Rules for Eating Frogs, Handing Down Skills, Nostalgia for Jackasses, and More
Bring Ambition Newsletter - June 17, 2021
Hi folks and welcome aboard new subscribers!
In the Bring Ambition Newsletter, I share 3-5 things that are fascinating me lately in the world of professional and personal development, peak performance psychology, meta-learning, side hustles, and more. You'll receive unconventional resources, cool gadgets, practical advice, and other inspiring content.
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1.) Eating Frogs
There's an old saying that if the first thing you do in the morning is eat a live frog, you can go through the rest of the day knowing the worst is behind you [1].
Your "frog" is that big, ugly, unavoidable task on your to-do list [2]. The one where, once you do it, you can feel the tension in your body melt away. Sometimes it's the one high-value deliverable that makes other, smaller tasks unnecessary. Sometimes it's the uncomfortable task that kick-starts your momentum and positions you to succeed that day.
It's similar to advice millionaire real estate mogul Gary Keller shared on Tim Ferriss' podcast — to structure your calendar such that you've had a great day by lunchtime:
"I used to tell people, “Look, the goal is to have a great day by noon.” In other words, get everything that matters, that is important to you, get it done. Don’t put it off, get it done, and then let the events of the morning drive your afternoon." — Gary Keller
Most of the professionals I train and coach have cultivated the ability to swallow up frogs like nobody's business. That capability alone separates many "middle-of-the-road" professionals who stagnate from the high performers who skyrocket up the corporate ladder.
Here's the first rule of frog eating: If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.
In other words, if you have two major tasks on your daily or weekly to-do list, nail the bigger one first to set yourself up for continued success. Swallow that nasty frog while your stamina and focus is at its peak. Then use whatever's left in the tank to gobble up the little one.
And another rule about eating frogs: Don’t leave a frog half-eaten.
Eating frogs is hard enough, nevermind forcing yourself to finish a half-eaten frog that’s been sitting overnight.
Don’t confuse activity for accomplishment. Just because you’ve done something doesn’t mean you’re done.
It’s common to leave a task or objective half-complete and promise you’ll return to it. But all those semi-finished projects clog up your mental space. Cultivate the ability to finish, to close. Enjoy the dopamine spike that comes from that sense of closure, and roll that momentum forward into the next objective.
And one last rule about those frogs: If you do have to eat a frog, don't sit and look at it for very long.
Usually the bigger, more audacious, more difficult the objective, the scarier it seems. So it doesn't pay to dwell too long. Harbor no illusions about the task at hand. Take action and get it done. Develop the discipline to smash procrastination and swallow up those frogs, and you'll find it gets easier over time.
You might even develop a taste for them.
[1] This is often wrongly attributed to Mark Twain, for no good reason other than the internet just does that sometimes.
[2] Ref: Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
2.) Instagram wisdom of the week
"As your business outgrows its footprint, you should be outgrowing your to-do list. Acquire a skill, pass it on to a competent team member, and look for the next challenge. You can't expect to progress if your responsibilities aren't evolving periodically." — Pete Dupuis
I loved this post from Pete Dupuis, a consultant to gym owners and co-founder of Cressey Sport Performance. He's speaking from the perspective of a gym owner, but it's relevant to any professional, anywhere. It's a great way to think about delegation, people development, and even personal development.
On a personal basis, you should always strive to "outgrow" your to-do list. If this year's to-do lists looks just like last year's, it could be a sign of stagnation. Are you stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself? Are you increasing the scope of your own responsibilities and working on bigger, better things?
Mini-exercise: Take a look at a past to-do list or a project from 1-2 years ago and either reflect or journal on the following prompts: Are you still working on the same old sh*t? Is there anything new and exciting on your to-do list that you never would have dreamed of when you wrote that older list? What do you hope is on your to-do list 1 year from now?
This post resonates as a leader or manager, too. Are you acquiring skills, and then importantly, passing those skills on to your direct reports? Are you building their capabilities so they can free up capacity for you to focus on high value, strategic projects?
Mini-exercise: Make a list of 3-5 strengths or valuable skills that have made you successful in your role. Circle one and jot a few bullets down around how you would teach it to someone else, especially a junior member of your team.
3.) A dose of early 2000s nostalgia
"Johnny Knoxville’s Last Rodeo." If you're a fan of Jackass (or any of its many spinoffs), you'll love this sentimental GQ profile of the inimitable Johnny Knoxville.
Description: "As he prepares to release his final Jackass film, the stuntman takes stock of a surprisingly long, hilariously painful, and unusually influential career."
4.) Eye-opening perspective shifter
“The Animal is Tired.” I won’t spoil this one, but can say it forces you into a new perspective — hopefully for the better.
That’s a wrap for this week’s newsletter!
For anyone asking “Where the hell have you been for the last 1.5 months?” I’m afraid I don’t have a good response aside from offering my apologies. I’ve had to deprioritize writing in favor of other projects (e.g. training Larry) and obligations (it is wedding szn, after all). My goal is to maintain this newsletter on (at least) a biweekly basis from here on out.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this week’s installment — What did you enjoy? What's the worst thing about it that needs to be fixed as soon as possible? You can reach me via any of the social media / contact links below.
Have a great weekend!
Jon D'Alessandro
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