Linear thinking is a way of understanding the world that focuses on cause and effect, beginning and end, problem and solution, birth and death. It simplifies complex systems by focusing on only a few variables (often just 2) and ignoring the rest. This type of thinking is problematic because it fails to take into account the complexity of reality and the interconnectedness of all things.
For example, weather systems are incredibly complex and cannot be understood by only looking at a single variable, such as the time it will start or stop raining. Similarly, the U.S. healthcare system is a complex system that cannot be improved by making changes to only one aspect of it.
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In my writing, I often discuss the limitations of using willpower. Many studies have shown that willpower is a finite resource that can become depleted as we use it. For example, if we have a stressful day at work and use willpower to avoid losing our temper, we may have less willpower to resist the temptation of fast food on the drive home. While this understanding can be helpful in preventing people from relying too heavily on willpower, it is not a comprehensive explanation of how willpower works.
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Walt Disney, one of the most successful individuals of all time, once said "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." This quote speaks to the importance of moving past the mental aspects of goal setting and taking action to succeed.
Many people focus too much on planning and not enough on taking action. They may fear that their idea isn't viable and avoid testing the market by trying to sell a product. This can lead to procrastination and staying in startup mode without moving forward.
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In systems thinking, we often encounter systems that are composed of multiple layers. These layers can be used to achieve goals in our personal lives as well.
Years ago, I discovered that I could use layers when exercising to keep my attention engaged and the time would fly by. I would listen to music, ride a recumbent exercise bike, and read or write at the same time. This allowed me to forget that I was exercising and spend more time on it. I even wrote my book (You Can’t Surf from the Shore) and most of my blog articles using this method. Over time, it became a daily habit.
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Systems thinking is a wonderful construct that help us make sense of the world around us. Instead of going through the motions and feeling powerless, we start to see how we influence the very systems that influence us.
Imagine a coworker that drives you crazy. Every interaction is more painful than necessary. Every conversation is strained. The difficulty of every task gets magnified.
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One of my mantras is life is to take care. It reminds me to take care of the areas in life that I am responsible. Take care of my work. Take care of my family and friends. Take care of the tasks that must get done.
This translates to an active versus passive approach to life. I can’t avoid taking care because I’m too busy or I don’t feel like doing it. It helps me stay focused and do the things that most avoid.
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When pursuing a goal or project, it's crucial to stay focused on what truly matters. While the final outcome is often top of mind, it's not the only thing that deserves attention.
Many people make the mistake of fixating solely on the end result, which can lead to disappointment and missed opportunities. Instead, the final goal should serve as a distant vision and a reason for our efforts, but not be the main focus.
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Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki is a classic book on money. It's a profound perspective shift on how we approach money, assets, and the road to financial independence.
But there is a lot of criticism of his approach. Someone like Dave Ramsey would argue that Kiyosaki relies too much of debt and taking risk.
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In our fast-paced world, it seems like everyone is constantly racing against the clock. The pressure to get more done is ever-present. Unfortunately, this often results in a counterproductive cycle where we rush through tasks, only to find ourselves redoing them later. This pattern can leave us feeling overwhelmed and questioning our productivity. The key to breaking this cycle lies in setting up effective systems and developing positive habits.
We've all been there – racing through our to-do lists without taking the time for a second thought. It's easy to confuse busyness with productivity. However, being genuinely productive means accomplishing the right tasks efficiently rather than simply checking off items.
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In my writing, I often discuss the limitations of relying solely on willpower. Studies have shown that willpower is a finite resource that can be depleted over time. For example, if you have a stressful day at work and use willpower to avoid lashing out at someone, you may not have as much willpower left to resist the temptation of fast food on the drive home.
However, I acknowledge that this understanding of willpower is not comprehensive. The concept of willpower as a finite resource is useful in helping people understand that willpower alone is not enough to make lasting changes, but it is not the full picture.
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Walt Disney, one of the most successful individuals of all time, once said "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." This quote highlights the importance of moving past the mental aspects of achieving success and taking action.
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In life, we are faced with a plethora of choices, both big and small. However, it is easy to fall into the trap of accepting the default option, often out of fear of making the wrong decision. This can lead to feelings of stress and unhappiness, as well as a sense of being a victim of circumstance.
But the truth is, when we avoid making deliberate choices, we are still accountable for the outcome. The default option may seem like the easy path, but it also means settling for whatever is left over. Those who are willing to actively choose and strive for something are the ones who get the first pick.
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When working towards a goal or project, it's important to remember what really matters. Simply keeping the final outcome in mind isn't enough to ensure success.
Many people make the mistake of solely focusing on the end result and end up falling short. But the key to success isn't just having a clear picture of the final goal. While it's important to have a distant vision to guide our efforts, it's equally important to focus on the progress we're making along the way.
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The quote "if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change" by Dr. Wayne Dyer highlights the idea that our internal beliefs and thoughts shape the way we perceive the world around us. Our individual perspectives can color our experiences and interactions with the world, and this can be both beneficial and detrimental to our understanding of ourselves and others.
One way to understand this concept is to do a simple experiment. If someone asked you to close your eyes and think about the color red, you might think of stop signs, tomatoes, and blood. Pause for a minute to visualize red objects, then open them and look around the room.
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Linear thinking is a narrow way of thinking that simplifies situations by focusing on two variables out of many. It believes that there is a simple cause and effect, start and finish, problem and solution, birth and death, rise and fall, and action and reaction.
However, this approach ignores the complexity of systems and fails to take into account all the factors involved. This type of thinking can lead to flawed conclusions and ineffective solutions.
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When studying systems thinking, we come across many systems with multiple layers to them. These layers can be used to achieve our goals, both in our personal and professional lives.
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The notion that businesses are either growing or dying is a prevalent but limited viewpoint. The reality is that business operations are always in a state of flux, with ups and downs rather than a steady incline or decline. This can make it difficult to determine if progress is being made.
To overcome this challenge, successful businesses adopt a mindset of continuous improvement. Regardless of their current state, there is always room for improvement, providing direction and enabling them to advance and secure their place in the market.
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Are you ready to leave your comfort zone behind and embark on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery and personal growth? You Can't Surf from the Shore by Scott Miker will inspire and motivate you to take risks, challenge yourself, and embrace the unknown while relying on systems and habits to stockpile your improvements.
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Improvement is an essential part of personal and professional growth. However, many people struggle making meaningful changes in their lives. The systems and habits approach to improvement provides a framework for creating sustainable changes that lead to better outcomes.
The systems and habits approach is all about creating routines and processes that support our goals. By building systems and habits, we reduce the need for willpower and motivation to make positive changes in our lives. Instead, we create an environment where improvement becomes the default.
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As we work towards our goals, our habits and systems often take over, driving us towards success. However, our natural tendency is to keep pushing, to increase the pace of our improvement. This can lead to dropping all the way back to zero.
To illustrate this, I recall a leadership conference where a speaker asked someone to juggle multiple balls. As more balls were added, the participant dropped all of them. This is a reminder that when we add more responsibilities or push for more, we risk dropping everything.
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