Let's Stop Trying to be Kings and Queens

The term "living like a king" is so misused, outdated, and truly misleading.

The luxuries of kings, queens, emperors and even nobility from ancient times all the way to the Industrial Revolution, can't compare to the mundane things that the average person has in 2020, in North America and Western Europe.

Those kings didn't have electricity, antibiotics, vaccines, or even the level of access to food year-round that we currently have. Only a small sample had access to temperature controlled drinking water that we do.

They didn't have the easy access to scientific knowledge and information that we do. We have nearly instant access to music, art and other forms of entertainment.

So no, I prefer not to live "like a king". Just give me a couple of billion dollars, and I'm good.

And don't get me started on treating women and young girls "like princesses".

Real Heroism is Great. Tedious Daily Work is Better

Humans idolize heroes. There will always be respect and admiration for people who, during an emergency, will put themselves in danger to save others. Stories of heroes (super or otherwise) coming to the rescue make for great movies, TV shows, books and news stories.

During the COVID19 pandemic, we can now see the amazing stories of nurses, doctors, truck drivers, first responders, grocery store workers, IT maintenance staff, delivery people, transit workers, and other essential workers, who put themselves in harm's way to keep society functioning.

However having a situation requiring heroic rescues in the nick of time or other people having to sacrifice themselves means that somewhere along the way, something went horribly wrong with the system in place. It means that something didn't work and that an incident should have been prevented.

So while heroism is great and will always be welcome, we as a society should really put more focus on reasonable, preventative measures and maintenance to stop problems before they start. Or at the very least, if we can't prevent it, have safeguards in place to minimize the damage that a potential incident can make. No, it's not as sexy as having a hero swoop in and save the day but it's just as important. It takes tedious, boring, daily maintenance work to stop disasters before they happen.

Business Opportunities From COVID-19

With the COVID 19 pandemic now affecting the entire world, we need to be prepared for the upcoming changes that it will bring to those who don't get sick. This implies huge shifts in the way we work and how we make a living.  Unfortunately, with businesses being closed down, many people are going to be without pay or worse without jobs.

The good news is that there are other jobs that are going to be created in other industries and will most likely thrive throughout this crisis. Here are a few things to watch out for.

Remote work will finally become more widespread.
In order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, many companies around the world have either had to close their doors, or have made it mandatory for their employees to do their work from home.

Businesses will realize after a couple of months of this that they can trust their office-dwelling employees to be just as productive when working from home.  The existing technologies for video conferencing, IP telephony, IT security and cloud computing will allow employees to do that.  So it's very likely that most companies will end up wanting to save on real estate costs, commute times, and absenteeism by no longer limiting "work from home" to specific roles (sales, consultants, virtual assistants, web developers, IT support, podcasting, etc.).

What might be interesting here is that many more jobs will be created by large businesses who won't need to hire locally because the job can be done using the right technology.

The rise of Virtual Training / Learning

This kinda relates to the point above about remote work, but with the same technologies being used for leisure. With gyms, yoga and dance studios, martial arts schools and other activities with big groups of people being shut down temporarily, it won't be long before virtual classes rise in popularity. Sure some people can follow YouTube videos for instruction, but having an instructor who can see you and correct what you're doing in real time without the risk of catching a virus is the next best thing.

The same goes for other education. With schools and universities closed down, lectures and homework are now being made available online. Again, with the technologies now available, expect to see more and more flexible, web-based, academic programs.

While these virtual classes might not replace the real person training when these locations are finally allowed to re-open, they will make for great supplementary material and additional income streams later on.

Delivery services will become more streamlined
The risks of spreading viruses by going into crowded spaces to shop will create new jobs in delivery services. Whether it's groceries, restaurant food, toilet paper, soap, alcohol, cannabis, or any other necessity, the fact that most people will need to stay home will create an even greater demand for delivery services. Yes, companies like Amazon, Uber, FedEx, UPS and of course the post office already have massive networks to deliver to your door.

However, with demand rapidly increasing, other companies will invest and innovate to further improve these delivery methods making it much easier for customers to get something sent to their door. With summer coming, we should also expect more and more local niche entrepreneurs offering delivery services that can promise faster delivery times than the logistical behemoths.

Streaming Services and Podcasts

Entertainment is going to be incredibly important with people staying indoors. Whether it's bored kids or adults needing escapist entertainment from the doom and gloom news stories, we're going to need something to distract us.

Getting easy access to Internet-based entertainment is going to be crucial.  We've already seen huge jumps in subscription numbers for Netflix, Amazon Prime video and Disney plus.  YouTube had to reduce their video quality to save bandwidth, expecting a higher volume of streaming.

So if you're a vlogger, a podcaster, a YouTuber or any kind of web content creator, the opportunities to build an audience and eventually monetize is bigger than ever.

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I am very thankful for being one of the lucky ones who has the ability to work from home. Yes the current pandemic has caused the loss of plenty of jobs. Instability and uncertainty seem to be the norm.  Despite all the economic doom and gloom news, there are going to be new opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs to pivot.  It's going to be possible for many of us to thrive during a crisis and come out of it stronger than before.

Develop credibility, humility, and a love of learning using a simple phrase

In the modern economy, expertise, skills and knowledge are some of the best measures of your competence. Many of us are afraid to admit whenever there's something we don't know. Despite that, one of the most important skills we need in the age of information is the ability to say "I don't know" both to ourselves and to others.

First, being able to admit that you don't know something forces you to stay humble. Being honest with yourself and others by saying "I don't know" means that you don't overstate your area(s) of expertise. This prevents you from receiving false recognition, which prevents arrogance and over-inflation of the ego.

Being able to say "I don't know" also keeps you curious and ready to learn. I'm not sure how most people are, but personally, if I'm asked a question and I don't know the answer, it bothers me. I want to find out the answer and look it up. That kind of behaviour develops curiosity and a love for learning new things. All because I admitted to myself and whoever is asking me a question that I don't know the answer.

Most importantly, in the long term, saying "I don't know" will keep you from losing credibility. There's always pressure to be a "subject matter expert", as well as the pressure to provide immediate answers without knowing what you're talking about. What will likely happen in this situation is that you'll give inaccurate information.  The person who receives that inaccurate information will make decisions, act on that information, and suffer the consequences.  When they do, you'll be blamed for their failure and be thought of as unreliable or worse, a liar.

Yes, it's important to be knowledgeable and skilled.  It's important to be able to answer questions about your field of expertise.  This is what competence in any field looks like. However, no matter how competent you are, there will always be something that you won't know. And that's all right. We're now in a world where almost all of human knowledge can be accessed almost instantaneously using a device in your pocket. You're better off saying "I don't know. I'll give you an answer as soon as I find out."

Are you a cheater? It's never so cut and dry.

"Cheaters never prosper".
"Cheaters never win.  Winners never cheat."

We've been told this since we were kids. Competition is important, but what's more important is to compete honestly and fairly.  We were taught that cheating is wrong and that even if we benefit in the short term, in the long run we lose.

That's debatable.

What's more fundamental really is defining what actually constitutes cheating?  Where do we draw the line between cheating and simply being creative within the confines of the rules?

Let's take sports as an example. In most high-level competitions, athletes are not allowed to take certain substances that modify their bodies' chemistry and allow them to enhance their performance. However, athletes are allowed to do resistance training and cardiovascular exercises.  Those activities will result in changes in their bodies' chemistry, composition, strength and endurance. This will eventually enhance their performance. The latter's not considered cheating, but the mechanism is pretty similar (albeit slower).

What if an athlete drinks a couple of cups of coffee or takes a "pre-workout supplement" filled with stimulants right before starting a resistance training work out?  Their body chemistry's changed.  They're more stimulated and able to lift more weight, for more repetitions, and for a longer period of time.  Being able to work out that way will of course have the result of enhancing future performance. Is that cheating?

Let's take it a step further.  When it was finally proven that Lance Armstrong was on PEDs when he won multiple back-to-back Tour de France races, they cycling association tried to award the win to the cyclist who came in second place.  Except that guy was also on PEDs.  So they tried to give it to guy in third place, who they found was also on PEDs.  They had to go all the way down to the person in 17th place or something similar to find someone who wasn't "cheating".  But in that case, if almost everyone is on PEDs, can we still say that it's cheating if someone gets caught using prohibited substances?

Or what about in business?  Sure, there are rules and laws to prevent quid pro quo practices and ensure that no bribery or corruption happens to ensure that competition between companies are fair when interacting with clients.  But ask anyone working in a sales job about "relationship building activities".

Can you consider having a meal or even a coffee with clients a quid pro quo practice?  What about organizing and sponsoring special events for clients?  Or inviting them to your company's special private box at major sporting events and concerts? Or how about paying for a round of golf with a client? Can we honestly say that businesses aren't engaging in these activities to get something in return from their clients?  If so, is that really cheating or just improving business relationships?

It is possible to set rules to ensure that specific behaviours are discouraged and cheating is well-defined. Sure, you could work perfectly by the book all the time to ensure that you're not cheating. The problem is, when you're trying to win at such a high level, no matter what the field, your competitors are going to be operating within the gray areas between the strict application of the rules and cheating. So if you decide to stay away from that area, you're putting yourself at a disadvantage.

Feeling Insecure? Use the 8 Mile Method

A lot of problems, conflict, resentment and aggressive behaviour usually come from our own insecurities. We're all insecure about something because we're all flawed in one way or another as human beings.

Many of us feel afraid and insecure because we're afraid that at some point, those flaws of ours will be exposed and used against us. Some will use them to make us feel bad about ourselves. Others who are more Machiavellian will use those flaws and insecurities to manipulate us to their advantage.

So how do we avoid our insecurities getting the best of us? Use the "8 Mile" method.

In the movie 8 Mile, Eminem's character had to go through several rap battles where freestyle rappers try to get the best of their opponents by insulting them to a beat, as creatively as possible.  *Spoiler alert*:  At the end of the movie Eminem's character, at the final rap battle, decides to point out all of his own flaws in public. Basically, he dissed himself before his opponent could do it.  By doing that he took away any ammunition that his opponent could use against him.

The first step is to take an honest look at ourselves in both the literal and proverbial mirrors. That honest look will allow us to identify our flaws. This not only gives us the choice of doing something to get rid of those flaws and improve ourselves. It also allows us to accept the fact that we have said flaws and take ownership of them.

Once we accept that we have our flaws and we start owning them, (or better yet, we start working on eliminating those flaws), these insecurities will slowly start disappearing.

The Best Type of Exercise to Lose Weight and Stay in Shape

If you've managed to keep your resolution and you're still on the "I'll exercise more" train, good for you.  If you've been able to create a habit of exercising, you're probably wondering now how to kick it up a notch. You're now in the stage of "researching" the benefits and advantages that some types of exercise have over the one that you're doing now. You want to see if there are other ways to get to your fitness goals faster.

A lot of research in exercise science has been published over the last couple of years on the types of training modalities that might be the most effective at causing fat loss, building muscle, improving cardiovascular health, preventing injuries, increasing joint mobility and flexibility, etc.

Some will tell you that training for long endurance events like marathons, triathlons or obstacle course races is the best for overall fitness.  Some will say that you just need to take daily walks and you'll be fine.

Some studies will say that it's more efficient to use different versions of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) where you go all out for short periods of time followed by rest or active rest periods. Other studies will say that resistance training using barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, or calisthenics makes the most sense.

Many will loudly advocate that a specific combination of resistance training and high-intensity training by going to Crossfit, Orange Theory, or a similar type of box gym is the best way.

Others will say that picking up a sport, a martial art, a dance class, ultimate frisbee, pole dancing, yoga, or any other activity that "tricks you" into doing physical activity works the best.

All of these activities can be beneficial and can contribute to your overall fitness and health.  But which is really the best?

Ready for the secret?  Here goes:

The best form, modality and type of physical exercise is the one that you actually ENJOY doing.

You could have the most meticulously-written training program composed of exercise modalities backed by multiple scientific studies along with the most motivating trainer money can buy.  If you don't actually enjoy that exercise program, you will never do it consistently and you will give up after a few weeks.

Even if the exercise program is not perfect, if you enjoy the physical activity that you're doing, you are more likely to consistently do it for a very long time.  That means that in the long run, you will reap the benefits of physical activity, which includes improved general fitness, longevity and health.

If you're practicing a specific sport and you want to improve performance for a competition, then yes some training modalities will make more sense than others. There are even modalities that will get you in great shape after 12 weeks, but you won't be able to physically sustain them for the next 12 years or more.  So after those 12 weeks, you're very likely to yo-yo between being in great shape and being unhealthy or injured.

For general health and fitness, if you don't enjoy the activity in question, you won't do it.  I love practicing martial arts.  Riding my bicycle daily during the spring and summer months is fun for me.  I enjoy using heavy kettlebells and calisthenics to build physical strength.  I've very recently discovered that ballroom dancing with my spouse is a lot of fun.

For some people, all these activities sound like a nightmare.  So while they can be beneficial, they'll never do it.  Because I enjoy all of these things, I am more likely to do them for a very long time.

Will I look like a fitness model with 2% body fat on the cover of Men's Health magazine?  Possible, but not probable.  Will I keep my body healthy, strong and hopefully free from serious injuries until I'm in my 70s or 80s? Very likely.

The point is this: if you're looking for the "best" way to be in good physical condition for the rest of your life, there really isn't one.  There is such a thing as the "best one" for you.

The Myth of "Easy"

We've all probably heard our friends, colleagues and family members say things that are similar to the following:

"It's easier to skip the gym and not exercise."

"It's easier to spend and not to save money."

"It's too difficult to stay disciplined when it comes to eating healthy."

"It's easier to goof off instead of going to school and to learning a skill."

"It's difficult to get up and go to work. I'd rather sleep in and call in sick."

"It's easier to use an app to get McDonald's delivered to my door than to go grocery shopping and cooking myself a healthy meal."

"It's easier to plop on the couch next to my significant other and watch Netflix instead of taking the time to sit down and have a conversation."

In the short term, sure the examples above may seem like the "easier" options. I would make the argument that if you look at the long term, going for the "difficult" options are actually what will make your life easier in the future.

Here are a few examples:

What's easier? Regularly exercising to strengthen your body or being so weak in your old age that you're living in constant fear of falling down and not being able to get up?

What's easier? Eating a serving of vegetables at each meal, or having to go a doctor because you're so constipated that you've only pooped once in the last 3 days?

What's easier? Getting up and going to school and/or work every day or being homeless at 60 years old?

What's easier? Delaying that major purchase to put money away for your retirement or being in your 70s and not having enough money to buy both food AND medication?

What's easier?  Making the effort to have small, meaningful, daily conversations with your significant other or going through divorce proceedings?

What's easier?  Going to school and getting an education or being unable to pay your bills because you can't get a job due to your lack of credentials and training?

Sure, some of these examples are maybe a bit extreme or "strawman-ish" but you get the idea. A lot of what we're doing (or not doing) in the short term might feel like the "easier" thing to do, but if you take a long term look, what we're actually doing is choosing to make our life harder in the long term.  So the next time you hear your inner voice telling you to take the easy path, just ask yourself, if it really is easier in the long run.

Failure IS an Option and Might be Your Best One (in some cases)

"Failure is not an option".

This is one of those cliché motivational quotes that you'll hear from sports, business and other fields.  I guess it's supposed to help drive people to succeed at whatever they're doing or something.  The truth is, for most of us living semi-comfortably, this adage is actually crap.

Of course, failure is an option.  It's not necessarily the one we want to pick most of the time, but it will always be one of your options. In fact, failing can be one of your best-case scenarios.

For one, the feeling that you get when you fail is terrible, especially the first time.  Learning how failure feels will make you be more prepared and work harder the next time you try, pushing you to succeed.

When stakes are relatively low, when you're trying to learn something, or when you're trying to innovate, failure is an important step. Failing gives you a chance to see what didn't work, why it didn't work and what changes are needed to make something succeed. This is a very important part of developing the white belt mentality required for continuous improvement in any field.

In a previous post, I've emphasized the importance of quitting. Another benefit of failing is that it can help you determine whether you need to readjust what you're doing or to quit altogether. Of course, this also requires an understanding of why you failed.

Yes, failing too often can be detrimental, especially when the stakes are high. However, if can react to failure the right way, you can use it to your advantage. What you don't want to do when you fail is to complain, blame others, avoid future challenges and adopt a victim, "woe is me" mentality. To benefit from failure, what you want to do when it happens is to get mad, maybe use a few expletives, then try to get better, and try harder.

How to Stay "Motivated"

Just to be clear I'm not a fan of "motivation" to help someone stick to whatever activity it is that they want to stick to.  Motivation can be OK to get you started but not really the best at getting you going when things get difficult.  Discipline and having an overall view of why you're doing something will always be better than looking at motivational quotes and videos on social media.

That said, for those who really want to stay "motivated", I would say that the best way is to constantly look for what you're not good at and finding ways to improve it.  Set an achievable goal and work on that weakness.

Let's take martial arts as an example.  If you think that you've gotten good at punches, make a goal to make your kicks better.  From that goal you can pick an aspect of kicking that you can improve.  You can try to improve your hip mobility and leg flexibility to kick higher; or maybe try to improve the speed of your kicks; or develop the reaction time to use your kicks as intercepting counter-attacks; or make the accuracy of your kicks better.

You get the idea.  The point is, be honest with yourself and find out what your weaknesses are. Then set a goal to improve on those weaknesses by breaking them up in smaller sub-goals.  Completing those smaller tasks will help you see that you're progressing and the pursuit of those "small wins" can be very helpful in keeping someone motivated.