This is one of the most wisdom filled and heart warming things I have seen.
One of my favourite quotes from the video :
"I don' have any failures. If I'm making a cake and it fails, it becomes a pudding."
What's yours?
Showing posts with label Success. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Success. Show all posts
Thursday, 14 December 2017
Life Lessons From 100-Year-Olds
This is one of the most wisdom filled and heart warming things I have seen.
One of my favourite quotes from the video :
What's yours?
Monday, 2 January 2017
Friday, 30 December 2016
Move From Dream to Actuality
Most of us have dreams. We see ourselves in a great job, imagine
being in the ideal relationship, living in a great neighborhood,
writing, creating visual art... But we're not there, and we don't seem
to be getting any closer to being there. Why is that, and how do we
change it? How do we move from dream to actuality
Dreams are a Great Beginning
The things we imagine come from someplace deeper than our conscious mind. The place in us that is like a powerful, winding river, inexorably moving under the surface of consciousness. Moving us along our life's path, whether we know it or not, whether we want to go that way or not. Moving us in the direction of being wholly who we are. This is the place of inspiration, the place that brings ideal visions to our minds. Unfortunately, most of us are too busy anxiously trying to navigate the boulders and branches in the river to notice where the river seems to be moving us.
The First Step is Awareness
Awareness of the dream, of what we're longing for. Taking the vision seriously-more seriously than the boulders and branches. Letting it flesh itself out; dreaming into the details. If you're in a relationship that isn't quite working for you, notice what your vision of the ideal relationship consists of. What stands in the way of having that in your current relationship? Is it only something your partner habitually does, or is it also because you haven't let him or her know how their behavior affects you, and what you need in the relationship? If you feel stuck in your job, are there things you can do to change it, or could you move into a job that matches you better? If you'd like to start writing, painting or photography, is it really that there's no time or is it something else?
Overcoming the Fear
One thing that's in the way when we try to move from dream to reality is that when we think about doing it, a kind of lethargy or fatigue comes over us. This feeling is often just (just!) fear of the unknown, and when it's allowed to go on for a while, it can turn into depression. The lethargy is something inside saying "You can't do that; you don't know how; you're not good enough/smart enough; it's too risky." The vision is energizing, but when you take it seriously enough to actually think about taking a step in that direction, the inner fear takes over.
Fear is Okay
Fear is natural, because you're contemplating jumping into the unknown. Notice all the details of the fear and have a dialogue with it, as if it's a character inside of you. Often, it's actually a part of you that's trying to protect you. Let it tell you what it's afraid of. Then, together, come up with a way to take what it's saying into account. That often makes it easier to begin to move from dream to reality.
Now We're Moving!
Now you can take the first step. One of the best ways to start-keeping your vision in mind-is to divide getting there into small pieces. Notice which one is the easiest and do that one first, then enjoy your accomplishment. After that, either it gets easier to go one step after the other or you do the next easiest and enjoy your accomplishment. For example, if you hate your job and you've decided to move on, make a list of all the salient parts of the ideal job of your dreams. Does it involve interacting with a lot of people or being alone? Is it outside, in an office or maybe in a mixture of settings? Do you have fixed hours or flexible hours? What kinds of activities are involved? Etc., etc.
Now, do some research on the kinds of jobs that meet all or at least some of your vision. Do you already have all the education, skills and experience to move into such a job, or do you need to acquire more of some of them? If you do need more skills or education, what's the first thing you can do? What's the easiest thing? If you already have all that's required, what is the easiest step you can take to move in the direction of being in that job.
Now, Actually Do It!
That's the really important thing to move from dream to actuality-you have to actually do something. Darn it! So many times, the dream is so satisfying. Unfortunately, imagining yourself in the new, better situation is way easier than getting yourself to actually do what it takes to get there. One solution: creating a concrete activity and setting yourself a deadline for getting it done. Once you've accomplished the activity, give yourself credit, celebrate. Then create the next concrete activity and another deadline. Give yourself consequences for not doing it. For example, I can't do "x" until I've done the next step. Then ask, "Did I do the step? If not, what's stopping me?" It could be that fear voice from above, in which case, have the dialogue again and find out how to assuage the fear so that you can move on.
If You Need Help
If you do all of what's described above, you'll find yourself in the place of your dream.
Dreams are a Great Beginning
The things we imagine come from someplace deeper than our conscious mind. The place in us that is like a powerful, winding river, inexorably moving under the surface of consciousness. Moving us along our life's path, whether we know it or not, whether we want to go that way or not. Moving us in the direction of being wholly who we are. This is the place of inspiration, the place that brings ideal visions to our minds. Unfortunately, most of us are too busy anxiously trying to navigate the boulders and branches in the river to notice where the river seems to be moving us.
The First Step is Awareness
Awareness of the dream, of what we're longing for. Taking the vision seriously-more seriously than the boulders and branches. Letting it flesh itself out; dreaming into the details. If you're in a relationship that isn't quite working for you, notice what your vision of the ideal relationship consists of. What stands in the way of having that in your current relationship? Is it only something your partner habitually does, or is it also because you haven't let him or her know how their behavior affects you, and what you need in the relationship? If you feel stuck in your job, are there things you can do to change it, or could you move into a job that matches you better? If you'd like to start writing, painting or photography, is it really that there's no time or is it something else?
Overcoming the Fear
One thing that's in the way when we try to move from dream to reality is that when we think about doing it, a kind of lethargy or fatigue comes over us. This feeling is often just (just!) fear of the unknown, and when it's allowed to go on for a while, it can turn into depression. The lethargy is something inside saying "You can't do that; you don't know how; you're not good enough/smart enough; it's too risky." The vision is energizing, but when you take it seriously enough to actually think about taking a step in that direction, the inner fear takes over.
Fear is Okay
Fear is natural, because you're contemplating jumping into the unknown. Notice all the details of the fear and have a dialogue with it, as if it's a character inside of you. Often, it's actually a part of you that's trying to protect you. Let it tell you what it's afraid of. Then, together, come up with a way to take what it's saying into account. That often makes it easier to begin to move from dream to reality.
Now We're Moving!
Now you can take the first step. One of the best ways to start-keeping your vision in mind-is to divide getting there into small pieces. Notice which one is the easiest and do that one first, then enjoy your accomplishment. After that, either it gets easier to go one step after the other or you do the next easiest and enjoy your accomplishment. For example, if you hate your job and you've decided to move on, make a list of all the salient parts of the ideal job of your dreams. Does it involve interacting with a lot of people or being alone? Is it outside, in an office or maybe in a mixture of settings? Do you have fixed hours or flexible hours? What kinds of activities are involved? Etc., etc.
Now, do some research on the kinds of jobs that meet all or at least some of your vision. Do you already have all the education, skills and experience to move into such a job, or do you need to acquire more of some of them? If you do need more skills or education, what's the first thing you can do? What's the easiest thing? If you already have all that's required, what is the easiest step you can take to move in the direction of being in that job.
Now, Actually Do It!
That's the really important thing to move from dream to actuality-you have to actually do something. Darn it! So many times, the dream is so satisfying. Unfortunately, imagining yourself in the new, better situation is way easier than getting yourself to actually do what it takes to get there. One solution: creating a concrete activity and setting yourself a deadline for getting it done. Once you've accomplished the activity, give yourself credit, celebrate. Then create the next concrete activity and another deadline. Give yourself consequences for not doing it. For example, I can't do "x" until I've done the next step. Then ask, "Did I do the step? If not, what's stopping me?" It could be that fear voice from above, in which case, have the dialogue again and find out how to assuage the fear so that you can move on.
If You Need Help
If you do all of what's described above, you'll find yourself in the place of your dream.
Sometimes it takes getting some help from a coach.
Tuesday, 27 December 2016
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Monday, 19 December 2016
Friday, 16 December 2016
Thursday, 15 December 2016
How to become unstoppable
What does being unstoppable mean?
Over the past years I kept examining the reasons that make some people resilient and the ones that make others helpless. I was eagerly trying to find out if there are a set of methods and actions that could make someone really unstoppable and I was right about it.What does being unstoppable mean? Does it mean being superior or being omnipotent?
No, it only means that you will become a normal human being who will always reach what he wants.
When you become unstoppable you might feel sad or down just like anybody else but the main difference between you and them is that within few days your energy will be recharged back and you will find yourself fighting again for what you believe in.
Being unstoppable means that life problems will never stop you from reaching what you want whatever happens. In this article I will tell you how to become unstoppable.
How to become unstoppable
I don’t want you to scan the following points because they are the summary of years of research but instead read them slowly, one by one and try to relate them to situations that happened to you in your life.
The keys to becoming unstoppable:
Knowing what you should do in order to solve the problem: Lets assume you want to lose weight, by knowing the proper life style you should stick to and the proper diet you have to follow you will have enough knowledge to fight back and lose weight. Lack of knowledge results in frustration and helplessness and can prevent you from being unstoppable.
Knowing how to find the required knowledge: Suppose that you wanted to lose weight but had no idea about what you should do. If learning, reading and exploring the internet were some of your skills then you will find yourself motivated to learn about the ways to solve your problem else you will find yourself feeling helpless then depressed. In order to become unstoppable you need to be able to know how to find the required knowledge.
Believing in the knowledge you acquired: lets suppose you found few articles that told you that in order to lose weight you must follow a severe diet. If you didn’t believe that this kind of diet will work for you or if you believed that its hard for you to commit to it then most probably you will become indifferent.
Avoid the time trap: Another problem is Knowing what to do, believing in it but not having time to follow the plan because of work, studying, college....etc. This is the most popular case and it leads to frustration and depression.
The Formula for being unstoppable
Lack of knowledge results in frustration and helplessnessNot knowing how to find the required knowledge results in helplessness and depression
Not believing in the knowledge results in indifference and lack of motivation
Knowing, believing but lacking time to apply results in frustration and depression
Knowing what to do, believing in it and responding right away will result in making you resilient and unstoppable
Your goal is to find your area of weakness and fix it so that you become unstoppable. If your problem is lack of knowledge then you must learn how to find out answers through books and the internet. If your problem was not believing in the knowledge you find then you must learn how to get rid of limiting beliefs and how to find the right trusted sources.
If your problem was lack of time then you must take a week off to solve your problem then restore your normal life.
Source
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Self motivation
Being self-motivated and taking initiative is vitally important
to most employers. No one wants to babysit a new member of staff through
their work. Equally, however, it is not right to simply ignore
instructions or advice and do what you feel is right. So how do you get a
balance?
What is self-motivation?
Being self-motivated is about doing your job well because you want to, and not simply because it pays your wages. Self-motivated individuals want to be the best they can be regardless of where they work and will often take responsibility for projects even when they do not need to.
Self-motivated individuals tend to:
Why do employers want self-motivated people?
Self-motivated employees need a lot less managing than less determined individuals, so are highly sought after by recruitment agencies and HR departments.
If you are self-motivated, you will normally want everything you do to be of the highest quality and you will always see the bigger picture that the company is looking at. Self-motivated individuals are motivated by improving themselves, and they only way they can do this is by making the company they work for better.
How can you show you have it?
Desire and self-motivation are difficult qualities to show. Expect to be asked questions about times when you have risen to a challenge or taken control of a situation. Employers are looking for people who have taken charge of a situation and solved it in a creative or innovative way. Fundraising is a good way to show initiative, as is times when you’ve identified a problem and come up with a solution.
You can also demonstrate self-motivation by emphasising the quality of your work and the impact it has had on your studies or previous jobs.
How is self-motivation used in the world of work?
It is much easier to demonstrate self-motivation once you’ve actually landed the job. Little things like getting to work ten minutes early are noticed. Make sure you ask your manager questions and show a desire to do well – if your manager identifies an issue, go away, think about it and try to come up with a solution. Enthusiasm can go a long way.
Source
What is self-motivation?
Being self-motivated is about doing your job well because you want to, and not simply because it pays your wages. Self-motivated individuals want to be the best they can be regardless of where they work and will often take responsibility for projects even when they do not need to.
Self-motivated individuals tend to:
- Work longer and later than others
- Learn new skills and take regular training courses
- Take ownership of problems
- Become team leaders
- Go above and beyond their job description
Why do employers want self-motivated people?
Self-motivated employees need a lot less managing than less determined individuals, so are highly sought after by recruitment agencies and HR departments.
If you are self-motivated, you will normally want everything you do to be of the highest quality and you will always see the bigger picture that the company is looking at. Self-motivated individuals are motivated by improving themselves, and they only way they can do this is by making the company they work for better.
How can you show you have it?
Desire and self-motivation are difficult qualities to show. Expect to be asked questions about times when you have risen to a challenge or taken control of a situation. Employers are looking for people who have taken charge of a situation and solved it in a creative or innovative way. Fundraising is a good way to show initiative, as is times when you’ve identified a problem and come up with a solution.
You can also demonstrate self-motivation by emphasising the quality of your work and the impact it has had on your studies or previous jobs.
How is self-motivation used in the world of work?
It is much easier to demonstrate self-motivation once you’ve actually landed the job. Little things like getting to work ten minutes early are noticed. Make sure you ask your manager questions and show a desire to do well – if your manager identifies an issue, go away, think about it and try to come up with a solution. Enthusiasm can go a long way.
Source
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
5 Powerful Ways to Boost Your Confidence
Self-confident people are admired by others and inspire confidence in
others. They face their fears head-on and tend to be risk takers. They
know that no matter what obstacles come their way, they have the ability to get past them. Self-confident people tend to see their lives in a positive light even when things aren't going so well, and they are typically satisfied with and respect themselves.
Wouldn't it be amazing to have this kind of self-confidence, every day of the week? Guess what? You can.
"Low self-confidence isn't a life sentence. Self-confidence can be learned, practiced, and mastered--just like any other skill. Once you master it, everything in your life will change for the better." --Barrie Davenport
It comes down to one simple question: If you don't believe in yourself, how do you expect anybody else to?
Try some of the tips listed below. Don't just read them and put them on the back burner. Really begin to practice them daily, beginning today. You might have to fake it at first and merely appear to be self-confident, but eventually you will begin to feel the foundation of self-confidence grow within you. With some time and practice (this is not an overnight phenomenon), you too can be a self-confident person, both inside and out, whom others admire and say "Yes!" to.
1. Stay away from negativity and bring on the positivity
This is the time to really evaluate your inner circle, including friends and family. This is a tough one, but it's time to seriously consider getting away from those individuals who put you down and shred your confidence. Even a temporary break from Debbie Downer can make a huge difference and help you make strides toward more self-confidence.
Be positive, even if you're not feeling it quite yet. Put some positive enthusiasm into your interactions with others and hit the ground running, excited to begin your next project. Stop focusing on the problems in your life and instead begin to focus on solutions and making positive changes.
2. Change your body language and image
This is where posture, smiling, eye contact, and speech slowly come into play. Just the simple act of pulling your shoulders back gives others the impression that you are a confident person. Smiling will not only make you feel better, but will make others feel more comfortable around you. Imagine a person with good posture and a smile and you'll be envisioning someone who is self-confident.
Look at the person you are speaking to, not at your shoes--keeping eye contact shows confidence. Last, speak slowly. Research has proved that those who take the time to speak slowly and clearly feel more self-confidence and appear more self-confident to others. The added bonus is they will actually be able to understand what you are saying.
Go the extra mile and style your hair, give yourself a clean shave, and dress nicely. Not only will this make you feel better about yourself, but others are more likely to perceive you as successful and self-confident as well. A great tip: When you purchase a new outfit, practice wearing it at home first to get past any wardrobe malfunctions before heading out.
3. Don't accept failure and get rid of the negative voices in your head
Never give up. Never accept failure. There is a solution to everything, so why would you want to throw in the towel? Make this your new mantra. Succeeding through great adversity is a huge confidence booster.
Low self-confidence is often caused by the negative thoughts running through our minds on an endless track. If you are constantly bashing yourself and saying you're not good enough, aren't attractive enough, aren't smart enough or athletic enough, and on and on, you are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. You are becoming what you are preaching inside your head, and that's not good. The next time you hear that negativity in your head, switch it immediately to a positive affirmation and keep it up until it hits the caliber of a self-confidence boost.
4. Be prepared
Learn everything there is to know about your field, job, presentation--whatever is next on your "to conquer" list. If you are prepared, and have the knowledge to back it up, your self-confidence will soar.
5. For tough times, when all else fails: Create a great list
Life is full of challenges and there are times when it's difficult to keep our self-confidence up. Sit down right now and make a list of all the things in your life that you are thankful for, and another list of all the things you are proud of accomplishing. Once your lists are complete, post them on your refrigerator door, on the wall by your desk, on your bathroom mirror--somewhere where you can easily be reminded of what an amazing life you have and what an amazing person you really are. If you feel your self-confidence dwindling, take a look at those lists and let yourself feel and be inspired all over again by you.
Source
Wouldn't it be amazing to have this kind of self-confidence, every day of the week? Guess what? You can.
"Low self-confidence isn't a life sentence. Self-confidence can be learned, practiced, and mastered--just like any other skill. Once you master it, everything in your life will change for the better." --Barrie Davenport
It comes down to one simple question: If you don't believe in yourself, how do you expect anybody else to?
Try some of the tips listed below. Don't just read them and put them on the back burner. Really begin to practice them daily, beginning today. You might have to fake it at first and merely appear to be self-confident, but eventually you will begin to feel the foundation of self-confidence grow within you. With some time and practice (this is not an overnight phenomenon), you too can be a self-confident person, both inside and out, whom others admire and say "Yes!" to.
1. Stay away from negativity and bring on the positivity
This is the time to really evaluate your inner circle, including friends and family. This is a tough one, but it's time to seriously consider getting away from those individuals who put you down and shred your confidence. Even a temporary break from Debbie Downer can make a huge difference and help you make strides toward more self-confidence.
Be positive, even if you're not feeling it quite yet. Put some positive enthusiasm into your interactions with others and hit the ground running, excited to begin your next project. Stop focusing on the problems in your life and instead begin to focus on solutions and making positive changes.
2. Change your body language and image
This is where posture, smiling, eye contact, and speech slowly come into play. Just the simple act of pulling your shoulders back gives others the impression that you are a confident person. Smiling will not only make you feel better, but will make others feel more comfortable around you. Imagine a person with good posture and a smile and you'll be envisioning someone who is self-confident.
Look at the person you are speaking to, not at your shoes--keeping eye contact shows confidence. Last, speak slowly. Research has proved that those who take the time to speak slowly and clearly feel more self-confidence and appear more self-confident to others. The added bonus is they will actually be able to understand what you are saying.
Go the extra mile and style your hair, give yourself a clean shave, and dress nicely. Not only will this make you feel better about yourself, but others are more likely to perceive you as successful and self-confident as well. A great tip: When you purchase a new outfit, practice wearing it at home first to get past any wardrobe malfunctions before heading out.
3. Don't accept failure and get rid of the negative voices in your head
Never give up. Never accept failure. There is a solution to everything, so why would you want to throw in the towel? Make this your new mantra. Succeeding through great adversity is a huge confidence booster.
Low self-confidence is often caused by the negative thoughts running through our minds on an endless track. If you are constantly bashing yourself and saying you're not good enough, aren't attractive enough, aren't smart enough or athletic enough, and on and on, you are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. You are becoming what you are preaching inside your head, and that's not good. The next time you hear that negativity in your head, switch it immediately to a positive affirmation and keep it up until it hits the caliber of a self-confidence boost.
4. Be prepared
Learn everything there is to know about your field, job, presentation--whatever is next on your "to conquer" list. If you are prepared, and have the knowledge to back it up, your self-confidence will soar.
5. For tough times, when all else fails: Create a great list
Life is full of challenges and there are times when it's difficult to keep our self-confidence up. Sit down right now and make a list of all the things in your life that you are thankful for, and another list of all the things you are proud of accomplishing. Once your lists are complete, post them on your refrigerator door, on the wall by your desk, on your bathroom mirror--somewhere where you can easily be reminded of what an amazing life you have and what an amazing person you really are. If you feel your self-confidence dwindling, take a look at those lists and let yourself feel and be inspired all over again by you.
Source
Monday, 12 December 2016
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
Thursday, 1 December 2016
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Friday, 18 November 2016
9 Ways To Build A Strong Character Everyone Loves
Some people are more likable than
others, and that is mainly because of their unique character – outgoing,
friendly, talkative, empathic, down-to-earth and honest people always
have it easier. We use the term “character” almost on a daily basis, but
how many of us actually know what a good character involves? People
love loyal, courageous and moral people, and if you have decided to take
your character and personality into your own hands, then here are some
of the most important things you need to pay attention to:
1. Always Be Calm
There is no point in getting all heated
up and overreacting – calmness can take you a very long way, as this
state of serenity and quietude allows you to meditate and concentrate
and, ultimately, to make the decision that benefits you the most.
Calmness is undoubtedly one of the most notable traits of people with
strong characters – if you manage to express yourself, your thoughts and
your emotions in a calm and warm manner, that will certainly appeal to
all those around you!
2. Avoid Drama At All Costs
Nobody likes drama queens – we all have
our fair share of problems that we need to deal with, but drama and
fatalism have never solved any issue so far. We are all responsible for
the lives we live, and instead of trying to blame everybody else but
yourself for your failure, you should take responsibility for your
actions and do your best to change your destiny. Happiness is a state of
mind that one often builds – you do not find happiness, you create it
from scratch. Also, remember the law of attraction: what you think, you
attract!
3. Steer Clear From Irrational Impulses
Irrational impulses are, sometimes, part
of human nature – some people feel things more intensely than others,
and this may lead to irrational actions sometimes. If you do not guard
against these impulses, they can take their toll on your relationships
and they can easily bypass your intellect as well. Sometimes, we allow
ourselves to be overwhelmed by fear or sadness, when ultimately it is
entirely up to us to decide whether we are the slaves of our deepest
fears or if we practice self-control.
4. Be A Truth Seeker
Everybody loves truth seekers – they
would rather choose a tough and hurtful truth over a comforting lie, and
that is certainly one of the most important markers of a strong
character. Strong and rational people always doubt things and they
examine all the facts – that is why they are rational, in the end.
Strong people get rid of all their biases and prejudices and they are
always in the pursuit of happiness, on all levels.
5. Be Courageous And Never Look Back
Fear is a perfectly normal and natural
state – we are genetically programmed to feel fear during stressful
situations, and every single person on Earth has felt it at least once.
However, while some people wear their heart on their sleeve, others
manage to masterfully disguise their fear and to let courage prevail –
and this is precisely what you should do as well, if you have decided to
make the best of your character. Face your obstacles and overcome them –
do not run away, do not panic and always trust yourself.
6. Be Empathic
Being empathic is one of the most
important and valued character traits – as a matter of fact, empathy is
what makes us human. One of the most common misconceptions many people
have these days is that showing empathy and warmth makes them look weak,
when the truth is that only truly strong people, those who shine from
within are able to be good and kind with others. Love those that
surround you and always empathize with them, without expecting anything
in return. Never judge people before walking a mile in their own shoes,
for everybody is fighting a very hard battle that you know nothing
about!
7. Be Confident
Self-confidence is very attractive and
empowering – when you are confident in your own potential, you inspire
other people to be the same, and everybody will love you for that.
Confidence is a natural thing, and we are not born confident – instead,
we learn how to build our confidence and how to respect and love
ourselves. Throughout our lives, we go through numerous events that
shatter our self-esteem, or that at least make it plummet. However, it
is up to us to sail smoothly through all of these obstacles and never to
accept failure or defeat as an option. Success is built upon itself,
and that certainly requires a lot of time and effort – besides this, it
is essential to acknowledge all your small accomplishments, instead of
focusing only on your biggest failures. That is by far the best way to
build confidence and, ultimately, to become a stronger person with a
character everybody will love!
8. Always Maintain Your Reputation And Your Image
Your reputation is one of your most
valuable assets, as it takes years to build a good reputation within
your circle of friends, and only a few seconds to have it shattered.
People always love and respect those with a good reputation and a
flawless personal integrity, and you must do your best to keep your
reputation impeccable, as long as this does not require you to sacrifice
other qualities, such as honesty. Always be true to who you are, and
remember that there are some people who might look up to you for
inspiration.
9. Be Courteous And Polite With Everybody
Being courteous will never become
old-fashioned, for people will always appreciate good manners. However,
when it comes to courtesy, it must be said that everybody can be
courteous and nice with their friends and with people they generally
like – the true challenge arises from being courteous with those you
dislike! If you manage to do so and still keep it real at the end of the
day, then you have managed to strengthen your character to a greater
extent than you might have bargained for, and your friends and relatives
will undoubtedly appreciate that.
Sunday, 13 November 2016
The Four-Part Formula to Getting More Grit
On January 10th, 2015, a first-stage rocket crashed onto a barge floating on the south Atlantic ocean.
The rocket, used to propel a second-stage craft into orbit around the Earth, was expected to free-fall back to Earth and use a complex system of thrusters to land upright on a futuristic, self-navigating, drone barge.
The rocket slightly miscalculated the landing, crashing hard onto the barge.
At anywhere from $40,000,000 to $846,000,000 a pop, rocket launches are difficult to budget for. The tens of millions of dollars it costs to conduct a low-orbit launch are hard to sell, which partially explains why the United States government-led NASA abandoned their space shuttle program in 2011.
Yet, SpaceX--the spaceflight company created by Telsa founder and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk--had imagined a way to drastically cut the cost of launching anything into space: simply make the rocket re-usable.
They constructed a rocket which could theoretically launch, release a payload, and land vertically minutes after take-off in order to be refueled and launched again at a later time, indefinitely.
Their first attempt to land the rocket at sea failed, but not enough to deter Musk and the SpaceX team. They repaired the rocket and made adjustments based on data they received from the crash, then tried the landing again. And again they failed. They tried again, and failed again.
Each attempt to safely land the first-stage rocket ended in a hard landing, leading to months of costly repairs and improvements. But each failed landing also uncovered information the team could take to improve their systems and the rocket itself.
Finally on April 8th, 2016, for their fifth attempt, SpaceX accomplished the task of launching a payload into space and landing the first-stage rocket safely on a floating barge in the middle of the ocean.
What led the team to keep trying, even after their first failed attempt? Musk himself is quoted as having said of their first flight: "If the vehicle does not become reusable, I will consider us to have failed."
They did fail, and yet they didn't give up. Why?
The answer lies in Musk and co's remarkable amount of grit. Research has shown that grit is even more important than intelligence or talent when it comes to succeeding. Even the most triumphant among us occasionally fail. What they don't do is quit.
How can you become more resilient, is grit something we can control or develop?
Just ask Angela Duckworth, a Harvard graduate and psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Duckworth specializes in the psychology of grit, she's spent the bulk of her career studying it.
On the question of whether or not grit is something you can develop, Duckworth explains in a podcast for Freakonomics.com:
The SpaceX team didn't attempt to land on a barge in the ocean from the get-go, they instead practiced with lighter rockets, on land first. Once they mastered that, they attempted the sea landing.
Any time they failed they merely thought of it as having had been another practice attempt.
Of course, the word purpose gets thrown around a lot. What's important isn't that you find some natural calling, but instead find something you can readily dive deeper into the more you learn.
For SpaceX, that meant not only developing a rocket which could launch and land upright, but also meant exploring secondary and tertiary parts of the project: like a drone barge.
To develop more grit you must start with hope, and learn that it's alright to fail as long as you don't give up or quit.
Having something you can be highly interested in, something you can deliberately practice and readily get feedback on, something where you hope that you can succeed, are all important The key is, of course, giving yourself time to practice and learn and stay in the game.
Source:
The rocket, used to propel a second-stage craft into orbit around the Earth, was expected to free-fall back to Earth and use a complex system of thrusters to land upright on a futuristic, self-navigating, drone barge.
The rocket slightly miscalculated the landing, crashing hard onto the barge.
At anywhere from $40,000,000 to $846,000,000 a pop, rocket launches are difficult to budget for. The tens of millions of dollars it costs to conduct a low-orbit launch are hard to sell, which partially explains why the United States government-led NASA abandoned their space shuttle program in 2011.
Yet, SpaceX--the spaceflight company created by Telsa founder and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk--had imagined a way to drastically cut the cost of launching anything into space: simply make the rocket re-usable.
They constructed a rocket which could theoretically launch, release a payload, and land vertically minutes after take-off in order to be refueled and launched again at a later time, indefinitely.
Their first attempt to land the rocket at sea failed, but not enough to deter Musk and the SpaceX team. They repaired the rocket and made adjustments based on data they received from the crash, then tried the landing again. And again they failed. They tried again, and failed again.
Each attempt to safely land the first-stage rocket ended in a hard landing, leading to months of costly repairs and improvements. But each failed landing also uncovered information the team could take to improve their systems and the rocket itself.
Finally on April 8th, 2016, for their fifth attempt, SpaceX accomplished the task of launching a payload into space and landing the first-stage rocket safely on a floating barge in the middle of the ocean.
What led the team to keep trying, even after their first failed attempt? Musk himself is quoted as having said of their first flight: "If the vehicle does not become reusable, I will consider us to have failed."
They did fail, and yet they didn't give up. Why?
The answer lies in Musk and co's remarkable amount of grit. Research has shown that grit is even more important than intelligence or talent when it comes to succeeding. Even the most triumphant among us occasionally fail. What they don't do is quit.
How can you become more resilient, is grit something we can control or develop?
Just ask Angela Duckworth, a Harvard graduate and psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Duckworth specializes in the psychology of grit, she's spent the bulk of her career studying it.
On the question of whether or not grit is something you can develop, Duckworth explains in a podcast for Freakonomics.com:
"What specifically are gritty people like? What do they do when they wake up in the morning? What beliefs do gritty people walk around with in their heads? When you get to that level of specifics, you realize there's no reason why these things couldn't be taught, practiced, or learned."What are gritty people like? There are four things Duckworth explains that make up the formulate to developing more grit:
1. Practice
Deliberate practice means learning as you go, getting feedback from your experience as well as from others.
The SpaceX team didn't attempt to land on a barge in the ocean from the get-go, they instead practiced with lighter rockets, on land first. Once they mastered that, they attempted the sea landing.
Any time they failed they merely thought of it as having had been another practice attempt.
2. Purpose
Purpose is anything you can develop an interest in over long term. Practice is useless if what you're practicing is something you don't feel purposeful about or can be highly interested in.
Of course, the word purpose gets thrown around a lot. What's important isn't that you find some natural calling, but instead find something you can readily dive deeper into the more you learn.
For SpaceX, that meant not only developing a rocket which could launch and land upright, but also meant exploring secondary and tertiary parts of the project: like a drone barge.
3. Hope
Failure is often inevitable, but if we learn to embrace failure as an opportunity to learn, improve, and then get back up again, we're more likely to succeed in future attempts.
To develop more grit you must start with hope, and learn that it's alright to fail as long as you don't give up or quit.
4. Time
The last part of the grit formula is simply time. Time to devote yourself to practice, purpose, and developing from failure.
Having something you can be highly interested in, something you can deliberately practice and readily get feedback on, something where you hope that you can succeed, are all important The key is, of course, giving yourself time to practice and learn and stay in the game.
Source:
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
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