6-Second Sunday: On complaining, family trees, and Goggin’s workout

6 Ideas. 6 Second Skim. 6 Minute Read.

Happy 6-Second Sunday!

Here are 6 ideas I’m applying that you can skim in 6 seconds and read in 6 minutes or less…

Overview

1. How I’m Understanding Myself 

2. Work Strategy I’m Following

3. Lesson from a Friend

4. Practice I’m Deploying

5. Exercise I’m Doing

6. Quote I’m Rereading

Let’s dive in.

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How I’m Understanding Myself: The Family Tree

If you’re like me, you struggle with clearly defining your qualities and faults.

It’s often easier to see yourself through the eyes of others. To better understand myself, I’ve been examining my family tree. 

Example: Dixon’s—that’s my last name and my paternal lineage—are not good at moderation. 

My grandma had an extremely addictive personality. First prescription pill abuse then later an extreme fitness regimen and an even more extreme diet. 

My uncle, father, brother, and I all quit drinking because we are well aware of our “go hard or go home” approach to life. And now we’re all addicted to other, more positive things: tea and guitar for my uncle, reading for my brother, and coffee and exercise for my dad and me.

Question: What can you learn about yourself by examining your family tree?

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Work Strategy I’m Following: Busyness is Laziness

Engaging in non-stop action, always being busy, is a form of laziness.

Most of your time should be spent thinking about what you’re doing and why you’re doing it and creating tight parameters and constraints in which you will operate. Then when you do take action, it will be meaningful and impactful.

Warren Buffett is a beacon for this way of being: he spends most of his time reading, playing bridge, and thinking. Then when he does strike, the outcome is enormous. 

The Lesson: Keep the main thing the main thing. And rather than doing a lot every day, do the few things that make an impact.

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Lesson from a Friend: Don’t be a Complainer

A close friend of mine was upset with some of the new policies being enforced at work.