How do we find the strength to turn adversities into opportunities? Wait, is there even such a way to do this? Key takeaways The “Obstacle is The Way” claims there is. Using the ancient stoic philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, this book eloquently describes the art known as “turning obstacles upside down,” helping us see that … Read more
Imagine you’re thrown into a negotiating situation. You’re asking for $1000, but you’re only being offered $500. What do you do? Most people are going to end up meeting in the middle at $750. According to Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, this is what you absolutely must not do! Why should we listen … Read more
The seminal book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankel explores how one can find meaning in life, no matter what the circumstances. Frankl himself survived as a prisoner of 4 concentration camps during the time of Nazi Germany in World War 2. In his book, he describes the lessons that he learned as a … Read more
Deep Work by Cal Newport is a book about increasing the amount of high-quality work you produce. In this post, we’ll look at six quotes from the book and discuss how you can apply them to produce more deep work. Drain The Shallows “I’m asking you to treat shallow work with suspicion because its damage … Read more
How Do We Find Meaning in Our Lives? All of us go through times in our lives where we search for ways to find meaning. We find meaning in many ways, through making genuine friendships and relationships or by fulfilling our deepest passions such as writing a book, traveling around the globe, or by helping … Read more
We’ve all been there; you sit down intending to get some quality work done… Bing! The notification on your phone goes off, so you stop and quickly check it before going back to work. This start/stop method of working is the antithesis of the ideas discussed in Deep Work by Cal Newport. What is Deep … Read more
Alright, time to come clean. There has been quite a bit of tomfoolery around here and it’s time to set the record straight. Once again optimism has gotten the best of me (as it’s prone to do) and it’s time to confront the reality of my own poor decisions. Let’s review: In “Don’t Call It … Read more
(This is the next installment of the “Build The System” series. Please read the following posts first so you’re familiar with the concepts and terms used in this post: https://thatamericangrind.com/rally-time/ https://thatamericangrind.com/build-the-framework/ https://thatamericangrind.com/the-psychology-of-optimal-experience/) As covered previously, the P.M. Routine (PMR) helps you reset your environment and shut your brain down for a good night’s rest. The … Read more