LeifQ

Discovery is one of the most underrated gifts in life. Sidebar Ok, so let me first eliminate from this post, the argument that not all discoveries are positive. I get that. I’m not focused on that. But even ‘bad’ discoveries can lead to ‘good’ outcomes. So, can we allow the possibility that in these cases, the bad discovery - is actually good? Something to chew on while reading the rest of this thought. < /sidebar > What I’m talking about, are all the small, serendipitous momen...

On one hand, there are countless stories of success and victory suddenly materializing while on the brink of defeat and disaster. The moral of the story is clear: Never give up! Many have quit in defeat when victory was just around the corner! But on the other hand, there are those who… should’ve quit while they were ahead should’ve cut their losses a while ago should’ve known when to hold ‘em, and known when to fold ‘em. should’ve known when to walk away, and know when to run. Ho...

I haven’t punched a clock in so long that it’s highly likely I never again will, at this point. Having tasted the autonomy of entrepreneurship, the circumstances must be extreme (positively or negatively) for me to consider another job. One aspect of the self-employment journey has been the investment and struggles of developing time management acumen and discovering the right tools. The Urgent-Important quadrant tool is useful, but even that can eat up precious time if not mindful. There...

I love the outdoors. And participating in extreme sports enhances my experience through immersion. I have spent a good chunk of my life surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, and camping - in various combinations. Next to actually being out there doing what I love, I enjoy vicarious participation while watching others hone their own skills, or demonstrate mastery in a discipline. I’m always astounded at the level of skill, precision, confidence, and sheer courage of those at the to...

Momentum can be a funny thing. Physically, it’s normal to feel momentum. In a car, bike, or during takeoff in an airplane. But I’ll argue that the word is more commonly referenced figuratively. Which is what I find weird. How does one truly know that momentum is driving something? In business, it when prospective sales or customers begin to materialize, we say that momentum is building. Towards what? And if this momentum starts slowing, or dies off, can we still say that’s what it was?...

When I struggle to think of, or record anything meaningful at the end of the day, maybe I need to reconsider the way my day went. Am I living up to my full potential? Did I live the day with passion? Carpe Diem much? Perhaps I need to pursue deeper and more significant life choices. Or maybe I just need to get some sleep since I threw myself into working with my hands today. Yeah, that must be it. Sleep it is, then. 17/100 ...

I’m learning not to over analyze certain things. Like conversations I have at networking events, or things I share openly in group settings. In this instance, it’s a short presentation I just gave at a small meetup. I have a tendency to replay these scenes out in my mind. Thinking of areas where I should’ve done things better, or different. Or maybe not at all. There is something healthy and natural about going through a quick, mental debrief in order to assess and improve. That’s good. ...

Sometimes there’s no explanation for feelings. I just finished going through something that I’ve been putting off for months. It is not horrifically bad or even physically dreadful. But if I said what it was, I’m certain that most of you would shudder and nod in agreement. But here’s the thing. Not only did it turn out ok, but there were more positive outcomes than negative. And yet, I feel almost apathetic. Maybe even a little cranky if I’m being honest. My feelings don’t match the expec...

It sucks when a chain is broken. I had low hopes of actually completing the 100-Day Challenge on here. (I do, in fact, write something everyday in other journals.) But still, the motivation of keeping a streak going unbroken is pretty effective and gets stronger, the further the links are connected. That, and my stubborn competitiveness can drive things off a cliff at times. But I missed posting an entry yesterday, and we don’t get do-overs with time. The motivation now shifts from ...

The same ocean waves that strike fear in the average person, stirs up excitement within the seasoned surfer. Even inexperienced surfers, having tasted the elements, retain a greater understanding (respect) of the danger before them. This while standing on shore, having that internal debate between ego and self-preservation. So what makes a seasoned surfer... seasoned? In short - having been tried and tested, over time, in the wild and various conditions of the ocean. And lived. From my d...

Once I understand something. Once it becomes totally clear, it’s impossible to go back to the original state. Learning does something to a person. It changes them to the core. ...

Most days, I find myself glancing up at the clock next to my desk to shockingly discover that the day is ending. Like right now. And like clockwork, I’ll mutter in exasperated undertones, to no one in particular, “Dude - where did the time go?!!” I’ve been in many conversations with people who lament the lack of time to get ‘everything’ done. It is then that I pass on something that I’ve learned over time. Everyone gets the same exact amount of time in the day. There are only 24 hours. Wh...

Nine times out of ten, I’ll take versatility over specialty. That person with deep range and multiple skills can tackle just about any dilemma encountered. A group of versatile, renaissance people would be a force to reckon with. Tenacity. Perseverance. Indomitable. Flex and adapt. (also, Happy Leif Erickson Day) 10/100 ...

How should I measure productivity? Is it manifested in something tangible that can be quantified? Or does quality hold a weightier value when it comes to determining whether or not I was productive? And what exactly is the definition of productivity? Is it even objective? Many a day has passed, when in the midnight hour, I find my thoughts struggling to settle with satisfaction on the day’s work. Is this, too, unproductive? 9/100 ...

When a person dies, they leave everything they own behind. Nothing of material value transfers over to the other side. In fact, the only thing that survives this life into the next are souls. People. And the afterlife is forever. Either with God, or without Him. So investing in relationships - people - is the only way to invest for eternity. Especially if planning to spend it with God. I do. And I’m working to bring as many people with me possible. 8/100 ...

This might run contrary to certain mantras that sound like, “Fail Fast, Fail Often” or something. But commitment should be celebrated more often than it is. In fact, commitment should be rewarded in substantially better ways than it currently stands. This idea can be applied in both small and great circumstances. Be it loyal employees and faithful spouses, or the indomitable tenacity of mechanics and students. The willpower and patience to see something through to completion, solution, or te...

Theory is easy. Brainstorming, ideation, and even pondering a thing is somewhat effortless and passive. Execution is hard. Actually doing something about a thought and idea - now that takes some motivation and courage. 6/100 *written on 10.5 but published on 10.6 ...

After decades of surfing, what is it that compels me to continue paddling out? Why do I still want to chase waves and better each successive session? Of all the sports and activities that I’ve enjoyed over the years, nothing compares to the draw of being out in the ocean looking for one more wave. Just one more wave. 5/100 ...

Day four into the 100-Day challenge and I’m already conditioned to start auditing the past 15+ hours at 11pm. What to post? Thoughts flood my mind constantly throughout the day. Sometimes I get a chance to offload some of those in p2p conversations. But most ideas either simmer for a bit longer, or continue on their way, never to be seen again. Platforms like this one make it tempting for me to freely share with abandon. Especially since it lacks that toxic ‘social’ component. But in reality...

I realize that AI is not new. It has been around for quite some time. Well before The Matrix sucked us into the battle between machines and Zion, HAL and Dave were sorting out their roles. But in the past few years, adoption and development of the technology seems to have hyper launched. Initially, I was repulsed by the manner in which it was being abused to produce graphics and written content. Or counterfeit anything creative that is usually born out of passion, talent, laborious iteration...

I saw the 100-day writing challenge on here and thought, “Sure. Why not?” But then, the time to publish arrives. At first, my brain is inundated with a waterfall of keywords and topics that might be interesting. But it isn’t long until that flow attenuates into something that’s more of a trickle. And finally - a drip. A slow but constant drip… of questions. It seems that when I filter through the thoughts and ideas that matter most to me, I’m left with more questions than answers. I...

I'm a fan of Proton products. Have been for some years now. I saw that 'Meet', a new video chat tool was in beta mode and was digging around the site to get more info. Or early access. That is when I stumbled upon Standard Notes. And then Listed. As a very longtime Simplenote enthusiast, I'm up to trying something new. Seems kinda fresh albeit sparse in here, so I'm adding to the quiet. We'll see how long this lasts. But for now... "Hello, Listed" :) 1/100 ...