Penguins don't care how long it takes them to catch their daily fish
quota. Year after year, they go through the same routine, hardly
improving anything. Their survival is entirely based on the expectation
of zero change.
One major virtue that you won't learn from penguins
From the 32 million estimated living penguins, none
gives a damn about productiveness. They don't save for the future and
often remain unaware of the existence of predators until it is too late
to do anything about it.
Contrary to what is portrayed in
cartoons and children books, penguins are neither creative nor funny.
This is proven by the fact that tourists going to the Stewart Islands in
New Zealand rarely devote more than a couple of hours to watch
penguins.
"I had never realized that penguins were so passive," Japanese
tourists frequently comment. "They just stand there for hours and do
nothing."
Practically without exception, tourists return home
with the conviction that being a penguin is not really that much fun.
Luckily, most humans come to a similar conclusion by the time we grow
up.
Squandering your days is not a satisfactory option
Hanging around, squandering our days, is not a viable option
for those who aspire to happiness. Only purposeful action and continued
achievement fulfil our psychological need to feel in control of our
future.
Irrespective of the field involved, personal initiative
is a major element of happiness. It matters little whether you choose to
devote yourself to growing your company, writing music, searching for
an effective treatment of cancer, or raising your kids to become great
human beings.
Human happiness requires a long-term purpose
Our rational nature takes pleasure in every achievement.
No matter how small our victories, we all love to tell our friends about
them.
- AT WORK: when you figure out a way to complete a task quicker than anyone expected.
- AT HOME: when you manage to fix an old appliance that was considered beyond repair.
- IN SPORTS: when you succeed at running faster and score additional points.
- AT INVESTING: when you see the value of your assets go up and feel your strategy vindicated.
- IN YOUR LIFESTYLE: when you achieve simplicity and eliminate waste.
- IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS: when you focus on honesty and creativity
- IN YOUR PHILOSOPHY: when you view life as a flow of actions that can be continuously improved.
Consider
that there is a good reason behind the passivity of penguins: although
they know how to catch fish, they don't realize that, one day, they are
going to die. However, none of us can hide behind that sort of
ignorance. Understanding the link between personal initiative and
happiness represents a major step towards a brighter life.
For more information about rational living and personal development, I refer you to my book The 10 Principles of Rational Living
[Text: http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com]
[Image by Glen Bowman under Creative Commons Attribution License. See the license terms under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us]
The Philosophy of Builders
by John Vespasian
The factors that lead to prosperity and happiness have changed little
through the ages. From the lives of accomplished men and women, we can
extract the three principles that they have used to build a better
future: self-reliance, tolerance and entrepreneurship.
This book
presents how individuals can use these principles to overcome adversity
and improve their lives. Through the analysis of situations in the areas
of relationships, career, health and investments, it shows how to
overcome pessimism and discouragement, walk the path of least
resistance, simplify your life and reduce costs, and focus on real
opportunities.
The ideas are illustrated with examples from the lives of
Paracelsus, Jane Austen, Thomas of Aquinas, Gutenberg, Jules Verne and
many other historical figures, showing how they overcame obstacles and
built a better future for themselves.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Achieve basic stability
Never underestimate what one man alone can do
Establish the foundation of long-term achievement
Attack problems one by one
Do not allow vanity to paralyse you
Pay attention to danger signals
Build on existing strengths
Learn to view problems in perspective
Wait only the strictly necessary
2. Overcome pessimism and discouragement
Assess risks rationally, not emotionally
Quantify what you can expect
Passive acceptance is not the way to go
Dispute negative thinking patterns
Embrace a philosophy that leads to happiness
Avoid inconsistent decisions
Read inspiring authors
3. Walk the path of least resistance
Discard unworkable plans
Use realism to avoid waste
Look at what people are actually buying
Adopt a lifestyle that suits your temperament
Use long-term goals to determine your direction
Stay out of hopeless ventures
Avoid relativism and scepticism
Find an outlet for your talents
4. Take measures to prevent problems
Be prepared to face misfortune
Concentrate on crucial factors
Pay attention only to quality information
Identify potential threats
Look for simple prescriptions
Protect yourself effectively
Increase your resilience against adversity
5. Simplify your life and reduce your costs
Don't fall in the trap of short-term thinking
Enjoy the benefits of the immigrant mentality
When should you be willing to overpay?
Choose inexpensive alternatives
You can learn the basics quickly
Being healthier by consuming less
The solution to stress: simplification
6. Start new projects with minimum resources
Gather support as you go
The danger of getting stuck in abstractions
Avoid inaccessible markets
Do not be intimidated by other people's achievements
Most barriers are psychological
Small but regular steps often lead to success
7. Focus on real opportunities
Select a low-risk approach
You can profit from troubled times
How to identify promising ideas
Should you worry about the state of the economy?
Use low-cost marketing techniques
Redefine what is essential
Value creation begins with observation
8. Adopt productivity as a way of life
Do not assign excessive weight to mistakes
In case of doubt, opt for a logical explanation
Steady work is preferable to occasional jobs
Choose stories that promote achievement
A change of speed might be all you need
Work only on one major project at a time
Let go of linear expectations
Never entrust your future to chance
Keep flexible and alert
9. Take relentless action
Fill your days with worthy activities
Experiment to find out what works
Adopt effective routines
In crucial matters, do not leave anything untried
Continuous action breeds opportunities
Rewrite your personal history
Can you turn adversity into an asset?
Action is the best way to overcome obstacles
The Philosophy of Builders
by John Vespasian
Irregular verbs and plurals are the most difficult part to memorize when
you study foreign languages. For children learning their mother tongue,
atypical cases are also the most complicated. Asymmetrical
constructions are slowly assimilated by the human mind, which, at any
stage of development, automatically tries to find patterns in reality.
Many
causal connexions are far from self-evident
We
have created numbers, which are a sequential representation of
quantities. We love to understand complex phenomena and find solutions
to problems. Our brains seek to identify consequences through
observation and logic. Weather prediction comes from generalizing past
experience. Looking for order in chaos is natural to humans. It is our
way to grasp the world and make sense of it.
Nevertheless, as
soon as we begin to gather knowledge in any field, we realize that many
causal connexions are far from self-evident. The earth looks flat and it
is no wonder that it took hundreds of years to develop and spread the
understanding of planetary orbits. Science rests on the recognition that
causal connexions need to be, not only theorized, but proven.
Philosophy has been slow in
adopting a scientific approach
From
all disciplines, philosophy and economics have been the slowest to
adopt a scientific approach. Even nowadays, professionals in those
fields disagree on basic questions of methodology. Discussing what is
true makes little sense if we cannot even concur on the criteria to
assess the validity of a proposition.
As a result, defining
success and happiness has turned into a haphazard endeavour for most of
History. Determinism, which attributes those to chance, remains a
wide-spread philosophical error in many segments of the population. A
superficial examination of the human condition can lead to see life as a
series of misfortunes intertwined with lucky encounters. This
perception is as false as the belief that the earth is flat.
Scientists
know that observing reality with our eyes and drawing immediate
conclusions frequently leads to mistakes. A more accurate view of the
world is the result of understanding that a large number of effects can
only be perceived long-term. The impact of events is not necessarily
local. Actions without consequences to those who performed them can have
a devastating outcome for third parties.
Small steps taken regularly can go a
long way
Reality is more complex
than the eye can perceive and rational explanations more uncomfortable
than make-belief. This is why confusion reigns about the roots of
happiness and success. Determinism exaggerates the role played by
misfortunes and luck in human life. Believing that your destiny is
controlled by random events only leads to paralysis and nihilism.
Ambition
and purpose, relentlessly implemented on good and bad days, constitute
the bedrock of individual progress. Small steps taken regularly can go a
long way. Advancing a little every day in your chosen direction is what
makes great achievements possible. Big breaks, at first sight, seem to
have happened overnight, but the truth is that a river takes years to
build a gorge. The results are breathtakingly beautiful.
For more information about rational living and personal development, I refer you to my book The 10 Principles of Rational Living
[Text: http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com]
[Image by McPig under Creative Commons Attribution License. See the license terms under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us]
It happens every spring, but this year, the questioning has been
particularly intense. Every month of April, on occasion of the London
Book Fair, newspapers publish articles speculating if it still makes
sense to publish books.
Only 3% of the population read books, so what?
At the turn of the 21st century, one thousand
book titles were published for every feature-length film made. Today,
the ratio is one to six hundred. The number of films produced every
year has increased and, at the same time, the number of published books
has diminished.
"We live in a visual world," sociologists argue.
"In many areas, the written word is becoming a relic of previous
centuries." Media analysts blame the trend on video-games and portable
DVD players. Others simply say that reading requires too much effort
after our long work schedules.
Three factors that make books irreplaceable
In my view, those commentators are
missing the point completely. Despite the abundance of cheap visual
entertainment, readers' motivation remains strong. The reason why people
read books has nothing to do with the demands of society and everything
to do with individual psychology.
1. Presentation of well-argued minority views
Visual
media, due to its structure and economics, is unable to express minority
views in a consistent, intellectual manner. In this respect, all has
been tried and all has failed. Complex ideas cannot be transmitted
without the written word. No photograph and no film can replace a chain
of reasoning built in clear sentences.
2. Access to diverse, complex ideas
Films,
television, and radio, despite the growing number of channels, can only
thrive when they aim at large audiences. They can offer multiplicity in
the multitude, but no original ideas. Digital video has reduced the
budget necessary to make a film, but not the distribution costs.
Actors, good lighting, and a decent soundtrack are still expensive.
Books, on the other hand, can still be published and distributed
cheaply.
3. Direct contact with innovative reasoning
In a film, special effects cannot cure
the problems of a weak scenario. Even great acting is unable to sustain
a filmed story that doesn't make any sense. How long ago is it since
you saw a really thought-provoking film? How often do you gain deep
insights from watching television? The written word remains the ideal
means to transmit innovative ideas.
The good news about reading
is that three per cent of the population still remain avid readers. One
out of thirty-three is not a bad proportion at all. A strong audience
for writers is still there and it is not going to become smaller in the
foreseeable future.
Do people read internet blogs for the same
reason that they love books? Is it because they want to read original
ideas? Do they do it in order to enjoy some fresh writing? I suspect
that, for most, the main drivers are the joy of discovering something
new and a steadfast refusal to join the other thirty-two.
For more information about rational living and personal development, I refer you to my book The 10 Principles of Rational Living
[Text: http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com]
[Image by jucanils under Creative Commons Attribution License. See the license terms under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us]
The 10 Principles of Rational Living
by John Vespasian
In order to improve your life, you don't need to place your hopes on a
lottery ticket or wait for the world to grant you the perfect
opportunity. There is a better way and it is condensed in the principles
of rational living, principles such as “think like an entrepreneur, not
like a crusader,” “ignore the noise and focus on results,” “stay away
from high-risk situations,” “find people who share your values,” and
“develop strong long-term passions.”
This book presents the principles
of rational living in great detail, with numerous examples of people who
have applied them successfully. The principles of rational living are
sound ideas that can dramatically improve your life. Learn all about
them and start applying them today.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Think like an entrepreneur, not like a crusader
A recipe for getting ahead in good and bad times
Debating and arguing are a waste of time
The true believer is the one who preaches by example
Entrepreneurs thrive on trouble and inconvenience
Unlike resources, opportunities are infinite
2. Ignore the noise and focus on results
If one road is blocked, take another
How to keep calm when you are surrounded by nonsense
The effective way to handle work overload
Learning from people who never feel discouraged
A proven strategy against career stagnation
3. Live inexpensively and invest for future income
Why the stock market offers the best opportunities
Common traits of great businessmen and investors
What kind of companies should you invest in?
A simple strategy is all you need
Adopt a realistic and practical approach
4. Choose a simple and healthy lifestyle
Don't just eat well, eat wonderfully
What is healthy, tasty, and easy to cook?
How to reduce everyday risks to your health
Eating healthily when you are travelling
Is it possible to slow down ageing?
Why it is so difficult to lead a simple life
5. Find people who share your values
Why you should ignore most of what you hear
The ugly duckling story repeats itself every day
Overcoming the resistance to changing jobs and relocating
Don't be original, be unique
Proven strategies for building great relationships
Would you recognize yourself in the crowd?
6. Listen to your emotions, but check the facts
Beware of exaggerated romantic tales
In dating and cooking, choose natural ingredients
How far are you willing to go for happiness?
Conflicting values lead to contradictory behaviour
The short distance between infatuation and obfuscation
Do not waste your best years pursuing unworkable ideals
7. Accept the inevitable hassles of life
Putting an end to exaggerated fears
Extreme reactions are foolish and wasteful
In praise of caution and circumspection
Can you remain self-confident in times of trouble?
How impatient people become stoic philosophers
Never grant problems more weight than they deserve
8. Stay away from high-risk situations
Death statistics make great bedtime reading
Tranquillity seldom comes cheap
Do not make an obsession of the perfect profession
Three situations that you should avoid like the pest
Every archer needs more than one arrow
The jungle never sleeps
9. Acquire effective habits
An hour has sixty minutes, a day twenty-four hours
In praise of staying behind
How a proactive attitude helps you overcome difficulties
Let go of the dead weight of prejudice
Smooth operators get more out of life
Personal effectiveness depends on patterns
10. Develop strong long-term passions
Comparing yourself with other people makes no sense
Don't drink the poison of contradiction
What heroes are made of
The myths of the single skill and the unique opportunity
Become tolerant of mistakes, since you will make so many
The link between integrity and passion
The 10 Principles of Rational Living
by John Vespasian
