Mindhacks

Note from John, the Editor: I have a confession to make. I think I might have ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder). I’ve always tested for high IQ (156, near genius level), yet I could barely focus on lectures in college and was a mediocre student, if not C student. My mind always needed to jump from random thought to random thought - to use a zen saying, “like a drunken monkey from tree to tree”. I’ve had trouble working in salaried jobs too. I’ve only worked on a regular salaried job for 6 months in my entire life. I’ve spent the rest in business for myself and been quite successfully.

Today I found more evidence and I’m convinced I might have ADHD.

In the article below, blogger Pete Quily talks about why ADHD may be an underlying factor that leads people to become entrepreneurs. But here’s my point - doctors in America come up with silly labels for ‘ailments’ that might not be bad at all. If the article below is true and ADHD is a common factor in entreprenuers - than I should feel lucky shouldn’t I?

Do Entrepreneurs Have ADHD?

This is a topic that many of my colleagues and I talk about when we meet face to face, as we also check our email, talk with someone back in our offices, fiddle with a PDA, or skim a magazine: are there characteristics of the clinical diagnosis of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder that are actually positive attributes of entrepreneurship?

Fellow entrepreneur and blogger Pete Quily chewed on this topic at length on his blog too, in a recent article entitled Top Ten Advantages of ADD In A High Tech Career and generously allowed me to republish them here…

1. The Ability to Hyperfocus.

Hours of full engagement and concentration in a task, if you find it interesting. You can get into the zone and be totally immersed in what youre doing while the outside world disappears. When I went on the net for the first time in 1993 at an Internet cafe I got on the machine at 8 pm and around 4 am decided it was time to go home.

2. Rapid Fire Mind.

Your brain processes information at hyperspeed. You can do things in 30 minutes on a computer that might take other people hours. Downside if youre stuck with an old machine and not enough RAM youll be frustrated cause it cant keep up with the speed of your brain.

3. Multitasking at Will.

Able to run 14 apps at a time and effortlessly switch between each without breaking a sweat. Able to do several projects at a time with ease.

4. High Energy Level.

You’re able to keep going on a project (if its interesting, ADDers are more into creative and entrepreneurial activities than clerical and repetitive ones). 14-hour days? No problem. Adrenaline is my fuel source:)

5. Highly Creative.

Able to think beyond the idea of a box. This comes naturally for ADDers, while others pay thousands of dollars to try and learn this. Since you take in more information than the average person, and youre easily distractible, youre more likely to view a problem from many different angles than vanilla people (non ADDers), and therefore come up with more possible solutions to a problem. Need an idea generator? Find an ADDer.

6. Quick Learner.

IF its something youre interested in. ADD is mainly a condition of boredom; you have no trouble paying attention to something if its interesting. Most people find it difficult to do boring or repetitive things but these can often totally shut an ADDer down. Your rapid fire brain + highly creative mind + the ability to hyperfocus equals fast absorption of new information quickly. Dr Ed Hallowell, who has ADD and has written several Delivered from Distraction : Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder, said he stopped teaching Psychiatry at Harvard University because the non-ADDers brains were just to slow and they took so long to get it. He got tired of being continually frustrated waiting for them to catch up to the ADD students.

7. Stimulus Seeking Brain.

A perfect match for the wired world, an under stimulated brain and an over stimulated virtual environment. Being an info junkie can be a good thing. Well, not always:)

8. Constantly Scanning your Environment.

Allows you to notice more and find information and resource that others miss. Also allows you to see possible problems before they arise, and opportunities that others may not see because they have tunnel vision vs. multiplex vision. An ADDer invented the electronic ticket.

9. Great in a Crisis.

High energy intense situation? Lots of chaos and change? Sign me up; I thrive on stimulation, change and chaos. We can create order from chaos effortlessly. We can also create such an environment as well if needed.

10. Risk Taker.

Impulsivity means youre more willing to take risks and have a bias for action, act now while the opportunity is hot instead of getting into analysis paralysis. Many entrepreneurs have ADD i.e. Paul Orfalea who founded Kinkos, JetBlue Founder and CEO David Neeleman who attributes his creativity to ADD. Both are Billionaires. Imagine how successful a high tech CEO would be if they didnt take many risks.

Pete has made a career out of working with ADD adults, and in addition to this article (which is a lot more detailed than the excerpt I include here), has lots of other information worth checking out if you, or someone you know, seems to fit this profile. Check his work out at: Adult ADD Strengths . Me? I don’t think I’m ADD, but there are definitely some characteristics that I embody…

Original Article Here:
http://adultaddstrengths.com/2006/02/09/top-10-advantages-of-add-in-a-high-tech-career/

Negative moods are highly infectious, but you can protect yourself

Story from the Kansas City Star

By ERIC ADLER, December 26, 2005

Psychologists call it “emotional contagion.” But you can think of it as Scroogeology or Grinchonomics.

Better yet, think of it as the woeful friend, the crabby boss, the depressed party guest whose moods are so melancholy that, despite your good cheer, they suck the joy from the season.

The effect is far from imaginary. In the last five years, a growing body of psychological research — much of it focused on the emotionally negative or positive boss — is bearing out the power one individual’s mood can have on others.

“It is one of the most robust phenomena I have ever seen,” said University of New Hampshire researcher Richard Saavedra. “And it’s all unconscious.”

Fortunately, he said, just as Bob Cratchit and Cindy Lou Who refused to let Scrooge or the Grinch dampen their spirits, modern and age-old strategies can combat the draw of your own Debbie Downer.

As University of Michigan psychologist Christopher Peterson said, “That’s why we have eggnog.”

Recent evidence is consistent.

In the March issue of The Journal of Applied Psychology, Saavedra and colleague Thomas Sy at California State University at Long Beach examined the effects of a leader’s mood on a group.

They took 189 volunteer undergraduates, divided them into 63 groups of three and told them they were going to take part in a team-building exercise: putting up a tent.

Before the exercise, a “leader” chosen from each team was shown one of two video clips — “Saturday Night Live” skits or a vignette on torture — designed to induce a positive or negative mood. All team members’ moods were measured before and after the task.

The Results of the Experiment? Read it Here >>

It’s that time of year again…

A new year always brings with it new resolutions of people
hopeful to change the old. Popular changes that many people
would like to make are listed below, in no particular order.

1. Lose Weight – With more than fifty percent American adults
and countless others in other countries being overweight, it’s
no wonder that this resolution appears a lot. Unfortunately
there are so many plans out there for losing weight and eating
right, that it’s difficult to know what works and what doesn’t
and which plan is best for which individual. Keys to successful
weight loss focus on good eating habits, a good exercise program
and sticking to targeted goals to reach.

2. Pay Off Debt – A main resolution of many is to pay off credit
cards and minor installments loans; i.e. like auto loans, not
mortgages. Often a tough job, lack of paying off debt often
stems form economic issues, unexpected bills, decreased income,
health-related bills and more mounting all year long. Do you best
and check into refinancing at lower rates is often advised.

3. Stop Bad Habits – Popular resolutions often involve stopping
bad habits like smoking, drinking, gambling, drug abuse,
cheating on a mate and being a workaholic. To help overcome
these, there are 12-step programs out there for nearly any issue
today.

4. Continue Education – Another popular resolution is to return
to school to finish high school accreditation, to complete
college programs and complete other educational training. And
with online technology so advanced today, many are able to jump
back into programs with online help round the clock and round
the world.

5. Travel – Hitting the road, the sea or the air is another top
resolution of many. Travel sites offering helpful online planning,
booking and savings grow in popularity as does this resolution
made by many.

6. Workout – Both genders make resolutions to get fit in the
new years ahead. Whether it’s to lift weights or run track or
bike or swim, people as a whole seek better fitness. And trying
to work in a fitness plan is not always easy with families on
the go today. So trying to squeeze in smaller amount of time
blocks might help many. For example, workout for 15 minutes a
couple of times each day instead of looking for blocks of an
hour where you will be free.

There are more popular New Year’s resolutions. Make some of
your own and see what you are looking forward to, then make
plans to reach your goals. Happy New Year!

Now the problem is actually achieving your resolutions, not
setting them. Anyone can set a new years resolution, right?

Exactly.

So make sure you actually set yourself up for success. Write
it down and keep it in front of you. Tell others about it and
then work on it daily.

For a free report on setting and achieving your New Year’s
Resolutions, check out:

http://www.newyearsresolutionshelp.com/freereport/?a=541

Follow the link above to download a free report on setting and keepign your resolutions. I personally had a look at the report and think Fabio Marciano had done an excellent job in helping to guide people with setting their New Year goals.

Download the free report by clicking the image below.

Advice so Inspirational, It Gets Turned into a Music Video

Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who’d rather be Rollerblading.

Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there’s no reason we can’t entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.

I encourage anyone over 26 to listen to this.

Humor or Sagely Wisdom?

You Decide.

The Story of “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen”

Wear Sunscreen is the common name of an essay, (actually called “Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young”) written by Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune as a column in 1997.

In 1998, the text of the Mary Schmich (picture left) piece was turned into a “spoken voice” recording featuring the voice of Australian actor Lee Perry. Titled “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen,” the piece immediately became a cult hit in Australia, and by early 1999 the “song” was taking America by storm.

The most popular and well-known form of the essay is the successful music single released in 1999, accredited to Baz Luhrmann (the producer of Moulin Rouge).

Here’s the Full Text Version of the Speech/Song in the Video

(more…)

By Marsha Jordan

97% of people who make New Year’s resolutions abandon them within 30 days. With a failure rate like that, why should I even bother?

Is there a secret to successfully keeping my resolutions?

Maybe I should resolve to gain weight, exercise less, develop bad habits, procrastinate, and watch more TV in the new year. Maybe I could keep resolutions like those.

No, that’s not the answer. We need to resolve to do things in the new year that will make us better people and will improve the world. Here are four simple tips to make keeping those resolutions easier:

1) Start with small steps - Don’t resolve to lose 30 pounds. Resolve to skip dessert once a week and exercise once a week. After these small changes become habits, implement bigger changes and increase your exercise time. Small successes will inspire you to move forward. If your goals are too lofty, you’re doomed to failure. Start small and work your way up to bigger and better things over time.

2) Be specific - Don’t set general goals. If you resolve to be a better spouse this year, you don’t have a plan; so chances are it won’t happen. Think of a specific thing your spouse would like you to do for him or her (like giving a back rub at the end of the day, picking up your underwear, or taking out the garbage without being asked). Resolve to make the effort to do that one thing on a regular basis. Small changes can make a big difference in your relationship. Little things DO mean a lot.

3) Have some accountability. We all need someone who will check up on us. Knowing that someone will ask how I’m doing will motivate me to work toward the goal. Share with a friend what you’ve determined to do and ask them to check back with you each week. There’s a greater chance that you’ll put forth some effort when you’re expecting to give a report on your progress.

4) Choose to do something that has a payoff. If you resolve to eat more liver this year or to walk 5 miles and do 300 sit ups each day, what pleasure will you derive from that? Set goals that will provide a sense of satisfaction upon completion. Determine to do something that you’ll enjoy so much that you’ll want to continue doing it.

Here is a resolution you can easily keep this year. Give some cheer to a sick child in 2007. It’s a small step that takes only a few moments and can cost you nothing. The payoff is knowing that you’ve brought a little more joy into the life of a suffering little one. Visit the HUGS and HOPE web site (http://www.hugsandhope.org ) and read about the kids featured there.

Choose a child and send him or her a cheery email or post card. That’s all there is to it. This is a goal you can accomplish: Make a difference this year — one smile at a time. Be in the 3% who will achieve success at keeping resolutions this year. And one of the smiles you create just might be your own!

Author Marsha Jordan is founder of the HUGS and HOPE charity for seriously ill and injured children. She is author of “Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter,” inspirational reading illustrated by 40 sick kids.

What do You Want to Attract into Your Life?

Malcolm from Australia hit upon a wonderful new idea to empower your affirmations and goal settings. He calls it a Vision Statement.

In his own words:

Grab a few powerful images off the Internet and sling them into a slideshow with some brave captions saying what you want …and then MAGIC HAPPENS. Play it back to yourself every day and pretty soon only two things will happen…YOU GET IT!  - or you find out what you REALLY want!!

In the video below - Malcolm will teach you how to create your own vision statement.  Try it and let us know what you think.

If you decide to create your own vision statement and wish to make it public - upload it to Youtube.com and feel free to share it in the comments section of this post.

Editor’s Note: The following slide presentation was sent to us by a friend as an email forward. The author remains anonymous.

We normally don’t think much of email forwards - but this one was special. Watch it - you’ll like it.

Jacob of Mind-Energy.net recently interviewed Larry Plato, a graduate of several Silva seminars and one of the experienced voices on the Silva UltraMind community on Yahoo.com.

Here is the unedited inteview where Larry discusses his experiences with Silva and the events in his life that lead to his interest in spirituality.

1. Can you tell when and how you came to know of the Silva Method and why have you studied it?

I was working as a Locomotive Engineer coming into Port Huron, Michigan. We were staying at the Huron Hotel and there were some classes being held there. I talked with the Instructor during several brakes and found when the next class was being held, and made arrangements to attend.

As to why? All my life I have had strange thing happen and at that time I was looking for answers.

2. What benefits did you experience from the Silva Method in the short term after taking the course?

Better working relationships, My wife had left on 5 April 1974 and taken our 4 children to Houston, Texas. and in the spring of 75 asked for a divorce. I filed and on October 5 of 1975 was granted a divorce and I was given custody of the children. In July I took my eleven year old son to Port Huron and another Silva Class Which was very helpful for me and his mother.

3. How did Silva Method influence your life in the long term?

Being able to pick up thoughts from others. I became certified to teach the Silva relaxation seminars and was verbally authorized by Jose Silva to use the first half of the Basic Lecture series in my relaxation seminars. It made life better by being able to solve problems before they became problems.

For the Full Interview - Visit this Link >>