Here is your Seven-Bullet Monday
1. A quote I am pondering:
"Quality narration is what elevates and distinguishes the audiobook listening experience from the print reading experience, in often extraordinary ways." – Ian Small
With this quote, I am throwing in my lot with audiobook fans. I know, for those that love genuine reading of books, the thought of audiobooks can seem like sacrilege. I believe you get a lot from good narrators, and sometimes hearing the actual author's voice builds a deep connection, like having a one-on-one conversation with you. Whether you consume books in written, digital or audio form, they are incredible for enriching and transforming our lives.
2. A question I am asking myself:
How do I get my emotions to submit to my purpose?
We hear so often that we are to pursue our passions. While that is often good advice, I think pursuing your purpose is better advice still. Negative emotions can dampen passions, but purpose goes much deeper than emotions. Knowing and pursuing our true purpose will help us push on, despite the negative emotions we may feel from time to time.
3. A book I am reading:
The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success - Dan Sullivan and Dr Benjamin Hardy
The last book from these two authors, "Who, not How", is one of my favourite books, and this second book is at least as good. The book explains how shifting mindsets to positivity and abundance, instead of focusing on shortcomings against ideals, results in happier and more successful lives.
4. My favourite podcast this week:
Straight Up with Trent Shelton Ep 98: Protect Your Energy
Trent Shelton is one of those pump-you-up podcasters you can't help feeling moved and challenged after listening to him. What I liked about this podcast is his message around protecting our energy, which isn't limitless, and making sure we apply it only to correct thinking, suitable activities and the right people.
5. Hugh-Tips
Don't fear investing
Many people feel intimidated by the thought of investing. This fear comes from an enormous and confusing array of investments and investing services, a lack of finance or investing knowledge, and the fear of losing money, which seems safer in a bank account. It may be a financial jungle out there, but you should be just fine with some self-education in investing and taking small steps. There is so much good online information that is easily accessible and understandable; we can all learn to invest successfully. I started with the Investing for Beginners Podcast and now have ten different, easy to follow investing podcasts that I keep tabs on. There are also many easy to read, or listen to, investment books from Peter Lynch, Phil Town, Joel Greenblat and Mohnish Prabai. If you haven't yet ventured into investing, I encourage you to first invest in yourself, which is hands-down the best investment. And if you haven't yet attended, please enrol in my next Making Money Work course, which starts at the beginning of February.
6. My highlight this last week
Launching our Company internal newsletter
We launched a new Company newsletter this week in response to an employee survey where we heard employees wanted more frequent and better communication. With COVID-19 limiting in-person communication, we have had to step up our game in other communication forms. What impressed me most about this first newsletter was the energy, content and quality delivered from a small, committed team from HR and a contractor. #champions
7. My challenge to you for this week
Get your pre-sleep thinking into a good place
There is so much science behind establishing positive, winning thought patterns before we sleep that we would be remiss not to practice it. End every day by putting your phone to bed 30 minutes before you, then write down at least three things that happened during the day for which you are grateful, three wins, little or big, that happened that day and three wins you would like for tomorrow. If you aren't already doing something like this, please give it a go for at least two weeks. I'm sure you will see a positive difference from this powerful habit.
Have a wonderful week