Thought Provoking

This book surprised me.  I grabbed it randomly as it's been one I've been meaning to read for a long time.  I just thought it would be a good one to read sporadically when I get a chance to sit down for 10 minutes at work.

I bought it about 15 years ago on the back of an interesting TV show on an experiment on aging.  The premise being that how we think about aging can affect our experience as we age both positively and negatively. Her results were surprising to her as mobility and function improved by changing the environment and thinking of a cohort of aged care residents.

I was introduced to the term 'mindfulness' and 'mindlessness'.  Mindfulness is to be a participant in the decisions that affect your health.  Mindlessness is handing over complete responsibility to others.

Start The Journey

I last read this book two years ago.  It has been a challenging two years with ups and downs, inertia and momentum.  My thinking has taken a massive shift.  A shift that was necessary if I was to fulfill some dreams of mine.  Dreams that would be unattainable if I were to maintain the status quo.

When I first read this book it was a game changer.  It blew my mind what is possible in the area of wealth creation.  Reading it a second time was like reading a different book.  Aspects not noticed before jumped out of the page.  While others seemed second nature.  No surprise as there has been constant exposure to the cashflow quadrant diagram and its basic tenets.

Kiyosaki outlines a simple concept. Simple in nature but difficult to implement.  It depends on where you see yourself in the present and where you want to be in the future.  People happy with their current situation need not read this, I'll save you the time.  Those wanting something a bit more out of life should purchase this book, read it multiple times, highlight, underline, take notes.  Then get a coach and mentor to discuss your findings from this book and devise a plan of action.

You're financial intelligence starts here.

Change Gonna Come

As you can see from the infographic below, this is a short read.  But oh how it packs a punch.

This simple allegory will reveal to you some tendencies that, if you feel stuck in life, will give an explanation as to why.  This could lead to some discomfort.  For some it could be very uncomfortable.  This is a good thing, if you are committed to improving your life's circumstances.  

There are four characters in the book that deal with the movement of cheese in their maze.  I predict that you will relate to all four.  Either to varying degrees right now or throughout your life you can pinpoint how you dealt with challenges in different ways.

After reading this one you will want to discuss with a friend &/or spouse &/or mentor and discuss where you were before, where you are now, and where you want to be going forward.

With a mentor or coach you can now formulate a plan to move forward so that you don't despair when change comes (i.e. your cheese gets moved).  Change is going to come whether you are ready for it or not.  So you might as well be ready for it.

Eales the Great

I like to read the stories of recognised and decorated leaders in sport.  John Eales is in the upper echelon of this category.  It would be hard to find anyone with a greater positive influence in Rugby Union.

Leadership potential was noticed in him years before he took on the role of captain of the Australian Wallabies.  However, the sport of Rugby Union was going through turmoil in the infancy of his official leadership journey.  (Fitzsimons actually wrote a whole book about it called 'The Rugby War').  A baptism of fire for a young leader.  An unenviable role for anyone.  

I know of the great leader that Eales became, but I didn't know that his tenure almost came to an end prematurely in the years post this turmoil.  His early leadership style was seen as sub optimal when a real honest conversation was had during a round of golf with the Australian Rugby Union boss. 

A different style of leadership was required.  Could Eales deliver?  There were plenty of believers but also plenty of doubters.  He was well liked by his team mates.  This wasn't enough and his 'leadership by consensus' style wasn't getting the results that everyone wanted.

John Eales stated emphatically on that round of golf that he could be the leader that the ARU required.  The organisation backed him and rest is history.  Wrenching back the Bledisloe Cup from New Zealand, no easy task.  World Cup winners in 1999 and Runners Up 2003.  He took Australian Rugby from losing to 'minnows' to world domination.

Eales was fortunate to have some immensely talented players around him.  But everything rises and falls on leadership.  His teams rose.

Imagine if he retreated during that heart to heart on the golf course.  That was an uncomfortable conversation!  To have your leadership challenged would make the ordinary man cower into the fairway trees.  Not John Eales.  It was his chance to step into greatness.  It was the moment that actually spring-boarded his leadership trajectory.  

Eales' growing up story is interesting and adds context to the moments that he owned during his captaincy of the Wallabies.  However, the big leadership lessons came in the last few chapters with the book's timeline finishing just prior to his retirement.  It is a biography after all, not a book on leadership.  But learning some perspective on his early trials and tribulations make it a worthwhile story for any future leaders.

Own Worst Enemy

“Thrilled to Death” 

by Dr Arch Hart PhD

Originally posted on 29th February 2012 here

It seems obvious. We are stressing ourselves out to a point that we can no longer enjoy life.

Psychology researchers are catching on to what Hart has been talking about for a long time. They’re emphasising that we need to slow down, relax, sleep, take pleasure in the small things. Otherwise life goes by with a flash and there is nothing to show for it.

Hart defines the clinical condition of anhedonia and points out its dangers. Anhedonia being a condition where one has sought so much pleasure that the pleasure centre in their brain no longer functions properly.

It is important to acknowledge the presence of anhedonia so that we can avoid it and live fulfilling lives. Hart gives 7 steps to do just that or to get out of it all together.

It all seems like common sense. Unfortunately common sense has become increasingly uncommon. It is why we need a psychologist to point out what we should already know.

Update to 2020:
I've worked in healthcare now for 12 years.  The one field of health that is growing is mental health.  People aren't coping with life.  The cause is not a simple answer as it is multi faceted.  The truth is still there though, that we need to stop and give our brains a rest, seek help if it is needed.

Free to Speak

“In Defence of Freedom of Speech”

edited by Chris Berg

Originally posted 10 February 2013 here

This is a book created by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA).  It was sent to every Federal Member of Parliament and Senator.  It was also distributed to the general public at the same time.

Its intention was to illuminate various attacks on the liberties of individuals that were being perpetrated primarily by the Labor govt.

You can be sure that it was read by some of its intended target as then Greens leader, Bob Brown, referred to it during an address to the National Press Club.  His snide remarks about the book had no essence of truth in them.  But that didn’t matter to him.  Nor did the IPA mind that he misrepresented their work.  It just went to show how set in their anti liberty ways the Greens really are.

It is one thing to have someone disagree with you.  It is a completely different thing to take measures to stop them from saying it, even though it might be true.  The vast majority of criticism for the current government has been absolutely justified, but they don’t like their faults being pointed out so they try and stop people from criticising.

The book describes a history of freedom of speech from ancient Greece to modern times in Australia.  It describes why the various acts were performed and their consequences.  It’s surprising to see how much has been done in the name of liberty and also protectionism. 

Over the course of history there were no groups that shone brightly as bearers of the liberty torch.  In all eras there fluctuations in freedom and protectionism.  Even Christian groups, who I thought would be bastions of freedom of speech, had fallen for the protectionist ideology at times.  When liberties were taken away it was usually due to the institution of totalitarian regimes.

What this book has shown me is that freedoms are important and not to be messed with by any government entity.  It’s a slippery slope when governments think they can mess with liberties.  It stems mainly from the intellectually elitist ideology that you are too stupid to make educated decisions for yourself if given certain liberties.  This ideology is both demeaning and insulting.  I’m glad we have institution such as the IPA that took on the cause of freedom of speech with such vigour.

Update to 2020:
Have things gotten any better?  Well, no, in fact they have gotten worse.  Conservative voices are are being forced off college campuses and labelled hate speech.  Like who gets to define hate speech.  People say that they are all for free speech with an exception clause.  Except all the speech that I don't want to hear.  Either you are for free speech or you are not.  No exception clauses..