Asymptotically Speaking

“In analytic geometry, an asymptote (/ˈæsɪmptoʊt/) of a curve is a line such that the distance between the curve and the line approaches zero [but never actually GETS there] as they tend to infinity.”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymptote

In practical terms, one can approach certain unassailable goals (e.g., perfection) forever WITHOUT ACTUALLY GETTING THERE.  However, such can still be increasingly and progressively approached … progressively distancing oneself from GROUND ZERO!  

Let’s consider the goal of owning a house with an ample front and back yard, plus a front porch, bordered by a white picket fence, on a restricted access street. 

One will likely start out – first – with a one-bedroom apartment with noisy neighbors on a busy street in a crowded neighborhood. 

Marriage – or collusion, with two or more people working, may bump that up to a two- or three-bedroom apartment in a more “upscale” environment. 

Adding children and losing one working person, but hustling a little to get a promotion, may hold things “even”.  The next promotion, combined with savings accrued along the way, may keep the momentum going.  But it’s going to take increasing amounts of “hustle”. 

In the end, one may not actually attain either the white picket fence or the front porch or both, but, all things considered, one may end up a lot further along with SOME SORT OF ENHANCED INDEPENDENT LIVING by diligently progressing toward the goal. 

The slope of the curve early in the workings is important.  A steeper slope creates momentum such that one can get closer to the goal a lot faster.  As graphed in this illustration, the slope of the curve is increased more by “Working Smarter” than it is by working harder!   However, if you overlay the graph with a plot showing an ACCELERATED RATE of energy expenditure, everything shifts to the left, showing a much faster approach to the goal. 

Imagine what the result would be by BOTH “working smarter” and putting forth more energy! 

In a competitive environment – for example, where a PROMOTION may be at stake – ENERGY OUTPUT and “Hustle” are critical. 

There’s an ancient parable about two hikers accidently encountering a bear in the woods.  The first hiker says, “(Groan!) There’s no way we can outrun that bear!”  But the second hiker replies, “All I have to do is outrun YOU!”

Two final thoughts:

First, in politics we hear about people “moving the goal posts” … making things more difficult to achieve than originally conceived or than having any “reasonable expectation” of achievement.  This might be called “Asymptotic Meddling”.   

Second, in sports, the “league” you’re in sets the asymptotic limits of expectation.   However, some [who probably “don’t know any better”] do not consider themselves personally constrained by the asymptote, and actually go on to exceed the asymptotic limits others are up against.  These “outliers” generally go on to the next higher league and may become “elite” athletes. 

The “Four Minute Mile” was one such asymptotic barrier for “middle distance runners” from the beginning of time to the early 1950s (although no one knows how fast the early Greek athletes were). 

“[Breaking this barrier] was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister in 3:59.4.  The "four-minute barrier" has since been broken by many male athletes, and is now the standard of all male professional middle distance runners. In the last 50 years the mile record has been lowered by almost 17 seconds, and currently stands at 3:43.13.   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-minute_mile

With or without “Bears in the Woods”, there is increased distancing from Ground Zero to be afforded and there are elite Asymptotic Heights to be approached that can make the journey extraordinarily fruitful – as opposed to “fitful” – and exhilarating.  Let’s get “smarter”, ENERGIZE and HUSTLE the best we can toward those Higher Heights and enjoy the view!   There are lots worse places to hang out than in the “League of Champions”!   Quartermaster

Quote of the Week

“While perfection may well be beyond realization in most circumstances, excellence is not.”  QM

Life is Like Parachuting

The annually updated book “What Color Is Your Parachute” by the late Richard Bolles has been a helpful life and career guide for multiple generations.  The basic thrust of the book is one of personally defining and designing … formulating and reformulating … a life path into which we can direct our main focus and energy with a high degree of resolve and purpose – thus creating our own unique “parachute” for our own Grand Leap into life.  [It’s available in most libraries, and worth at least one thorough perusal.]

Using the parachute paradigm, we have multiple choices in how we undertake the journey:

1)    Stay on the ground and never experience “lift-off”;

2)    Allow ourselves to get lofted into the air by whatever contrivances civilization offers (e.g., parents, schools, civic organizations, etc.), then take a Grand Leap into our own life journey from whatever altitude they have helped us attain;

3)    Never go above-and-beyond wherever find ourselves in the moment, with or without a “lofting lift”, never take the Grand Leap, and simply “hang on” to our comfort zone, living our lives vicariously thorough others;

NOTE: The forces that initially launch us will eventually run out and/or become redirected to other purposes, such that – at some point – we will be left either to fall or “fly under our own wind”.  This change in conditions may not be all that precipitous or obvious.  There may be no sudden “release of the reins” at the top.  That’s the way it SHOULD be … permitting a seamless transition from externally applied “lofting” power to internally generated “lofting” power ... except that the latter has to be fully engaged … and not only wishfully, wistfully, virtually or vicariously engaged!   

4)    Take the Grand Leap without a properly prepared parachute – or ANY parachute – and simply “wing it” all the way down.  [NOTE: “Winging it” rarely gains altitude!]  If you’re really lucky, you can latch onto someone else with a fully furled parachute and plenty of “wind in their sails”.  However, this is a highly perilous proposition with an uncertain outcome not necessarily targeted to optimize one’s personal preferences or potential.  Creating stabilizing “ballast” for smoother sailing is one thing, but becoming a “millstone” is quite another.  “Millstones” sometimes need to be cut loose. 

The personalized “color” of the parachute bears some relation to the preferred target upon which you’re intending to stake your future claims in life. 

It’s important to note that prevailing winds are subject to change in both force and direction without notice.  Thus, it helps not only to be able to “tack” against the wind, when necessary, but also to have significant anchoring or stabilizing ballast and to connect with significant others who can help catch the updrafts. 

Properly “Packing” your parachute and having intact, reliable panels – no matter what color they are – is really critical.  Consider the case of Charlie Plumb:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqtUlMA3Jqo

 “Packing a parachute” is no trivial undertaking.  You may get only one “JUMP” in life … or you may need to take a dozen or more.   The landscape and seascape keep changing and we need to be both flexible and agile to take best advantage of the conditions in which we find ourselves. 

And most of us don’t have the luxury of having someone ELSE pack OUR parachute.  Parents, teachers, coaches, Scout Leaders, etc., all provide some of the raw material and heaps of guidance, but it’s really up to US to pick the right colors, get the REST of the material we need (mining the universe), fabricate the final product (masterful tools and skills are really helpful here), and get it “packed” just right to carry us through whatever “eventualities” we might encounter. 

So how are you doing?  Are you prepared … or in the process of preparing … for the biggest JUMP of your life – whatever that might be?  Let’s keep MINING for essential raw materials, MASTERING key tools and skills, and PACKING for the long haul and for the highest altitude we can attain.  I’ve gotta go now and work on MY next parachute.  It’s gonna have to have heavy duty, high altitude serviceability!  Quartermaster 

Epivolution

The story of human development – both individually and en masse – is one of both glorious and inglorious progression … driven by a combination of internal and external compelling forces, ideally toward bigger, stronger, smarter, more knowledgeable, more skilled, and more competitive attributes.  We don’t always get it right – and few of us make it the full distance providence would allow, but the trajectory UP is a compelling draw, though it is not for the faint of heart or weak of will! 

How far UP we can go has yet to be seen, since we’re not really there until “the fat lady sings.”  Our heritage – beginning with our DNA – gives us a basic “lifeprint” for survival, but also provides the capacity to craft, personally, the Destiny we would deign to claim.  The purpose of this offering is to suggest that the “lifeprint” we were handed can be modified to a considerable advantage – OR to a considerable disadvantage – depending on how we … combined with the forces of nature and civilization around us … shape it.

Epigenetic change is a supra-evolutionary process by which the expression of specific genes – or even of selected constellations of genes – in our already evolved genetic blueprint can be modified, either to complete normal development or to adapt to the environment in which we find ourselves.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics  Such changes go beyond normal homeostasis functions (such as hormonal changes, which only temporally and reversibly affect gene expression), involve chemical modification of DNA, and are generally permanent and heritable ... even though the underlying DNA sequence remains unaltered.   

Recent studies of behavior and addiction in rats and monkeys have elaborated details of behavioral sequelae to epigenetic change, but also suggested that epigenetic changes can be reversed ... for example by blocking the epigenetic process of DNA methylation. 

https://www.ted.com/talks/moshe_szyf_how_early_life_experience_is_written_into_dna#t-983123

The term I am using here – “Epivolution” – derives from a concatenation of the concepts of epigenetics and evolution to underscore the fact that “Whoever we are” genetically does not necessarily constrain us to “who we can become”.  And it takes only a slight “epi-metonymic

metamorphosis” in terminology to suggest an underlying “volition” … a willingness … to “morph” into something/someone more capacitized to succeed in a rapidly changing/evolving universe. 

Willingness drives the morph,

and

Inclination drives the direction of the morph.

Here’s where it gets both interesting and sobering:

“We are all exquisite reward detectors. 

It’s our evolutionary legacy.”

Anna Rose Childress

So, unless directed otherwise by our Executive Suite – or by that of some moderating external influence, we will go into default “Epivolution” toward whatever immediate, “bright shiny object” (reward) captures our fancy … and will continue on that journey indefinitely unless or until imposed upon by BOTH a change in WILL and acceptance of a “re-morphing” external influence.  

Such is the basis for 12-step addiction treatment programs.  One has to, first, admit to having a problem, then “WILL” oneself to change, and then accept professional and/or guided group therapy over an extended period to undergo a successful “Epivolution” to a more generative, more productive life-track. 

Now to a more esoteric, but even more personal challenge:  Can we self-manage an “Epivolution” toward a more generative, more productive life-track? 

I’m going to offer an emphatic YES!  But there is one catch: 

 First Principle of a Fulfilled Life

“Everything you deserve is going to take everything you’ve got.”

[But what ELSE – of any meaningful consequence – are you going to DO with your life?]

Here’s the practicality: Whether it’s epigenetic or epi-neuronal, behavior patterns beget similar behavior patterns.  And there seems to be an “organic” basis for the observation:

“Neurons that fire together wire together.”

Neuroscience Platitude

Thus, we form HABITS – generally connected inextricably to our reward system.  How do we BREAK habits that are not constructive or generative and create new habits that ARE?  Without access to epigenetic blocking agents or interloping external forces, we have to engage the higher-functioning cortex of the brain to reprogram the DNA (or the neurons that are "firing together") – at least figuratively if not literally!  So we have to invoke higher-order “Executive Privilege” to change our behavior to establish a new behavior – a new “brain wave” – pattern. 

I’m going to suggest finding or establishing a higher-order “Reward Zone” … along with more distant and more sustainably gratifying horizons of possibility, for starters.

“One definition of success might be:

refining our appetites

[e.g.,‘wanting’ what is most nobly and sustainably ‘good for us’] ,

while deepening our hunger

[e.g., for vibrant relationships and inspiring and enabling enlightenment –  

far above and beyond the horizon of ‘loaded’ pizza and double bacon cheeseburgers].”

Yahia Lababidi [annotated]

Current figuring sets the bar for significant, lasting behavioral change at around 66 days:

https://www.today.com/health/think-itll-take-21-days-make-your-resolution-habit-try-2D11826051   

Wouldn’t it be an interesting conjecture to suggest that sixty-six days may be the average time it takes for generative, non-chemically-assisted de-methylation of brain-based DNA to occur ...  ?

Brain plasticity is a growing, though still murky, area of investigation.  So we don’t know all of the “Ifs” or “Whys” or “Hows”.  But we know enough to start exploring ways we can take advantage of any brain plasticity we’ve got to engineer some positive “life plasticity”! 

Let’s “plasticize”, “de-methylate” and consciously … intentionally … re-engineer our way out of “same-old /\ same old, stuck-in-a-rut” foundering to a Destiny worth everything we’ve got.  You have a choice.  Run with it!  Quartermaster

Hand In A Vice

A fundamental conundrum in 21^st Century life is finding something of intrinsic, compelling, ultimate value into which we can unreservedly pour our time, energy and “unbridled spirit” for the duration.  Life is changing so fast, and there are so many superficial diversions/distractions to navigate through and around, that we remain largely adrift and unanchored in a sea of immense but untended possibilities.  Captain Ahab, adrift in the seven seas looking for an elusive white whale, perhaps reflected the angst of such condition best in “Moby Dick”:

“This is a cogent vice thou hast here, carpenter; let me feel its grip once … I like a good grip; I like to feel something in this slippery world that can hold, man.” 

                        Captain Ahab, Moby Dick, Chapter 108.

Herman Melville

Despite some evidence to the contrary, I believe one will find no shortage of youth who are both interested in and willing to commit to becoming “Ninja Warriors”, “Jedi Knights” and “Captain Ahabs” of the 21^st Century, but they don’t have any tangible “grab bars” – or a proper “vice” – they can clamp their hands into that will firmly connect them to that vision or goal. 

Crafting or capturing a Vision, Goal or Dream big enough

to serve as a worthy lifetime pursuit is probably JOB # 1 …

to be explored with all due intentionality

in the course of gaining basic knowledge and skills. 

But, besides having a worthy vision or goal and “grab bars” or a “vice” by which to latch onto it, there’s the challenge of “fleshing it out” to actionable execution.  Our best resource for both “Visioning” and “fleshing things out” is the disarmingly mundane matter of managing our UNSCHEDULED TIME. 

In the intrepid world of True Champions and Difference Makers, most especially including “Ninja Warriors” and “Jedi Knights”, there is no such thing as “Free Time”. 

Time not otherwise scheduled

is for building our “yellow brick road” to the future,

else we’re simply “killing time” … and losing critical ground.

One might dare to ask:

How much is wasted time going to cost in compromising MY future possibilities?

…

[Whatever it is, it’s much more

 – with accumulated interest –

than I’m going to be willing to pay retrospectively!]

An even more veiled challenge is that the high standard of living in first-world countries, most notably in the U.S., markedly subverts both the drive and sense of urgency for “fast-tracking” our way to a more profitable future … [it’s already HERE, isn’t it? (!)] … until it isn’t.  Competition in the rapidly growing global economy has had a markedly sobering impact on the formerly formidable U.S. business and industry enterprise.  What has become starkly evident is that:

COMPLACENCY IS NOT PART OF THE WINNING FORMULA

FOR DURABLE SUCCESS!

But, even if we are not “complacent”, there’s the recurring problem of “what to do” with our unscheduled time.  What a tragedy that youth are so frequently and easily BORED!   And what a tragedy that adults so soon feel the crushing and often irreversible impact of lost opportunity. 

It’s a very real challenge to figure out … 

what – most profitably – to do NOW … (in the next five minutes!)

where – most profitably – to go

who – most profitably – to look to for guidance

what – most profitably – to study/research/invest ourselves in NOW

If only we had “Something like a star … to stay our minds on, and be staid.”  [Robert Frost]

Finding a “Star” and defining the Mission, Vision, Goal, Dream, Purpose and/or Passion for one’s lifework can a daunting search.  But such will be both a strong, firmly-gripping, anchoring element and a supreme driving force.  The judicious use of unscheduled time to envision, define, reinforce and “flesh-out” such elements will make an incredible difference in how life plays out and in where we end up.  If you don’t yet have your hand "in a vice", with a Mission, Vision, Goal, Dream, Purpose and/or Passion for your life, find someone who does – or who at least has noble ideals and intentionality – and help that person / organization carry their lifework forward.  It will serve you amazingly well until you can “come into your own”.  Grab hold and Forge Onward!  Quartermaster

Demon Busting

"The Devil made me do it!"

Flip Wilson

“I fight my demons every day,

so I’ve got to continue to work at it.”

Jared Lorenzen

[en route to a goal of losing 100+ lbs.]

“Demons” seem to permeate our lives.  They show up nearly everywhere we turn. 

But they’re not just “out there” – many of them are embedded in our own constitution, making us our own worst enemy!  The apostle Paul – seeking Divine intervention – possibly said it best:

“... the good that I would, I do not,

and the evil which I would not, that I do!”

Romans 7:19 KJV

Paul understood that we can’t leave everything for the Almighty to keep bailing us out, especially when we keep selling our souls to the devil in “Faustian Bargains” … e.g., for that one, very last piece of cheese cake … for late nights out with the partying crowd … for indiscriminate tweeting and twittering … for not doing our homework … for immediate gratifications of all kinds.    

Fact is: We have “First-Responder” accountability for our own welfare

in dealing with our own “mini-demons”.

“Who’s driving?” is the first issue to be settled.  “Who’s in charge?” 

If we let the “demons” in our over-sized “Pleasure Center” have full reign, they will not only run rampant through all the vices and victimizations in short order, but will grow the Pleasure Center to an unwieldy predominating influence ... if they have not already done so!  

So we have to establish boundaries and keep ahead of the demons, who are experts at moving the goal posts. 

It helps to keep a “loaded” agenda in play, with postings that correspond as closely as possible to our intrinsic values and ultimate goals. 

And it helps immeasurably if our intrinsic values and ultimate goals are both unassailably noble and impeccably articulated.  Establishing and committing to meaningful “stretch goals” – both daily, hourly and life-long – is a great way to keep demons out of the loop.  

Finally, channeling our energies toward the most transcendent Mission, Purpose or Aspiration we can muster will leave most demons in the dust.  Only then can we leave it to the Almighty to take care of the rest! 

Let’s take full charge of our own welfare!  Be brutally intolerant of personal “demons” and unassailably committed to making YOU and YOUR WORLD the very best they can possibly be.  The alternatives are not nearly as attractive as one might think … or as the “demons” might have you believe, particularly compared in retrospect to “what mighta been”.  You’re gonna like the way you feel, and you're gonna like the more favorable space(s) you get to inhabit :: I guarantee it!  Quartermaster

Who ARE You>

Looking in the mirror and having it talk back to you is an unnerving experience: 

“What have you got to say for yourself?”

 “ Are you of any salvageable earthly account or not?”

“ And by whose measure or reckoning?”

[While there may be higher “Callings”, the very least we can do is become members in good standing of our own breed – homo sapiens … human beings … worthy “Earthlings”!] 

What we DO – how we behave – reflects a great deal about who we are.    

“People will never consistently do who they aren’t.”

Peter Thompson

PT takes up the challenge of explaining how and why stuff happens or doesn’t in a recent video posting [https://peterthomson.wistia.com/medias/ni65kf53eb ].  The two polarities of consideration are that stuff happens … or doesn’t … 1) because of the person presiding over circumstances, or 2) because of the circumstances themselves.  Often, of course, it’s a combination.

But the main element we can control is US!  We can’t always control circumstances … although we CAN to some degree in many cases – if we judiciously IMPOSE who we are and what we do upon the circumstances unfolding. 

SOBERING NOTE

It’s entirely possible to make circumstances WORSE!

In his video, Peter references a series of business books by Chip and Dan Heath, including one, “Switch”, in which they make a cogent case for personal IDENTITY being the preeminent factor in durable CHANGE and masterful NAVIGATION … over, around and through circumstances. 

While one can alter “behavioral doings” circumstantially with various rewards and penalties, it’s not until one’s IDENTITY takes the shape of mature, commanding “ownership” of one’s Destiny … and of related projects and processes … that good-to-great things begin consistently to happen.     

So what comprises a “Good-To-Great Things Happening” IDENTITY?  Here are a few things to consider: 

• 1.    Creed, values, principles, morals, beliefs, integrity, purposefulness
• 2.    Skills, knowledge, mental and physical acumen, creativity
• 3.    Emotional and relational “groundings”  
• 4.    Positive driving forces: Mission, Purpose, Passion, Goals
• 5.    Total Intentionality and CARING about things that matter

Building our IDENTITY is a lifelong pursuit.  Those who have had the good fortune to experience scouting – either Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts or similar organizations – have had a great start. 

Boy Scout Motto

On my honor, I will do my best 
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; 
To help other people at all times; 
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Boy Scout Law:  A Scout is:

Trustworthy,

Loyal,

Helpful,

Friendly,

Courteous,

Kind,

Obedient,

Cheerful,

Thrifty,

Brave,

Clean,

and Reverent.

Boy Scout Motto

Be Prepared!

Boy Scout Slogan

Do a Good Turn Daily!

I found it helpful to create a Personal Manifesto that reflects the IDENTITY to which I aspire.  You may wish to do likewise for quick reference when things get tough.  [I’ll be happy to share a copy of my own upon request.] 

In any case, let’s continue building a “Good-to-Great-Things” IDENTITY for the duration.  You’re gonna like the way you look in the mirror … I guarantee it!   Quartermaster

A Rising Tide

PREFACE:  This entry is one of an increasing number related to the challenge of living without a GOAL, MISSION, PURPOSE or PASSION in life – a privation with which I’m finding so many are unfortunately saddled.  Most entries on this topic are about practicalities, though elements of philosophy creep in.

The most important first principle of successful journeying is getting a grip on how life works – take it or leave it … and most of us are a lot better off TAKING IT!  Sustainability is a prime issue.  And “Hard Truths”, FACTS, VALUES and PRINCIPLES have to be FACTored in.  This entry was originally going to be entitled “Time, Energy and Place” (“Place” meaning circumstances or “Station in Life”.)  Let’s see how it turns out!

“A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Popular Aphorism

Example:

When the national economy improves,

more and better jobs appear, and

 life gets better for everyone.

NOTE: If all you want is a “job”, there are many to be had at the lowest level that offer no sense of challenge, dignity or fulfillment. 

 SOBERING FACT 1:  The “TIDE” of life doesn’t work the same as the tides of the oceans.  One will find sooner or later that the tide of life doesn’t naturally ebb and flow with phases of the moon so you can hop on and off the boat indefinitely, always returning to some prescribed point of entry or departure.  The tide of life “rises” only with applied effort, and “falls” of its own accord without applied effort!  If you happen to be enjoying a “high tide” moment toward which you made no personal contribution, you’re living on “credits” provided by someone else.  This is rarely a sustainable condition!  It happens early in life for a reason: so we can develop – without drowning – to a point of generating a critical mass of our own steam.  Thus, other-generated “credits” diminish over time as we are expected to begin pulling our own weight.

SOBERING FACT 2:  All our boats are “leaky”!  And they’re not anywhere close to “seaworthy” at the beginning of our journey.  A lot of safe-harboring is provided by significant others early in the game (see “credits” above), but “motorizing” and moving from rinky-dinky paddle boats to outboard motor boats to inboards with enough fortification and horsepower (“shark power”?) to get us through rip tide currents and buffeting winds and waves without getting swamped becomes a significant engagement for much of the duration.  It’s the largest part of the overall COST OF LIVING. 

“I never saw it coming!”

Plaintive Cry of the Woebegone Inattentive Sailor

*****************************

“The time for taking all measures for a ship’s safety

is while still able to do so.”

Admiral Nimitz

************

[“That would be NOW!”]

Quartermaster

So, while there’s no absolute requirement for a grand GOAL, or VISION, or MISSION, or PASSION, or PURPOSE in life to move us toward getting our ship in shape for the journey, the clock is running, the tide is running, and they’re both running OUT! 

And, while we don’t need to take on noble causes and/or sacrifice life and limb for others, or for humanity in general, we’ve eventually got to float our own boat!  This WILL mean sacrificing indulgences along the way, as well as living well beyond the moment ... building, investing, accruing our own “credit”, and making ourselves USEFUL to others … almost as if we DID have a Mission or Purpose … e.g., like avoiding getting “swamped”! 

The 21^st Century is an interesting time in the development of civilization.  Early in social evolution one did “hunting and gathering” solely for one’s own purposes.  However, at this much later date, one can hardly gain anything (legitimately) for one’s own purposes without enriching another: You work to provide goods and services for OTHER people and they reward you with negotiable currency.  Work harder to provide more and better goods and services, and you may become more richly rewarded.  And the tide keeps rising! 

Wait a minute:  Why would anyone want – or ever feel compelled – to do any or all of that? 

In Peter Thompson’s words, it is simply “to be able to live a life of choice.”   The more negotiability and navigability one can acquire, the higher denomination choices one has.  It doesn’t get much simpler than that! 

So what if the choices one already has are more than enough?  Sad to say, many are unrealistically content … in the moment … with small choices – up until they have too many Defining Moments / Moments of Truth and/or NEED choices they can’t have and couldn’t foresee but unknowingly covet: 

“All I want is a warm bed,

a kind word,

…

and UNLIMITED POWER!”

Ashleigh Brilliant

In his book, “DO IT: Let’s Get off Our Buts”, Peter McWilliams says it takes an average of two hours a day to prepare for the future while we’re scrambling (or NOT!) to make it through a 24 hr. day.  That’s 14 hours a week … perhaps 7 hours on Saturday and 7 hours on Sunday if you can’t do it during week days.  That’s actually not a lot compared to an average of 30+ hr. per week that Americans spend watching television, not to mention unnumberable hours of immersion in social media.  Take a week off, and you’ve lost more than half a day in building a strong foundation for the most promising future possibilities. 

So let’s take a couple of hours today – steal it if you have to, a couple hours tomorrow, and make it a daily habit to keep the tide rising under our own boats.  Yes, it will also help float the boats of others, but we’ll all get dividends, and maybe create a “tidal wave” of even greater possibilities for an even brighter future.  Quartermaster