Tapping Into Your Inner Expert
“An expert is a man [or woman] who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field.” – — Niels Henrik David Bohr
You’re an expert. Yep, you. If you’re reading this right now then I guarantee you’re an expert at something.
Maybe you already knew that. If so, congrats. You’re ahead of most of the population.
Many people think that they are not EXCELLENT at any one thing. Maybe they know they’re good at a few things but they definitely don’t consider themselves experts.
Well, most people (again) are WRONG.
You are an expert at something.
I recently participated in a webinar/Q & A with author Tim Ferriss. He coined the term lifestyle design, wrote the book “The Four Hour Workweek” and helps people build their businesses with mobility in mind.
He often recommends that people define themselves as an expert in ONE arena and run with it. Come out with some information products, sell products, and set themselves up for the coveted four hour work week.
However, many people, can’t think of anything that they are experts at.
Tim offers this suggestion: “Ask yourself: What makes me weird?”
Seriously, what makes you weird? Do you like birdhouses? Synchronized swimming? Building birdhouses whiel synchonized swimming?
Maybe what makes you weird isn’t even that weird at all. Are you really good at snowboarding and like to do yoga? Well, maybe you’re an expert at yoga positions for snowboarders. Sound weird enough to you?
Here’s your homework: Make a list of all the stuff that you enjoy doing. Then rate each item on the list on a scale of 1 – 5. 5 being “I’m really really good at this” and 1 being “Just a hobby”. Then when you’re finished take a look at the list and circle everything that you listed as a 3 or better.
If you think hard enough, you should be able to figure out that you’re an expert in SOMETHING. If not, put the list away and look at it again in a few days. I guarantee that if nothing else, this exercise will get you thinking about yourself and the value that you could offer the world if you’d only tap into it.
How to increase productivity and get things done in three easy steps
Ahh, procrastination. You know what you need to do but you’d just rather not to do… At least not right now.
How many things do you have on your procrastination list? Still want to take that dream trip and haven’t made it? Still want to quit your job and start your own business?
Or maybe it’s just the little things that are adding up. Sure, the laundry will do itself one day. They’ll definitely invent that sometime in the next 100 years. Right, keep telling yourself that
Here is a surefire way to increase your productivity in three easy steps.
1. Make a clear goal.
“If you are not making the progress that you would like to make and are capable of making, it is simply because your goals are not clearly defined.” – Paul J. Meyer
Most people fail to get anything done simply for the fact that they have no idea what they want to do. They have never sat down and WRITTEN out their goals in a clear and concise manner. This inevitably leads to a nagging feeling in your gut that you could be doing more.
2. Write your goals down. Daily.
This is the single best tactic that I’ve learned for goal setting and productivity. No doubt.
Take an old fashion piece of paper. Do it. Now. I’ll wait.
Now: write down three specific goals that you have for yourself. Make one a daily goal, one a monthly goal, and finally a three month goal.
When you write your goals, write them in the PRESENT TENSE.
For example, don’t write “I want to take a trip to Cancun”.
DO write, “I am taking a trip to Cancun. I’m packing my bags and about to jump on the plane”.
Seems silly but it works! The difference is that you’re setting your brain to think that you’ve already accomplished these goals. Now, nothing can stop you. There are no more mental blocks that will allow you to procrastinate further.
Re-write these goals daily to keep them fresh.
3. Dream big. As big as possible.
“You have to set goals that are almost out of reach. If you set a goal that is attainable without much work or thought, you are stuck with something below your true talent and potential.” – Steve Garvey
Most people set their goals far too low. Don’t be afraid of setting goals that seem unrealistic or lofty. These are the BEST goals. It’s better for you to set an “unrealistic” goal and come close then to set an easy goal and reach it without effort or strife.
Don’t be afraid of your true potential. You are capable of far more than you realize.
Now did you write your goals down yet? I’m betting you didn’t. Go right now and grab and piece of paper and a pen and write down three goals. Then take that piece of paper and put it in your pocket for whenever you need motivation or encouragement.
Good luck, I know you can do it!
Top Three Fat Burning Foods
Can food burn fat? Absolutely. I’ve learned this after years of weight training, cardio training, and losing weight that I pick up during times of travel or extreme stress.
Here are my top three fat burning foods. Try to eat at least 2 out of the three on a typical day and while incorporating water consumption and exercise. You will start to see the fat shred off your body.
For the purposes of this post, I’m only including starchy carbs. Just to show that carbs CAN help you burn fat when eaten in the correct combinations.
1. Oatmeal
It was really difficult for me to get into oatmeal. The texture really bothered me. However, it is an excellent fat burning food. It’s also very versatile. You can mix it with protein powder for a complete meal. I have to mix in some kind of fruit (I personally prefer bananas) in order to get over my initial texture issues. I’m into it now. Yum.
2. Yams/Sweet potatoes
Yeah, yeah. Yams and sweet potatoes aren’t technically the same. However, they often marketed as the same product in the U.S. so I’m lumping them together. They are an excellent fat burning complex carbohydrate. To create a complete meal, mix them with a lean cut of meat.
3. Brown Rice
Brown rice is an excellent fat burning food. The hardest part about brown rice is making it correctly. It can turn out too grainy and almost inedible if you do it wrong.
A quick Google search led me to this link: http://pinchmysalt.com/2009/04/06/how-to-cook-perfect-brown-rice/
I haven’t tried it yet but it’s worth a shot. If you can get brown rice just right then it is a great companion to a any type of protein source that you choose.
Yum! Alright, happy eating (and fat burning).
New Year’s Resolutions
-Update my shiny new blog weekly
-Write an e-book
-Study Spanish
-Train in Muay Thai
-Get back in serious shape
-Monitor expenses on Mint.com
-Travel to at least one new country
-Get straight As in the Spring
-Speak at universities in LA
-Get a press release printed
-Use HARO (www.helpareporterout.com)
-Schedule my tweets with su.pr
-Spend more time with my siblings
Love more
Live more
Learn more
Arbitrary Sounds
The larynx vibrates
nasal passages open and close
tongues dance around the house
jaws open and shut like a mental drawbridge.
To some, it is gibberish.
To others, it is music.
To even more, it is everything.
Pushing air out of lungs without
a thought of breathing or immediate
survival.
An instinct too innate to fully
understand its origins.
Everyone can participate in some
arena.
Not all are audible and
not all can fully comprehend.
However, all wish to play.
All have something to say,
whether or not they ever
say anything at all.
Living Beats on the Streets
Water jiggling in a bottle
Dreadlocks swaying to and fro
A walk across a busy intersection
All seemingly innocuous movements
often viewed without significance
suddenly
They are illuminated…
suddenly
They are alive.
Your head begins to nod
Your feet beging to tap
You try to stop but there
is no resisting its power.
It brings the world to life
It moves you involuntarily
It give you a new energy
that you once only found in dreams…
Listen and you will understand
Blog negligence and other crimes.
WOW. I completely suck at keeping up with my blog.
Where to begin?
Here’s the super short version:
I was bored with Taiwan and took off to Australia with dreams of koalas, kangaroos, and picking fruit. I soon realized a fact that I had forgotten while in Asia: Western countries are bloody expensive. Plus, people talk funny down undah.
So, after a rude awakening and a Skype call to my dad, I was back in California after a year and a half abroad.
Best. Experience. Of. My. Life.
Trust me, I plan to write more about this and to write lots more about Taiwan. But for now, I’ll just let you know that I’m enjoying the sunshine. Oh, yeah… I’m sure you want to know the ever pressing question…
What am I doing? Well, I’m getting my Masters in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) so that I can go abroad again at some point. The travel itch needs to be scratched regularly. I’m also working on some really cool top secret projects that I will reveal slowly but surely and then BAM! all of a sudden. You’ll see. It’s awesome.
Plus, I’m getting in shape and starting to study Muay Thai so that I return to Thailand (not Taiwan, ThaiLAND) and train properly in Phuket. Awesome.
Anyway, I love you. I really do. Thanks for reading and I promise to post some very interesting tidbits from Taiwan, Thailand, and Australia…. and from the day in the life of Heidi.
Two-stepping to a patriotic jig
Just let me take a step back for a moment to consider my roots.
Although its faults are many, its residents extremely varied, and both its present and history marked with violence, I love America.
I love America not for its government, not to for its war of terror, not for its imposition on cultures. I love America not for its shock and awe, not for its global ignorance, or for its military prowess.
I love America for its bare bones. I love America for the grassroots. Basically, I love America for its people.
People of all races, creeds, religions, ethnicities, and every other difference under the warm sun. Not that we don’t have our morons, thieves, and greed ridden criminals. This diversity is what creates the greatest beauty.
Out of chaos comes peace and out of America comes the greatest people I’ve ever met. Maybe it seems like I’m hypocritical of flip flopping like a politician but I’ve never doubted the ability of Americans. I’ve never doubted the ability to struggle from what seems hopeless and to come out stronger than ever.
Basically, I miss home. But I’m thankful for the amazing people from all the world that I’m meeting in Taiwan. However, I’m most blessed with the presence of intelligent, creative, open, honest, esoteric, stubborn, confident, and beautiful Americans.
Maybe it just says something about Americans who are willing to travel. To go out into the world with no clear plan. To out in search of anything without knowing whether you’ll find it or even caring. It’s that attitude that I not only relate to but also am thankful for.
When I do come home, I won’t come without gifts. I’ll come bearing lessons, stories, and a positive outlook. I’ll come with knowledge, motivation, and the smarts to back it up. I’ll come with love, hope, and an undying will to live. When I come home, I’ll bring the world back with me.
Things change too quickly in Taiwan…
A lot has changed since I last wrote here. I changed teaching jobs last month right before Chinese New Year. This was stressful and a major change in a lot of ways. However, I managed to make a fairly smooth transition into my new job.
Basically, my old position was really ruining my experience in Taiwan. Working late nights for unpaid work was really getting to me. So I found a better job with normal working hours and more stability. I’m really happy with this choice and I know I did the right thing.
Since I quit my job at Hess, I’ve been able to work on one of my major goals in coming to Taiwan. To study Kung Fu. I’m studying Jeet Kune Do at a small studio right near my apartment. Jeet Kune Do is Bruce Lee’s version of Kung Fu. The studio is covered of pictures of Bruce Lee and we bow to a large picture of him at the end of every lesson. The lessons are almost completely in Chinese and my teacher learned from a man who studied directly under Bruce Lee. I’m really enjoying this and so glad that I have this opportunity to study Kung Fu so close to its origins.
Also my Chinese is getting much better. I’m still far from fluent but I mostly communicate things within necessity. Reading characters is still extremely difficult but I recognize a few. Mainly “woman”. This is VERY useful when looking for the lady’s room in public.
Overall, I’m keeping myself very busy. I work full-time and study Kung Fu and Chinese in my spare time. I don’t feel like I’m on vacation mode anymore so sorry for the lack of posting. I will get up some pictures soon that I’ve been meaning to post of things I see around town.
