England Coaching

Reading, Writing, Learning, Teaching, Coaching, Living. These are all parts of a daily, weekly, monthly, annual process for growth. It is amazing how much information changes situations. I have dedicated my habitual life to learning many new things and developing into a version of my ideal self. If interested in learning with me, continue to check in and I would love to encourage discussion or questions on the subject of information shared!

Book I have completed: Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss

I mentioned this book last week but wanted to reflect on some of the questions Tim asked his interviewees.

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• What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
  • To this I would say it depends on the conversation of whom I am speaking to. The last book I recommended was Limitless by Jim Kwik. As this book is a great foundational start to jump start learning and becoming for efficient in your ability to propel your personal success.
  • Another book I recently shared was “Think like a monk” by Jay Shetty. I have listened to the audiobook and purchased the physical hardcover copy because I think this is a book I’d like to refer to at least once a year to reset my frame of thinking.
• What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?
  • This would have to be the book limitless and Think like monk actually. Perhaps one purchase I have recently became fond of is the “crash pad” that my wife bought last week from Costco. It is a massive cushion that turned into a reading chair.

• How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure” of yours?
  • This one is challenging as there are not many things I’ve seen as “failure”. I would say my most recent possibly perceived “failure” was applying to PA school(s) recently. I was declined by one program, another retracted their program due to COVID, the third I opted out of because I decided to take my educational and career path into a “different” direction. After applying, I realized that what I am passionate about is what I have been doing for years, and chasing another college degree was not simply the answer to my desires and future goals. That would just be the easiest most clear route to run towards. I now have began getting back into personal training, real estate investing, and doubled down into my current work in physical therapy. Now to see dramatic advancement success in just a couple months.
• If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it — metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions — what would it say and why?
  • “Believe to achieve”, which can be applied to anything throughout our life. The first time I heard this was when I was in high school, but would admit I did not know the power in this quote. It originated from a shirt my brother got me from Detroit Barbell powerlifting gym. It does not mean that things will come easy. It also does not mean, just because you believe it is possible, it will become a reality. However the first step is to think of a goal and believe that it is possible. After that point, taking relentless action with extreme persistency will guarantee success in some way, shape, or fashion.
    
• What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? (Could be an investment of money, time, energy, etc.)
  • Investing time to work on my personal development. I have been able to take my relationships with others, my work, and my personal reflection to another level. Simple by seeking and accepting growth as a life long process, reinforced by daily habits and routines.
• What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?
  • Pushing myself beyond my perceived limits. There are so many things that I have done that I said I would never do, purely because I set false limits on myself and did not think big enough. I habitually now make a point to do at least one thing uncomfortable to boost mental strength daily. Even if I do not want to in that moment. One example was on Christmas eve I ran 27 miles, I do not believe I have ran over 13.1 miles since 2012. I also rode on a stationary bike for 100 miles recently which took me exactly 6 hours to complete.
• In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
  • I wake up typically between 4:00-4:30AM to start my day. Where I will read, workout, journal, and reflect. This has already changed my life dramatically in under 6 months. I’m sad I did not commit to this routine sooner. Regardless of when I committed to changed routines and habits, the fact that I am committed to progressive routine and habits that is most important.
• What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?
  • No one has the answers to life and there may not be one “true” purpose in our life other than to live the best possible versions of ourselves. As we live our life day to day, we are living our purpose. That which no specific answers can be applied to all people. This used to frustrate me, as advice seemed to vague. I now understand why being vague in some aspects is essential for timelessness. We have 168 hours in a day, what you do with them make all the different on whether you surround yourself with happy optimistic thoughts or the opposite where so many people go mentally. Do not get the end of life thinking “what if”. This fuels me today.
• What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
  • “I have this new innovative secret, follow me.” In the age of information, the health industry profits in the billions. As our anatomy has not changed dramatically, if someone is reinventing the wheel, I’d be skeptical. There are a large number of ways to achieve personal, financial, spiritual, health, and fitness goals.The “secret ingredient” is commitment. This does not financially cost you anything more than daily grind towards your fitness goals. What you consume mentally/cognitively, and nutritionally; along with what you put out in effort of physical activity, sleep, and habitual routines will define your life. What you do with the 168 hours we have in each week is specifically how you define what you perceive as priorities in your life.
• In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? What new realizations and/or approaches helped? Any other tips?
  • I have had to begin turning down requests more over the past year. Initially I may reply with a statement such as: “remind me if I don’t get back to you.” In some cases I never hear back from them again, or I will give them a follow up plan of action to better help me help them. In turn again, I may not hear from them. This limits my commitment and sacrifice of time to someone who may not be mutually invested in their own self or project they are requesting help for. Although saying no to people is not the easiest, I constantly remind myself, saying no to one thing is saying yes to another. Which “yes” will get me closer to my 1,3, and 5 year vision would me much more ideal.
• When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? (If helpful: What questions do you ask yourself?)
  • “What’s the right thing to do.” This one takes effort and not an initial emotional response.
  • Working out whether it be strength training, cycling, or running.
  • I may even begin by either writing down all the things I need to accomplish and prioritize those things to begin taking small actions towards what is overwhelming me.

Thank you for reading! Please share if this is something you have found any of this information interesting, entertaining, or useful. Have a remarkable day!