Friday, November 30, 2018
You are not some disinterested bystander. Participate. Exert yourself.
-Seneca.
I don't need to explain the title. You can figure it out.
08/21/18
Tip #27. In a battle. Research Your Enemy.
You think Bill Belichick wakes up on Sunday morning wishing he understood his opponents weakness. Hell no. He researches all week. He watches game footage. He shows his players how to exploit the defense. How to pick on the bad corners. How to rush the 3rd string guard. He doubles the team's best receiver. He makes his opponent beat him without their best weapon.
I saw many Colts games back in the late 2000s where Reggie Wayne had vanished.
If you have weaknesses, stop wishing you would beat them. Research your opponent. Come up with a game plan.
Spiritual Warfare.
I'm rereading The Screwtape letters as I find myself in a season less connected to the spirituality of life. The work is written by C.S. Lewis from the POV of a demon training another demon on how to secure a soul. The book takes a different look at the forces of good and evil. It presses you to think about spiritual warfare in a objective way. Below is a passage from Screwtape to his apprentice Wormwood
XII
"You can make him waste his time not only in conversation he enjoys with people whom he likes but also in conversations with those he cares nothing about, on subjects that bore him. You can make him do nothing at all for long periods. You can keep him up late at night, not roistering, but staring at a dead fire in a cold room. All the heathy and outgoing activities which we want him to avoid can be inhibited and nothing given in return, so that at last he may say, as one of own patients said on his arrival down here, "I now see that I spent most of my life in doing neither what I ought nor what I liked. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
It is easy to find yourself living aimlessly. Forgetting the earlier passions of your youth and pursuing that NEXT thing. People find themselves envying more impressive life, a fatter paycheck, and more attractive mate. And if you can't get those things then try harder. Be better. Its laughable. We have no peace. We do something, then we want something more. Got a good job. Need a better job. Got a good meal. Need a better one. Your friends get new jobs, new money and you need a new job, new money.
You weren't looking for these things when you were younger but you are now. Why. Humans are prone to wander. And at some point in the distraction you forget who you wanted to be. It happens slowly.
11/30/18
Tip #28. Refocus. Look to the Zombie.
Having trouble sticking to your goals, look to the Zombie. For work, I'm reading a book about brand loyalty by Peter Shankman. The author says that if you want to increase revenue, you want to turn your guests into zombies.
What does a zombie want?
Raw flesh.
What else does a zombie want?
Nothing.
A zombie will do whatever it takes to get that one thing. It won't get distracted by other nonsense. Of course Shankman was eluding to making your customers more loyal and enthusiast about their brand. This translates to personal goal setting very well.
Throw away the distractions. Focus on the task ahead. Does netflix need to go? Hell they cancelled Daredevil anyways. What about Instagram, Hinge. etc... Or maybe its a more noble thing. You may be exercising too much.
You are going to have distractions in your life. Maybe you can't get rid of them all, but if you want to accomplish a big one you have to make time for it. You won't get rid of all your distractions overnight. But it will help to become more mindful.
Look to the Zombie.
I don't need to explain the title. You can figure it out.
08/21/18
Tip #27. In a battle. Research Your Enemy.
You think Bill Belichick wakes up on Sunday morning wishing he understood his opponents weakness. Hell no. He researches all week. He watches game footage. He shows his players how to exploit the defense. How to pick on the bad corners. How to rush the 3rd string guard. He doubles the team's best receiver. He makes his opponent beat him without their best weapon.
I saw many Colts games back in the late 2000s where Reggie Wayne had vanished.
If you have weaknesses, stop wishing you would beat them. Research your opponent. Come up with a game plan.
Spiritual Warfare.
I'm rereading The Screwtape letters as I find myself in a season less connected to the spirituality of life. The work is written by C.S. Lewis from the POV of a demon training another demon on how to secure a soul. The book takes a different look at the forces of good and evil. It presses you to think about spiritual warfare in a objective way. Below is a passage from Screwtape to his apprentice Wormwood
XII
"You can make him waste his time not only in conversation he enjoys with people whom he likes but also in conversations with those he cares nothing about, on subjects that bore him. You can make him do nothing at all for long periods. You can keep him up late at night, not roistering, but staring at a dead fire in a cold room. All the heathy and outgoing activities which we want him to avoid can be inhibited and nothing given in return, so that at last he may say, as one of own patients said on his arrival down here, "I now see that I spent most of my life in doing neither what I ought nor what I liked. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
It is easy to find yourself living aimlessly. Forgetting the earlier passions of your youth and pursuing that NEXT thing. People find themselves envying more impressive life, a fatter paycheck, and more attractive mate. And if you can't get those things then try harder. Be better. Its laughable. We have no peace. We do something, then we want something more. Got a good job. Need a better job. Got a good meal. Need a better one. Your friends get new jobs, new money and you need a new job, new money.
You weren't looking for these things when you were younger but you are now. Why. Humans are prone to wander. And at some point in the distraction you forget who you wanted to be. It happens slowly.
11/30/18
Tip #28. Refocus. Look to the Zombie.
Having trouble sticking to your goals, look to the Zombie. For work, I'm reading a book about brand loyalty by Peter Shankman. The author says that if you want to increase revenue, you want to turn your guests into zombies.
What does a zombie want?
Raw flesh.
What else does a zombie want?
Nothing.
A zombie will do whatever it takes to get that one thing. It won't get distracted by other nonsense. Of course Shankman was eluding to making your customers more loyal and enthusiast about their brand. This translates to personal goal setting very well.
Throw away the distractions. Focus on the task ahead. Does netflix need to go? Hell they cancelled Daredevil anyways. What about Instagram, Hinge. etc... Or maybe its a more noble thing. You may be exercising too much.
You are going to have distractions in your life. Maybe you can't get rid of them all, but if you want to accomplish a big one you have to make time for it. You won't get rid of all your distractions overnight. But it will help to become more mindful.
Look to the Zombie.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Oh Hai, Mark.
Oh Hai, Everyone. It's been over three years since my last post. Why post now? Why not start a new blog? Why even have a blog?
During the last three years a lot has changed. I moved from Muncie, IN to Chicago, IL. I have worked at REI , Starbucks, Laugh Out Loud Theatre, The Hancock Building (Fired), Hashbrowns (Fired) , Elly’s Pancake House, Citadel Hedge fund Mailroom (Quit twice), Lincoln Park High School Football Coach , Fairgreen Real Estate , Yardhouse, Echo Global Logistics, and Chicago Electric Boat Company.
I have 11 different paytstubs in the last 3 years. I have gone out on lots of dates, seen a few people, and been in one committed relationship. Fitness has terrorized my life. I’ve done three Triathlons, two Marathons, and am on the verge of going to Amsterdam to run a third. I have hosted a few comedy shows. Been involved in many more. Walked away from comedy, walked back again.
3 lessons in 3 years
- Keep showing up.
In 2016, I found myself connecting with a man at Park Community Church. He had a good head on his shoulders. We bonded during a bible study and eventually he plucked me out of the mailroom for a seasonal job at Chicago Electric Boat Company. I found myself enjoying the Chicago River on a daily basis. I had to deal with some shit too. From fining a basic white girl for getting to drunk and refusing to come back to the dock to an unmanned boat roaming loose in the marina.
The job was part time, we hadn’t had enough growth to bring me on to a full time roll. Over the next couple years I had to get a full time job. I’d work 8-5 and the head to the boat shop to put in some hours. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and working with the people.
A few weeks ago the GM quit and they offered me the position. It was a tough decision. I had finally found a home with Echo. Lots of cool people and I was pretty good at slinging freight. One of the only threads I had the last few years was working in the marina. I knew I liked the job because I had been doing it for a couple years. I took the job.
Chicago Electric Boats fell out of nowhere right into my lap. My foot in the door was very small. But over the years the door opened up until I began to shove half my body into the doorway.
- You can’t pick and choose.
You need to really think about your life. Is it by design or by default. I had a rough day at work the other day. I had to fine a group 750 dollars for damaging the back deck of a boat. After work I was going to see a girl. I was hauling on my Surly. I passed another cyclist on her right side. She was riding in the center of the lane. She yelled out to me, “Pass on the left. Asshole.” As I zipped past her I yelled back, “Wear and helmet, you can’t pick and choose.”
Who is this woman to tell me the rules of the road. She is just picking and choosing the ones she likes. I inconvenienced her by passing her on the right. She isn’t even taking care of her own life. Wear a helmet. Are you kidding me?
In the coming days I thought about this line. “Wear and helmet, you can’t pick and choose.” How often in my own life am I picking and choosing. I run a marathon, but eat a bunch of junk food. I go to church on sunday, then I go makeout with a total stranger. Give someone some life advice, then go do the total opposite. In the coming weeks I will attempt to trim the fat in my life. The things that are by default and not by design. We need to each take the time and reflect on each day and think how can we improve. What bad habits did we curb?
- We don’t need self help, we need to help.
“Suffering you need, Literature is baloney.” - Tim Krabbe
The best self help is not reading a blog. What is the thing you can’t stop thinking about it. It's hard. What if I’m bad at it. What if people laugh at me. What if my family disowns me. Who cares. You have but one role in this life. To be a good person and help others be good people. If the thing you are thinking about could help another person, you know what you need to do. Quit taking it easy. What challenge can you suffer through to become a better person.
In the last year, I have immersed myself in Albert Camus, Immanuel Kant, Plato,, Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, CS Lewis, Soren Kierkegaard, and many others. A lot of these fellas are very intelligent. I had found myself reading one and then another and then another. I think it's more important to find these guys interesting then it is to actually read them. What I learned was how important it is to reflect. A lot of us know what we need to do. We find ourselves falling into rabbit holes while we look for alternatives or distraction. If you want to read a novel read a novel. If you want to read a self help book read a self help book. But don’t forget these are distractions. You have a life to live. You don’t want to be the goon at the end of your life who only consumed. Nobody finished their life and wishes they consumed more. They kick themselves for the things they didn’t do. Go do those things. Follow the fear.
This blog is for me. It is not meant to be enjoyed or read. I have made these reminders for myself.
I've attached this introspective piece of work from Demetri Martin. It is one fo the most underrated specials of all time. Demetri is know for his jokes, but he bears his soul during this piece. Worth a watch for sure.
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| Bookend Callback |
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Lyndi Anna Jones : Episode 104 Fired
So I have been off the grid for the most part for the last two months. Since my last post, I have been working three jobs, writing a book, and editing a film. The good news is the book is being edited as you read this. And hopefully you will have a copy in your hands within three weeks!
I am very sorry that there has been a short delay to all of our kickstarter supporters. The extra time that Matt, Emily, and I have put into the book will be worth it! Your patience is commendable.
In the meantime please check out this podcast with my new friend Lyndi! She is really cool and she just got fired!
I am very sorry that there has been a short delay to all of our kickstarter supporters. The extra time that Matt, Emily, and I have put into the book will be worth it! Your patience is commendable.
In the meantime please check out this podcast with my new friend Lyndi! She is really cool and she just got fired!
Lyndi Anna Jones : Episode 104 Fired by Jason Martin on Mixcloud
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
The moment you all have been waiting for
Lindsay Flanagan (Olympic Hopeful) Cuts to the chase in this week's episode of Stop Looking at Me Swan
If you don't care about listening to me babble about life cut to around 20 minutes!
Friday, January 30, 2015
Future 2016 Olympics Marathon Runner Winner for Tuesday's Podcast
Lindsay Flanagan will be on the show this Tuesday. She recently had a qualifying time for olympic qualifier. That race will be in February and if all goes well she will be off to Rio in the summer of 2016! Then we will bring her back on the podcast so she can tell you how my podcast helped win her the olympics.
You can find Lindsay's stats here.
Her twitter handel is @liflana
You all are gonna learn a thing or two about learning a thing or two this Tuesday! Contrary to what you would think, she says she takes a hell of a lot of naps. Work Hard. Nap Harder.
You can find Lindsay's stats here.
Her twitter handel is @liflana
You all are gonna learn a thing or two about learning a thing or two this Tuesday! Contrary to what you would think, she says she takes a hell of a lot of naps. Work Hard. Nap Harder.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
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