Broncos, Seahawks prioritize their faith, their football

Watch this inspiring video:

http://onenewsnow.com/sports/2014/01/31/exclusive-broncos-seahawks-prioritize-their-faith-their-football-video#.Uuv89c1mR1I.twitter

WE ARE WHAT WE REPEATEDLY DO

LifeThought: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act but a habit.

http://www.brucevanhorn.com/lifethoughts-25/

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit. – Aristotle

There is a lot of talk about excellence. There always has been and there probably always will be.

The problem with most of the talk about excellence is the pressure it puts on people, especially our children, to perform before they are ready. Companies use phrases like “we demand excellence from our employees.” Schools promote “we expect excellence from our students” in the hopes that parents will send their children there to become excellent students. Coaches say to their athletes “we are here to win; I will not accept anything short of excellence from you!”

I want you to know right up front that none of these phrases are bad. In fact, companies, schools, coaches, and parents should expect excellence. The problem is we often expect excellence from others, and even ourselves, on-demand, from the outset, and it’s just not possible.

The philosopher Aristotle, who lived from 384 to 322 BC, knew way back then that excellence is not something that is done once or by sheer force of will. Excellence is something that develops over time by doing simple, basic things, over and over again until they become habit. Excellence is embodied in the phrase “don’t practice until you get it right; practice until you can’t get it wrong!”

What a company should say is “we demand excellence from our employees, so we give them tools, training, and the time needed to develop the skills required for excellence.” A school should say “we believe our students are capable of excellence, so we teach not just the academic subjects but we help them develop the study habits they will need in order to become excellent students.” Coaches should say “my job as your coach is to teach you the fundamentals of the sport until they become second nature, then build on that foundation through consistent, proven training methods until you are able to perform with excellence.”

If you want to become excellent at something, figure out what it is you need to repeatedly do in order to become excellent, then repeatedly do it! With the exception of certain athletics, most people who are considered excellent in their field will tell you they do not possess any special gift or ability; they just do what most people are not willing to do–the hard, repetitive work necessary to become excellent!

Excellence is a habit. Are you developing habits that will lead you toward excellence?

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This is one of my daily “LifeThoughts” posts. 

C. S. LEWIS AND INTELLIGENT DESIGN: A NEW DOCUMENTARY

Very interesting view of C. S. Lewis's change in his viewpoint from a cynical youth to the reason and research of N open mind. 

http://www.cslewisweb.com/2013/11/c-s-lewis-and-intelligent-design-premiere-of-new-documentary/

The video:

http://youtu.be/3dqR3eVwoqA

USE WHAT YOU HAVE

LifeThought: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

Copied from the following link, by Bruce VanHorn

http://www.brucevanhorn.com/lifethoughts-21/

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. – Arthur Ashe

One of the biggest traps we fall into, when trying to change our lives or start something new, is the “if only” trap.

Here is what the trap looks like: I could start my business if only I had more money. I would be able to make more money if only I had a college degree. My business would be better if only the economy was better. I would be a much happier person if only I had more positive role models. I would write that book if only there were more hours in the day. My life would be so much better if only, if only, if only…

“If only” is not a trap that someone else sets up to catch you. It is a trap you set up and walk into of your own free will. In fact, “if only” is really just an excuse you are using to avoid doing the hard work necessary for success.

We all have role models, people we admire greatly for their accomplishments. In almost every case, the people we admire the most didn’t start off with a lot of money, or didn’t have great family lives, or never graduated from college. Yet, somehow, these people were able to overcome the “if only” obstacles, they created their own opportunities, worked harder than any of their peers and achieved things nobody thought was possible.

Most people who have achieved great success in their own lives started working on their dreams right where they were. They didn’t wait until their situations got better–they made their situations better. They didn’t wait until they had all of the resources they needed–they made do with what they had at the time. Most importantly, they worked hard and did what ever it was they could do to make their dreams come true.

Do you have a dream? Do you want to change your life? Don’t set up the “if only” trap. Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can!

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This is one of my daily “LifeThoughts” posts. To receive these automatically in your InBox each day, simply subscribe here.

USE WHAT YOU HAVE

LifeThought: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

Copied from the following link, by Bruce VanHorn

http://www.brucevanhorn.com/lifethoughts-21/

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. – Arthur Ashe

One of the biggest traps we fall into, when trying to change our lives or start something new, is the “if only” trap.

Here is what the trap looks like: I could start my business if only I had more money. I would be able to make more money if only I had a college degree. My business would be better if only the economy was better. I would be a much happier person if only I had more positive role models. I would write that book if only there were more hours in the day. My life would be so much better if only, if only, if only…

“If only” is not a trap that someone else sets up to catch you. It is a trap you set up and walk into of your own free will. In fact, “if only” is really just an excuse you are using to avoid doing the hard work necessary for success.

We all have role models, people we admire greatly for their accomplishments. In almost every case, the people we admire the most didn’t start off with a lot of money, or didn’t have great family lives, or never graduated from college. Yet, somehow, these people were able to overcome the “if only” obstacles, they created their own opportunities, worked harder than any of their peers and achieved things nobody thought was possible.

Most people who have achieved great success in their own lives started working on their dreams right where they were. They didn’t wait until their situations got better–they made their situations better. They didn’t wait until they had all of the resources they needed–they made do with what they had at the time. Most importantly, they worked hard and did what ever it was they could do to make their dreams come true.

Do you have a dream? Do you want to change your life? Don’t set up the “if only” trap. Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can!

---

This is one of my daily “LifeThoughts” posts. To receive these automatically in your InBox each day, simply subscribe here.

11 EXPERT TIPS TO HELP YOU BE MORE PRODUCTIVE IN 2014

http://m.fastcompany.com/3024252/11-expert-tips-to-help-you-be-more-productive-in-2014

Who doesn’t want to figure out how to get more done? Or get things done more efficiently? We asked some of the most productive people we know how you can tackle the New Year’s work.

Last year I used a kitchen timer to force myself to focus; I blocked the Internet and email so I couldn’t get distracted; I set an auto-response on my email; I wrote a lot of to-do lists. I even started getting up earlier.

As you can see, I’m kind of obsessed with productivity. Which makes this the perfect place to be because our experts and journalists are constantly coming up with new methods to hack the conventional ways of working.

But trying to wade through so much coverage of how to do things more efficiently can get in the way of actually getting things done. So in the interest of saving you time, we’ve asked some of the most super-productive people with whom we work to share how they manage to accomplish so much:

Focus on one big task at a time

“It's all too easy to get distracted by ‘work’ that takes up a lot of time and energy but isn't ultimately changing your trajectory,” says David Rusenko, CEO of Weebly. “We see this all the time--entrepreneurs focus on the minutiae instead of just getting started, and getting something out there.”

Organize Your Day Into Time Blocks

Some people are early risers, some are night owls, while others hit their stride mid-day. Ekaterina Walter, CMO at Branderati, and author of Think Like Zuck, advises to figure out when during the day you are most productive then establish blocks of time get more focused work done. “You can even set a recurring email going out to people telling them not to expect an immediate reply to their emails during those times,” she says.

Do things you don’t want to do

“Remember this sentence, tape it to your monitor, tattoo it on your wrist: You don't have to 'feel like' doing something in order to do it,” says Oliver Burkeman, author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking.

“When I manage to remember that, I'm no longer sidetracked by trying to get into the right frame of mind for daunting projects. Don't beat yourself up for procrastinatory feelings. Just feel them, and simultaneously direct your limbs to do the work.”

Don’t Get Paralyzed by Perfection

“A career contribution isn't made in a single ideal moment,” says psychologist and author Art Markman. “It is a collection of good and great moments that add up over time.”

The best project is a completed project he says. “It’s easy to get paralyzed by perfection, but it’s better to get something out the door than to hold onto it for a long time hoping to remove every flaw.”

Stay in the Moment

If you feel overwhelmed (like pretty much everyone), it might not be because you have so much to do, but rather that you are trying to do too much at the same time, says Douglas Merrill founder of ZestFinance (formerly VP of Engineering at Google).

“If you're talking to your daughter, talk to her; don't think about email. You can't do two things at once--it's physically impossible for your brain to multi-task,” he says. “Even if you don't lower your workload, doing one thing at a time will help you do better and, equally importantly, feel better.”

Put Your Brain on Autopilot for the Small Stuff

Some super productive people don’t waste their time on the small daily decisions that take up much of our brain space. Prerna Gupta, chief product officer of social music app Smule says she’s able to tackle big picture problems by eating the exact same thing for breakfast and lunch every day. She calls it “reducing decision fatigue.”

Write an old-fashioned to-do list

Sometimes the simplest methods are the best. “Every day, I write down the various tasks I want to accomplish and check them off as I go through them and complete them,” said Francesca Gino, a professor at Harvard Business School, and author of Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed and How We Can Stick to the Plan.

“Seeing the progress makes me feel good and, research says, more productive. It also helps me be a bit more realistic in understanding what I can accomplish every day, and which tasks are top priority,” she says.

Get an Accountability Partner

“The promises we make to ourselves are easy to break,” says Laura Vanderkam, frequent contributor and author What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. “It's much harder to call a friend on Friday and inform her that ‘I failed.’” She set up weekly check-ins and which kept her motivated to complete the first draft of a novel in 2013.

Don’t Check Facebook

Drake Baer spent most of 2013 writing about productivity, and when he needed a break he says the thing that kept him going wasn’t checking social media or email. Instead, he says he goes for a walk, gets a snack to stave off hunger, or sneaks into a conference room for a brief bit of meditation.

Deal With It Only Once

Leo Widrich cofounder of social media sharing app Buffer, says Zen Habits’ author Leo Babauta taught him the following productivity tip that has transformed the way he works:

“Deal with something only once. Do it now. Then it’s off your mind, and you can fully focus on the next matter.”

He says the “deal with it only once” policy works for three of the most nagging aspects of everyone’s day: email, meetings, and requests for help. Answer all as soon as they come up and get them out of the way.

Escape Into Single-Tasking

Author and entrepreneur Faisal Hoque has mastered the art of doing one thing at a time. In fact he’s so good at “single-tasking,” that he can lose himself mundane task like vacuuming and help ground his focus for his work. “Being in the moment allows us to escape from adversity, conserve our inner energy, and be more consciously productive,” he says.

11 EXPERT TIPS TO HELP YOU BE MORE PRODUCTIVE IN 2014

http://m.fastcompany.com/3024252/11-expert-tips-to-help-you-be-more-productive-in-2014

Who doesn’t want to figure out how to get more done? Or get things done more efficiently? We asked some of the most productive people we know how you can tackle the New Year’s work.

Last year I used a kitchen timer to force myself to focus; I blocked the Internet and email so I couldn’t get distracted; I set an auto-response on my email; I wrote a lot of to-do lists. I even started getting up earlier.

As you can see, I’m kind of obsessed with productivity. Which makes this the perfect place to be because our experts and journalists are constantly coming up with new methods to hack the conventional ways of working.

But trying to wade through so much coverage of how to do things more efficiently can get in the way of actually getting things done. So in the interest of saving you time, we’ve asked some of the most super-productive people with whom we work to share how they manage to accomplish so much:

Focus on one big task at a time

“It's all too easy to get distracted by ‘work’ that takes up a lot of time and energy but isn't ultimately changing your trajectory,” says David Rusenko, CEO of Weebly. “We see this all the time--entrepreneurs focus on the minutiae instead of just getting started, and getting something out there.”

Organize Your Day Into Time Blocks

Some people are early risers, some are night owls, while others hit their stride mid-day. Ekaterina Walter, CMO at Branderati, and author of Think Like Zuck, advises to figure out when during the day you are most productive then establish blocks of time get more focused work done. “You can even set a recurring email going out to people telling them not to expect an immediate reply to their emails during those times,” she says.

Do things you don’t want to do

“Remember this sentence, tape it to your monitor, tattoo it on your wrist: You don't have to 'feel like' doing something in order to do it,” says Oliver Burkeman, author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking.

“When I manage to remember that, I'm no longer sidetracked by trying to get into the right frame of mind for daunting projects. Don't beat yourself up for procrastinatory feelings. Just feel them, and simultaneously direct your limbs to do the work.”

Don’t Get Paralyzed by Perfection

“A career contribution isn't made in a single ideal moment,” says psychologist and author Art Markman. “It is a collection of good and great moments that add up over time.”

The best project is a completed project he says. “It’s easy to get paralyzed by perfection, but it’s better to get something out the door than to hold onto it for a long time hoping to remove every flaw.”

Stay in the Moment

If you feel overwhelmed (like pretty much everyone), it might not be because you have so much to do, but rather that you are trying to do too much at the same time, says Douglas Merrill founder of ZestFinance (formerly VP of Engineering at Google).

“If you're talking to your daughter, talk to her; don't think about email. You can't do two things at once--it's physically impossible for your brain to multi-task,” he says. “Even if you don't lower your workload, doing one thing at a time will help you do better and, equally importantly, feel better.”

Put Your Brain on Autopilot for the Small Stuff

Some super productive people don’t waste their time on the small daily decisions that take up much of our brain space. Prerna Gupta, chief product officer of social music app Smule says she’s able to tackle big picture problems by eating the exact same thing for breakfast and lunch every day. She calls it “reducing decision fatigue.”

Write an old-fashioned to-do list

Sometimes the simplest methods are the best. “Every day, I write down the various tasks I want to accomplish and check them off as I go through them and complete them,” said Francesca Gino, a professor at Harvard Business School, and author of Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed and How We Can Stick to the Plan.

“Seeing the progress makes me feel good and, research says, more productive. It also helps me be a bit more realistic in understanding what I can accomplish every day, and which tasks are top priority,” she says.

Get an Accountability Partner

“The promises we make to ourselves are easy to break,” says Laura Vanderkam, frequent contributor and author What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. “It's much harder to call a friend on Friday and inform her that ‘I failed.’” She set up weekly check-ins and which kept her motivated to complete the first draft of a novel in 2013.

Don’t Check Facebook

Drake Baer spent most of 2013 writing about productivity, and when he needed a break he says the thing that kept him going wasn’t checking social media or email. Instead, he says he goes for a walk, gets a snack to stave off hunger, or sneaks into a conference room for a brief bit of meditation.

Deal With It Only Once

Leo Widrich cofounder of social media sharing app Buffer, says Zen Habits’ author Leo Babauta taught him the following productivity tip that has transformed the way he works:

“Deal with something only once. Do it now. Then it’s off your mind, and you can fully focus on the next matter.”

He says the “deal with it only once” policy works for three of the most nagging aspects of everyone’s day: email, meetings, and requests for help. Answer all as soon as they come up and get them out of the way.

Escape Into Single-Tasking

Author and entrepreneur Faisal Hoque has mastered the art of doing one thing at a time. In fact he’s so good at “single-tasking,” that he can lose himself mundane task like vacuuming and help ground his focus for his work. “Being in the moment allows us to escape from adversity, conserve our inner energy, and be more consciously productive,” he says.