[COFFEE]
It’s BACK!!! After several months of not being able to source my favorite bean/roast of all time, my local spot (Hopscotch Coffee & Records) once again, has their Natural Process Ethiopia Guji on the shelves!
If you haven’t heard me sing it’s praises before, this bean - and roast combo (bad roaster can screw up a great bean) - is the standard by which I measure all other coffees.
So yeah, I’m pretty excited to see it back in stock.
The label claims notes of berry, cocoa, toffee and floral. I’m a sucker for the blueberry notes. 5/5.
[MUSIC]
Little bit of a mix over the last few days. All on Spotify.
Classical for focus. It works.
Blues Mix: I wouldn’t call it “blues”, but they do. Features Gary Clark Jr., Sturgill Simpson, Blackberry Smoke, Van Morrison, and more kickass jams.
Specific frequencies for positive vibes. Think: meditation music from yoga class. Stacking crystals and burning sage while listening = optional. 😂 😂
(When I’m working, I like music with no words, but sometimes classical gets on my nerves. 🤷♂️)
[BOOKS]
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington by Brad Meltzer
The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene
Greene’s book is a re-read, but I was directed back to it recently as Robert Greene appeared on Jordan Peterson’s YouTube to discuss integrating one’s shadow(s).
Greene reminded us that he covered this is detail in Chapter 9 of the book, so I’m revisiting that.
If you haven’t read this book, it’s great. The sections on masks and narcissism/self-love will completely change the way you view those terms - and that was his intention.
(Hint: narcissism, as we think of it, pertains to a dysfunctionally high amount of self-love, but too little self-love can also be detrimental… so we need that Goldilocks Zone of narcissism - or self-love if you still have an aversion to the word narcissism.)
I covered this in an old BHP Short:
[PODCASTS]
Speaking of podcasts…
Donna and I used to watch Meltzer’s show Decoded on The History Channel. It was an investigative look at many of the fascinating elements of American History (conspiracies, mysteries, etc, etc.)
So when I saw the following clip on Jack Carr’s social media a few weeks ago, I immediately knew I had to listen to the full interview. (Video clip is 3rd “picture” in this post. It’s a cool story of Washington’s leadership during the Revolutionary War.)
The podcast itself is two amazing writers chopping it up about the life of a writer, history, and great leadership. Count me in for that conversation!
(Their discussion of Meltzer’s book The First Conspiracy is what led me to listen to it on Audible.)
I’ve shared this episode with several people already. One of my favorite podcast episodes ever. I am now a big fan of Sadhguru. Can’t recommended this one enough.
Some GREAT wisdom in this 15 minute clip.
UPDATES:
New BHP Episodes Coming Soon!
The Better Human Project podcast is being revived, and new episodes will start appearing in a week or so.
Successful real estate investor + hunting & fishing guide Jay Scott and I have already recorded an episode, so be on the lookout for that one soon.
You’ll also hear from an EQ (Emotional Intelligence) expert, an NASA scientist-turned psych & performance guru, and a recurring guest in former Senior Scientist at the NIH, Dr. Russell Jaffe.
Possible upcoming guests = best-selling author Steven Pressfield, Randy Newberg, Gary Gersh (runs Coachella & signed Nirvana to their first record deal), Jack Carr, and a few others… Maybe Shaq 🤷♂️
Subscribe to the BHP:
Fuel The Pursuit Continues To Grow!
First meals drop in late-Feb. was a huge success
Reception has been incredible, demand is already more than we can fill 😬
We caught the attention of a major retailer in the hunting space and have a meeting set up later this week to discuss partnership opportunities!
Next drop will be in May - follow @fuelthepursuit_ on IG, or get on the newsletter at fuelthepursuit.com to stay in the know.
We have an amazing product and our challenge is going to be scaling a labor intensive food product… if you know of anyone with high level experience in Food & Bev, let me know - we might be looking for advisors &/or investors who can, and are willing to provide strategic impact.
Language is Critical
One of the most valuable aspects of coaching calls is that I get to hear people speak.
That’s not exactly a revelation, BUT, it’s an important part of the work that I do.
You see, when people write, they have a chance to edit it. (Most don’t, but some are savvy enough to cover up perceived weaknesses. Tangent: this hinder progress, because the whole point of working with someone is to expose those shortcomings so that they can be addressed. #AllProgressStartsWithTheTruth)
When I’m on the phone with folks, I get a chance to hear the language that informs me of their internal dialogue.
And THAT, my friends, is the revelation.
You see, what we say, and how we say it matters. A LOT.
And if we say a thing out loud, we’ve usually thought it in our heads many times. Especially when that thing is about ourselves.
Here’s an example from a recent call. This is a relatively new client who is telling me about his previous attempts. See if you recognize any patterns that YOU might share with our high performing CEO.
Mr. CEO: “Ryan, I can focus any time I want and get results. But it never lasts. I approach things like a sprint and therefore I never develop consistency I need to be successful long term.”
Of course we are addressing the approach and setting up sustainable practices.
BUT, that’s not the complete protocol to re-wire habits.
We also need to address that internal dialogue - the narrative that plays in our heads.
“If we argue for our limitations, we get to keep them.”
Here’s how we address the fixed mindset type of language being used in this example:
Old Language (fixed mindset) = I approach things like a sprint and therefore I never develop consistency I need to be successful long term.
New Language (growth mindset) = In the past, I have struggled to find consistency because I tend to approach things like a sprint, or do too much, too soon, with the expectation of immediate results.
Let’s dig a bit deeper into the rephrase of this single sentence:
The same facts are stated in both sentences, but HOW they’re stated makes ALL the difference.
The first (old way) = Failure is inevitable because of how I do things. I am somehow flawed and I will mess this up too, because that’s what I do. No opening for success. Outcome is predetermined.
The second (new way) = Separates individual/identity from act/outcome. Admits previous attempts fell short, but acknowledges the missteps in a way that seeks to avoid repeating them. Opportunity for future success is open.
Subtle differences in language make massive differences in meaning of strings of words.
Case in point: “I screwed up.” Vs “I am a screw up.” 🤯
Big doors swing on little hinges. Look for those little hinges that hold massive leverage.
What are you (repeatedly) telling yourself?
—> ACTIONABLE TIP: Audit your internal dialogue. Catch yourself making limiting statements and rephrase them in ways that better serve you. Awareness is the first step. Awareness creates choice.