The Daily Mind
Daily Steps To Mindful Living
Last night my buddy and I were watching sport commercials when we came across this old Nike commercial featuring Michael Jordan. Both of us were really affected by the message in the advert so I thought I would share it here.
The message in this video is clear and needs no explanation. Remember that even Michael Jordan, one of the greatest athletes of all time, makes mistakes. You will too.
Gordon Ramsay is an angry man. He is also a very inspiring man who knows a lot about the hospitality industry. In his massively popular television series, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, he takes God forsaken eateries and turns them in to five star restaurants. Love him or hate him he knows how to do his job.
In this article I want to take a look at a few lessons Gordon Ramsay has taught me about the pressures and stresses of my work and how to turn them into success.
1. When you are wrong, admit it
One of the first things you notice about the show is that Gordon Ramsay goes after people who don’t admit they are wrong the hardest. He rides their backside until they either cave in and start crying or they storm out and quit. In Ramsay’s restaurants there is only room for those people who are willing to learn and grow and if you are not ready to admit that you were wrong you are going to lose out.
In this video you will see Chef Ramsay go to town on a French Chef who won’t admit that he was wrong. It starts a huge argument and the two almost have a fist-fight. In the end Ramsay walks out and the chef misses out on an opportunity to learn from one of the most successful restaurant owners in the world.
Sometimes it is better to leave your ego at the door and admit that you are wrong. [Read more…] about Gordon Ramsay: 4 Lessons this Angry Chef Can Teach You About Success
Every now and then something happens in the world that makes you completely re-think your job and how you go about your daily life. In this article I want to look at 8 world events that made me change the way I looked at my work – sometimes with a very harsh lesson.
1. September 11th Terror Attack
No body in my generation will ever forget this day. It was our “Kennedy Assassination”. It changed the course of the world forever. I remember sitting on the couch with my breakfast and turning on the television just in time to see the second plane hit the second tower. I was terrified and deeply saddened as if I automatically knew what the Bush Administration was about to do in response to this tragedy.
September 11 taught me that life can end at anytime. Even when you think your day is going to be a boring normal day at the office a terrorist attack could come and take it all away in an instant. Don’t waste another moment in a job you hate.
2. Bush getting RE-elected
As if it wasn’t bad enough the first time, the American people re-elected George Bush after a first term that made history’s worst presidents look like gods.
This is a man who went to war with Iraq with shaky legal grounds, vetoed bills that your elected representatives had approved, passed polices that stripped you of your rights, etc. His worst crime, however, was the Congressional speech where he stated: “You’re either with us or you’re with the terrorists.” This statement polarized the world and the most importantly the US Media. Everyone was now too afraid to report anti-Bush news for fear of being labeled “terrorist supporters”. Without an impartial media a democracy simply cannot function. [Read more…] about 8 Recent World Events That Made You Re-Think Your Job
Britney Spears is the self proclaimed embodiment of the lifestyle of the rich and famous. She has achieved huge success, fame and wealth. She has also started to lose the plot. In this article I want to take a [painful] look at what Britters can teach us about a good career moves.
We should probably do the opposite of everything mentioned here.
1. When you start something, don’t finish it
In 2007 Britney Spears checked into a fancy rehab clinic. She was preparing to get off the drugs and alcohol and needed help. She was preparing for a long, tough and agonizing journey.
She checked out the same day.
If you want to quit a bad habit or develop a new good habit it is important to give up as soon as it gets hard.
2. Don’t face up to your misdeeds, even if there were witnesses
Earlier in the year Britney drove her car into another car and then drove away without leaving a number, insurance details, etc. The problem was, there were hundreds of paparazzi cameras flashing away; the whole thing was caught on camera.
This teaches us the importance of not being honest and not caring about other people’s property. It also shows that we should never face up to things that we have done wrong, even when there are witnesses.
3. Disrespect those who influence your future
When Britney Spears was in court for one of her many criminal acts she proceeded to call the judge who was about to decide her sentence an “old fart”.
This is a good idea for all of use who want to get ahead. Don’t suck up to people, make fun of them and call them names!
4. Give only 50% at important work gatherings
Remember when Britney finished her stint in rehab and had to give a come back performance for her new album? She got up on stage in a tight bikini looking perhaps a little overweight, tired and possibly high. It was not a pretty sight. Everyone felt sorry for her and really didn’t enjoy the performance.
This lessons shows us how important it is to make little to no preparations and then give only 50% of your best when it counts.
5. If in doubt, kiss Madonna
Some people have said that the kiss with Madonna was the beginning of the end for Britney. It was after this that her drug abuse worsened, she married a few deadbeats in Vegas, released a greatest hits album (already!), checked in and out of rehab and more.
Britney was now showing the world that everything she had said before about her morals, ethics and religion was no longer important. All of that could be forgone for some ratings.
We all laugh and joke about Britney but in reality I think we have lost sight that this girl is in serious trouble. She is mentally unwell and obviously not happy. The sad thing is that is the we as consumers who created this. Her life is public because we can’t get enough of the gossip.
But I ask you: what is so good about this woman that you want to keep looking? Nothing she does is worthy of attention.
The reason for writing this post was 1) to have a bit of a laugh and 2) to show that everything that we do has a consequence. Little girls are learning from Britney and will grow up thinking that she is a role model. Is your career so important that you would be unethical to get to where you want to be?
“Be very mindful of everything that you say for those very words could establish someone on the path to success or failure.” – Unknown.
