Friday, November 6, 2020

Unhackable


 

Kary Oberbrunner recently wrote a book entitled Unhakable. The focus of the book is how easy it is for our lives to be hacked by smart technology like TV, phones, Alexa and other modern devices and the result of this is our distraction from our original purpose. These diversions steal our sense of creativity, ideas, dreams and missions in life. It's not unusual for people to sit around the house and binge watch a Netflix series for 20 hours instead of doing something more rewarding like writing, drawing, building something, having a real conversation or going outside to play.

The hacking part comes when these smart devices divert us from our own mind's ability to think for ourselves. They attempt to tell us what to think, what to buy, how to act and what our values should be. Some are consumed with knowing what the latest update is on social media and how many likes we get on our latest posts.

One possible and very promising antidote is our intentional devotion to personal responsibility. The operative word here is intentional. It's a mindful determination to look away from the hacking devices around us and do something real and tangible upon which we actually make progress.

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Sour Grapes

 


A
mong Aesop's Fables is the tale of The Fox and The Grapes. 

A hungry fox saw some fine bunches of grapes hanging from a vine that was trained along a high trellis and did his best to reach them by jumping as high as he could into the air. But it was all in vain for they were just out of reach. So he gave up trying and just walked away with an air of dignity and unconcern, remarking, "I thought those grapes were ripe but I see now they are quite sour."

At the risk of passing undue judgment upon this poor fox, psychologists would call his reaction cognitive dissonance which, simply put, is the inability to hold incompatible ideas simultaneously, in the case of the fox, desire and frustration.  In an attempt to reduce the dissonance he resorted to criticism or disdain. The fox reasoned with himself by pronouncing the grapes as sour anyway. This is where the expression "sour grapes" originated.  

Often times we ourselves set a goal, have a desire or are determined to solve a problem and when we are met with the inevitable obstacles in the pursuit of the prize we begin to reason with ourselves, denigrate the cause and rather than admit our failure or lack of drive, we rationalize that it's not what we really wanted anyway or it's actually not worth the effort.

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Acres of Diamonds


In my constant pensiveness over the course of my life's work there is always the consideration for the future. Someone once said anxiety arises within us when our mind is on the future. This is true but to be honest it's a challenge to draw the line between being responsible about our prospective circumstances and our mindful contentment for today. It always comes down to the question of whether I have something of value to offer or looking elsewhere for some other device outside myself like investments or a particular employment that will help ensure my future well being.

There is an old true story called Acres of Diamonds that recounts the tale of a wealthy African rancher by the name of Ali Hafed who heard that diamonds had been discovered on the continent and people were becoming wealthy by starting diamond mines. Ali decided he too wanted to start his own diamond mine so he sold his estate and set off in search of the gleaming gems. He spent years seeking them unsuccessfully and finally, despondent  after spending his entire fortune on the endeavor took his own life.

Meanwhile back on the ranch, the new owner of Ali's property was watering his livestock in a stream when he noticed what he thought to be a large crystal on the bed of the stream. He pick it up and kept it as an interesting curio only to later discover that it wasn't a crystal at all but actually a diamond. It turned out that the land upon which the ranch was located was full of diamonds and eventually became the Galgotha Diamond Mine; one of the most productive ever.

So Ali Hafed had owned, free and clear, acres of diamonds but gave it all up to search for them elsewhere. If he had only taken the time to explore his own property and learned what he could about diamonds he would have found the wealth he sought just beneath his feet.

So the moral of course is how I need to exploit all the value I currently possess, a practice I've neglected, before seeking it elsewhere. 

 

Friday, September 11, 2020

You Always Find What Your Looking For

Personally I have a list of problems to solve and by doing so will make my life tremendously better. Some like to call it a goal, mission, purpose or whatever narration one uses that best describes it but to my understanding it's finding solutions to problems that work best. In any case a requisite in solving my problems is believing that not only is my problem solvable but I can solve it. Author Hal Elrod calls it an unwavering faith in our ability to bring to a successful conclusion whatever challenge that besets us; in a phrase, our self efficacy.

Our self efficacy determines our outlook and course of action. Simply wishing things were better is a waste of energy and gets us no further in our journey but neither is imagining that everything is unicorns and rainbows. Sometimes things are not as we would want them be and the best approach is to accept things for what they are and proceed to solve the problem with unwavering faith in our ability to solve it and in the outcome.  The late Zig Ziglar said "you've got to be before you can do and you've got to do before you can have".


 

Thursday, September 3, 2020

 

I was scrolling through Pintrest and I came across a post entitled "Habits to Help You Prosper". I couldn't help but bridle at reading the suggestions because the list was so pedestrian that it was on the brink of being dangerously misleading. It helped me to remember that although the internet can contain articles which are helpful and authoritative (check the sources) writers need no credentials, training or particular knowledge to publish articles that can be regarded as forgettable drivel. Even untrue.

There is no "secret" to success and a good habit is helpful if it displaces a harmful one. For example: "wake up early" is on the list. If I decided waking up early is a habit I want to acquire, what will I do with the extra time? If I watch TV or Tik Tok videos then waking up early is rather pointless and I'll again fall into my old habit of sleeping late. I would need a compelling reason for waking early and it needs to be something I work on everyday. That's the basic formula behind goal setting or problem solving; identify the goal or problem, develop a plan or solution and work on it everyday. 

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

A Black Swan Event


A black swan event is something that comes along rarely during a lifetime and changes things permanently, never going back to the way it was. There are at least two ways people respond to a black swan event: one way is to cling to the hope that things will be the way they used to be and get back to "normal". 

The other response is from those who realistically acknowledge the change for what it is and proceed in life knowing things will quite probably never again be the way they once were. They actually embrace the change and find new ways of pivoting their lives, businesses and relations in response to the change.

In the wisdom of modern psychology there is a school of thought that is strongly related to our response to things that happen to us either as individuals or collectively.  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy teaches us, using mindfulness, that we can accept events or thoughts for their face value, acknowledge their reality and proceed according to our values. By doing so we progress and embrace negativity in spite of our feelings and counter them with positive actions and results.

During this covid19 event are we holding out for a vaccine? Are we looking forward to the virus being eliminated as a threat? Are we expecting things to return to "normal" again or are we coming to terms with the possibility that even if things get back to normal it could be longer than we expect; maybe years, and responding accordingly? Maybe things will never be the way they were and resilient people will fair better rather than only waiting for better times.

   

 

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

The Price of Tomatoes


When I was a child my mother, sisters and I would take a weekly trip to our grandparents' house for Sunday dinner and invariably at some point the adults would begin a discussion on the affairs of the country. Presidents, inflation, foreign affairs, Elvis, race relations and among every possible scenario the most telling to my grandmother was food prices. She was always concerned about groceries and the one item she mentioned most was the price of tomatoes. To her their cost was an indication as to the state of the world. If tomatoes were high then the country was in trouble. The more affordable they were then she was more optimistic and this theory governed her overall outlook.

This lends the possibility that we all hold something we deem important enough that gauges how we view our world. Isn't there something we look to that determines our opinions, optimism or pessimism about the world around us; something equally telling to us as the price of tomatoes was to my grandmother? This begs the question, "what's your tomato?"

 

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Consider the Following...


This is Bill Nye the Science Guy, one of the subjects of Tom Richmond's Coronacature for the week.
 

Monday, August 17, 2020

Prince Valiant Rides Again

 Can a 58 year old man find his stride in life and after all his years finally reach the promised land? Can a 58 year old baby boomer who has lived a life of mediocrity, at best, finally excel at the things others have urged him since his youth to do? Can a 58 year old senior find success and fulfillment in what he was meant to do?

The 58 year old I write about is myself and many others have gone before me at the same stage in life, and many even later, to have done it. I'm entering what could be called a "second career", for lack of a better term especially since I've never really had a firm first career, and standing on the shoulders of giants I will try to put forth a valiant effort. 

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Let the Insanity Begin


In America today there is an obsession with youth perpetuated by the media that emphasizes the successful young. News stories highlight young people’s early accomplishments, youthful talent, (real or fabricated) and the impression is being conveyed that if someone is to succeed then it should be done before the age of thirty. The message is that once a people have reached their forties then the opportunity for success has passed them by.

However in his book Late Bloomers, Rich Karlgaard underlines the fact that the majority people who have made the greatest contributions to business, science, art, history, politics and to the world in general did so later in life and many well past the traditional age of retirement. Countless numbers of late bloomers tempered by the ordeals of living, don’t find their stride until after years of invaluable experience when they find their life’s purpose.

This is refreshing information to those of us who have wandered through the dessert of our lives in search of a promised land we’ve believed to have missed. We baby boomers who live in a world that worships youth and high scores on standardized testing have much, much more invaluable contributions to make in our own right which can only be realized through well-earned insights.

I now in my fifties, have set out to pursue my life’s work in cartooning. The art world in general is considered a realm for the young; creative minds who have a firm understanding on the latest technology that is in high demand. Many hold a forgone conclusion that the artist’s persona is one of flighty interpretations of life, holds a specific political and social view and most of all are young. This in an incorrect presumption. I personally know many artists who in no way fit this mold and I am one of them. 

Let the insanity begin.

 

 

 

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Problem Solved

 


The purpose of goal setting isn't to reach the goal as much as it is to become the person who can actually set goals, solve problems and hit the target.

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Back in the Saddle

 My first gig since the covid-19 shutdown last February was this week in mid-town put on by the Westchase District farmer's market. Although It wasn't a very busy event it was good to be back at work. Since I've spent the last six months doing nothing but practicing I was pretty much pleased with the quality of my drawings, I had many compliments and even a homeless man, complete with his cardboard sign wandered over and liked what I was doing.  It was hot as is typical for August in Houston and the only real challenge I had was drawing while dripping with sweat, particularly off the end of my nose. The only other stressful moment was when a patron wanted her Pomeranian to be included and I'm not adept at drawing dog caricatures but she was happy with it. It prompts me to practice drawing pets because there is quite a market for them,  Here's to this event being a catalyst for the next six months to be busier than the previous.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

I'm So Great



Someone once said "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard".  Many people expect talent alone to carry the day when in reality success is never given; it must be earned. In the Bible God gives his followers "if, then" propositions. If Moses faced Ramses, then he would free the Hebrews. David had to fight Goliath. Daniel had to refuse to kneel. Peter had to step out of the boat. Action precedes results.

 Reward comes from effort. Champion body builders pump iron for hours in the gym everyday for their physique. The winner of a marathon runs hundreds of miles prior to a race. A Super Bowl MVP has been playing football since he was a child attending every practice. 

Talent alone is insufficient and the world is full of lazy geniuses. Many are called but few get up.

Monday, August 3, 2020

Nothing Out of the Ordinary



Great men aren't always great; they're only great when they have to be. For even the giants of history, everyday was pretty mundane which is true for most of us as 99% of the time; we have normal days when we do normal tasks. Sometimes we have things to do that are out of the ordinary and on rare occasions we go above and beyond. Great things are accomplished by ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Carpe the hell out of this diem!

Friday, July 31, 2020

Late Boomer Bloomer


In today's youth obsessed society baby boomers are often looked upon as yesterdays news and past their prime with little left to contribute, but nothing could be further from the truth. In his book Late Bloomers, Rich Karlgaard explains how the over 50 generation has qualities, knowledge and experiences tempered by time that cannot be ignored and has provided great contributions in modern culture. Many late bloomers find it a time when they truly find their stride in life and begin to really excel.

 Here I come, a man in my fifties, beginning in earnest to make a splash in an industry consumed by youth, however people of my demographic need a voice as well. Stay tuned for more about  and for my beloved generation.




Thursday, July 30, 2020

No Medals for Trying


A ship that sails last longer than one that sits in port. An unoccupied house falls into disrepair faster than one that is lived in. A person who avoids stress and discomfort will grow unhealthy years before his time. Many times the pressures of decisions and everyday life can leave us wishing we didn't have to go through such stress but whats the alternative?

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Is This Twinkie bigger or Is it me?


It's unfortunate that it takes a pandemic to compel me to pivot my business in a direction I've always intended it to go from the outset. One arena of my business has been in dire need of remodeling but out of complacency and a lack of urgency I've neglected to do so. I've been content to play the business as usual game. Now that circumstances are changed as well as I, I'm discovering that business as usual would be fatal to my livelihood.

I'm discovering the groups of associates and business acquaintances with whom I've become involved over the years have a less influential position in the course I and my life's work are headed. In the past I've had a bond with this tribe of  colleagues as our target customers were comparable therefore preserving a connection justified reasonable business sense even if the impact was minimal. 

For years I've whittled my list of social media acquaintances (I'm hesitant to use the term "friends") to smaller and smaller proportions for the purpose of uncluttering  my view of those with whom I held little in common. I don't feel a real obligation or desire to remain abreast of the trivial affairs of  people in whom I have little involvement with and in turn they feel the same about me. Our common target customers have changed. My needs have changed. Our synergistic affiliation is no longer necessary if it ever really was. I've even come to discover that some of my relationships are actually harmful and continuing to pursue them, feigning interest, is a waste of my time and energy not unlike consuming harmful comfort food that although its nice is either useless or inimical.

Time to cut out the comfort food and find healthier solutions and I'm actually excited about it. Being somewhat of a minimalist I travel further and faster when not diverted by extras. I can focus more precisely on obtaining my objectives while serving those with whom I hold symbiotic exchanges.

Friday, July 24, 2020

Irresponsibility


Abraham Maslow was a psychologist who developed the Hierarchy of Needs and simply put it stated that a person must have his/her basic needs met (food, clothing, shelter, love) before he/she can proceed to find their self actualization. Self actualization is basically finding one's purpose in life and  fulfilling it. He therefore asserts that if a person is aware of his/her ability or a purpose then it is their obligation to fulfill that purpose.

Thursday, July 23, 2020

So little to do, so much time to do it


Just as with any career or business enterprise there are many things involved in trying to succeed as a professional commercial artist. It involves a lifestyle change especially when my normal job, which has nothing to do with cartooning, is pretty much dead in the water because of covid-19. It forces me to get busy pivoting and finding new avenues of approach to earning an income. It involves new habits, lifestyle changes, new business model, new hours, new goals, new acquaintances. With all this newness it leads to one cold hard fact: new habits are sequential not simultaneous.

If that's the case then it's realistic not to expect any real gains for many months or even years  especially if it take 66 days to create a habit as prescribed in The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan but who wants to wait that long?

Fortunately most of the new habits it takes to obtain success are mental and the tasks associated with it don't have to be done repeatedly but it does take time. There is a lot of that going around lately.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

What Did You Just Call Yourself?


 A young Walt Disney once told his family he was going to make a living as a cartoonist. He told them at a time when cartooning was almost unheard of and appeared only in newspapers as editorial illustrations. Motion pictures were still silent at the time and there were no animated cartoons shown in movie houses. His father asked him "how are you going to do that?" to which Disney replied "I don't know". History goes on to show that he not only made a living as a cartoonist but he radically changed the entertainment industry and created a pan generational empire.

Another story: When President Kennedy set a goal for America to walk on the moon before 1970,  America had spent a total of only 15 minutes in space and we hadn't even put a man in earth orbit yet. Many thought it impossible. The technology for going to the moon didn't exist, we had no plan on how to do it and there was Kennedy saying we're going to get there and be the first to do so. Not only was the goal reached but we to this day are the only nation to do so and it propelled the USA into a leadership role of manned spaceflight.

Two good, real life stories about doing something no one in their right minds would do. We have to know what we want but you don't always have to know how to do it. Just start it.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

I Scream but you're not listening!


In my experience I've often come across people who are going through a trying time and express their feelings unabashedly seeking a sympathetic ear but when instead they are given suggestions or advice designed to relieve their anxiety, or puts it in a favorable perspective, they abruptly end the conversation. I have been guilty of this also, particularly in my younger years when I was prone to be more dramatic when, at that time, things seemed catastrophic but were, in retrospect, no big deal.

Some problems, no matter the size, seems ferocious and foreboding when facing it but from a distance or from another's prospective appears easily solvable and not so frightful but who wants to hear that, right?  Sometimes we just want to be affirmed in our self pity. We just want sympathy and ice cream which sure goes down better than advice.


Monday, July 20, 2020

Say it ain't So


There is a well worn mantra going around in many circles that says "fake it till you make it" and there are areas where this behavior can superficially benefit someone.  However for the long term, especially when dealing with a marketable skill or chronic mental state this philosophy can lead to embarrassment, frustration and worse. There is such a thing as self deception and less than honest approaches to ourselves. In some ways it can be related to the Dunning-Kruger affect; a cognitive bias whereby incompetent people don't view themselves as incompetent. A person can, for example, tell himself he is great at drawing when his skills still need to be developed before he can hope to profit from them.

Psychologists stipulate that affirmations are beneficial if the person reciting them is honest and realistic. Someone suffering from depression who constantly repeats to herself how happy she is will actually become more depressed because she reminds herself how unhappy she actually is with each affirmation of happiness. Happy people don't have to tell themselves how happy they are, they're just happy. This lends credence to another mantra: "what you resist will persist"

Sunday, July 19, 2020

A Decision to Decide




According to psychologists there is a condition called decision fatigue that occurs when we constantly weigh the pros and cons of a every decision to be made and even after we make one we are plagued by self doubt and second guessing especially if we give ourselves a little "wiggle room".

Nate Lambert always had a problem with his weight and tried everything that was available to loose weight but never succeeded. Finally, one day after a period of research and reflection he made a firm decision to completely eliminate from his diet all forms of refined sugar for the rest of his life. After coming to this decision firmly in his mind and making it his new lifestyle he was able to loose weight and keep it off and is now enjoying a much healthier life and one of  higher quality as a result. His final decision to never have refined sugar again was a decision he finalized and was never bothered with temptation or decision fatigue again.

Harvard business professor Clayton Christianson said it's easier to stick to your principles 100% of the time than it is 98% of the time. To be 98% committed means you haven't truly made a decision and thus decision fatigue sets in opening yourself up for failure as it leads to indecision and confusion. A decision you're 100% committed to leads to enhanced self confidence and progress.

Saturday, July 18, 2020

Making a Passion


In Personality Isn't Permanent by Benjamin Hardy, PhD, Dr Hardy writes that one's passion cannot be discovered but must be cultivated and shaped. A person isn't born with a natural passion for a certain vocation or interest. It isn't inherent in people and in order to find it a person must start working and it will be developed. The operative word here is work.

Many have described my love for drawing and cartooning as a "passion" when I don't see it that way because I'm actually not passionate about it at all. If I did what I was passionate about I'd be cooking all the time, which is a pastime I truly love doing. I get excited about it and it brings me peace and joy to get in the kitchen and mindfully make a meal for someone. However I would never consider making it a career or getting a job as a cook. Drawing, however, not being a passion, can be described as my life's purpose. This purpose is constantly evolving to meet specific needs and new avenues of fulfilling that purpose are always being discovered. It's an effective way for me to tell my story or even someone else's story but it is basically a means to an end. The end is to have a life of purpose and significance.






Friday, July 17, 2020

Who's Your Friend?


I recently posted this illustration to social media for followers to see and the feedback was pretty consistent; there are many of us who can't make the claim that we have five close friends. We may have acquaintances or work associates but to call them "close" friends would not be accurate. The claim, however is not toward five close friends but your five closest friends.

Regardless of that, one of my followers presented a keen question; who are my five favorite authors to whom I often refer. Who are among those to whom I look up and invokes within me my behavior as would a friend or mentor? Well, it is an insightful look at a humorous situation. in that case I would say I'm an average of:

1. Zig Ziglar
2. Mark Manson
3. Rich Karlgaard
4. Dr Benjamin Hardy
5. Tracy Doll

Thursday, July 16, 2020

What's the focus?

I've been a subscriber to the above philosophy for quite a while but my said belief has recently been challenged. In the course of reading Personality isn't Permanent by Dr. Benjamin Hardy, he professes that it is impossible to proceed without being mindful of the result. He states that to in order to take steps toward a goal one must always envision the goal clearly every step of the way; always having the target in focus.

I believe this to be true. One must have a clear vision of a particular objective in mind then map out the steps necessary to reach it. However in my experience, although it is important to frequently visualize the goal, I find it critical to focus undistracted on the work at hand. If that project is related to achieving the end result then it puts me one step closer to realizing the desired outcome.

Monday, June 1, 2020

Just Start It

With all the summer projects I have going and the new things I'm starting It can be a bit overwhelming if I let it. We're all aware of the Nike axiom "Just Do It" but for me there is a more fitting adage that best addresses my persona which is "just START it". It's no secret that when facing a sizable enterprise most people tend to have difficulty getting started upon considering its complexity; to just do it is an understatement. Just starting it is the best first step then the necessary subsequent tasks will likely become noticeable and in perusing them my skills will improve.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Intruder Alert

If you have ever heard of the imposter syndrome then you know it's a an overwhelming feeling of doubt people sometimes have about the validity of their accomplishments including feelings of being a fraud and it's only a matter of time before being exposed as such. Some of the most famous and successful people known have at one time or another suffered from this.

Personally, I feel I suffer with the imposter syndrome many times and even though I'm often told how talented I am, I give a courteous "thank you" while underneath I think they are only being nice. The fact of the matter is the complimenters are sincere and the root of my negative thoughts come from my feelings of inferiority when I compare myself with the talents of others; common among artists. The best resolution for this (and anything else for that matter) it to accept my work as others do and continue to improve.




Monday, April 27, 2020

Learned Helplessness

There are several clinical definitions of what learned helplessness is but Arnold Schwarzenegger said it best:

"Learned helplessness is the giving-up reaction, the quitting response that follows from the belief that whatever you do doesn't matter."

It was developed in the 1960's by psychologist Martin Seligman and explains how someone's belief system is based on environment or experience, whether negative or positive. He also says a belief system of learned helplessness can be changed and has explained how in his book Learned Optimism. 

A person whose belief system stems from a condition of learned helplessness is often guilty of self sabotage because he/she doesn't believe anything he/she does will make a difference and they are doomed to failure no matter what.