent the automobile itself, but transformed it from a luxury to an affordable mode of communication for the masses.

    Before Apple invented the iPhone, iPod, Camera and phone existed. What Steve Jobs and his team did was bring all of these in one device. Thus the invention of iPhone has made smartphone a necessity for one and all.

    Reinventions are very common with model upgrades of smartphones every passing year.

    Hence this is one proverb I would like to challenge especially in the modern hypermediated world where technology is evolving at break neck pace. The following rationale from Malcom Gladwell’s book thus may not always hold good for inventions.

    How did Invention of Fire ignite human evolution? Read this post to know more:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/how-did-invention-of-fire-trigger-human-evolution/

    What do you think? DO let me know in comments.

  • Best definition of TRUE FRIEND

    Best definition of TRUE FRIEND

    Who is a TRUE FRIEND?

    Each time I search for the best definition of a true friend, I am reminded of a wonderful insight shared by Adam Grant in his best selling book Originals.

    A true friend is indeed one who has our back and stays with us through our thick and think.

    Such a person encourages us and sees more potential in us than we see ourselves, inspires us to stretch ourselves to reach our full potential.

    Most important we become better version of ourselves in their company.

    Highlighted below is the definition inspired from Adam Grant’s Originals.

    Our lives would never be fulfilling without having true friends as mentioned by Simon Sinek. Listen to this video.

    https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXCOWMoiXVs

  • Practice Digital Minimalism

    Practice Digital Minimalism

    Daily writing prompt
    Do you believe in minimalism?
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    Why Digital Mininalism?

    In the hypermediated world dominated by social media and digital gadgets I strongly feel that we are surrendering our autonomy to the digital media. Its high time that we start the practice of digital minimalism for a fulfilling life.

    Being addicted to digital gadgets has slowly taken control of our lives without our notice. As mentioned by Cal Newport in Digital Minimalism its high time we realized this.

    Hence the biggest form of minimalism to practice is one of digital minimalism.

    The below insight from the same book beautifully illustrates this point:

    Practice Digital Minimalism

    For another interesting insight from the same book, please visit this link:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/the-amish-community-and-digital-minimalism/

  • Easiest Stress Buster

    Easiest Stress Buster

    Daily writing prompt
    Go on a walk today and share a photo of something that catches your eye.
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    Can walking relieve Stress?

    Whenever we get stressed up the easiest stress buster to drive away negative emotions and stay focused is to go for a walk. When I go for a walk, the photo that I can take back home is how walking would have relieved from stress and hence cortisol levels.

    Neuroscience proves that walking can activate the motor cortex in our brain and help fight stress. Research states that when we are under stress or anxiety there are regions of brain e.g. prefrontal cortex associated with high arousal and hence electrical activity.

    In such a case walking helps activate the motor cortex of our brain which relieves stress.

    For another brilliant insight on the same from the book Your Brain at Work, please read the following insight.

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/how-can-walking-reduce-stress/

    Easiest Stress Buster

    Source -> timesofindia -> https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/always-stressed-high-cortisol-is-quietly-killing-brain-cells-and-can-even-impair-memory-says-research/articleshow/123652966.cms

  • Read this to realize your PURPOSE

    Read this to realize your PURPOSE

    Daily writing prompt
    What’s the first book you ever finished and still remember to this day?
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    This book will help kick start your professional journey

    Ever since I started my professional journey, the book Start with Why has always remained fresh in my memory. Read this book if you want to realize the PURPOSE of your life.

    To lead your life on purpose, you will need to understand the WHY of your life. This is exactly what Simon explores in this best selling book.

    The simplistic nature of WHY discovery leading to the definition of WHY in our lives is not only illuminating but inspiring to the core.

    When you start as a professional if you are armed with your WHY it will always act as a NORTH star.

    Read this blog post to know the structure of a WHY statement:

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/the-gift-of-why/

    Finally an insight from Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search for Meaning on the importance of definition of WHY in our lives.

    Read this to realize your PURPOSE

    Have you realized your WHY yet?

  • Day out with my Idols

    Day out with my Idols

    Daily writing prompt
    If you had an unlimited budget for 24 hours, what would you do?
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    A Day Filled with Inspiration

    If I had unlimited budget for 24 hours I would have travelled to different parts of the world as part of a day out with my idols.

    These are some of the great people whom I idolize and would love to have discussions around remarkable work done by each of them in respective areas:

    1. Simon Sinek -> For work done around helping me FIND a WHY in my life and for helping me realize that life is indeed an INFINITE GAME. His work around OPTIMISM and FULFILLMENT is inspiring to the core.
    2. Cal Newport -> For making me realize the virtues of DEEP WORK and the need of a CRAFTSMAN MINDSET over a PASSION MINDSET to get your rightful place.
    3. Carmine Gallo -> For enlightening me on PRESENTATION SECRETS of STEVE JOBS, coaching people around the world to TALK like TED and finally making me realize the importance of PRACTICE for any PRESENTATION
    4. Daniel Pink -> For make me realize the POWER of REGRET as an EMOTION to course correct in our lives and via WHEN enlightening me on the importance of timing and guarding the golden hour in our daily lives.
    5. Finally Angela Duckworth and Susan Cain for enlightening me on the merits of exhibiting GRIT in our lives and that the POWER of INTROVERTS is undeniable.

    I would like to take a moment to share an insightful post around introverts from Susan Cain’s book The Power of Introverts that has changed the world’s perspective around introverts.

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/north-star-of-introversion/

    Day out with my Idols

    Do you idolize anyone? Do let me know in comments..

  • Aim for CONFIDENT HUMILITY

    Aim for CONFIDENT HUMILITY

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you handle fear and self-doubt?
    View all responses

    Are you Confidently Humble?

    Aim for confident humility to stay away from fear and self doubt and remain positive at all possible circumstances.

    As mentioned by Adam Grant in his book Think Again, this happens when we operate at optimal levels of confidence and comptence.

    This is the zone in which fear or self doubt is not able to overpower us. The calmness of operating in this zone helps us tide through these trying situations.

    Aim for CONFIDENT HUMILITY

    Read this post to find out how rethinking is key to development of confident humility.

    https://viewpointsunplugged.com/rethinking-is-key-to-confident-humility/

    Would love to hear your comments on what you think is the right approach to fight fear and self doubt.

    Looking forward to your comments and insights..