Chris French blog

How I Get Stuff Done

chris — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:07:27 +0000

My sister was asked the other day, “how does your brother find the time to get all that stuff done?” So here’s my best answer and I can combine it as a blog post and tick one more to-do off my list.

By “all that stuff” she’s referring to raising kids and family matters, maintaining a blog plus multiple other websites, producing high out-put on several joint venture projects, putting in a bunch of time on a big DoD project, and still have time to do Wing Chun training, hit my fitness goals, and consume large amounts of data through books and online research. And for the record, I am not a workaholic.

The key points are Passion, Priority, Starting, and Managing the Gaps.

Passion
Be choosy in what you decide to spend your time on. I pick projects that resonate with me on some level and it’s natural for me to look at ways of monetizing my interests. Trust me, I have not always been successful financially in that approach but there are few personal projects I look back on and really regret. By building projects around things that I am truly interested in or curious about means that I’m being productive while being entertained and educated.

I like writing, rock climbing, motorcycle riding, gardening, martial arts, primal fitness and health, and helping others build lives around their passions. So you’ll find a lot of my projects are based off of those subjects and my joint ventures are always with other passionate people.

Side Note: Turn off the TV. I mean turn it all the way off, like get rid of cable or toss the tele out. If zoning in front of the TV is your passion then by all means go for it but if there are other things you’d like to get moving on, then cut the cord or become really disciplined.

Zoning out in front of the TV is not really a cure for "being too tired".

Priority
Focus on the important stuff; the tasks that actually move the ball forward. There is always a lot of busy work to be found but take a hard look at those items and single out the one that has the greatest impact and do that first. Taking care of the important stuff will get you noticed because you’re actually doing something. My clients love me sometimes to the chagrin of their staff because I focus on the output first and the red tape and paperwork later but I deliver the important stuff and that makes them happy.

I take the same approach on my personal projects and joint ventures and I have quite a bit going on. I keep an ongoing Google Doc that lists all of my current projects each with a bullet list of action items that I’ll jot down whenever they crop up. Based on a number of factors, I’ll round up a few that I truly think will have the greatest long-term benefits and go. This comes in handy especially when managing the gaps.

Starting
Getting going can often be the trickiest part as we stare into the abyss of the unknown where the size and scope can freeze us in our tracks and thinking, “maybe I’ll just go have a tea (or coffee or beer or TV break - pick your poison) and think about this some more.” But if you can get over that hurdle and just start, you’ll be that much closer to getting things done. I had starting on the brain the other day, read more here: How to Start: The Choice is Yours Don't Be Late.

Managing the Gaps
If you actually added up all of the little gaps in your day where you’re waiting, you’d find a nice chunk of time to actually get stuff done. This is where my easy-access to-do list comes in handy. I can pop it out and see what’s the top priority and how many minutes I have and choose one I can make some progress on. I may keep one task in the background all day and turn my attention to it only when the gaps allow. It’s a great way to knock off a lot of the low hanging fruit and make progress on important tasks. Progress in small bites, yes, but it all adds up to getting things done.

Everybody has they're own way of getting stuff done but this is what works for me. So, Whit, I hope this answers the question.

Write Your Story, If Only for Yourself

chris — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:41:51 +0000

A powerful technique to help you identify and tweak your life is to write your story up to this moment. Write it out in whatever manner is comfortable to you - whether in story mode or bullet list. The point is to list out your experiences, accomplishments, failures, highlights... whatever, just tell your entire story in a way that you can look at it and determine if you're living the life you want to be living. If you are, congratulations. If you're not, take stock and take action.

Most people are going to fall into the sorta / sorta not category. Maybe they're working in a career they love but are unsatisfied in where they live or their relationship status. Some are in a blissful relationship but hate their job or financial situation. Some will see a few items ticked off their 'bucket list' but see a whole lot of others not coming to fruition. Then there will be the few people that look at their list and realize that the life they're living doesn't resemble anything they've ever wanted or desired. Depressing? Don't let it be.

The purpose of this exercise is coming to terms with the reality you created and allowing you to identify where, and maybe some insights into how, you've fallen short. It will also put a spotlight on where you've shined and fulfilled your desires.

Doing this every so often allows you to better direct where your life will head in the chapters to come. It causes you to become mindful of the actions you take. You will better see where your sticking points are and start to learn of ways to overcome them to move you to where you want to be.

Life is a river and its currents will bump you around and lead you into unforseen waters and challenges. But you are not helplessly floating through it. Grab the rudder and oars and captain your ship.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain

*original photo by Vivianna Love, stamped with a "me" by me.

Taking Responsibility for Your Energy with Help from Albert Einstein

chris — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:02:40 +0000

“A man's value to the community depends primarily on how far his feelings, thoughts, and actions are directed towards promoting the good of his fellows.” -Albert Einstein

I’ve been pondering lately the power of thought, attitude, and its effects on ourselves and others. It’s not the first time I’ve dedicated study to it as the first time I actively began experimenting with the notion was after reading Napoleon Hill’s, “Think and Grow Rich” many years ago and again a few years back with Dr. Dyer’s, “Power of Intention” (one that I’m currently re-reading as a result of this re-stimulation; a refresher course so to speak).

This concept seems mystical to some and is indeed difficult to comprehend for many but I think all of us have experienced it, whether consciously or unconsciously. There is an energy that radiates from us; a mood that permeates our surroundings and each individual is calibrated differently. That energy affects ourselves and the people around us in either a positive, neutral, or negative way.

"It followed from the special theory of relativity that mass and energy are both but different manifestations of the same thing — a somewhat unfamiliar conception for the average mind. Furthermore, the equation E = mc², in which energy is put equal to mass, multiplied by the square of the velocity of light, showed that very small amounts of mass may be converted into a very large amount of energy and vice versa.” -Albert Einstein

I’m sure you’ve been around the “downer” that just seems to kill any good mojo in a space. In a past life, I worked in place that the CEO was only there about half the time but you didn’t need to see him to determine if he was in that day. You could feel the dark cloud hover over the place. You felt it in your gut and the atmosphere and temperament of the staff changed. As a bunch of IT geeks, we would joke that “he who must not be named” was present or we could feel a “disturbance in the force” when the black sedan came rolling onto the grounds.

There the energy was negative and calibrated very highly that even the most positive person would struggle to maintain their peaceful state of mind and many would retreat, hide, and hope to avoid any direct interaction. It was a toxic environment and once I realized my power to change it from the inside was a lost cause, I moved on, as did (and to my knowledge still do) many, many others in a constant revolving door of talented people.

On the flip-side, I’ve been in the presence of people who’s calming demeanor could disarm a charging rhino (metaphorically speaking!); the peaceful person that radiates, even in silence, an energy that puts an uneasy mind to rest.

This is the goal and I, like many others, believe this is possible by a shift in thought and subsequently, attitude. It’s not necessarily easy, but many things in life worth doing are not so here are some ideas that we (yeah, you and I) can do now to get on the path of emanating more positive and more powerful energy, with help from Professor Einstein:

1. Remember you are not separate but a part of a relatively infinite energy source.

“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us "Universe", a part limited in time and space. ...I like to experience the universe as one harmonious whole. Every cell has life. Matter, too, has life; it is energy solidified.” -Albert Einstein

Or as Carl Sagan says, “...we who embody the local eyes and ears and thoughts and feelings of the cosmos we've begun, at last, to wonder about our origins. Star stuff, contemplating the stars organized collections of 10 billion-billion-billion atoms contemplating the evolution of matter tracing that long path by which it arrived at consciousness here on the planet Earth and perhaps, throughout the cosmos.”

To parse out some key points, he’s reminding us that we (yeah, you and I) are made of star stuff and we are the eyes, ears, thoughts, and feelings of the cosmos. We are the cosmos.

2. Strengthen your imagination.

“I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.” -Albert Einstein

I interpret “embracing the entire world” as in a selfless way; the same for “progress”. There are many tyrants and selfish leaders in our history (and present day) that have made their own attempt to embrace the world and push their agenda but I don’t call that progress. Yet both are moved by a powerful vision, aka imagination.

Start by dedicating time to sit quietly and imagine the “you” that you want to be. Be as detailed as you possibly can and over time your imagination will continue to improve and these fine details will come easier and easier. To be a positive person that emits positive energy, then focus on that. Focus on it so hard that you actually start to feel it. Keep doing it, over and over, day after day. The energy is there; you are a conduit. Be open to letting it flow through you.

I’ve been practicing this and I am getting better, not perfect, but progressing. Depending on a lot of factors, this may be easy or difficult for you. If you’re starting from a hard place where negative feelings and pessimistic thinking dominates your mind, you will have to focus more, be more consistent to avoid slipping back to old habits. Believe and stick with it - you do have a choice on this matter.

If you're having trouble, go back to step 1 and remember that at a base level there is no difference between you and anybody else that’s ever lived - including the likes of the Dali Lama and Mother Teresa - we’re all made of star stuff and are a part of the magic of the cosmos.

3. Don’t let others drag you down.

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.” -Albert Einstein

We all inevitably encounter people that, for whatever reason, just want to take the wind out of your sails. Case in point, that CEO I mentioned above. Being aware that people exist that emit high amounts of negative energy prepares you for such encounters. It allows you to not be blindsided and dragged down to their mental state and better able to keep your composure. If it’s persistent, and it’s important to you (which it should be), get away from them, even if that means making some tough decisions.

4. Eat well and exercise.

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results." -Albert Einstein

For a period starting in my upper twenties I began getting bouts of low physical energy. That low physical energy also correlated to my mental attitude. I was physically active and eating like I always had; so what changed? I went to Dr.’s and got tests but nothing really showed anything “wrong” with me. I stayed on that conventional path doing what I thought was right (but expecting different results??).

Then I turned to the internet and found an article by Mark Sisson that lead to my primal eating and fitness experiment. It worked and my physical energy is soaring. And, I’m finding it a lot easier to generate positive thoughts and feelings with the compliments of abundant physical energy.

******

I truly believe the notion that if we change our thoughts, we change our lives. This is how you control your destiny. There is an interaction, a battle of energy of sorts. Your energy will either radiate or be consumed by others. Jack Welch, former CEO of GE, said it best, “control your destiny or someone else will.”

*Albert Einstein quotes sourced though http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein and image through Wiki Commons. Help keep information free, go to savetheinternet.com.

Most Important Thing I Learned from Paleo Eating: Cause and Effect

chris — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:21:32 +0000

It took a little while to get my system tuned in with enough consistency in eating well per the Primal guidelines but once I was used to it - say about a month or so - I began to feel the the subtle differences that various foods had on my body.

Being dialed in on this cause and effect is now the cornerstone of all my eating habits.

I know the staple of foods we have around the house that keep me feeling balanced, energized, and digesting well and continually becoming more aware of how other foods effect my body. This plays into my decisions on when and how much I'll deviate.

I'm writing this on Christmas Eve and there will be a goody table in front of me all evening with lots of tempting treats on it. But by being aware that the sugar is going to get my heart rate up and make me jittery, followed by an energy crash later and general feeling of uneasiness that I'll probably shy away and head to the nut bowl.

Knowing the price I'll later pay makes it easier for me to decide what I put in my body. I'll cheat from time to time but when I do I know exactly what to expect in advance.

This makes eating easy for me. It's not a diet. There aren't a whole bunch of rules and guidelines I go by anymore; I go by how I feel and it so happens that the foods I eat that fall into The Primal Blueprint and other Paleo Diet regiments have positive effects on my body.

Original Discoveries

chris — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:45:05 +0000

Yesterday our daughter, Amelia, took a book light and the stand from a mirror and created her own freestanding desk lamp. "See, now I can play in the dark."

It is so awesome to see people make original discoveries. Not that she invented the first light of its kind but that she discovered how to do it on her own without any direct influence, guidance, or suggestions.

I think a lot of people of the entrepreneur mindset have these moments. I've "discovered" a lot of things only to research and find that many others have too. But it's still an amazing feature of human ingenuity and those synapses and connections prepare us for all kinds of improvising, adapting, and overcoming obstacles along the way.

Testing an Idea: The 21 Day Spousal Challenge

chris — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:56:29 +0000

It is pretty well established that in general, it takes about 21 days of consistent repitition to establish a new habit. Couples do little things that annoy each other all the time. What if we could cut down on those things? Would it make our relationship a little better? Would we make ourselves a little better?

I don't know the anwer to this yet. But the gauntlet has been dropped with the 21 Day Spousal Challenge.

For lisa, I've challenged her to read "10 simple ways to save yourself from messing up your life" (an older lifehack post that I keep on my vision board). The reason is because she's going through challenges where this line of thinking may help her into the right perspective and deal with it more comfortably.

For me, I have to pick up my clothes off the bathroom floor for the 21 days.

I figure this improves 3 big areas of our lives.

ONE: We strengthen our discipline muscle.

TWO: We strengthen our relationship by communicating and engaging in challenges together.

THREE: We introduce new, probably beneficial, and spouse approved habits into our lives.

On the flipside of that, you could also shape the challenge to NOT do something for 21 days and get a good start on dropping a self-limiting or super-annoying habit.

By engaging in this challenge, you are also demonstrating to your spouse that:

You listen to their concerns.
You care enough to consciously attempt the change.
You show them they are a priority by sticking to the challenge for the full 21 days.

This of course, doesn't mean you should split if the challenge doesn't make it full term. It may mean that you need to continue to focus and work on your discipline or it may be that the challenge doesn't fit you or is more of a hindrance to yourself than the annoyance to your spouse. Whole lot of variable but I think each couple could make it work for them. Start small; start simple. Have fun.

Your spouse has chosen to share a life with you (at least that's the way it works for the people I'm writing to) and this is a great way to grow together and keep each other motivated. Don't underestimate the power of the spouse for your own personal growth in life, family, and business.

If two heads are better than one, imagine what two hearts could do.

How to Deal with the Increased Cost of Eating Paleo

chris — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:28:52 +0000

One of the toughest challenges to getting on a better path to eating paleo or primal is the cost. Simply put, it is more expensive and not as convenient to procure natural, healthy food.

When we embarked on this Primal Blueprint experiment, our first order of business was to swap out our pantry filled with grain-based snacks and stock it full of primal approved foods - nuts, seeds, butters (almond, cashew, sunflower are our favorites), fresh fruits and vegetables, and some jerky. We also needed to start buying a lot more meat which is more expensive than the heavy pasta dishes we were used to preparing for most meals.

Lisa's been buying organic for a long time but shifting from a diet where grains play a high role and provide a lot of relatively cheap calories to one that replaces grains with primarily grass-fed meat, organic vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds bumped our grocery budget into a tailspin... sort of... The way it really went down is we were spending about the same amount of money but burning through the food faster and finding ourselves hungry with bare pantries before the next grocery visit was planned.

What transpired has been a continually evolving system to find savings, make efficiencies, and cut costs out of other less important areas of our lives. I'd like to say I found a magic formula or found a secret supplier that can deliver organic, contaminate-free food for the same price the grocery store sells frozen dinners but that is not the reality. Eating the right healthy foods is more of an investment but these tips will help you get the best returns.

First a mindshift; then some tactics

Step 1: Get Used to It
The laws of economics are at work here and quality organic foods are going to be more expensive. But I also believe that over the long haul this will change as more businesses step in to fill the void and established conglomerates will follow suit as more and more people become educated on food and health.

Step 2: Make it a Priority
In the United States, we spend an average of 6.7% of our income on food according to the USDA and presented nicely by Mark Perry, professor of economics and finance at the University of Michigan. The rest of the world combined averages upwards of 30% of their incomes towards food (in Pakistan it's over 45%). I'd venture that in many of these countries, just getting a meal is a priority. If you truly want to get optimal fuel running through your body, you're going to have to change the priority and be willing to dedicate more of your earnings towards quality foods.

Step 3: Think Long-Term Savings
Particularly if you get behind the science that demonstrates the correlation between what we ingest and health issues. Diabetes, heart disease, many cancers, the list goes on and on. I'm in the camp that believes eating healthy is the best preventative medicine. The way I see it, the more I spend on quality food now, the less I spend on healthcare for the rest of my days. Seems like a good deal.

The mental shift helps get us thinking positive about the investment we're putting into our health. That said, here are some ideas for savings and efficiencies in gathering for your paleo diet:

1. Grow your own vegetables and fruit - here in the Midwest, we can get a good crop in between spring and fall frost. We started organic gardening this year and looking forward to a better year in 2012.

2. Beef Shares - This allows you to buy a full, half, or quarter beef - enough to feed a family of 4 for an entire year. Checkout: LocalHarvest.com - Beef Shares

3. Go online - We love Amazon Prime and use it to buy the majority of our non-perishables. The biggest saving is the convenience and not driving around town (time, gas) to buy this stuff. Also working on a re-occurring grocery list through Amazon to make ordering quicker, easier, and eventually automated.

4. Get to know your farmers - Go to the Farmer's Markets and get to know the farmers by name. Ask questions, be friendly. They want your business too and it may be possible that if you're willing to make a commitment to obtain a certain amount of product from them, they may be willing to work a deal for that consistency.

5. Raise chickens - This is a tall order for many (including myself at the moment) but this is a great way to grow your own protein. I did research this because it's something we're curious about and it's amazing how many cities allow raising chickens - and I mean cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and NYC- TheCityChicken.com keeps a list of laws in your state.

6. Supplement - At $2.50 per meal, the protein shakes (Primal Fuel) I get are low sugar and paleo diet approved and satisfy my quest for a quick, high-protein meal. I get these on auto-ship (very convenient) and cry when I run out before the next shipment arrives.

7. Delivery Services - Checkout local co-ops and CSA's (LocalHarvest.com). In Indy there is GreenBeanDelivery.com and Seattle has AmazonFresh and other companies such as Foodzie.com that deliver organics to your door. It still may cost a premium but utilize that TIME you save on generating more value in other areas of your life.

8. Find joy in food - Taking time to enjoy the process of gathering, preparing, and dining with your family, friends, or in sweet solitude will make any extra expenditure seem like a token expense.

I'm sure this list can be expanded; share your tactics and ideas in the comments!

(This article is re-posted to my project site: doespaleowork.com)

How to Start: The choice is yours, don't be late

chris — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:56:22 +0000

The second Kurt Cobain inspired post in less than a month... I'll take inspiration from wherever I find it (or it finds me).

This one while thinking in the shower with Pandora providing the morning mix. I have a lot of projects going on and I use this time to set my priorities for what I'd like to get accomplished for the day. Some tasks are easy that I've done thousands of times but others are newer concepts that I have yet to implement but I think are an important part of the progression. It's easy to want to put those task at the bottom of the list and knock off the stuff you know you can do and how long it will take - that latter part being a key - uncertainty about how long a task will take (due to inexperience, learning, etc) is a determining factor of where we rank it on our to-do list.

That's a poor reason; especially when that "new" thing may be what gets you to the next level.

So here's the big secret to starting: Just start.

I could end the post here but you may not be sold yet with such a simple doctrine. Here are some simple real-life examples, organized by age for added flare:

The Mess
We have been actively training our kids on the importance of cleaning up their space when finished with an activity. But sometimes they get so in the zone of playing that they create huge messes (I've been there!). When clean-up time rolls around, they'll stand there frozen by the shear size of the task. Amelia often states, "I don't know where to start." Other than the Dr. Seuss answer of, "well you start at the beginning, of course!" I'll direct her to focus her attention on just one small part of the mess such as rounding up all of the tinker toys first. Only focus on that one small part and when it's finished, move on to the art tools, and then the dolls, and keep going until you reach the end. Mission accomplished, celebrate!

Key points:

Break big tasks down into manageable pieces. Like the old adage goes, "you can't eat an elephant in one bite."
When you've finished, celebrate by doing something nice for yourself - and that may just be as simple as sitting back and enjoying your accomplishment.

The Fear
This one hits everyone to some degree, shape, or form. My wife, Lisa, used to have this barrier when approaching unfamiliar tasks or working with new tools - "I'll break it or mess it up."

Good, that's how you learn. She gets it now and breaks plenty.

But a similar barrier exists when approaching something new that you know there are so many other people out there already doing it and better than you. There is fear that you won't measure up. Please don't confuse that with offloading tasks that you don't want to do that you know someone else can do better - that's smart and I use Elance.com for shifting those activities to people trained and willing. But don't let the notion that you can't perform as well as others prevent you from starting (I wrote about this here). If anything, be inspired by the fact that if they can learn it and do it, so can you. Everybody has to start somewhere; think of them as the canary in the coal mine. They survived, you will too and you'll never really know how much you enjoy something and how well you perform until you start doing it. And just like the big mess, the sooner you start, the sooner you get to where you want to be performance-wise.

Key points:

Remember that courage is the ability to confront fear and act anyway.
Use other's accomplishments as inspiration, not as a roadblock.
Celebrate your milestones.

The Curious
In my opinion, this is the best place to be starting. Our family friend, Pancake, dropped out of corporate America to pursue his passions as an artist (and in his 50's - showing us all it's never too late to chase your passions). Being good at creating artwork is one thing (that took lots of starting, practicing, and progression) but starting a career as an artist is a whole new beast. But the whole time that he's been pursuing this life change, it's been with the attitude of, "well, let's see what happens." And a lot has happened. He's been the artist guest of honor at several conventions, has won numerous awards, landed several commissioned jobs, and is selling artwork all across the country through various mediums. Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize winning physicist, in his book, "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman," states (and I'm paraphrasing) that when something piques his curiosity, he'll run with it just to see how far he could take it. That curiosity and just starting lead him to many, many incredible life experiences.

Key points:

Follow your curiosity and see just how far you can take something.
Celebrate - always find ways to give yourself positive reinforcement for accomplishments big and small.

"The choice is yours, don't be late." - Kurt Cobain, Nirvana (Come as You Are)

Training and Self-Reliance

chris — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:35:27 +0000

There is not good or bad performance (in learning, reading, physical activity, games, cooking, sleeping, self-comfort, self-control, self-discipline, on and on) but trained and untrained and everything in between.

I think if we focus on "training" in all areas of our lives that we want to be better, then we're more apt to create the small, life-changing habits as part of our "training."

Training and self-reliance is the motto. Learn and put into action.

Weight Training: Vanity vs. Functional

chris — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:02:18 +0000

Many people know that I was a personal trainer throughout college and continued part-time for a few years after. During that time of being in the gym all the time and around other trainers/friends of a bodybuilding mindset, I bulked up to the largest I've been - about 175lbs. For all intents and purposes, I appeared to be a fit guy. I was bulky where it mattered - chest, arms, shoulders - and ready for the beach.

I trained often, heavy, low reps, and isolated movements. I did various cycles and followed popular bodybuilding trends from mags like Muscle & Fitness.

The results: I developed bulky muscles where I wanted them.

But, I also developed these:

Multiple shoulder injuries
Poor flexibility and limited range-of-motion
Muscle imbalances that lead to back spasms
Inconsistent energy levels
Poor athleticism

That's right, all my time in the gym pumping iron lead to overall poor athleticism. These came to light during the random pick-up basketball game, joining in the pre-Thanksgiving tackle football game with the fellas, my Frankenstein golf swing, and most notably when I started rock climbing.

It was the latter when I threw down the gauntlet and decided something had to change. I enjoyed climbing and I wanted to make it a part of my life. My focus shifted from working out to look good to getting in shape to be a better climber.

The road to get there took some time, research, effort, and plenty of mistakes but adjusting my thinking towards functional fitness made a big impact.

Functional fitness is training your body to meet real-world physical challenges.

First, I stopped weight training at the regularly scheduled times (liberating). I focused on flexibility and signed up for a yoga class. I built a climbing wall in our garage. Over time, my weight dropped and hovered around 155lbs.

Flexibility improvement was slow going until I learned about resistance stretching (which I wrote about here). Dropped yoga. My climbing improved as I jumped a grade but my energy levels were still inconsistent and I didn't feel I was as fit as I could be even though my pull-up reps were going up and up.

It was researching "low energy" online that I learned about the Primal Blueprint and paleo eating and fitness habits (outlined here). I embarked on a 30-day experiment to see how my energy levels would fare and in that month I dropped to 138lbs and the most ripped I've ever been.

The Primal Blueprint is all about functional fitness. Additionally, I started a Wing Chun martial arts class which created a new level or functional fitness - coordination, tactile sensitivity, speed, power, agility, and balance.

My new workout plan is simple and spontaneous. I think about real-world challenges and then emulate movements that trigger my body to become more physically prepared.

I want to be able to hike to the crags all day with enough energy leftover to climb 5.10 (aiming for 5.11).
I want to be able to move and defend myself when my highly trained, 205lb martial arts instructor launches an attack (or prepared for any real-world unfortunate scenario).
I want to keep up with my daughters and their endless energy.

I rest when I'm tired and go all out when I'm feeling it. To date, I feel more fit and versatile than ever before and only going up. If anybody reading this is interested in getting more fit, I highly recommend starting with the Primal Blueprint regiment (view my cheat sheet).

And another side-effect: according to my wife, my well-balanced physique is more appealing than my prior bulky self.

This has been one of those lessons that I wish I would have learned 20 years ago but glad I learned it none-the-less.

Think better to get good

chris — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:49:08 +0000

I want to be good at everything I do. But when learning something new, that desire to be good can be a roadblock. Think about it, if you wanted to be a great golfer but you've never swung a club before, comparing your progress to your definition of good (i.e. Tiger Woods), is very likely overwhelming and discouraging. You look at where your current skills are and how far they have to evolve to get there and it's easy to not even start; don't even give it the ol' college try. Or if you do start and you're stumbling out of the gate, it's damn frustrating when you're not reaching those lofty ambitions. Frustration sucks, leads to unhappiness, slower progress, failure... you get it.

Don't do that.

Many goals/dreams/desires worth pursuing are difficult and so much more rewarding and lead to a satisfying life. Don't give up because it's hard and the gap between beginner and expert seems infinite. It's not.

Think better instead.

I mean this literally. When you start learning your new skill, focus on getting better. Only compare yourself to you and your progress. Ask yourself, did I perform or comprehend a little better than last training/learning session? Yes? Celebrate. Give yourself a little pat on the back, feel good, and focus on getting just a little bit better next time. Repeat.

This is by far the most effective mindset for engaging in new learning experiences. Study and emulate the experts but don't use them as your benchmark. Only look at what you've done last time compared to how you're performing this time. Yesterday you couldn't balance the ball on the tee. Today you can. That's a victory to be happy about. It's proof that the synapses are forming.

And don't forget that learning is on a curve and beginning is typically the slowest progress but it picks up momentum as you start to adapt and build up your skill base.

Learning guitar, programming languages and technical skills, rock climbing safety, motorcycle driving, organic gardening, and Wing Chun have all been serious challenges to me that would have been easy to give up on but I'm so glad I didn't because they've become some of the most rewarding activities in my life.

So one last reiteration: Focus on getting better; not on being good.

Pearl Jam Twenty: lessons about competition

chris — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:19:36 +0000

Lisa and I were watching Pearl Jam Twenty on PBS the other night and there was a section that caught my attention. Nirvana had established the grunge scene and was top of the charts when Pearl Jam came along and rocketed up the charts in their own right. A bunch of reporters were talking to Kurt Cobain of Nirvana probing him about Pearl Jam knocking them off the number one spot. Kurt's response is what caught my attention and I'm paraphrasing here:

"I listen to Pearl Jam. I've talked to Eddie Vedder on the phone and I really like him. The people that like our music also like their music. Why are you guys trying to create a rivalry between us?"

I really like that and the notion was driven home again while listening to some older podcasts of Pat Flynn from SmartPassiveIncome.com (don't remember exactly which since I've been doing an SPI marathon to get caught up). In a nutshell, the conversation was about not looking at people that have similar blog topics as you as your competition. It's better to look at them as people with similar interests that may be good friends and partners.

Like Kurt Cobain pointed out, people like your stuff, people like my stuff, let's keep making good stuff that people like.

Reading now - The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama

chris — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:54:15 +0000

This book came packaged with my wife and has been laying around for a long time. I figured being an avid reader I'd already learned everything I needed to know on this subject and never gave much thought to reading it. But then I found myself sitting with nothing to do and this book in arms reach (again, "when the student is ready, the teacher appears").

All I can say is, "wow!" What an amazing insight on the subject of happiness. I walked away from the first chapter with applicable tactics to begin training my mind for more consistent happiness. He also points out the difference between pleasure and happiness which I think gets blurred in our culture but is very distinctly different. Even if you think you are the happiest person in the world, this book is still worth reading.

It's over 10 years old and more relevant today than ever before. The world needs to read or re-read this book. And while you're at it, follow the Dalai Lama on twitter: @DalaiLama

Unrelated but since we're talking about the Dalai Lama, I have to include one of my favorite all time movie quotes:

"So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald...striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver, he hauls off and whacks one- big hitter, the Lama- long, into a ten-thousand foot crevice, right at the base of this glacier. And do you know what the Lama says? "Gunga galunga...gunga- gunga lagunga." So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know?" And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice." - Bill Murray, Caddyshack

Makes me smile every time.

Most Wishy Washy Post Ever

chris — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:46:01 +0000

My good friend Seth told me a couple weeks ago that I should write every day. I've been contemplating this.

But first I must say that I've never actually met Seth but I've been reading his posts for so long that I feel like we're old pals (for example this one telling me and a few others to write every single day). Seth is a visionary and thought leader and holds a high seat in my all-star mastermind committee.

I don't write every day because, well, a lot of what I write is crap. I shape a lot of my thoughts through writing but sharing them and posting them is another thing. I've shifted many of my positions over the years (major ones like religion, politics, and in regards to conventional wisdom) and there is the fear of online posts haunting me down the road as I continue to evolve and refine my thoughts.

But as Seth's words floated around my brain, I've again changed my position in regards to this matter. I think that if I continue to explain the why's and how's of my position, even as those positions change, then people will understand and chalk it up to personal growth actually working.

I'm not sure if every day is the right goal for me because I have a lot of projects going on but I'm definitely going to up my goal (but I'm not telling you!). Seth also says in the post, "Turn off comments, certainly--you don't need more criticism, you need more writing," but I'm leaving comments on because when I do get the occasional comment is has been positive, politely critical, or pure spam but nothing that has been overly critical and negative. Now, I may change that position too as I start to post more writings that usually don't see the light of day.

Gone Primal

chris — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:51:33 +0000

To go forward, sometimes you have to go back.

It's been over 4 weeks of Lisa and I easing into a Paleo diet and fitness routine and the results have been astounding. She's lost over 20lbs without really getting into the exercise aspect and I am leaner and more energetic than ever.

It started with my quest to resolve my low energy issues and after multiple doctor visits and trying various other nutrition advice (like cutting out red meat and eating "healthier" per conventional wisdom), nothing actually worked. While Googling my troubles, I came across an article (from marksdailyapple.com) explaining how carbohydrates affect insulin and energy levels and recommended cutting them out. Why not; I tried everything else? So I started cutting starchy food from my diet right away and ordered Mark's book,The Primal Blueprint, which enlightened me on a lot more than just cutting out bread and pasta.

Lisa jumped on board by proxy of being our family food procurer and what I was relaying to her from the book made sense so she started making her own adjustments and for the kids. She's been a mess for a while with repeated major surgeries that have been non-stop since our second child was born nearly three years ago. But the arrival of this knowledge couldn't have come at a better time (like my Wing Chun Sifu says, "when the student is ready, the teacher appears."). She's just felt well enough to start kicking her full recovery into high gear and integrating the Primal Blueprint has given her the RESULTS to stay enthusiastic.

One major thing we've noticed is that cutting out grains (think gluten and company), we've all been a little less temperamental. The connection between food and mood is a lot closer than we were ever taught.

Power to Motivate and Inspire

chris — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:00:30 +0000

Pancake and I were sitting around one day talking about misc. philosophical stuff and the question came up about which super power we'd each like to have. Though I agreed that it would be cool to be able to fly or be invisible or whatever, the truth is I'd like the power to inject music into the head of anyone or everyone I want. I also admit that often times during a conversation, and though I look focused (and I am), I'm also thinking about what song to play in your head.

I'm telling you... with this power I could lift the mood of the whole world. Turn it up!

In the fantastic End Malaria book (At least $20 from each copy sold goes to Malaria No More, an international advocacy organization, to send a mosquito net to a family in need and to support life-saving work in the fight against malaria.), Pam Slim, recommends keeping a playlist close by that reinvigorates your passion.

The Rat Race Revisited

chris — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:24:28 +0000

"It's not a race, it's just life. There is no finish line, no winners or losers." -Jed McKenna, Spiritual Enlightenment, The Damnedest Thing

This is a lesson I learned a while back but then forget as I get caught up in the proverbial rat race. I leave Jed's book out and about so I remember to take a peak every now and then for a refresher in perspective. I've chosen to play the game and I give it my all which means I run the risk from time to time of losing sight of the forest for the trees (cliche limit yet?). I start to take it all too seriously which actually makes my work less enjoyable.

So the key to bring it back down to a level I'm comfortable with is to adjust the scale. Take a look at the situation from afar, in both time and space; a cosmic view. From that distance everything is so tiny that I can't help but feel foolish for being so caught up in this miniscule moment.

That doesn't mean to stop caring. It means stop stressing. Get back to creating and having fun, after all, it's just life.

Please Wait... Your Habit is Downloading

chris — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:41:36 +0000

I was backing up a bunch of large files from my laptop to our external harddrive and as you've doubtlessly encountered, the more files you copy at once, the slower each individual file transfer rate. I think the same applies to habit changes. The more things you try to change at once, the longer it takes each individual one to take hold, and realistically probably gets dropped instead. That's a danger when the moment of inspiration and motivation occurs and you're ready to go gangbusters on overhauling your life. Maybe you can handle 3 or 5 or 10 habit changes at once but you'll probably be more effective and master one quicker if you focus solely on one or an interrelated group of habits.

For example, I began Wing Chun Kung Fu training last month and in process determined that I'd function better in the martial arts if I got my body into better overall conditioning. That conditioning supports my new habit so subsequent habits in fitness and nutrition were added to my "file transfer" so to speak. I could probably focus solely on Wing Chun and gain a deeper understanding of the art in shorter time, but in this case, I believe I will experience and perform the art better if I split that time with adding new fitness and diet routines. These things are connected and reinforce one another. However, it would probably be a bad time to start learning a new programming language or how to hang glide or add a new skill to my arsenal that isn't related to my current project.

That said, a new habit or routine can be set fairly quickly - 3-4 weeks of consistent practice. When you get to the point where you don't have to consciously remind yourself to keep up with the new routine and it just happens, then it's a good time to apply brain power to the next project.

Resistance Stretching

chris — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:14:53 +0000

Part of my health overhaul has been to improve flexibility. In fact, I've been working on flexibility for years now with little actual progress. Where I went wrong was focusing on static stretching which as it turns out leads to overstretching the muscles. Then I stumbled upon the concept of resistance stretching through a book called "Stretching Scientifically" and then again with "The Genius of Flexibility."

The concept, in a nutshell, is that to effectively stretch a muscle it is imperative to start the with the muscle shortened and contract against resistance throughout the full range of the stretch.

The downside for me with both books is that I wasn't sure I was doing the stretches correctly based on the pictures and explanations. I did a Youtube search for resistance stretching and found this series that includes Olympic swimmer Dara Torres demonstrating many of the stretches from "The Genius of Flexibility" (according to book, Torres trained with author Bob Cooley). After a few workouts, I already notice improvements in my range-of-motion.

The videos are embedded below (or on full page) for my own use but I recommend to anybody looking to increase flexibility to give the routine a trial run. Be aware that resistance stretching works your muscles for strength too and you may experience soreness. I highly recommend picking up one of the books listed to gain deeper knowledge into the concepts and for proper guidance with reps, intensity, frequency, etc.

Books referenced:

Good explanation of resistance stretching with diagrams and sample workouts. Skeptical on the personality interconnectedness but consider it a bonus if it works and not a big deal if it doesn't.

Equally good in terms of explaining resistance stretching but not as many pictures or specific exercises. Author is Russian so some terms have expanded or slightly different definitions.

Demonstration Videos:

Just Finesse It

chris — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:00:08 +0000

It seems the default mode for all the girls in our home is "at first you don't succeed, force it." I'm usually yelling across the room as my brain predicts the half-dozen ways the thing is going to break with, "just finesse it." They make fun of me. So too did my sister when I told her the same thing as she was visiting us from California.

The day after she got back home I received this email from her:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Finesse

"Finesse translates to giving a shit." - Anthony Bourdain

You are right. I shouldn't down play finesse.

Love ya!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Granted it took some help from Anthony Bourdain to get them to see the light but then again I've never seen it so simply and eloquently stated as that either!

Using Projects for Life Changes

chris — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:02:42 +0000

Using a project-based methodology for making life changes is a more effective approach in my experience. The project mindset forces me to:

Define clear objectives.
State a timeframe or deadline.
Identify measurable metrics for progress.

This approach of compartmentalizing the change into a "project" and then taking ownership of it, for some psychological reason, makes it way more difficult to slip up and fail at creating the change. In essence, it's easier to apply the necessary discipline to a managed project than to trust myself to alter behavior - I don't know about you but my brain is very tricky at convincing me to stay in the comfort zone. But if my "project" dictates pushing the limits, then I remove the choice and steer it that way.

Objective: Clearly defining the objective removes the ambiguity. The more detailed the goal, the easier it is going to be able to tell when you succeed. If it is a big change, consider breaking it down into smaller projects or phases - each managed individually with clearly defined goals.

Example: I wanted to quit drinking coffee (well, I didn't WANT to but it was having adverse effects on me and in full disclosure, it was Lisa's idea/directive). So, I defined the project as "Do not consume coffee." (Really simple, really clear)

Timeline: Set a timeframe or deadline. In my coffee example, I used a timeframe because I wanted to go 30 days without coffee as opposed to 30 days to stop drinking coffee. I use a minimum of 30 days because it is well established that it takes roughly 21 days to make a new habit (by eliminating a habit I am technically creating a new habit - in this case replacing the actions that lead to me sipping a cup of coffee with ones that lead me to be doing something else). On a side note, if you're project is to eliminate a habit, define that "something else" up front - voids get filled one way or the other so better it be a conscious decision. I replaced my morning coffee ritual with tea.

Metrics: Additionally, measuring anything is better than measuring nothing. It is great if there are easily identifiable benchmarks to track your progress but for some changes they are either not clear or not easily measured. In these cases I'll write a log instead and either some measurable metrics will make themselves apparent during the project or the log itself acts as a status indicator. The coffee project was simple - did I drink coffee yes or no. I faltered twice during the project and the second time I felt like I was running the project into the ground, tightened the reigns and have not been tempted since. The Wing Chun Project is a little different in that I don't know enough about the art or my abilities to set metrics so I track hours training and practice until other metrics come to light.

Extras
I use the term "experiment" in place of "project" where it makes sense; especially in conversation. At a work project, I was in the routine of going down to the coffee shop with a group of guys. Instead of abruptly saying I don't drink coffee anymore and cutting out that habit, I said I was having some weird health issues and I was doing an experiment of cutting coffee for a month to see if they went away. Maybe I'm being too touchy feely here but there seems to be some social ostracizing that occurs when your life change is counter to the norm and how you present these changes can make all the difference with how people respond to you.

But if you can, don't share your project with anyone. This goes back to Derek Sivers TED Talk - watch it.

Don't make it too much work. Your method of tracking should be simple and not very time consuming. You want to feel good about your progress, not weighed down by the extra workload.

Once the objective is met and timeframe is complete, put it into maintenance mode and apply your project management focus on the next endeavor. 30 days without coffee and the habit was set. I didn't need to measure it anymore and accepted it as a life change and moved on. If I were still struggling, then it's a good time to go back to the beginning and recheck your premise. Maybe this is a change that you really didn't want to make or had unintended consequences or the benchmarks were lacking or deadline unrealistic - whatever it is, now is the time to reevaluate and possibly re-plan with the added knowledge and experience under your belt.

When you succeed, reward yourself. Give yourself incentives. Celebrate.

This process works best for me, especially after winging it fails. Tweak it to fit you.

Freewriting to Better Thinking

chris — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:07:04 +0000

I have Amazon.com to thank for this since their profiling of me put a book called "Accidental Genius" up as something I may like (it works). Mark Levy published the book in year 2000 and has since released the second edition in 2010 which he notes reworking about half of the original content to refine the process after 10 years of use.

The premise: use freewriting to unlock your mind and create your best ideas.

Freewriting, in a nutshell, is "private" writing (writing for your eyes only) but with some additional guidelines that focus the minds attention with more effective precision. I've been doing private writing for quite a while because I find I'm able to better articulate ideas through the written word than through my internal dialog. In fact, this blog exists mostly as an outlet for ideas that for my own peace of mind, I've had to refine through the writing process (the introvert in me). But using Mark's tips and insights have opened up new avenues as I've been doing 10-15 minute exercises frequently on a wide range of topics and find the results to be better than I imagined.

One of the key points is to keep you pen moving or fingers typing at all times. This is a bit difficult as the mind is wont to wonder and I write a lot of what probably looks like gibberish but sticking to it guided me to taking ideas deeper and making disparate connections that probably wouldn't have transpired otherwise. That is just one of many pointers and exercises that I believe if used consistently will lead to positive results - even if not the results you were expecting.

As Mark writes:

"As expansive and impressive as the mind is, it's also lazy. Left to its own devices, it recycles tired thoughts, takes rutted paths, and steers clear of unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. You could say that one of its primary jobs is to shut off, even when there's important thinking to be done.

Freewriting prevents that from happening. It pushes the brain to think longer, deeper, and more unconventionally than it normally would. By giving yourself a handful of liberating freewriting rules to follow, you back your mind into a corner where it can't help but come up with new thoughts. You could call freewriting a form of forced creativity."

In the short time that I've been practicing freewriting I've found it beneficial to a whole range of uses:

writing goals and figuring out what I really want and how to best articulate it;
drilling down into current challenges to better understand and in formulating solutions;
reinforcing learned material by freewriting on the subject matter;
creating ideas by allowing my mind to go while I record it;

And on and on and on.... Often, I'm my own worst enemy and freewriting slows my impulsiveness down and gives my ideas time to ferment and usually evolve into something quite different from my original notions. It's worth the small investment in time and money to learn this process.

The Personal Side of Gardening

chris — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:59:59 +0000

I had written a post about learning to garden and why we were doing it. Now that I'm midstream, I'm compelled to share some other benefits I've discovered. Maybe some of these things will resonate with you and I care about promoting it because I believe the personal and economic benefits of people collectively practicing organic gardening is good for society. There is an interconnectedness with growing food and health as well as environmental and economic impacts. I recommend reading Michael Pollan for an extensive and insightful view into humanity's relationship with food. I'm going write about why I like it on a personal level and maybe one of these will resonate with you and get you growing.

Stress Relief
Spending time in the garden is meditative. Particularly after long stretches of working at a desk, a trip to the garden and mingling with the plants in the fresh air does the body and soul good. It doesn't usually take long for me to forget all the clutter that piles up in the mind over the course of a day.

Science & Learning
I enjoy learning new things and we have two young, curious daughters that are ever interested in making new discoveries. Together we've learned about plants, insects, animals, and the ecosystem. Actively growing and observing a garden is a way better method of learning than simply making an intellectual exercise out of it.

Strategy Game
The original post I called Gardens and Generals and went into some examples of developing allies to combat enemies in the garden. The strategy side, if that's how you want to look at it, is about manipulating the environment to produce maximum yield. This includes controls for water, sunlight, soil, competition, and herbivore predators. There are a lot of variables to consider and tweaking for optimal growth can be a challenge. I tend to view this aspect as a game so not to get too frustrated when things don't go as expected. Instead, I remind myself to check the variables, do some research if necessary, and apply a counter-measure. Like any strategy game, the more engaged you are and the more you play, the better you get. Parts of my garden are dismal but this line of thinking is why I don't give up; I know that I need more knowledge and practice and that I will be a successful player in due time.

Tinkering
I am a tinkerer; have been as far back as I can remember. Putting in the garden gave me lots of fodder to satisfy the tinkerer in me. Planning and digging, fencing, installing rain barrel and getting compost bin going was a start. I'm thinking and experimenting with ways to automate irrigation when needed. I'm also thinking about organized and space-efficient ways of storing seeds, garden tools, and next year's starter plants. This is garden 1.0 so I'm sure there will be a lot tweaking and upgrades to systems as I go along, providing tinker material for years to come.

Health
This is an obvious one but still bears mentioning. Aside from the healthy food growing in your yard, the exercise, fresh air, and sun that you get from tending it will leave you feeling pretty good. Getting the garden area prepped this past spring was just what I needed to get out of the winter funk (or seasonal affective disorder for some). During the growing stage there's not a whole lot of physical effort involved but I'm out walking the garden frequently to take a mental inventory of the state of things. Depending on how you garden, there can be as little or as much labor as you want but either way I'm a believer that every little bit of being outside and moving around is good for human beings.

I'm sure that if you ask other gardeners why they enjoy doing it, this list would be dramatically expanded. My perspectives may change over time but these reasons, in addition to being kinder to Mother Nature, are why I'll continue to garden into the foreseeable future.

One Human Power

chris — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:33:19 +0000

Article first published as Product Review: Scott's Classic Reel Mower on Blogcritics.

The second time I had to abandon the lawnmower and head to the filling station to lug a gas can home I decided it was time to make the purchase. It had been brewing for a while and after I read that running a lawnmower for an hour emits as much greenhouse gas as driving a car 100 miles I could think of nothing else while pushing that noisy beast around our yard. I was going to give a reel mower a chance.

I started my research on Amazon.com because I do find the reviews very helpful. The Scott's Classic Reel Mowerhad around 650 reviews with an average of four stars. After reading a few good reviews I went to the bad, and found that the complaints were mostly about a plastic gear that broke for some folks, but they were a comparatively small group compared with those who raved about the mower. The $119.99 to ease my conscience was worth the risk of a plastic gear.

So like a kid on Christmas I busted the thing out of the box and a quick assembly later I was pushing the reel mower through the lawn and...uh...the blades were spinning but the grass wasn't getting any shorter.

Thirty Google minutes later I discovered that there is some adjusting that needs to be done, so armed with a flat-head screwdriver I tweaked four screws that align a fixed edge with the spinning blade that allows the grass to be cut with a scissor motion. Bingo, it cut beautifully and easily.

In fact, it may have been my best experience cutting a lawn ever. For starters, I could hear my iPod (though the neighbors probably weren't too happy to actually hear my singing) and at 26 pounds it is easier to push and maneuver than my gas-powered mower. It took the same amount of time and I didn't need to stop halfway through to refill the tank.

Seeing how much fun I had, my wife decided to give it a go. Cutting the lawn isn't something she's really able to do much with our young children running around, but with the Reel Mower she's still able to keep a watchful eye and hear what's going on around her. Additionally, she enjoyed the workout it provided. Everybody's happy.

According to my research, the maintenance appears to be rather low. The blades do need occasional sharpening and I followed the advice of one gent online who recommended wiping them down with WD40 after each cut to prevent any rusting.

Would I recommend it? Definitely, starting with the neighbors that seem to fire up the big John Deere every time we sit down to a nice outdoor door dinner.

Tips for Attracting Bees

chris — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:48:23 +0000

Bees play an important role in our ecosystem as prolific pollinators. In recent years, their populations have begun dwindling significantly due to a number factors but mainly attributed to industrial agriculture practices and wide-spread use of aerial pesticides. This is part of a complex challenge that we and future generations are facing but we can do some little things that collectively add up to big benefits for the bees and the plants they pollinate.

Few suggestions:

1. Let your dandelions and clover grow. They are both good for bees and provide other benefits to the soil and local habitat. I'm aware that we are socially programmed to eradicate "weeds" but it's a good time to reevaluate our judgment on what life-forms are good and bad.

2. Easy on the pesticides.

3. Grow plants that bees like. (comprehensive list below)

4. Build bee houses. We just built two mason bee homes very easily (DIY instructions below). Mason bees are indigenous to North America, mild-mannered and reluctant to sting, and are good pollinators. I modeled the design based off of our garden mentor, Jason Aker's, video cast as well as further online research.

How to Build a Mason Bee House - Basic Guidelines:

Use untreated wood large enough to drill 3-5" deep holes using a 5/16" drill-bit. Space the holes approximately 3/4" apart.

You may construct any design that suits you. I rubbed a little vegetable oil on the wood to help preserve it but that's optional. Place it at least a few feet off the ground and facing the east. The holes will need cleaned out or plugged during the winter. I went Jason's route and drilled the holes through my block and screwed on a back plate to make the maintenance easier down the road.

Click image to view them in place.

Plants to Attract Bees

Aster Aster
Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia
Caltrop Kallstroemia
Creosote bush Larrea
Currant Ribes
Elder Sambucus
Goldenrod Solidago
Huckleberry Vaccinium
Joe-pye weed Eupatorium
Lupine Lupinus
Oregon grape Berberis
Penstemon Penstemon

Purple coneflower Echinacea
Rabbit-brush Chrysothamnus
Rhododendron Rhododendron
Sage Salvia
Scorpion-weed Phacelia
Snowberry Symphoricarpos
Stonecrop Sedum
Sunflower Helianthus
Wild buckwheat Eriogonum
Wild-lilac Ceanothus
Willow Salix

Garden Plants
Basil Ocimum
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster
English lavender Lavandula
Giant hyssop Agastache
Globe thistle Echinops
Hyssop Hyssopus
Marjoram Origanum
Rosemary Rosmarinus
Wallflower Erysimum
Zinnia Zinnia

(This is list is from gardening.about.com and was adapted from the fact sheet produced by Matthew Shepherd, Pollinator Conservation Program, Xerces Society April 2004)

Keep Goals to Yourself - TED Talk

chris — Thu, 19 May 2011 19:36:42 +0000

Lisa and I watched a couple TED Talks vids the other night - which is a great substitute for watching TV - seriously, pick one night a week and watch TED speakers for the evening - good for the whole family and will stimulate your brain cells. Anyway, we re-watched this short clip by Derek Sivers which contradicts some popular goal setting tactics. 3 minutes, have a watch:

This is interesting and the opposite of what lot of "experts" recommend but the studies done actually show that you are less likely to accomplish your goals if you tell people about them. Sounds crazy because it seems rational that by telling people your goal you will be more motivated to act on it but the experiments conducted showed the opposite. When sharing your goals with people you get positive feelings and brain chemicals trigger a sense of "accomplishment" even though you really haven't moved any closer to your goal.

So... accordingly, the best method for goal management is the following:

1. Write down your top few goals (1 year / 5 year)
2. Review it daily (and refine if necessary)
3. Determine a list of sure and potential action items for each
4. Visualize what the outcome looks like until the image is clear in your mind
5. Keep it to yourself but work diligently towards accomplishing each step
6. Reward yourself accordingly for each successful step towards your goal

Creativity Can Be Messy

chris — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:51:11 +0000

Last weekend the girls were sitting at the kitchen table playing with Play-do. I left them alone for a bit and when I returned there was quite a mess on the floor so I asked, "how did all this Play-do get on the floor," and without missing a beat Amelia responded, "because we were working so hard." Yeah, that sounds about right.

The funny thing about it is, the initial reaction in me when I saw the mess was to demand it be cleaned up. But Amelia's answer stopped me in my tracks; caused me to rethink. I usually make a decent mess when I'm into a project. I told Lisa about it and she responded that she makes a pretty big mess when she's most creative, especially when it comes to cooking. So why did I default to some pathetic, middle-manager mentality? What I came up with is that I was only thinking about how the mess affected me at that moment and not the big picture. I was thinking, "man, I'm going to have to clean this up," instead of focusing on the finished Play-do product which was really impressive.

The actual mess only took less than a minute to remedy but the real bullet I dodged was nearly placing limitations on the creative process. Professionally, I tend not to interfere with people in their creative modes and give them all the freedom they need to get into the zone. There is absolutely no good reason to change those values at home. I really think that in order to create your best work, you have to be fearless and free. I don't want my children to hold back because they are fearful of getting in trouble for making a mess. There is obviously a balance here but I know in this case I was the one that could've knocked it out of whack.

In a world where each generation faces new and complicated challenges, we need to raise as many creative thinkers as we can. Please don't make the mistake I nearly did. So after hearing, "because we were working so hard," and in that moment rethinking my position I said, "Good answer."

Learning to Garden

chris — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:25:37 +0000

As I've mentioned, we are kicking off our first garden this spring. Lisa and I are really excited about it. We're excited because it is something new and interesting to learn, will produce some high quality, delicious organic food (assuming I don't botch the entire thing), and we're looking forward to the work (I'm a constant tinkerer and this will give me something to focus on).

I've gathered a lot of great insight from Jason Aker's, "The Process Oriented Gardener," and recommend it to anyone just starting out.

If you are on the fence about growing a garden, there are a lot of good reasons to go for it:

Healthier food
Save money (or make money if you sell your goods)
Good exercise
Learn about life, biology, botany
Family-friendly activity
Create food security by becoming self-sufficient
It is an enjoyable and fulfilling hobby

So far, what has it taken?

I'm a beginner and still learning but if you've gotten this far, good chance you are too. The first thing I recommend is knowledge. Jason's eBook is a good start plus there are a lot of resources available online. We're growing organic which has some different processes than you may receive from some commercial sites. Once you do a little research, start writing your plan. I drew a picture of the space and began listing bullets of info as I learned what pertains to our geography and goals.

Next...

Physical Labor: I've cleared away a section of yard approximately 80sqft and fenced it to keep the rabbits out. I dug up the sod and transferred it to some barren spots in the yard. I spread this out over a couple of weekends but could have easily accomplished in one. The intent is to plant veggies that rabbits don't eat around the perimeter and we'll probably plant an area of cloves not too far to provide an alternative food for rabbits and vegetation we may use for compost.

Money: First thing I purchased was a rain barrel ($100) which I was going to do anyway for watering the landscape. I don't think it will take too long to recoup this expense in saved water costs. There are cheaper DIY alternatives out there which Jason discusses and a little online research will reveal. Same goes for compost bin. I purchased a large one for approximately $135 from Tractor Supply Company. I could have started a pile for free or made my own bin for around $20 but went with the bin for aesthetics since I don't want to shock my neighbors with too much too fast. Buying seeds is relatively cheap. We plan to learn how to harvest and preserve our own seeds.

Time: I haven't spent a ton of time. Prepping the ground and building fence took most time which was probably about 12 hours of work. Research and reading resources has added up to only a half-dozen hours or so. Installing the rain barrel took 10 minutes and composting takes as much time and effort as taking the trash out, which I have to do anyway. So far, it hasn't been very time intensive but then again we haven't planted the seeds yet. Truth is, time goes by quick when working on the garden because it is still new, exciting, and fun for us beginners.

Overall: It's been easy. There are a lot of things I didn't know and might have done wrong if not researching and there are still plenty of things that I'm sure I could do better. The lessons will be plentiful this year and I expect a good few years before we get the process down. If you have any inclination to do it, start now. Start small and maybe do container planting or carve out a small section to try your hand. After getting my hands dirty, I think that many people will find it more rewarding than whatever initial mental roadblocks exist.

The real work and learning curve is going to kick in soon as it is getting close to planting time. I'll let you know if I change my tune down the road. But for now, I'm growing life, and that is quite an adventure.

Remote Workforce: Save Costs and Energy

chris — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:01:03 +0000

Ever since broadband and enhanced communication tech became wide-spread I've been wondering why more companies don't restructure for a remote workforce. I've been in many companies in many industries where a large percentage of the staff could easily do their work over a VPN or other remote connection. Doing so would allow trimming office space and subsequent costs. I also think, as studies are revealing, individual productivity would increase as well as employee satisfaction. Win-Win. Businesses could also market themselves as caring about the environment and energy conservation as they would be cutting the commuter traffic way down.

Companies with progressive leaders such as 37 Signals and Netflix are building successful businesses with this model. Not all job descriptions fit happily into remote work models but it does allow management to scale accordingly and sparingly. I know personally that I can get more done in a couple hours in my home office than I can do all day amidst the interruptions, distractions, noise, and shitty lighting and uncomfortable chairs of most office places. Meetings? Well, when they're not a total waste of time, most can be done via the phone and/or a good collaboration tool and face time can easily be scheduled in.

The reoccurring theme that I've seen preventing this is executives and middle-mangers with trust issues, but for results-oriented business leaders, transitioning to a remote workforce has a big upside for companies and reducing the commuter traffic has big upside for the world.

To further the case and provide fantastic insight, checkout Empowered: Unleash Your Employees, Energize Your Customers, and Transform Your Business, by Josh Bernoff and Ted Schadler.

Here is a great video of Jason Fried of 37 Signals talking about why work doesn't get done at work:

You are the They

chris — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:50:40 +0000

This may be the most common response people use for just about any big issue, "they're working on it," "they have solutions," "they say," etc. ect. etc. Who is this infamous "they" and what are they doing and how do you know?

The one academic lesson I learned my freshman year of college was during a psychology class where the prof told the story of a woman who was brutally raped and murdered in the courtyard of a housing complex. It was a warm summer night and everybody had their windows opened and could hear the assault but nobody called for help. Later, when asked by police why nobody helped or called for help the response was the same for everyone - they thought somebody would do it so they didn't need to. Lesson learned: don't assume anybody is doing anything.

So when you say, "they will fix the issue," what I'm hearing is, "someone who cares more than I do is probably going to take care of it." And I hope you're right but if I care about it too, then I'm going to find out who they are and what they're doing and see if there is some way my skills can help. On many issues - especially macroeconomics and ecology - your livelihood is on the line and turning a blind-eye is a risky proposition.

I understand all things aren't inside our sphere of influence. And some things that are inside our sphere of influence hardly seem worthwhile since your single output is like a raindrop in the ocean. But you're wrong. Look at history. There was a single person that started doing something different. Someone else saw how well it worked and did it too. We're not drops in the ocean but more like a spark in the forest and if it catches hold will spread like wild.

Don't wait for someone else to lead the way. We all need to do our part. When you or I are in that courtyard we'll both be hoping that everybody rises up. As Gandhi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Netflix: Freedom & Responsibility Culture

chris — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:21:57 +0000

I came across this via Seth Godin's blog, which I highly recommend. It is a slideshow of the Netflix Freedom & Responsibility Culture and presents a progressive model for personnel management. The challenge may be in getting the right team together but I think your most talented and creative will excel given the freedom to operate in a manner that harmonizes with them. An experiment towards that work culture, I hope it is a success. Thumbs up Netflix.

Culture

View more presentations from Reed Hastings.

Go Ahead, Get Dirty

chris — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:40:27 +0000

Our daughter plays hard in her Sunday best. Her teacher was nervous that she might get stains on the nice things she wears to school. Lisa's attitude, "so what?" And she's right.

That got me thinking about how many cool experiences I've missed out on because I was afraid of getting my pants dirty (or whatever). This was more common in my younger days because I was trained to take good care of my things. But taking good care of your things can be detrimental to your personal discoveries if it causes you to hold back. Forget about getting a hole in your jeans and mud on your shoes, seeing the top of that hill might just be worth the experience.

To fully learn, you can’t be afraid to make a mess.

Many of us get programmed at a young age to keep things clean and orderly. This notion definitely has its place but not at the expense of learning and personal development. I have kids and I dread the mess that we'll be cleaning up if we let them run wild but we also want them to feel comfortable breaking things, getting their hands dirty, and soaking up all the knowledge they can without the fear of being reprimanded. We take a balanced approach and consciously talk about the circumstances of when and how to keep things in good, clean, working order, and when to go all out.

Since Lisa and I are both products of a different mindset, we often have to remind one another of this. "They're just things," she reminds me, "and we French's live for experiences, not things." At the end of my days, I'm pretty sure I'll be happier recalling all of the experiences of my life and will probably be hard pressed to recall the things I broke along the way.

Sustainability, One Small Decision at a Time

chris — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:08:21 +0000

You don’t have to look very far to see the atrocities that are reaped onto our planet and all it contains, including our species. Most of it is due to ignorance, greed, and/or shortsightedness. Born into the culture, we inherently become small parts of a larger problem. The question is, do we see it, do we care, and are we willing to consciously make adjustments? You don't have to become an activist, you don't have to try and convince other people, you don't have to dramatically change your life (unless you want to), and you don't have to spend a whole lot of energy or time. Just consciously think about sustainability in the decisions and choices you make throughout your days. Lead by example and it does add up. The force is strong in you. R7CEDHDW2KQP

True Size of Africa and True Size of Geography Education in America

chris — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:08:44 +0000

A friend sent this to me from informationisbeautiful.net.

It seems we need a little more geography education in this country:

"A survey with random American schoolkids let them guess the population and land area of their country. Not entirely unexpected, but still rather unsettling, the majority chose "1-2 billion" and "largest in the world", respectively."

Click to see True Size of Africa.

I received this response via email:

"YES...I agree that our academic standards are pathetic. I walked away with a bachelor degree and the only thing I learned is that I’m a good bullshitter and work well under pressure (a.k.a. procrastination). What’s worse is knowing that I’m smarter than at least two-thirds of the American population.

Society is a heinous state right now. There are too many unstimulating things numbing our brains. We are taught not to think for ourselves and not to question authority. I often find myself wanting to turn my brain off as well and it breaks my heart. It’s the easy way out; the easy way to cope with the society we’ve created.

I’ve never quite fit the mold and for that I am thankful. For some unbeknownst reason...I’ve always been a thinker, a dreamer, an explorer, & a creator! I’m rollerblading in the house as I type this! ;)"

Unleash Your Inner Dragon

chris — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:20:50 +0000

I'm fortunate to have some interesting people in my life... adventurous, supportive wife, brilliant kids, and eccentric friends. A number of years ago I met a dude that still fascinates me. Maybe it's because he's an artist that creates new realities where I am an explorer that navigates my way around them. We approach the world differently yet those differences compliment each other and enable us to help each other through the variant angle of our unique perceptions. This dude is called Pancake, really.

Pancake is a renaissance man of sorts. He is a painter and sculptor, a writer, a philosopher, a technologist, a videographer, a machinist, and avid tinkerer. The thing that I admire most is that he jumps. One day he told me that he wanted a life size dragon head. So without going through all of the trouble of slaying a dragon, he sculpted one out of paper mache. This may seem like no big deal but the dude had never paper mached before and he leapt right in and created an amazing piece of work. The dude is not afraid of pursuing his curiosities. "Hmmm... I think this dragon sculpture would look cool bronzed." Hey, where did Pancake go? He's at a bronzing workshop in Ohio. Two weeks later he's got a bronzing workshop in his garage and is turning out amazingly detailed sculptures.

Artists, in this sense, visualize a desire and then take material, whether clay, paint and canvas, stone, metal, wood, whatever, and transform it into reality. Their ability to do this and to the degree their object takes on the vision, the more the artwork is accepted and valued. Artists in a grander sense take any desire and transform it into reality. Pancake is an artist in both senses and continues to inspire me.

He likes to sculpt dragons. I've never asked him why but I think maybe it's an outward expression of his inner strength. You see, I've never met a dragon, real or otherwise, that was afraid of anything. Fearless. It takes a special boldness to follow your curiosity and traverse unknown territories. Pancake does it for fun. It takes boldness to present your "art" to the world and open yourself up for critique or ridicule. Pancake, like a dragon, doesn't much care if you like what he does... he does it for his own amusement. It's ironic that the lizard brain in humans is what creates our unnecessary fear. Maybe we should stop listening to the lizard and unleash the dragon.

The Colorado Experiment - Tips to Making it Work

chris — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:56:27 +0000

Note: October, 5 2011 - CF

The below post is my most popular of all time on this site. Probably because it piggy-backed off of Tim Ferriss' post on the same subject that generated a lot of interest in the Colorado Experiment. I did this experiment and did have excellent results but it isn't the central theme in my health and well-being program. For long-term, sustainable low-bodyfat, high-muscle tone and strength, along with numerous other physical benefits, I recommend adjusting your life to fit the Primal Blueprint. The Primal Blueprint is written by former endurance athlete, Mark Sisson (www.marksdailyapple.com), and promotes a diet and exercise regiment similar to our early ancestors for the maximum gene expression that our bodies have evolved to do. This is the lifestyle I recommend.

I first learned about the Colorado Experiment through Tim Ferriss' blog post From Geek to Freak and then further reading from the original study here. Few things you need to be prepared for if you decide to try this workout regiment on your own. First, the field is definitely not unanimous and many "experts" think it is not possible. That's fine but I didn't see any other valid study that proves otherwise and the track record of "experts" since humans walked the Earth is not very impressive. I'd rather see for myself. Another misnomer is that this workout is easy because you can do it in a relatively short amount of time per workout with greater time between workouts. If you are doing it right - that is going to total failure on each exercise - then you will find it may be the toughest workout you've ever done.

I recommend you read the two articles linked above and then read on for the tips.

1. Find your sweet spot with the weight. Too light and you expend so much energy going to failure and drag your workout too much longer time frame than required. Too heavy and you're not taking the muscle to failure in so much as not having the strength to move the weight. I recommend zeroing in on a weight that will have you at total failure between 8-12 reps. Comments are welcome on this but this is the zone where I feel my muscles significantly pumped and drained.

2. Go to total failure. This is by far and away the hardest component of this workout and requires as much or more mental toughness as physical. Going to failure is psychologically difficult; everything in you will scream to quit but in order to succeed at this workout you have to press on. Back in my younger days we would train our legs to the point of throwing up. This is the level of effort you have to give every exercise and you will probably experience some nausea.

3. Eat, relax, and believe it will work. Your body needs the nutrients so follow the guidelines and eat a boatload of protein. Also, rest thoroughly in between workouts. When you workout, give 100%, when you rest, give 100% - that simple. Stress induces the release of cortisol and cortisol inhibits muscle growth. According to the study completed at The University of Texas Medical Branch, "...with elevated cortisol, the loss in muscle mass is almost 3-fold greater than with inactivity alone." Finally, if you believe it will work then you are already closer to having positive effects. Go into anything in life expecting BS or failure and you will find it. Same goes for success.

4. Forget about other people's results. Research online will show you that many people did not have great results. Others might have had unbelievable results. Don't spend your time doing a comparison with these other people and only focus on your own progress. There are way too many variables ranging from genetics to discipline to diet to attitude that are taken into account. Forget about others and only focus on you, your routine, your diet, your rest, your discipline, and your attitude.

Like most things worth doing, you will get out of it what you put into it.