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Darren Hardy’s The Compound Effect lays out how radical change is born from the accumulative effect of small changes adhered to over a long period of time. As tempting as it may be to fantasize about dropping all our obligations to become the person we were meant to be, the reality is for most of … 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

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: http://thatamericangrind.com/rally-time/ http://thatamericangrind.com/build-the-framework/ http://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

“The optimal state of inner experience is one in which there is order in consciousness.  This happens when psychic energy-or attention- is invested in realistic goals, and when skills match the opportunities for action.”  -Flow by Mihaly (No I did not just suffer a stroke) Csikszentmihalyi  In this post we’re going to lay a cornerstone … Read more

2020, true to form, rolls right along with a colossal shit-storm of an election. As of this writing, the optics aren’t good. With each passing day, more and more statistical anomalies are discovered, the legalities of recent changes to state law are being called into question, sworn affidavits of election fraud are piling up, and … Read more

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson is a short book that follows four characters, Hem, Haw, Scurry, and Sniff, on their fictional journey through a maze to find cheese.  Everyone will be able to learn something from this book, but the cheese lovers among us will be able to relate to this book on … Read more