The good man is invincible; for he engages in no contest where he is not superior. “If you want my land, take it, and take my servants, take my public post, take my poor body. But you will not cause my desire to fail to attain its end, or my aversion to fall into what it would avoid.” This is the only contest he enters into: How can he fail, then, to be invincible?
~ Epictetus
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7. Consistent and repeatable results come from a process. “True style does not come from a conscious effort to create a particular look. It results obliquely—even accidentally—out of a holistic process.”
~ Shane Parrish from, 7 Things I Learned in Architecture School
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That articlette is about a book, 101 Things Things I Learned in Architecture School. The 7th point, in bold, is the penultimate of a best-of-the-best selection from the book. The inner-quoted part is Matthew Frederick, the book’s author.
This point about a holistic process—the idea that mastery isn’t some higgledy-piggledy mish-mash of throwing things together—is an idea I’ve held dearly for a long time. Every time I see it, like in this articlette, I want leap up, flipping my desk over and scream, “Hear! Hear! …and again, louder, for those in the back staring at their handheld devices.”
Every single time that I’ve decided to take a process, and repeat it in search of understanding, (for example, my 10,000 rep’s project,) the learning and personal growth has paid off beyond my wildest dreams. At this point, I’ve done nearly 200 recorded conversations—I’m not stretching the truth, it’s actually hard to figure out exactly how many I’ve done. I’ve started another show recently as part of the Podcaster Community (25+ episodes and counting) and I’ve set up all the moving parts for yet another show as part of Movers Mindset “shorts”. And I keep wondering…
What would happen if I did 500, 1000? …what about 10,000? Not because I want to be famous and whine, “but I did 1,000 episodes why doesn’t anyone love me?!” But because I can see, in myself, how much I’ve learned and grown after 200. What would happen if I did a lot more?
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But what does Socrates say? “As one man rejoices in the improvement of his land, and another in that of his horse, so I rejoice day by day in following my own improvement.
~ Epictetus
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Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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Avoiding problems avoids the opportunity for growth. Most of the time, problems don’t go away, instead they grow.
~ Shane Parrish from, The Four Tools of Discipline
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It seems to me that there are epochs of problems. In the early days of my journey, I made dumb mistakes. Slowly I learned through stubbed toes, hurt feelings, expensive mistakes and bridges burned that life is hard, yes. But it’s much harder if you’re stoopid. More time passed.
I resolved the internal issues that led to bad impulses and choices. I learned the Kastanza Lesson of opposite day; If every instinct you have is wrong and causes things to turn out badly, one should at least trying doing the opposite. In short, I intentionally crafted a moral compass. Effectively gone—unless I just jinxed it—are any problems which are my fault. I’m not talking about errors here; I drop things, make wrong turns and forget things, of course. More time passed
And I’m left wondering how I move beyond my current problem: The setting of unrealistic expectations for myself, and of setting expectations [of any sort] of other people. I’m reminded of my thoughts on Discovery, Reflection and Efficacy. Perhaps if some more time passes? That seems to have worked twice now.
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What would you like to be doing when you are overtaken by [disease and death]? For you surely will be, whatever you are doing. If you think you could be doing something better than this when you are overtaken, go and do it. For my own part, may death overtake me while I am engaged in nothing other than the care of my own faculty of choice, so that it may be unhindered, unrestrained, serene, and free.
~ Epictetus
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The algific talus slopes where relic species persist are steep, built atop limestone—itself a relic from a time, half a billion years ago, when a shallow tropical sea covered what’s now the Driftless. The porous limestone is easily eroded by even slightly acidic water, including rain. As a result it holds numerous caves, sinkholes, cracks, and fissures. These networks of open spaces deep in the hillside were never compromised by glacial steamrollers, and are crucial for the “breathing”—slopes’ respiration.
~ Gemma Tarlach from, The Ice Age Persists in the Upper Midwest, Where the Hills Breathe – Atlas Obscura
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There seems to be something special about Iowa. Pockets of Ice Age biodiversity, and Vonnegut, must somehow mean something. Atlas Obscura started as an ecclectic collection of interesting points scattered about the Earth. It’s grown to—in my opinion—rival Wikipedia in the context of places. And then it started producing these place-specific, in-depth articles.
In the endless sea of click-baity, bullet-listed, double-spaced individual sentence fragments posing as a “post” on some social network… because, honestly, a paragraph block of text just scares the shit out of too many people, so we’ll just
space out the phrases
so our feeble minds understand
what the bite-sized thoughts are supposed to be.
I digress. Over decades, I’ve found sources on the Internet that are continual fonts of wonder and joy. I follow them using RSS, and I’m better off for it.
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How does embracing meaningful connections, shifting perspectives, and holding space enhance the experience of podcasting and personal growth?
The conversation explores the transformative power of vulnerability and shifting perspectives in podcasting and beyond.
I think when we are vulnerable, when we let our guard down—and that’s what happens for me when I turn off the video—I let my guard down, and I’m just immersed in the experience.
~ Vivian Carrasco (7:03)
The conversation reflects on the evolving dynamics of podcasting, emphasizing the significance of pre-call moments as spaces for connection and preparation. Vivi and Craig explore how turning off video during recordings can enhance vulnerability and authenticity, allowing for deeper engagement. They highlight how these seemingly small decisions, such as opting for audio-only interactions, create a more relaxed and immersive environment. This shift not only impacts the podcaster but also fosters a more intimate experience for listeners.
Another theme revolves around the transformation in personal and professional approaches over time. The conversation highlights the playful curiosity that replaces the initial weight of overthinking and perfectionism, making podcasting more enjoyable. The discussion also touches on broader ideas, like creating space for meaning and magic, and how reducing the noise—both literally and metaphorically—enables creative breakthroughs and personal growth.
(more…)What factors influence the transition from podcast listener to podcast creator, and how can individuals overcome challenges in this journey?
Discover how a passion for storytelling leads to a new creative journey in podcasting.
Your voice, your story—I’m all about story, obviously. It’s why I’m working on this new project to help people write about their lives in journaling.
~ Heather Morrison (21:26)
The conversation explores the transformative journey from being a passionate podcast listener to becoming a creator. Heather shares how her lifelong love of stories and books inspired their enthusiasm for podcasting. She describes her initial struggles with self-doubt and technical know-how, highlighting a pivotal moment when a structured course helped bridge the gap between idea and execution. Reflecting on her creative journey, she emphasizes the importance of embracing enthusiasm and pushing through the discomfort of starting something new.
The discussion also touches on creative challenges, such as narrowing down podcast themes and managing self-imposed pressure. Heather candidly shares her experience of developing a niche podcast about community theater, which later evolved into broader topics. She stresses the value of persistence, self-awareness, and embracing imperfections. The conversation concludes with insights into how personal stories and authentic voices can create meaningful connections and inspire others.
(more…)