Your Curated Morning for August 1, 2024 is here!
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The Main Thing: This is the fourth installment of the "obstacles" posts, wherein I write about overcoming obstacles. Previous posts discussed reframing the challenge, developing resiliency through adversity, and learning from failures. This week we discuss cultivating problem-solving skills. Ryan Holiday's 2013 book, "The Obstacles is the Way," inspired me for this series. Holiday’s book provides a blueprint for overcoming obstacles and using them to achieve the goals and objectives you want to achieve. I can't think of a more important thing to learn than “problem-solving skills.” This week, the focus is on understanding how to take an obstacle or challenge and break it down to overcome it. Focus on Leadership 5 Socially Destructive Traits We Tend to Ignore in Ourselves and Others by Daily Motivation Team Have you ever talked with someone who seems to be talking over the top of you? In other words, you haven’t even finished your thought, but they have started a response. Moreover, they respond by talking about themselves. These are a couple of the traits that the authors of this article say are self-destructive. But the good news is, these are habits that can be changed. Some of us often desire to be recognized and acknowledged. Read the article to see if you are at fault and how to improve. Everyday Philosophy: Can you ever be “too emotional” in decision-making? By Jonny Thomson | Big Think I have made decisions when my emotions get the best of me. Sometimes it worked out, and sometimes those decisions were ill-fated. When that happened, I lamented that perhaps I should have spent more time applying reason to my decision. Is it OK to make decisions based on our emotions? Or should you always suss out a logical solution to those difficult challenges facing us. The linked article explores the world of logic versus emotion, head or heart. The author quotes a psychologist who says, “emotion is cognition. That is, emotion programs are cognitive programs that activate a suite of psychological and physiological programs in response to a recurring situation that impacts survival and reproduction in ancestral environments.” So maybe, head and heart are the same thing? You can decide. 6 Common Leadership Styles — and How to Decide Which to Use When by Rebecca Knight | Harvard Business Review As a leader, I like to think of myself as collaborative, always seeking input from others and keeping my team's best interests in mind. However, I also recognize that there is always room for growth and improvement. In this article, we will explore the six leadership styles developed by Goleman and how and when to use them. Just as your personality is not your destiny, you have the potential to grow and adapt, using different leadership styles depending on the situation. This article provides definitions and guidance on how to use these leadership styles effectively, inspiring you to continuously improve your leadership skills. Other Articles of Interest this week: Green Economy -- WHAM! Nuclear fusion experiment hits new record for magnet strength by Tim De Chant -- A nuclear fusion experiment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has set a record for the strongest steady magnetic field confining a plasma, ushering in new hope that forthcoming demonstration reactors will deliver on their promises to produce more power than they consume. Technology -- We Asked AI to Take Us On a Tour of Our Cities. It Was Chaos by Natasha Bernal and Amanda Hoover | WIRED -- We had a specialty chatbot curate perfect days out in London and New York for under $100 each. We're still recovering from our journeys. Economic Development -- Back to Janesville by Amy Goldstein | Brookings Commentary -- In 2008, Janesville, Wisconsin, lost the oldest operating General Motors assembly plant, becoming a metaphor for the Great Recession’s effects. What can this small Wisconsin city teach us about the United States today? City/Rural -- California’s Old Roadside Motels Are Getting New Life by Matt Metzler | Fifty Grande -- The first motel was built halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco to ease the travel weary on the two-day drive back in the 1950s’. Today that motel, originally called the Milestone Motel, and others along California’s local highways are seeing a resurgence in redevelopment and nostalgia. Mentoring -- What are the two traits that make a good mentor? By Gia Snape | Insurance Business -- Women in insurance talk about their formative mentorship experiences. Mentorship is undeniably a powerful tool for career development, offering the opportunity to gain guidance and support from more experienced professionals. A Blog Post You Should Read: Diane Swonk has been a reliable source of information about the economy for many years. She has been the chief economist at several leading financial institutions and is currently the Chief Economist and Managing Partner of KPMG. Readers should follow her through LinkedIn or through the KPMG website. Her current outlook warns of a potential downward spiral where increasing international conflicts and trade disputes could hinder global economic growth. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration, suggesting that our combined efforts in these areas yield better results than isolated actions. The message is clear: fostering relationships is more beneficial than severing them. Niagara Falls is the backdrop for recent meetings with other economists, and she uses it as a metaphor for hope amid challenges. Read the current outlook here and subscribe to her newsletter.
Overheard : “When you develop your opinions on the basis of weak evidence, you will have difficulty interpreting subsequent information that contradicts these opinions, even if this new information is obviously more accurate.” Listen, Eat, Drink, Watch, READ, View I must admit I have been failing in a habit I was once proud of reading. Long ago, I committed to reading for thirty minutes a day. That amounts to 900 minutes a month or about 15 hours of reading. You can read many books and gain much knowledge in 15 hours. I will make a promise in this newsletter right now: I will recommit to my 30 minutes and start reading again. Expect more book reviews in this newsletter as I regain my reading mojo. Reading is not only a way to gain knowledge, it's a journey of personal growth and enlightenment, and it forces you to slow down and comprehend the world around you more. How often do you read? Listen, Eat, Drink, Watch, READ, View When I was a sophomore in high school, I saved up enough money to buy myself a stereo system. It was a unique setup, with a Pioneer receiver, turntable, cassette player, recorder, and speakers with gigantic woofers. To many readers, that last sentence may be foreign to you, but for those of us who shared this experience, it was a badge of belonging. As the cool kids say: IYKYN. Listen, Eat, Drink, WATCH, Read, View I like my Everything Bagel toasted with a shmear of cream cheese. In New York, where I once lived, that’s a lot of cream cheese. But what is essential is getting the “toasting” part right. Too little toasting and the Bagel is chewy. Too much, and the burnt taste comes through. We often overlook the toaster, yet it plays a significant role in our daily lives. Many of us start our mornings by toasting our bagels or bread for breakfast, and we enjoy club sandwiches on toasted bread at the diner. The person who invented the toaster deserves our appreciation. According to the internet, and more specifically, Wikipedia, the inventor was Alan MacMasters, a British Scientist. MacMasters was even considered for a spot on a new fifty-pound British note. However, this was all misinformation, a result of two college students' clever hoax. But it was a good thing it never happened because it was all a hoax. Watch this video to learn how two college students fooled everyone for nearly ten years about the invention of the toaster. It’s a funny story, but it gives you pause to wonder what else might not be accurate. Here is the current Wikipedia entry regarding the electric toaster, just in case you are wondering.
Thanks for Reading If you liked this email, pay it forward. Share it with someone you think might benefit. Did someone share with you? Sign up here. For previous editions, click here. Whenever you’re ready, there are several ways I can help you: 1. Economic Development: If you are looking to supercharge your economic development organization, I can help by strategizing and developing a roadmap to success. Set up a time to talk to me here. 2. Culture Change; Is your organization changing? Would you like to create an asset out of your culture? Do you know how to assess team strengths? Let me help you. I'm a certified culture change practitioner. Set up a time to talk to me here. 3. The Green Economy; The world is changing. Some of it is positive, and some of the change is not. Let me help you develop green economy opportunities for your community. Set up some time to talk about here. 4. Mentoring Programs: Circles of Seven (C7) is a proven and award-winning model for mentoring. Whether it is for business or your community leadership program, I can develop a mentoring program for you. Let's talk about your situation. Set up a time here. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding any articles in this newsletter please feel free to contact me through email at martin@martinkarlconsulting.com. You can review my services and offerings at www.martinkarlconsulting.com |