Success is achieved through deliberate practice. And at the heart of deliberate practice is the ability to focus. To become great at something requires being able to practice in a way where all of your attention is being channeled toward that something. This is not hitting the gym and going through the motions, or clocking into work and doing what’s required of you. The type of focus here is one that activates tunnel vision, while simultaneously being receptive to feedback.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

56: Focus, Why Your Success Requires Removing Distractions

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“The one most important thing to do is to not try to find the one most important thing to do.” - Jared Diamond(click to tweet)We’re raised around the people most genetically similar to us. This makes it very difficult to isolate how much of our identity comes from DNA and how much is driven by our environment. To complicate things even further, the field of epigenetics has shown that gene expression can be altered by the environment around us. That’s why on today’s episode of MentorBox’s Book of the Day series, we are joined by the American geographer, historian, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond, to discuss the nature vs. nurture debate. Jared is the author of Guns, Germs, and Steel (1997, awarded a Pulitzer Prize), and in today’s episode he sheds light on this elusive human phenomenon. Tune in to situate your understanding of the nature vs. nurture debate with the findings of research!“In general, friends that you know longer are more unique. They can’t be replaced.” - Jared Diamond(click to tweet)Points to Keep In MindIn the nature-nurture debate, look at resistance to malaria between Swedes and West Africans, and use of metal tools between Europeans and New GuineansTemperate zones have higher agricultural productivity because of richer soilCosta Rica has gone from the poorest country in Central America to now, the richestThe Cuban government has invested more heavily in education and health than the American governmentWithin the last two decades, most communication has shifted from face-to-face to indirect and through digital screensRemember that new friends are good, but old friends are better“The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people.” - Albert EinsteinRead Walden by Henry David ThoreauThe difference between function and dysfunction is level of specificitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nature vs. Nurture: Where Do You Stand? (Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel)

Is there such a thing as originality? When we examine creativity, we can see that constructs like language and education have us undoubtedly building off a foundation that’s already been thought of before. This is the predicament the artist finds himself or herself in. To be truly unique is both impossible and very possible. We must understand what base we’re building on top of, while trying to transcend the limits of that foundation with energy that comes from an unknown place.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

106: Originality vs. Imitation: Where Do You Stand?

Succeeding online requires more than great content. We can spend all the time in the world perfecting the marketing video or blog post, but if search engines aren’t motivated to drive traffic there, it is a futile effort. Today, no matter the business, publishing content online is necessary for survival. But embedding SEO-rich keywords into the content is what will push you past survival into actual success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

105: Stephan Spencer, Perfecting The Art of SEO

A career is a series of lessons to learn from. But often times, it’s hard to see this big picture. At each job, we are met with new challenges that keep us up at night. The anxiety and frustration can be overwhelming, but these momentary obstacles are actually the moments that deepen our learning and understanding to become a bigger force in the marketplace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

104: Beth Comstock, Imagine It Forward

The pet industry speaks for the changing times. It used to be that if you built a big enough business, you could just mass message consumers, and those seeking your product would become your customers. But today, a corgi owner only wants to know about corgi products. Technology has broken the messaging infrastructure, and now social media allows for niche brands to more pointedly target their audience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

56: Focus, Why Your Success Requires Removing Distractions

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