It’s time for the last installment of things I believe. Let’s see if I can ruffle some feathers today!
If you missed part one of this series, check it out here!
If you missed part two of this series, check it out here!
11. Read a damn book. This could have been number one as far as I’m concerned. Thanks to the Internet (yes, I’m aware of the irony that you’re reading this online), TV, radio, and other forms of media our society has greatly lost appreciation for books. Well, books have been around for a long time and there’s a lot of old wisdom there. Do you know what smart people do? Read books.
Our kids today have shitty reading comprehension skills and even worse writing skills because they don’t read anything substantial and because the vast majority of their written communication is through text messages, chats, or emails. Now they write like they text, which makes them sound retarded.
To be able to express oneself as an educated person through both the verbal and written word is one of the most important skills that a person can have (thank you Dr. Michaud for teaching me that in the 8th grade). I firmly believe that the backbone of verbal and written skills is built through a strong reading habit. Plus there’s something about curling up with a good book that is good for the soul and the mind.
12. Rote memorization is important but it is only the first stepping stone of knowledge. The vast majority of education comes from applying and developing knowledge, not just learning facts and figures. I think that all people should develop a strong education base in their field, but many seem to feel that once the “book learning” is accomplished and the exam passed that they know all there is to know. Life doesn’t work that way.
A degree or certification merely says that you’ve learned enough of the background on a topic to be able to really learn the rest of it. That next stage of education and the mastery of your skill comes from being out there in the real world trying what you’ve learned. That’s where you’ll succeed, fail, and adapt your way to mastery.
13. If you want to look strong, you should be strong. I feel that of all fitness qualities, limit strength is probably the most important. If you’re strong, then you can improve your flexibility, conditioning, body composition, and performance far more effectively than if you’re not strong. When strength increases, all other fitness qualities generally improve. Therefore, I feel that sound and constantly progressing strength training is the key to all other aspects of fitness. Notice I didn’t say that it was the only concern, but it is the critical component of a performance and fitness plan.
It is possible to develop a lean, muscular, and attractive physique while being very unathletic and pretty weak. You’ll look strong, though. Why in God’s name would you want to do that? Sure, getting stronger isn’t easy, but sack up, grab your yarbles, and get strong. You’ll look good along the way.
14. Be right, but if you do make a mistake, do it at 100 miles per hour. My high school football coach used to tell us this all the time, and he was right. Indecision and fence-sitting doesn’t do anyone any good. So go for it. Do it. Always try to make the right decision, but even a wrong decision is better than no decision.
15. If you’re not going to lead, get the hell out of the way. Not everyone has to be a leader (that’s why there’s one leader), and even leaders don’t have to lead all of the time. However, if you’re not going to lead the pack, then don’t stand in the way of the one who does. People who do nothing but disrupt groups, derail progress, and undermine leaders are simply a cancer to the group’s success. You know what smart people (called doctors) do to cancer? They cut it out and poison it. Think about it.
Thanks for reading some of my beliefs. Hopefully some of the things I’ve said ring true with you and we’re of a similar tribe. If what I’ve said here offends you or you disagree with me, that’s cool, too. I guess we just don’t see things the same way. As always, feel free to digg, stumble, tweet, and forward this post along to anyone that you think might be interested. I’d love to hear your thoughts, too, so comment below!