Question for deep self-reflection:

How am I creating the situation that I don’t want?

When you find yourself in frustrating situations, your bias is to look outward:

You observe the situation as negative and look at external causes of that negativity.

This question forces you to pause and look inward:

Are your actions, mindsets, or patterns contributing to the negativity of the situation?

Here's an example from my own life where this question provided a valuable reset:

I was working on a particularly challenging section of my book in my home office when my 20-month-old son pushed his way through the door and came in.

I was struggling with a piece of writing and my mind was everywhere but there. He felt my lack of attention and started to spiral into a typical toddler tantrum. I began to experience the moment very negatively and felt myself trying to brush him off, until I asked myself this question to reset:

How is my behavior and lack of presence contributing negatively to this situation?

I hadn't been present with him during the moments leading up to his tantrum. I had checked my phone and gotten stressed about whatever I had read (which definitely wasn't worth getting stressed over). From that point on, I was with my son, but I wasn't really there.

I realized that this shift may have contributed to the situation, even if subtly. This awareness allowed me to come back to center and settle him down.

The point here is that developing an awareness of how your own actions and behaviors contribute to negative or stressful situations is powerful.

It puts you back in the driver's seat of your life.

Try it and let me know what you think.

The only comparison that matters:

"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self." - Ernest Hemingway

The only comparison worth making is to yourself from yesterday.

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How to achieve the extraordinary:

The Bricklayer Mentality

In 2002, Charlie Rose interviewed Will Smith on his television show.

During the interview, Smith tells a story from his childhood about his father asking him and his little brother to rebuild a 16x30 wall on the front of his shop.

The task was understandably daunting for the two boys:

"I remember standing back looking at that wall saying, there's gonna be a hole here, forever."

But a year and a half of daily work later, they completed the wall. Reflecting on the experience, Will Smith offered a piece of timeless wisdom:

"You don't try to build a wall...You don’t start by saying, I’m going to build the biggest, baddest wall that’s ever been built. You say, I’m going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid...you do that every single day, and soon you have a wall."

This is a powerful mentality for life:

No matter how big the task or project may seem at the start, you just have to lay one brick.

The wall may be daunting, but today's brick is all that matters.

Extraordinary results are simply the macro result of tens, hundreds, or thousands of tiny daily actions.

Remember: Small things become big things.

So today and all days, let's lay one brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid...

The scary potential future:

I found this disturbingly possible (and not too far away).

Some hot (and cold) takes on money:

​17 Thoughts About Money​

This was a great, thought-provoking piece from author and financial advisor, Ben Carlson.

A few favorites from the list:

• Outsourcing is money well spent. My wife and I started sending out our laundry for wash-and-fold shortly after our son was born, and it was some of the best money I've ever spent.
• You should tip more the wealthier you get. 100% agreed!
• Enjoying your job is a form of wealth. Yes! This is something I discuss in my book (stay tuned for details...).

I don't agree with all of them, but it's definitely worth a read.