First World Problems

What challenges are you facing? You forgot your paperwork? You can’t find a parking space? DANG! You’ve run out of milk? 

A friend of mine and I have a wonderful agreement. When one of us starts to complain about issues like those we refer to them as First World Problems. 

Neither of us, and no one we know, is walking an hour to get clean water. We aren’t worried where our next meal is coming from or where we can find health care…and if you are reading this you aren’t concerned about those issues either.

 It isn’t that our challenges aren’t, well, challenging. But, sometimes it is difficult look beyond our immediate stresses, isn’t it? 

Try this: Jot down three things you appreciate. They could relate to family, health, home, work, spirit. Focus on those for a few minutes. 

A University of Miami study showed that listing a few appreciations at the end of each day helps lower stress—including blood pressure—and gives us a more positive outlook. 

Try it right now.

Watch the Coaches!!!

One of the reasons I love March Madness is that emotionally it can feel like life-or-death; but it isn’t. However, start watching the games with a little bit of different attention. Start watching coaches and how they react to stress. You’ll see the yellers and stompers, the quiet contemplaters and the exploders. The most interesting thing to me is that when something happens and a time-out is called coaches gather aside with their assistants for a few seconds, come up with a unified plan and then present it to the team. When something stressful happens in YOUR life do you do the same? Do you get together with helpers—at least in your own mind—and take a moment to gather your thoughts? Or, do you stomp, yell (at least in your own mind) and explode? In a game, if coaches get too out of control they get a technical and maybe get tossed from the game. In life, you get a failure.

Last week I encouraged you to take advantage of Windshield University, the 500-1000 hours the average American spends in their vehicle each year. Listening to books on CD (nonfiction), podcasts or youtube.com videos can boost everything from your brain power to your bank account. Here are four areas on which you can start concentrating: Time Management, Customer Service, Stress Management and Success. Each of these areas impacts a range of issues in our work and personal lives. Even if you only spend 30 minutes to an hour each week using your transportation as a rolling learning lab I can promise you’ll benefit.

Windshield University

What if you could profitably spend the 500-1000 hours that you, as an average American adult, spend driving every year? And no, I’m not talking about becoming an Uber or Lyft driver. Increasingly, we’re hearing about the concept of “Windshield University.” What might you learn while driving that would increase your income, improve your health or rise your spirits? And yes, our main focus should be on driving; but, for longer drives in areas where we can drive and listen at the same time I’m for making better use of that time than listening to some schlub yammer on about politics. While I listen to tunes about two-thirds of the time I’m listening to books on CD (non-fiction) or youtube.com or podcasts about business and life improvement the rest of the time. This week, be more aware of what you are listening to when you drive. Next week I’ll offer some specific suggestions that can make you healthy, wealthy and wise.