The practice of triage is a challenge of consciousness. It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture when you’re staring at a project screaming for your attention. But you still need to muster the awareness to ask, “Is this the most important thing that must be done by me right now?” Whenever you fail to ask this question, you can bet there’s a more important project being stalked by the Grim Reaper.
There are many variations of this. My favorite is currently a large note above my desk which reads…
2018: “HELL YES!” or “no”
Regardless, Covey’s quadrants are an excellent way to triage things.
I’m adamant however, that one’s goal should be to do nothing in Covey’s quadrants 3 and 4—things which are “not important”, wether they are urgent or non-urgent. See also, Time management.
Before you require a second factor to login to your accounts, you should understand the risks, have a recovery plan for when you lose your second factor(s), and know the tricks attackers may use to defeat two-factor authentication.
I repeat: Do not enable two-factor authentication until you understand how it works and what you are doing. You know who is usually locked out of your car, house, etc. right? You are!
This is a great article surveying a myriad of things you should consider before enabling two-factor security. Yes, it is more secure, but that means it is also more likely that you’ll lock yourself out, permanently.
So…
Are you currently really good at keeping track of passwords and security questions? Do you use a unique password for every service and web site? …are the answers to your security questions completely random things you made up and stored in your security system, or did you really use your easily-learned mother’s maiden name? …and is your “security system” not post-it’s on your monitor, but rather a real, secure, system?
And how about…
Do you have a system in place to give your beneficiaries access to your stuff—and ways to permanently lock-and-destroy things you don’t want passed along?
…if not, then turning on two-factor is not a good idea. You’re about to make things even more complicated when you are currently not doing the basic things well. Instead of blindly enabling two-factor authentication, you should move off of the bell curve and stop being an easy traget.
Step one: Learn how to use a password manager like 1Password or LastPass, and start using unique passwords.
The annotated version of the visualization (shown above) highlights the GEOS FP model’s output for aerosols on August 23rd, 2018. On that day, wildfires caused huge plumes of smoke to drift over North America and Africa, three tropical cyclones took place in the Pacific Ocean, and high winds over the Sahara caused wind-borne dust particles to fill the sky. All of these produced aerosols which are represented in the visual by different colors.
An unexpected benefit of all this self-imposed change is that it helps protect you from forming bad habits, which are hard to change once you get them. In fact, change itself becomes the habit, which is a good one to carry with you through your life. The willingness to experience change brings opportunity, wealth, learning, and happiness for most of us who embrace it.
I think about all of the miserable people in my psychiatric clinic. Then I multiply by ten psychiatrists in my clinic. Then I multiply by ten similarly-sized clinics in my city. Then I multiply by a thousand such cities in the United States. Then I multiply by hundreds of countries in the world, and by that time my brain has mercifully stopped being able to visualize what that signifies.
The really interesting part of the article is where he whipped up a random “person” generator and fed it the best-estimate percentages of various problems. (Chance of drug addiction, chance of certain psychosis, etc.) He then generated a bunch of random people and, as is to be expected when the percentage chance for problems is low, he got a significant number of people who are “no problems.”
…and then he sketches (from his own direct experience) several types—not specific examples, but a type of person whom he sees many examples of—who fit into the “no problems” bucket of the “random person generator.” The take-away is that, yes, things are VERY bad.
This means that STEVE is not likely to be caused by the same mechanism as an aurora, and is therefore an entirely new type of optical phenomenon – which the team refer to as “skyglow”.
Aside: “Steve” started as in-joke reference by some dedicated Aurora photographers. It was later backronymed.
I particular love this type of discovery. Looking at the shape of the visual phenomenon—it’s a straight-ish thin streak—I bet this is realated to certain types of mythologies and stories…
Aware of this research, my housemates tested their air quality and got levels between 1000 and 3000 ppm, around the level of the worst high-CO2 conditions in the studies. They started leaving their windows open and buying industrial quantities of succulent plants, and the problems mostly disappeared. Since then they’ve spread the word to other people we know afflicted with mysterious fatigue, some of whom have also noticed positive results.
I thought this was going to be an article about fossil fuels and global warming. No it’s much worse. It’s about how some people have measured levels of CO2 in their bedroom that exceed the OSHA workplace safe-exposure limits.
Now i’m wondering if one of the reasons I sleep better in the winter, is the difference in ventilation. Our A/C is a closed system—it only circulates the air in the house. But the wood stove lowers the air pressure slightly and that draws outside air in from the peripheral areas of the house. Tiny cool drafts come out of all the wall outlets and light switches in the winter providing fresh air ventiliation.
If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attitude.
What strategies and principles underpin effective training, mental resilience, and personal growth?
Sebastien Foucan and Craig continue their conversation in the second part of Sebastien’s three part interview. In this episode, Sebastien discusses how he trains, how he coaches, and how he prepares for his roles in various movies and films. Craig and Sebastien also discuss the influence genetics and natural skill has on the success of a person in their sport.
Being always in motion keeps you fit and healthy. And if you don’t push too much that’s good, it’s good for you.
~ Sebastien Foucan (1:38)
The conversation explores the philosophy and practice of training, emphasizing the importance of specificity and alignment with individual goals. The discussion digs into distinctions between training and practice, the role of adaptability, and how unique circumstances dictate specific training regimens. Examples range from parkour to acting, illustrating how preparation varies across disciplines.
Mental resilience and personal growth also feature prominently, particularly through the lens of overcoming setbacks. The dialogue covers how life challenges, such as health issues and personal losses, can redefine perspectives on discipline and motivation. Additional topics include the interplay of genetics, environment, and personal choices in shaping potential, and how these elements influence broader life decisions.
Takeaways
Training specificity — Training must align with the goals and nature of the activity, whether physical, mental, or technical.
Adaptation and creativity — Effective training requires adapting to the specific challenges of each goal and using creative approaches.
Mental resilience — Life challenges, such as health setbacks, can inspire reevaluation and foster growth in discipline and motivation.
Role of environment — Success often depends on the support and conditions provided by one’s surroundings.
Genetics and potential — Physical and mental capacities are influenced by genetics, highlighting the need for realistic self-assessment.
Exploration mindset — Treating challenges as opportunities for discovery fosters growth and resilience.
Integration of play — Activities like sparring or trekking are incorporated to balance training with enjoyment and functionality.
Holistic health — Awareness of food choices and their impact on health is critical for sustainable training and well-being.
Resources
World Chase Tag — A competitive version of tag, blending physical agility and strategy.