Month: July 2015

There’s Nothing New About Our Desire for Instant Gratification

We’re all in a hurry to get what we want. And, oh yes, we’re all busy, busy, busy. A spur-of-the-moment visit to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum reminded me that our impatience and desire for instant gratification are nothing new.

A view from the JFK Library overlooking the Boston Harbor and the Victura, a gift to JFK on his 15th birthday from his father.
A view from the JFK Library looking at the Victura, a gift to JFK on his 15th birthday from his father.

It seems each generation thinks the one on its heels is has an entitlement issue – they know what they want, and they want it now. Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, Generation Z – take your pick. Each generation has been accused of being the now generation. As in I want it now.

“[W]e’ll all be happier if we develop some self-control and avoid the habit of wanting everything this instant.” (Baby Boomers)

“Remember, this is the generation brought up on instant gratification.” (Gen Xers)

“Fundamentally there is one thing shaping the future of retail: the desire for convenience – and within that the desire for immediacy in a multichannel world.” (Millennials)

“This [proliferation of mass technology] has made Generation Z impatient and requiring instant gratification, an introverted and aloof generation, with a lower attention span.” (Generation Z)

And now back to my visit to the JFK Library. It seems President Kennedy saw that our impatience was interfering with long-term plans and goals, since he included these words in his inaugural address in 1961:

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

So…let us begin. And let us realize that some tasks and some goals are, indeed, worth beginning even though we’re not sure when they’ll be complete.

There’s Nothing New About Our Desire for Instant Gratification was last modified: July 28th, 2015 by Deb Nelson

What if There’s No Reason to Fear Cancer?

“All you have to do is understand what cancer is and why it happens, and that puts you in control.” Raymond Francis, M.Sc in his book, Never Fear Cancer Again: How to Prevent and Reverse Cancer.

The title of Raymond Francis’s book makes quite a statement: Never Fear Cancer Again. Really? Well, let’s see…

What if: there were only one type of disease?

What if: there were two possible causes of disease?

What if: by following six pathways, you would find (based on your choices) either health or disease?

According to Francis, it’s as simple and as complex as:

One type of disease: cellular malfunction.

Two possible causes: deficiency or toxicity.

Six pathways to health or disease: nutrition, toxin, mental, physical, genetic, medical.

The major takeaway I had from reading this book is that our health is in our hands. To use Francis’s words: “interfering with the cancer process gives you the power to prevent or reverse cancer.”

Francis has science on his side as he maps out a path to health following the six pathways. He healed his own chronic illness decades ago after doctors could offer him no more treatment. Taking advantage of his background in biochemistry, Francis studied disease at a cellular level; and after two years rather than facing a premature death, he was back to being healthy and enjoying life.

He has shared information through a number of books in addition to Never Fear Cancer Again. This was one of the first books I read when I started looking at the relationship surrounding cancer, nutrition, and lifestyle. As I’ve previously written, Francis’s theory makes a lot of sense to me.  Check it out and let me know if it resonates with you.

What if There’s No Reason to Fear Cancer? was last modified: December 1st, 2016 by Deb Nelson

Five Reasons Listening to Podcasts is NOT a Waste of Time

I know, I know. We’ve already got sooo many social channels vying for our time, and then there’s traditional media still keeping us entertained. So why add podcasts to the mix? Trust me, you’ll thank me for giving you a few excuses reasons to tune in to the podcast of your choice.

5 reasons to listen to podcastsPodcasts have been around for quite a while, and I’ve listened to a handful of interviews over the past couple of years. Recently, though, I’ve been making it a point to listen to podcasts regularly; and I’m glad I did. Here are five reasons to incorporate podcasts into your world.

  1. You’ll gain new perspective and focus. Pick a few personalities you like to follow and check out their interview list. I’ve learned things about myself and my business from people I’d never heard of before. I always benefit from taking a break from whatever project I’m working on and listening to a podcast. I return to the project with a renewed sense of urgency and focus.
  2. Opportunity to multitask. I’m not a big fan of multitasking. I find that doing one thing at a time suits me well. Like chewing gum while walking, though, I can handle listening to a podcast while walking. Gain some knowledge, get some exercise: SCORE!
  3. Expand your network. Connect with podcast hosts and their guests on social channels. Share your new-found knowledge with your social media audiences.
  4. Take a break from the 24/7 news world. I tend to get caught up in the breaking news. Unplugging from news that the media chooses to send my way and listening to a podcast I choose gives me control over what I’m paying attention to. AND – those stories that were breaking before my podcast began are still kicking around when the podcast ends.
  5. Learn from others before starting your own podcast. If you’re thinking of starting your own podcast, listening to a variety of podcasts is one of the best things you can do to prepare yourself before you come face to face with the microphone. Listen and learn: What kind of questions work well? What questions fall flat? What type of format appeals to you? How do you want your intro / outro to sound?

Here are a few podcasts I carry with me:

Being Boss, a podcast for Creative Entrepreneurs hosted by Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon.
Emily and Kathleen will help you get sh*t done! One element they add to the podcast world is brief podcast covering a specific topic: minisode. (Yes, they also offer lengthy interviews that are chock full of valuable info).

The Owner’s Mind with Chris Brogan. Grow your business by improving your capabilities and connections. Learn from business pros and owners just like you.
Chris is the kind of sharing and connecting. He shares his network and knowledge, with a great sense of humor mixed in for good measure. Not a business owner? No problem. You’ll still love this podcast.

Women Taking the Lead. Led by Jodi Flynn, this podcast features interviews with highly successful women who want to share their journeys of success with others.
Jodi’s interviews with women (and occasionally men) encourage women to trust themselves and move their careers forward. Need that inner critic silenced? This is the place for you. You’ll feel like you’ve found your tribe in no time at all.

What podcasts do you listen to that help move your business forward?

Five Reasons Listening to Podcasts is NOT a Waste of Time was last modified: July 7th, 2015 by Deb Nelson