The power of “I’m learning”

Note: I’m writing this during naptime. Oh, sweet silence!

I used to have a terrible attitude when it came to cooking. I would say things like “I’m terrible at cooking” and “I hate to cook.” Dread would well up in my stomach every time I’d even think about cooking. And so, I’d procrastinate and have to throw things together last minute. I cooked spaghetti, condensed soup casserole, and rice cooker meals. While each was not incredibly tasty, they went down alright and we’re still alive.

Part of the reason I wasn’t very good at cooking was because I didn’t know how to cook. Since I had it engraved in my mind that I hated cooking, I was pained at the thought of learning how to cook. And then, my attitude changed.  

Why choose cloth diapers?

Note: I’m writing this to the sounds of a tantruming toddler in the other room (who is with his dad). While I am pretty good at physically removing myself from my child, mentally and emotionally removing myself is a whole ‘nother story. But, I will try! Focus!

Okay, so you want to know why you should choose cloth diapers. To be honest, when I first heard about diapers, I thought it was the grossest thing in the world. “You mean, the baby poops in it…then you use it again?!” But cloth diapers make a whole lot of sense and eventually, logic won me over.  

The Last Lecture {Book Review}

 

A few years ago, I watched a touching and inspiring lecture by Randy Pausch. A last lecture is an opportunity for a professor to share knowledge from a lifetime of learning. Randy Pausch was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and given 3-6 months of good health. He decided to use some of his time to prepare a last lecture, summarizing his greatest accomplishments along with the lessons he had learned along the way.

This lecture had a profound affect on my life, especially Randy’s view of brick walls (really just an opportunity to show how badly you want something). I didn’t realize that he had also written a book to go into further depth about preparing for his last lecture. I was casually browsing the library and happened across it.

The E-Myth Revisited {Book Review}

 

When I ran a small photography business, I heard colleagues recommend “The E-Myth Revisited” time and time again. Yet, years went by, I closed my business due to low revenue, and still, I had not read the book.

Until this past week, when I remembered that the book was collecting dust under my bed. I got down on my hands and knees to fish it out and give it a read. I could not put it down. This book has forever changed how I view business, whether it’s a small one-person shop or a large Fortune 500 corporation.

Platform: How to Get Noticed in a Noisy World

 

In “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World,” Michael Hyatt tells you why you need a platform and step by step, how to achieve it. Like a platform someone stands on to make their voice heard amongst the crowds, an online following allows you to promote your business, product or cause.

Nobody said that building a following would be easy. There are 60 chapters, and it feels as if every chapter has 10 or so bullet points of things to do. It can be overwhelming to think that the only thing standing between me and a successful platform is, uh, 600 steps.

The 4 Hour Body

 

First off, this book is a beast. At 550 pages, you might be thinking that you’ll have to cancel all your plans for the next six months. Let me assure you, you do not have to read the whole thing. With topics ranging from weight loss, muscle-building, reversing injuries, and perfecting athletic skills, “The 4 Hour Body” should be treated more like a textbook than a novel. Read what is of interest to you.

In this book, Tim Ferriss shares the “Slow-Carb Diet,” which states that you eat high protein meals with no grains (e.g. chicken with black beans and mixed vegetables) six days a week. On the seventh day, you partake in a “Binge Day,” where nothing is off limits.

100 Worst Ideas in History {Book Review}

My husband found this book at the library while visiting with family. Every so often, he would share some of the book, which piqued my interest in reading it.

The book is a collection of some of the worst ideas in history. There are common ones, such as the tale of Bernie Madoff, the countless opportunities to prevent the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, and all the things that went wrong with the Titanic.

Your One Word {Book Review}

“Unshakeable” by Tony Robbins

 

A few years ago, I read “Money: Master the Game” a beast of a book, clocking in at over 600 pages. I love this book, as it is filled with a plethora of information for the financially minded. It explains concepts from the simple to the complex and gives a range of options for diversifying your portfolio.

But since not everyone tingles with excitement at the thought of reading a(nother) personal finance book, I’m glad that Tony is back with a simpler version. “Unshakeable” deals with this idea that the market has its ups and downs (and being out of the market is a terrible idea), so it is up to us to come up with strategies to protect our investments. 

Fear Fighting {Book Review}

 

“Fear Fighting” is a Christian book filled with essays about accepting God’s power to overcome your fears. There are chapters on worry, anxiety, comparison, and the need to be in control.