by Owen | Mar 11, 2020 | Impromptu
As companies and schools close their doors across the world, it’s clear that we are all going to be spending a lot more time at home. With anxiety and depression begin to creep up in the stir, it’s important to remember what we have in our control and that we need to keep moving.
As we hole up in our bedrooms behind our computers, we are going to feel helpless. It is natural. We may not have been able to prevent our classes from ending or our projects from being canceled, but that does not mean we can afford to slack off or give up.
It’s important to find outlets and work for ourselves. We must maintain some sense of normalcy. Stick to your practices, don’t fall behind. Perhaps it’s time try out a new hobby or exercise. Start writing. Whatever you do, take what you can and continue to put yourself to use. There are no excuses to let yourself fall behind. Online classes will be different, but its no reason to give up on your education. Pick up a book or find an online masterclass. It may not be perfect, but we will have to make it work.
Things may not be perfect or even ideal. But giving up on what we do have will only hurt us more. The best way to overcome a crisis, personal or otherwise, is to keep moving. Letting ourselves fall into the depths of depression and uselessness helps no one. So find a way to occupy yourself. Try to use the time and space you have been given for a useful purpose. How can you help yourself? How can you help others? There is always something to do or to contribute to. Take what you have and make it work. Keep moving, even when it feels like everything is grinding to a halt.
by Owen | Mar 9, 2020 | 2019-2020, Weekend Reflections
This was meant to be the first book by Lewis I was going to read. But, I felt that diving right into his more recent work was jumping the gun. So I put it off until I made my way through a few others and felt really familiar with his work. But of course, every book was a new striking voice, and this one is no different. Here Lewis dives into the life and collaboration of Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky who changed the way we think about, well… thinking. Together they studied bias and decision making revealing how feeble our minds can actually be. While the psychology is interesting (I recommend reading Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow), the story behind their friendship is even better. I can’t recommend this one enough.
What I’m Reminding Myself: It’s Not That Important
This last week I went on a cruise with some friends. And, by choice, I went (almost) entirely without cell service or internet. While it was nice to get away from social media, It was even nicer to get away from the stress of work and projects. But, of course, my inner anxiety would catch up with me. I found myself worrying about gear rental emails and the paperwork I needed to do. I dreaded what was waiting for me in my inbox. While it was full, nothing I was worried about had come for me. In fact, everything was fine. We often like to use the phrase “it’s not rocket science” about easy things. But it’s at times like this; it’s also a good reminder that it’s not nearly as important. And most jobs and projects aren’t. We stress a lot about things that in the grand scheme are laughably unimportant. So why get worked up? Sure, something might go wrong, or you might miss an email. Is it going to be stressful? Only if we let it. The truth is it is as big a deal as we let it be. So let’s keep some perspective and remember that it’s all going to be okay.
A Quote I’m Thinking About
People are not so complicated. Relationships between people are complicated
Amos Tversky
by Owen | Mar 1, 2020 | 2019-2020, Weekend Reflections
What I’m Listening To – What The Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
Despite my undying adoration for Gladwell’s work, I always struggled to get through this one. I couldn’t say why. After exhausting his books and podcasts, however, I was left with nowhere to turn. I’m glad I gave it another shot. While it doesn’t have the same weight as his other works, this collection of articles showcases the best of Gladwell’s curiosities.
What I’m Excited For: Taking A Break
I’m off this week on a cruise, which unfortunately for this blog means no posts next week. I could have written ahead and scheduled posts, but I felt it better to leave it alone for a week and see what kind of energy I can give back on my return. I’m excited to get this time away, I’ve been deep in the midst of projects and shows. I could definitely use a week to practice stillness and cultivate some energy in a new environment.
What I’m Working On: Relying on Others
I’ve been struggling a lot recently with my ability to trust others with important work. Or more accurately, try and reign myself in form overstepping. I spent a lot of my early education and training more or less doing things on my own or working for someone else. But, with my biggest sound design project around the corner, I’m having to rely a lot more on my team. While I know they are capable, I’m finding it hard not to constantly check-in or offer up solutions (especially dangerous in the world of education).
A Quote I’m Thinking About:
“I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.”
Seneca
We have something to learn form everyone. Don’t discount the words of someone else because you dislike them. Seneca often quoted Epicurus, the founder of “the enemy” philosophy, Epicureanism, that opposed his own Stoicism. Seneca knew that sometimes even the opposition has something worth considering.
Published This Week:
by Owen | Feb 28, 2020 | Articles
We often overlook the value of books. They can be the most valuable source of reflection we have. The framework of experiences and practices they provide is essential to our self-improvement.
But where do we start? There are thousands of books in the self-help section alone. Below I detail the 5 books I recommend to anyone looking to make a change or improve their lives. The list includes a range of topics, from habit development to creativity, to philosophy. I recommend you read all of them and maybe even the deeper recommendations within. I’m sure at least one will have a profound effect on your life and personal progress.
What’s stopping you from writing that story, or auditioning for that part? Who’s that voice in your head telling you your work is no good? Pressfield calls it “Resistance.” As artists, we engage with Resistance every day. This is a profile of that enemy. It is an absolute must-read for anyone invested in making a change in their life. Whether you want to start a business, begin a creative career, or even conquer your lousy diet. The War of Art shows you how to overcome all of this. Its a kick in the ass to be sure. But one we all need
If you enjoy this book, I recommend going right into Pressfield’s follow up: Turning Pro. And, for even more creative energy, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Steal Like and Artist by Austin Kleon.
Life is a lot more like poker than chess. And poker, unlike chess, requires us to make and bet on decisions when we don’t have all of the information. So how do we know the right choice to make? Where in life do we place our bets? This is the central question of Duke’s book: how to make better decisions in the half-blind game of life. Combining her years of championship poker experience with thorough research, Duke reveals the tools and tips we need to be better decision-makers. This book will have value for anyone, regardless of occupation or lifestyle.
If you want to dig more into this topic and its implications, there’s no better place to go than Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow and Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink.
One of the most challenging things to find in ourselves is our fundamental purpose or clarity. Often times, we don’t know what we are in search of or why we are doing the things we are doing. The result is chaos and an endless fog of disillusionment. This fog clouds every decision we make and every path in front of us. The first and most crucial step to self-improvement is a “why.” This is the subject of Sinek’s book. Drawing on the likes of Apple and Southwest, Sinek dissects the importance of our why and how that inner clarity permeates everything we do. In helping us to find our why, Sinek shows us how to set a course for ourselves. This course informs every decision we make and the practice we put in place. It is the first step in the long journey of creative, entrepreneurial, and personal development.
If you want more, this book is best supported by its companion: Find Your Why.
How often do you get to read the journals of one of the most influential people in the world? The Meditations are just that. Serving as the Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180AD, Aurelius is known as the last of the Five Good Emperors, promoting peace and stability over the greatest empire of all time. His journals give us a window into his life and ruling philosophies. The entries have incredible relevance throughout time, even today. His struggles with desire, depression, and getting out of bed in the morning seem as if we wrote them ourselves. This book will key you into the ancient philosophy of stoicism. This philosophy has been the cornerstone mindset for some of the greatest leaders and creators in history — and it can be the same for you.
If you find yourself drawn to the ideas of Stoicism, It is essential that you also read Seneca the Younger’s Letters from A Stoic and Epictetus’ Enchiridion, or handbook to start. For a look at Stoicism in modern life, I recommend the works of Ryan Holiday: Ego is the Enemy, The Obstacle is the Way, Stillness is the Key, and The Daily Stoic (book and newsletter).
Willpower is overrated. If you’ve ever tried to quit sugar or go to the gym, you know that it’s nearly impossible to simply will yourself into action (or inaction). When we want to kick a bad habit and start a better one, we can’t rely on brute-force alone. In his book, James Clear, easily and accessibly, breaks down the most critical factors in habit development, from research to practice. You’ll learn how to develop intrinsic motivation, bend the enviornment to your favor, and more to crush your bad habits. This is easily one of the most important books in our toolkit.
If you are looking for positive habits to implement with these tools, try out Brendon Buchard’s High-Performance Habits.
Happy Reading!
Hopefully you will find something worth grabbing onto in the pages of these books. Let these books be the steepingstone you need to get started. And don’t forget to keep reading. It’s vital to our progress.
Looking for more book recommendations? Why not sign up for my newsletter. In addition to post updates and exclusive emails, I send out a monthy reading roundup of all of my reads and recommendations for the month.
by Owen | Feb 26, 2020 | Impromptu
On his podcast, Tim Ferriss often asks his high-performing guests to name the most important thing they have bought for less than $100. My answer to this question is a no brainer. Books. Any and all books. Non-fiction, fiction, biography, philosophy — anything I can learn from or enjoy. I spend at least $100 on books every month. My library is the single greatest source of education and reflection I have in my life.
Perhaps it seems a little archaic or expensive to maintain a library. But let’s think about it. The average book costs between $15-$25. And yet, every single book I’ve ever read has been worth vastly more than what I spent on it. Choc full of information, advice, entertainment, and practices, books pay us back in dividends for our entire lives. They are an absolute steal. I’ve bought books for less than $10 that have paid me back magnitudes of order more because of their advice and what that meant for my career. Maintaining a library, reading, and re-reading is a lifelong learning opportunity. It connects you to a community, sparks new ideas, and, if it’s really good, will keep you coming back to it for the rest of your life.
Also, let’s be honest, it’s fun. I know we all like to joke about how we don’t like reading or laugh about how we are “illiterate” (I hear this one a lot in students,), but I promise you, when you find the right book, it will be more entertainment and fun than any iPhone game or Netflix show could ever give you.
So go pick up a book, any book. Start small. Maybe instead of watching youtube before bed, you take 30 minutes to read. I promise that small investment will soon become a mountain of progress for you, no matter what your goals are. The best thing money can buy is a good book.
P.S. If you are looking for book recommendations to get you started, keep an eye out for Friday’s article. Also consider signing up for my newsletter, in addition to post updates and exclusive emails, I send out a monthly reading roundup showcasing all the books I recommend that month.
