Daily Reads

Daily Reads

“Nine Rounds, One Dead K9, and a Decision that forged me.”

Everything that happens is an opportunity, even the hard things. Because those experiences can help other people going through hard things. There’s purpose.

And it’s best to prepare. The principles shared here were “forged” long before they showed up.

“How Can Women Want Babies When They’ve Never Seen One?”

The decisions we make can have profound, exponential consequences on the next generation who carry the weight—and absence—of our choices.

This article is in context of motherhood.

The principles are transferrable to fatherhood, leadership, and life.

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Daily Reads

“I Accidentally Found My Real Father”

God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Psalm 68:6 (NIV)

I Accidentally Found My Real Father

“Fertility is collapsing because motherhood is zero-status”

How often do we deceive ourselves about the “why” behind our purpose, when it’s really status that’s driving our desire?

Maybe because we deny incentives matter?

You can steward your status—and your incentives. (You can even choose your incentives.)

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Daily Reads

“The Commute Took My Time”

This is how you make the most of every opportunity—by viewing everything as an opportunity.

“Iran Has Lost Control of The Strait”

Faced with adversity, a new system was created that may long outlive the adversity.

That difficult situation you’re facing may lead you to create your own “Hormuz Shuttle” you can scale into a value-adding advantage that is helpful and useful to others.

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Daily Read

“Should We Send Our Kids to HAA?”

I find this fascinating because of my work in “higher education ministry” at an academy model institution.

It seems the academy model is breaking out with the opportunity to build as you learn, and will be a major player in the future of higher education.

Since I didn’t cover the topics I intended, I changed the stream title to one that makes more sense, for anyone curious to the reference in the recording.

Old: Daily Reads 159: Replacing systems with new ones that bring the good, the bad, and the ugly.

New: Daily Reads 159: New systems offering new opportunities providing better outcomes—for those willing to help shape the future.

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Daily Reads

“Gossip Doubles: The Leadership Lesson No Training Covers”

Excellent advice in this article on building self-awareness and people skills.

Ask if you’re telling a story that will help work get done, because, “Context is about the work. Gossip is about the person.”

“How I conceptualize personality-driven story emails that sell”

Being able to see how things connect to something seemingly unrelated is a skill.

And being able to see purpose in the small day-to-day things of life is a skill.

This post will help you see how to build both, and more.

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Daily Reads

“A Machinist Makes $58,750. The Man Who Owned His Shop Made $15 Million.”

This article is an excellent demonstration of the difference talent stacking can make—including communication skills.

Sometimes what we envision (the story we tell) leads to what we get. But the stories (vision) we tell may be drafts that can be improved.

“Talking Yourself Out of Exhaustion”

If the story we tell ourselves can have a physical outcome, imagine how the rest of our life could change if we change our thinking?

The story you tell yourself pulls out your potential, and allows you to live more of your purpose where you are.

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Daily Reads

“Thinking It Through Is Not Working It Out”

Interesting article that makes you think...

Are you in love with knowledge (or theories) so much that you’re trapped in a delusion (or excuses)?

Or are you practicing wisdom—applying your knowledge and experience to solve problems in life?

“Your Child Needs Poetry in His Head”

Consider the perspectives, skills, and values that memorizing a poem can provide.

And consider much of the Bible is made up of poetry...

Even Jesus quoted from Psalms, a book of poems.

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. – Robert Frost

Life is lovely, even in the unknown and deep. And we have purposes to keep. An adventure—a journey—until the end.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42891/stopping-by-woods-on-a-snowy-evening

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Daily Reads

“Who Can You Trust?”

“...enduring reciprocal obligation.”

Another way to paraphrase it could be with one word:

Honor.

Generosity with honor builds trust. And the response you get to your generosity and honor reveals who you can build trust with—build a relationship with.

“Two reframes to help you steward your time and talents in the context of building relationships.”

First reframe, from Scott Adam’s book, Reframe Your Brain:

“Usual frame: Success depends on who you know.”

“Reframe: Success depends on how many people you know.”

Who you know is important—influences are important.

And then increasing the number of “who” you know increases the surface area of opportunity. And you can trust God to open and close doors within that.

The second reframe is inspired by Matthew Chang’s book, Risk Taking is Biblical:

Usual frame: Networking is for you. (For your opportunities.)

Reframe: Networking is giving. (Or networking is generosity.)

Because networking is connecting, and connecting is giving.

How you view and approach networking will determine your success with it.

Yes, networking provides opportunities. But generosity with honor builds trust–and if networking shows you the doors, trust is the mechanism God uses to open them.

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Daily Reads

“New magic mushroom makes users see tiny ‘gnome’ people — scientists have no idea how it’s doing that”

Why does this happen?

Are there subconscious cues leading to these hallucinations for the study participants?

Does this benefit the fungus in some way?

Interesting to consider how the mind works.

“The Evidence Around UAPs Is Getting Harder to Ignore”

The evidence is there, and yet we don’t have anything concrete.

The narrative is on the nose, but maybe a little too much.

The people mentioned are credible with their second-hand stories, but were the first-hand experiencers playing pretend?

“Conspiracy Theory Math”

Worth considering when you think you’ve come across a conspiracy in your own life.

Maybe your coworkers are gossiping, or maybe you’re imagining it—remember, reading minds is pretending we know what people are thinking.

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Daily Reads

“You don’t always have to eat the dog food that your BigCo customers serve you.”

This applies to interpersonal relationships.

And reminds me of negotiation-persuasion.

“It seems like finances are important to you. I understand as a small business owner—90 days is a long time.

If you don’t pay us, how am I supposed to do that work?”

“Expert Design: An Introduction”

The “attention is glue” point is interesting in context of my reframe, “Gratitude is Glue.”

If you have gratitude towards something, you’ll give it positive attention.

And often, what you give positive attention, you’re also grateful for.

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