1. Great video I saw this morning…
Lana forwarded this video to me this morning. It’s a teacher (@msgellarteacheslittles) running through affirmations that she does every morning with her students. It is AWESOME! What’s cool is that by the middle of the school year, the students start leading these affirmations. I know affirmations are scoffed at by some people… but they are POWERFUL! We all could use them daily. Our subconscious mind begins to believe what it hears over and over. It is SUPER important and effective in children, as their minds are still so suggestive. Oh… it is SUPER important and effective for YOU too! Check out the 40-second video clip below…
2. Funny nature pics I saw this week…
I love nature and love nature photography. I always look forward to seeing National Geographic’s “Pictures of the Year.” I came across something his week that I had never seen before… the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards. They released a list of this year’s finalists this week… and they are amusing. You can see these photos by clicking here. My three favorites were The Shoulders of Giants, Landing Gears Down, and Baptism of the Unwilling Convert. You can also see more entertaining pics in last year’s finalist list by clicking here.
3. Great little story I re-read (and gave thought to) this week…
In his book, The Four-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss shares an old story about a Mexican fisherman and an American businessman. I first read the story in his book almost two decades ago. I have re-read the story dozens of times, shared with many people, and I’m sure I posted it here on my Friday’s Findings before. It’s a simple story, but has a powerful message… and is a great reminder for those of us who can’t stop striving for more. Here is that story…
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.” The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats.
Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?” To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions – then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
