Each week I make the conscious effort to improve myself through reading books and articles, listening to podcasts and audio books. I also have the opportunity to have good conversations with not much under 100 people weekly. I have the unique opportunity to learn and teach what I learn every day. Which fits into my personal mission:
Audio book I finished: The Gap and Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy
This was a quick listen to audio book. Which Dan and Benjamin share conversation between chapters to discuss both “take away concepts” and “application to the concepts” discussed in the book. The book also gives you journaling cues to instantly apply the concepts to improve train of thoughts. The gist of the book is to facilitate reflection on what I have previously called “the cookie jar” (from David Goggins: Can’t Hurt Me”).
The intent of this book is to reshape perspective on your day to day life, in order to facilitate happiness. “The Gap” is a dark place for the mind to frequently visit. This is where we reflect on what we have not yet accomplished, giving the personal vision on unsuccessful or incomplete. As “The Gain” is a where we reflect on how far we have come thus far in life. Thinking about the accomplishments we have had regardless of how small or large they might be. Not only milestone accomplishments like getting a job you once found to be ideal, but the accomplishments of completing a certification, degree, or training course. Getting the interview in the first place, getting the job, getting a pay raise, or even other small wins. A small win for me recently would be having a “date night” with my wife, where we either get carryout or go to a local restaurant. Completing TSA pre-check for a future trip, completing assessment on personal finance accounting, as well as other small wins like figuring out net-worth, completing the work day where I help others with their challenges. Even reaching out to old friends to make a connection is a win.
We commonly fall victim to the hedonic treadmill, where we become numb to the accomplishments we make, the health we have, the friends or family, the car, house, shoes, clothing, or anything else we take for granted. Think about how exciting it was to get a new car, or even a new job. After months of having these things, how excited are you still? Likely we no longer appreciate things as much as when it were new to us. This falls into the gap mentality when we think about what we do not have, as we forget to give gratitude to the things we do have.
My brother Jerry purchased 50 copies of this book and plans to send them out. I look forward to physically reading the hard copy of this book and seeing what more I can take away with applied concepts.
Book I finished: Deduct Everything by Eva Rosenberg
Although this year will be the first year I plan to outsource my taxes, I wanted to learn more about legalities of what the IRS deems deductible and not deductible. If you do your own taxes, this might help you not only limit a likely audit by sticking within the IRS guidelines. But also help facilitate ideas of what to keep track of, in order to best manage taxes each year. Keep in mind that some things in books like this can quickly become outdated but the information can be checked with the links referred to in her book. Which directs you straight to the IRS website.
Podcast I have enjoyed: Bigger Pockets Real Estate Podcast
Episode: 435 “Why Successful People HATE Losing But Aren’t Afraid to Lose”
This episode interviewed Scott McGillivray, where they discuss excellent concepts of considering risk vs reward and why those whom are perceived as highly successful differ in their way of looking at challenges. To summarize this, high achievers consider the fact that losing is inevitable in life. By default, avoiding something out of fear of losing, is the decision to accept a loss before ever trying. Those who do succeed often usually are willing to take the risk of losing because persistency historically prevails in small wins through learning, adapting, and executing. The risk is learning what does not work, the reward is pivoting to what next could work. The reward depending on the challenge could be in such abundance, that it is currently unforeseeable. (Financial freedom, increased time with friends and family, new relationships, increased ability to help others, increased ability to make the world a better place through whatever real interests you.)
Questions: What are three things you accomplished yesterday, or even over the past three months. Truly think about the answer to this question, without accepting “nothing” for an answer.
Actions: Begin starting each day with at least one thing that you accomplished yesterday, write it down!
Begin looking at things from the “gain” perspective, as we have come so much further than we realize. Surely there is at least subtle differences of who we are and what we have accomplished over the past 5-10 years.
Buy the book: Gap and Gain
To read more, learn more, and become the best version of yourself, follow us at our links below:
Website: https://englandcoaching.com/reading-blog/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djengland/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DE.Health.Fitness
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EnglandFitness
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dylanjengland
Or to reach out to us:
Email: Fitnesstherapyde@gmail.com
Leave a Reply