clips of logic

In most games, starting first gives you a better edge because you get to dictate the pace of the game. The effect is even more prominent in turn based games.

However, life isn’t a turn based game, so acting first can be extremely scary (to the lizard brain) and very uncomfortable for most people. It seems safer when we are being lead by someone and if anything goes wrong, we got someone to blame.

But if your aim is to do something remarkable, different and revolutionary, chances are you have to be the one to take the first step.

There is no guarantee that by starting first, you will stand a better chance than the rest. But at least, you’ll be the pioneer and if you do make it, the rewards are definitely worthwhile.

I have problems falling asleep every night as I take at least 30 minutes before i wander off to dreamland. Here are some tips from Nancy Rothstein, author of best-selling children’s book My Daddy Snores, and co-creator of The Sleep Radio Show. These are taken directly from this article on GOOD.

1. Unplug early. Avoid the computer, television, or cell phone before you hit the the sheets. These electronic devices stimulate your body, which is exactly what you don’t want before you start counting sheep.
2. Paint it black. Does the outdoor city light bother you? Does the morning sunlight wake you up earlier than you would like? Invest in black-out curtains, or get eyeshades. Eliminate other light sources, such as your LED alarm clock display or the glare of a computer screen—which should be off at night anyway!
3. Have a routine. Try to get to bed at the same time everyday—even on the weekends. Sticking to a schedule helps your body reinforce regular sleep. This is especially important for children, as irregular and inefficient sleep can have harmful consequences on their development.
4. Just say no. Contrary to popular belief, drinking right before bedtime will not aid your sleep. Try to avoid drinking three to four hours before you go to bed. Avoid caffeine and nicotine for at least eight to nine hours before bedtime.
5. Ritualized relaxation. Some good pre-bedtime activities: taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music, reading a book, or just sitting quietly with dim lighting. Nancy even recommends doing a yoga pose called the child’s pose on your bed before going to sleep.
6. Don’t push it. If you can’t fall asleep within 15 to 20 minutes, get up and do something until you feel tired. Practice breathing exercises until you feel tired enough to fall asleep. Try organizing your room, solving a jigsaw puzzle, or listening to soothing music.
7. Beds are for sleeping. Do you live in a small apartment? Tempted to use the bed as a work desk or a couch? Don’t. Make sure your bed is for sleeping only. No exceptions.

Derek Sivers tweeted this link a while ago on how we only need enough motivation to get started and the momentum will keep us going after that. Apparently, it doesn’t take much motivation for us to do something.

The article talks about how the author managed to convince himself to get outside during the rain for a bike ride. He needed only a little push, enough to get him outside. Once he is riding, it doesn’t take much discipline to continue to do so.

My ride in the rain taught me a good lesson about motivation and discipline: we need it less than we think.

The important is that we don’t give up at the time when we are most vulnerable. We need to use our willpower and discipline to get pass the initial stage to get started then everything else is easy.

What’s important is that your moment of choice is when you are in the right state of mind — when you need the least willpower — to make the best decision.

If you have problems getting yourself to do something, read the article to learn how to motivate yourself. It seems we need less motivation and discipline than we think and that’s a good thing.

When  I started my own business, I took on any jobs and gigs I could find. It’s hard when you are starting out so obviously I try to get all the help I can.

Then at some point, I realized that some of the things I’m doing just isn’t profitable and led me no where. All they did was take up my time and prevented me from doing the ones that actually matters.

So I decided it was time to define the scope of jobs I will take on and those that I won’t. I made the choice to focus only on web development which I have the most experience with.

It worked out well because I’m doing things that I’m good at and also enjoy. It also allowed me to focus on my own self-improvement. Now that I know what I want, I know exactly where I need to improve myself.

The other choice I made was to only work with clients that are worth it. Sometimes, you’ll meet clients that are impossible to please and it is best to walk away from the project. But when you find one that’s a keeper, you should do whatever it takes to keep it going.

Realize that you need to make a choice in order to change something and whether it changes for the better or worse is where the real challenge it.

Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you can’t do anything to make it better. If you’ve explored all the possibilities and still couldn’t solve the problem, then don’t worry about it and let it be.

We are taught how to solve problems but never learned to decide which problem we shouldn’t solve. You need to realize that you can’t possibly have the answer for everything.

It’s okay to walk away from things you can’t deal with but just don’t use it as an excuse to run away from it.