Nicholas Bate

Jagged Thoughts for Jagged Times, 323

Anxiety drops significantly when we realise we have been misled if we feel a fulfilled life is one which is totally under our control.

Jagged Thoughts for Jagged Times, 201

What if you did know what to do?  What if you did know the answer? Did know which option to take....

You do. Your heart and gut will tell you. Just slow down enough to tune into their wisdom. The pivot table is only one dimension of a life lived long, wide and deep.

Immersion 10: Being Happy

1. Decide to be happy;
2. Simply and simplify. And then simplify;
3. Walk a lot;
4. Talk to supportive, loving people;
5. Spend more time in nature;
6. Sing, dance, play music. Bake bread. Write. Scribble. Cartoon. Look at and watch the weather;
7. Help others;
8. Slowly but surely do more of what you like doing in your job; 
9. Notice you don't actually need so much stuff to 'be happy';
10. Be happy. 

Immersion 9: Writing that Book

1. Just write;
2. You don't need a title (yet);
3. Just write;
4. You don't need a new printer (yet);
5. Just write
6. The kids are noisy, that's because they're kids. Explain and they'll eventually learn to be quieter when you are writing;
7. Just write;
8. You don't need 'free time': you need to grab time. On the train. In the evening. At lunch.
9. Just write;
10. Bonus: writing101. 

Immersion 8: Creativity

1. Start with the mindset: I can be creative;
2. Then certainly think outside the box;
3. But you must have the box first;
4. So: stage 1 know the box: be organised;
5. Stage 2, think outside the box: be disorganised, spontaneous, radical, provocative, emotional, crazy;
6. By: brainstorming, allowing, walking, taking a shower, incubating, drawing, writing;
7. Then distill to actionable items. Innovation=creativity+action; 
8. Then project manage to fruition; 
9. Bonus 1: creativity101; 
10. Bonus 2: a superb set of creativity principles formulated by Warwick Business School MBA student Hakim Soltanpour:  

Principles of Creativity:
Potentially it is infinite different solutions for a problem and infinite different way to do a task , the goals of these principles is to remove the internal barriers of the mind and release the subconscious mind's power to be more creative, seeing the ocean of possibilities and selecting the best one, in the other word this is a way to deal with creativity as a manner rather than a skill.

• Be generous : When thinking for a new solution don't think about personal gain or money at all (it comes by itself) because it automatically limited the horizon of thinking and the subconscious part of mind would search for money in task not for solutions which is totally different.
• Be hope full : The first step for finding a new solution is believing that a new solution is possible we can't find some thing when we don't believe in its existance, if you don't believe that there is a possible treatment for AIDS, as a researcher you can't find it and finally another person would find it.
• Be care full about assumptions: New solution is output of the creative thinking process while data are inputs, so its extremely important to use correct accurate and first hand data / information. When we start to thinking about a solution, mixing assumptions with facts and also using second hand data which usually is mixed with assumptions of people that collected that data is fatal error in creative thinking . Many time we don't understand what is the real problem.
• Confidence and risk tacking:To be creative you should resist the temptation of following the traditional ways because they are safe, any new way is fundamentally involve with risk and therefore it needs risk taking and confidence to dealing with fears. Imagine what would happened if  Christopher Columbus was timid .
• Inspiration resources :When we remove the barrier of creation we need some inspiration resources for creation,  nature is the most amazing resource for solutions every thing in the nature is in its extreme efficient situation because its result of thousands years of evolution, payimg attention to detail of every thing in nature is a key point. Also any kind of beauty is a resource of inspiration (maybe for this reason usually artists change their partner time by time for seeking new inspiration resource  ). Also we need an engine for this journey, love could be the best motivator , most of the historical master pieces are result of love .
• Extreme of Creativity : When we think about creative people usually names like Edison, Einstein or Bill Gates comes to our mind, although they are extremely creative , still there is higher level for creation,' Re create your self' ' , be your own invention ,invent ae unique and original life style for yourself,don't be generic, Nelson Mandela , Mother Tresa are examples of extreme innovation , inventing a new human which is not like any other person , a new life style which the whole life is continuous innovation.

  

Immersion 7: Marketing

getting what you want quickly and easily

1. It's the experience gained, not the product.
2. Absolute music freedom; not an iPod.
3. A place to write one's book; not a Starbucks.
4. In a 'smaller pie' world, people are choosier about their experiences.
5. Offer an amazing experience, then they will choose you.
6. And pay for you.
7. The amazing experience=company x product x you. 
8. The only one you have 100% control over is the third factor in the equation. 
9. Play it to the max. 
10. More? Try Marketing101. 

Immersion 6: Wellness

Getting what you want quickly and easily.

1. Wellness does not equal fitness.
2. Wellness is that fine mental; and physical balance where you know, just know you are the best version of you.
3. Energy, focus, creativity, resilience and sheer 'can do' are at their peak.
4. Extreme fitness can damage that balance.
5. Think M-E-D-S.
6. M= mediation. Take time out every day. Nothing absolutely nothing. And if 10 minutes of doing nothing drives you spare, boy do you need to meditate!
7. E=exercise. Simple CV; walk, swim. Take the stairs; walk to the corner shop. Leave the car at home more often.
8. D=diet. Food for energy, focus and health not just 'fuel'.
9. S=sleep. Sleep deprivation is the cheapest and one of the most effective forms of torture. Why do it to yourself?
10. Bonus: wellness101. 

Immersion 5: Parenting

Getting what you want quickly and easily.

1. Model the behaviors you seek. Want more respect? Show more respect.
2. Grow up as they do. The world is changing. They'll show you how.
3. Do one-to-ones. I.e spend time individually with them. Regularly. Just hanging out: that's when real conversations occur.
4. Be interested.
5. Be interesting.
6. Give unconditional love.
7. Remind them that society sells a dream 'be like everyone else and you'll be successful'.
8. Actually, if they notice, it's those who are different who are really successful. Whether carpenter, accountant or rock-artist.
9. Support them in their dreams, emotionally.
10. Hug them. Regularly.

Immersion 4: Productivity

1. Who do you want to be? What changes do want to effect?
2. That's the only reason for being productive.
3. It's not so you can 'get stuff done'.
4. It's so you can get the right things done at the right time.
5. And in your own small or big way change the world and make it an even better place.
6. You need two things: what you have to do and
7. And when you are going to do them.
8. So you need a list (what) and a diary/calendar (when).
9. Once a day-ritualistically-bring them together.
10. More help here: productivity101.

Immersion 3: Personal Wealth

1. True wealth? The stuff money can't buy, of course. The stuff we forget about until it's damaged, receding or gone. Health, relationships. Interesting job. A view over the sea. A garden to tend. Kids to play ball with.
2. But if we need to talk money, calculate your wealth not by salary nor car but by balance sheet. Otherwise you might become 'big hat no cattle'.
3. Your personal balance sheet=assets (house)-liabilities (debts).
4. Simple strategies to sort one's finances:
5. Save, then spend.
6. Know what comes in and what goes out.
7. Create and stick to budgets for areas of spending. 
8. Minimise debt 
9. Use cash rather than credit cards more often, You feel the appropriate value of money more easily.
10. There is a difference between standard of living (stuff) and quality of life (soul). They can equate initially, But chasing too much of the former can ironically damage the latter.