Here are 3 quotes, the most interesting thing I learned this week, 1 essay, and 1 question to reflect on.

3 Quotes

“The true man is revealed in difficult times.” -Epictetus

“See to it that you temper yourself with one thousand days of practice, and refine yourself with ten thousand days of training. You should investigate this thoroughly.”  – Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings

“A good person dyes events with his own color….and turns whatever happens to his own benefit.” – Seneca

The Most Interesting Thing I Learned this Week

An estimated 347.3 billion emails are sent each day around the globe; this is a terrifying statistic if true. Humans meant to do more than just sit behind a keyboard and respond to emails. We are meant to create. We are meant to build. We are meant to work. We are meant to live.

On average, a person can receive over 100 emails per day. Let’s say every email takes 1-2 minutes to just read and reply and all of a sudden you have spent 200 minutes of your day on email.

Imagine what you could really accomplish if you just eliminated an hour of your day dealing with emails. You could workout, go for a walk, read a book, phone a friend, RELAX, create art, learn a new language, practice an instrument. The bottom line is that you can do more. 

One simple way to get fewer emails? Send fewer emails. Try it yourself next week. Ask does this message really need my input? Am I just adding to the noise and the traffic? Do I have something worth saying?

A basic standard

The Spartans thrived from the 8th Century BC to the 2nd Century. 600 plus years of hard fighting and hard living. How did they do it? They united under a common cause. They trained together. 

Their crimson tunics and long hair were just as much a part of their uniform as their spear, xiphos (sword), and shield. When you saw a Spartan, you knew it. They were a team.

How often do you show up to a workplace where there is no standard for dress? Even if the rulebook is not written, do people proudly wear the company logo? 

Do you know how to tell great companies apart on a job site? They have a basic standard. They look like a team  – with the same shirts, the same safety vests, the same eye protection, the same gloves. Their company cares about them and they care about how their appearance and work reflects on their company.

When the Spartans endured 10 plus years of training at the Agoge before officially joining the military, they underwent strenuous training of the mind and the body. 

Strong minds never stop training. Strong minds always are challenging themselves with new perspectives. 

Today there seem to be too many specialists and “experts” who want to talk about the mind OR the body. What they forget in their blind pursuit of science is that the mind is connected to the body and the body is connected to the mind. 

One cannot be strong without the other. Look at history. Look at sports. Look at militaries throughout the world. You must be diligent in your training. You must be consistent with your standards. You must seek out challenges to prepare yourself when challenges seek you out.

“Men meet their death from lack of ability or unskilfulness. Wherefore training is the first requirement of war.” – Sun Tzu

1 Question to Reflect on

What is the standard that you are setting for yourself? 

The Real Con 98