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Living the Good Life

If Stuck, Propel Forward with a ‘Friction Audit’

April 1, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

'Friction Audit' mindset fosters proactive problem-solving and continuous improvement culture Friction audits assist organizations in identifying inefficiencies by pinpointing bottlenecks, obstacles, or pain points in their processes. By systematically identifying difficulties and frustrations, teams can focus their efforts on streamlining those specific areas through simplifying procedures, improving communication, or investing in better technology.

As an individual, you can apply the same principles to confront the barriers that’re holding you back, clearing the way for growth, simplicity, and peace of mind.

  • Eliminate “reasons” that you come up with to rationalize things you do but shouldn’t be doing. Breaking a bad habit often requires introducing obstacles, making it less convenient to indulge. Take mindless snacking while watching TV, for example. Lock up those tempting treats in the garage, adding a little inconvenience to your indulgence. Having to fetch the key and trek over will give you pause, helping to curb those cravings. By removing temptations or creating friction in the process, it becomes easier to resist the urge and opt for other alternatives.
  • Eliminate “excuses” that you come up with to justify not doing things you should be doing. Focus on identifying their root causes and develop strategies to address them effectively. Foster good habits by making them more convenient and accessible. Streamlining the processes, removing obstacles, and weaving new habits into your daily grind can make it effortless and enjoyable to maintain, increasing the likelihood of long-term adherence.

Idea for Impact: Identify the friction points that are getting in the way of a better you. Leverage the power of convenience and inconvenience. Smooth out the wrinkles. Reshape your behavior. Commit to self-awareness and accountability.

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Filed Under: Health and Well-being, Living the Good Life, Mental Models, Sharpening Your Skills Tagged With: Change Management, Discipline, Goals, Motivation, Procrastination, Targets

Plan Every Detail or Ride the Wave of Serendipity

March 30, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Plan Every Detail or Ride the Wave of Serendipity

Before diving into a new adventure, should you map out every little detail or just roll with the punches of the great unknown?

As a seasoned globetrotter, I’ve rubbed shoulders with all kinds of fellow explorers—from those who plan every hour to the free spirits who just go with the flow.

The Magic of Planning, The Allure of Spontaneity

For the meticulous planners, organizing is an art form. They meticulously craft itineraries, perhaps even peruse local menus before entering a restaurant. Each day is orchestrated like a finely tuned masterpiece—visiting all the landmarks, engaging in planned activities, and savoring every culinary delight. Planning provides a safety net, ensuring no highlights are overlooked.

However, there’s a downside: excessive planning can hinder flexibility, foster unrealistic expectations, and lead to a sense of discontent. It’s a delicate balance between envisioning grand adventures and confronting reality.

On the other hand, the unplanned nomads embrace spontaneity, welcoming serendipitous encounters and hidden treasures along the way. They forgo rigid itineraries in favor of the freedom to stumble upon unexpected delights, allowing the journey to unfold naturally, one surprise at a time.

Idea for Impact: Plan a Bit, Be Prepared. And Let Life Unfold.

As for me, I find myself somewhere in the middle. I appreciate the value of organization while also embracing spontaneity. Life is about finding balance—I understand the importance of having a plan, yet I remain open to the twists and turns of the unexpected.

For a well-rounded travel experience, I advocate for having a roadmap while also being receptive to detours—a blend of control and excitement. I adhere to my goals while remaining adaptable to surprises, thanks to a bit of research to guide my decisions and keep the adventure alive.

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Filed Under: Living the Good Life, Mental Models, Sharpening Your Skills Tagged With: Balance, Creativity, Discipline, Luck, Mindfulness, Problem Solving, Targets, Thinking Tools

What Philosophy Isn’t

March 29, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Embrace Philosophical Inquiry: Navigating Complexity and Uncertainty Your goal in studying philosophy isn’t to go about discovering certainties in the same way that, say, mathematics might be. philosophy emphasizes exploring questions rather than finding clear-cut answers.

Philosophy encourages critical thinking about the complexities of existence, morality, knowledge, and reality, rather than seeking simple, black-and-white solutions. You’ll uncover layers of ambiguity and nuance that challenge your preconceptions. Each question explored begets further inquiries, opening up new avenues of thought and prompting deeper reflection.

Philosophy encourages open-mindedness and the willingness to engage with ambiguity and uncertainty. You’ll be exposed to all sorts of new and contradicting ideas, and you may feel unable to hold a firm position or approach anything with absolute conviction. There’ll be plenty of credible arguments against any assertion, highlighting the multifaceted nature of philosophical discourse.

Idea for Impact: You don’t go to philosophy to adopt personal beliefs but to learn how to work with thoughts and ideas. You’ll be able to explore several conflicting arguments and undertake a navigation between them. That’s often a very good objective in itself.

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Filed Under: Living the Good Life, Mental Models Tagged With: Conviction, Critical Thinking, Philosophy

Maximize Income, Not Savings

March 26, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Income Matters: Prioritize Prosperity Focus on prioritizing increasing income and enhancing life satisfaction rather than solely focusing on maximizing cost savings.

While it’s crucial to be frugal and mindful of spending for financial stability, there comes a point where excessive emphasis on cutting living costs can be counterproductive.

Accumulating wealth becomes more attainable with dedicated focus and expertise in a field where others are willing to pay you for what they want done.

Idea for Impact: Forget about articles that preach how much money you save in a lifetime if you skip that everyday fix of an Iced Caramel Cloud Macchiato at Starbucks. Work on making so much dough that those crafted lattes become but a tiny rounding error in your personal finances.

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Filed Under: Living the Good Life, Personal Finance Tagged With: Balance, Discipline, Getting Rich, Personal Finance, Time Management, Wisdom

Seeing Joy

March 14, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Seeing Joy Amid Life's Challenges: Purpose and Routine Life’s a constant whirlwind of routine and chaos, isn’t it? We’re all stuck in this crazy frenzy, with packed schedules and time slipping away. From the crack of dawn rush to meet deadlines to late-night cramming, every day’s just a blur. And even when we try to chill out, there’s always a million things vying for our attention. Finding joy in this hustle and bustle can feel like a distant dream.

Ever stop and think about it? The real challenge isn’t finding joy—it’s actually seeing it.

You know how it goes—when we convince ourselves life’s a drag, our brains work overtime to prove us right. The fast pace of life fills our heads with constant chatter like “brace for the next hurdle” or “let’s speed through this and onto the next thing.” It’s like we’re programming our minds to focus only on the hustle and bustle.

Here’s a simple trick to start seeing joy more: make a joy list before hitting the hay each night. Just grab a notepad, keep it by your bed, and jot down three things that made you happy, brought a smile to your face, or gave you some peace during the day. Think about those little moments that made you pause and appreciate the simple things, like watching a bird splash around in a puddle or getting a nice compliment from a stranger.

If you make this a nightly habit, you’ll train yourself to spot those little moments of joy throughout your day. Remind yourself to notice, enjoy, and remember them, knowing you’ll jot them down later. This can help clear your mind before bed, possibly leading to better sleep and waking up feeling more relaxed. Eventually, your brain will get the message that life, despite its craziness, is full of joy—you just gotta notice it.

Idea for Impact: Shift your perspective and learn to appreciate the little joys that surround us, even in the midst of challenges and hectic schedules.

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Filed Under: Living the Good Life, Mental Models, Sharpening Your Skills Tagged With: Balance, Happiness, Materialism, Mindfulness, Pursuits, Simple Living

Do One Thing Well

March 7, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Succeeding Through Focus: Mastering the Art of Doing One Thing Well If you want to improve productivity—or any skill, for that matter—it’s best to read just one decent book on the topic and dedicate your time and energy to implementing its key insights.

There’s no such thing as a universally perfect system, nor is there a one-size-fits-all solution.

You don’t need to read many books, watch countless YouTube videos, or take numerous courses on a subject. Doing so will either result in overwhelm, confusion, and ultimately, paralysis by analysis. You’ll implement none of the advice or you’ll try everything out without anything sticking for long.

Select one tool or idea that you find most relevant and implement it meticulously, without distractions. Take the time to fully understand its concepts and arguments.

Do not move on to another resource until you’ve mastered the first one. Don’t attempt to conquer another system before firmly establishing the first.

That’s it.

Success isn’t about doing more things but about doing the right thing. And doing it well.

Choose one thing you want to change, try, or implement. Tweak it.

One thing. That’s all you’ll need to do well.

Idea for Impact: Never underestimate the power of a simple idea executed well.

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Prevent Burnout: Take This Quiz, Save Your Spark

February 26, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Wondering if you’re on the burnout train?

Prevent Burnout: Take This Quiz, Save Your Spark Take this self-assessment quiz to check if you’re really feeling the burn.

  1. Are you starting and ending most days feeling like you’ve been through the wringer, both physically and emotionally?
  2. Do you carry around this constant sense of cynicism, where everyone and everything seems to let you down or drive you crazy?
  3. Have you reached a point where you’re losing the ability to connect with your colleagues or clients on an empathetic level?
  4. Ever feel like you’re stuck, like you don’t really have control over your day-to-day life?
  5. Has anyone, or maybe even your closest peeps, raised an eyebrow about some changes in your habits? Maybe you’ve amped up the drinking, smoking, eating, or other not-so-healthy behaviors?
  6. Finding it hard to finish up tasks that used to be a breeze? Procrastination starting to take over your life?
  7. Do you seem to always be in crisis mode nowadays? Any tiny change to plans or assignments causing a major freak-out?
  8. Is your body giving you more signals than usual? Are colds hitting you right after those big deadlines?

If you’re nodding along and checking ‘yes’ to four or more of these questions, it could be that burnout is paying you a visit.

Don’t brush off those burnout signs at work.

Feeling constantly tired or cranky is your cue to make some changes.

Don’t be shy about asking for help. Prioritize tasks, and make sure to carve out some me-time.

Idea for Impact: If the cracks are appearing, don’t wait for breaking point.

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Filed Under: Health and Well-being, Living the Good Life Tagged With: Balance, Emotions, Mindfulness, Stress, Work-Life

Swagger Through Sorrow

February 23, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

When Life Throws You a Curveball, Project Confidence and Composure Lev Shestov, the Russian existentialist philosopher, offers this compelling insight in his All Things Are Possible (1905): “If you want people to envy you for your sorrow or shame, act as if you were proud of it. With just enough of the actor in you, rest assured, you will become the hero of the day.”

When life throws you a curveball, project confidence and composure.

Embrace the “act-as-if” mentality.

Fake it ’til you make it.

You can transform tales of failure into sources of admiration—even heroism.

And you’ll earn respect and admiration.

But don’t go too far with the act. Superficial confidence can lead to imposter syndrome and a lack of authenticity.

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Friendships Aren’t Always Built to Last Forever

February 15, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi 1 Comment

Friendships Aren't Always Built to Last Forever A bitter truth of life is the fleeting nature of friendships, even those imbued with profound love and mutual regard.

Despite the tender ties forged and the tapestry of memories woven together, some bonds unravel, leaving behind a poignant yearning for what once thrived and the haunting echoes of what might have been.

Sustaining relationships demands a reciprocal commitment and diligent nurturing, as British writer Virginia Woolf eloquently observed in The Waves (1931,) “I have lost friends, some by death—others through sheer inability to cross the street.”

Friendships often follow a natural life cycle. Initially drawn together by the threads of circumstance—work, family, community, or shared passions—a journey unfolds, revealing deeper truths about our essence and desires.

In this unfolding, the connections that once nourished our souls may no longer suffice, and we find ourselves outgrowing the companionships that once defined us.

Some partings come with the gentle acceptance of mutual growth, while others leave behind the lingering ache of unresolved farewells.

Idea for Impact: That many friendships don’t withstand the trials of time is often a hard lesson to learn at any age. A poignant reminder of life’s impermanence.

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Filed Under: Living the Good Life, Managing People Tagged With: Conflict, Getting Along, Meaning, Mindfulness, Networking, Relationships, Social Life

Resolution Reboot: February’s Your Fresh Start

February 1, 2024 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Resolution Reboot: February's Your Fresh Start At the beginning of the year, we all get hyped up with that whole “New Year, New Me!” vibe. But once the confetti settles, our resolutions crash and burn faster than a balloon with a slow leak. Come end of January, we’re like, “What resolutions?”

If you’re aiming for a February reboot or you’ve kicked things off strong and want to keep that momentum rolling all year, watch out for these resolution roadblocks:

  • Willpower Woes. Counting on willpower alone usually doesn’t cut it for long-term goals. Instead, work on building discipline gradually, taking small steps, and cutting yourself some slack when things don’t go as planned.
  • Ignoring Psychology. Knowing what makes you tick is crucial for real change. Figure out what triggers your bad habits and tweak your environment to make it easier to stick to your goals.
  • Negative Self-Talk. Beating yourself up when you slip up only makes it harder to stay on track. Treat setbacks as learning experiences, accept your limitations, adjust your expectations, and keep pushing forward.
  • Overreaching Goals. Trying to tackle impossible goals is like sprinting a marathon—you’ll burn out fast. Take it easy by setting achievable milestones each month and gradually building momentum.
  • Lack of Specificity. Swap out vague resolutions like “get fit” or “be a better person” for specific, doable goals. Start small, like running a mile or cutting out afternoon sodas, and keep checking in to stay on track.
  • Accountability Absence. Goals often fizzle out without someone to answer to. Pair up with a buddy, join a group, or use apps to keep yourself focused and motivated.
  • Overlooking Progress. Celebrate the little victories—they’re what keep you going. Don’t just focus on the big picture; recognize every step forward to boost your confidence and motivation.

Idea for Impact: If January didn’t pan out like you hoped, no worries! Give your New Year resolutions a reboot. Turn those intentions into solid themes, keep tabs on your progress, and set some fresh targets. Snag a new planner, jot down some realistic goals, and let February be the month you truly kick it into gear and start smashing those resolutions!

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Filed Under: Living the Good Life, Mental Models, Sharpening Your Skills Tagged With: Discipline, Goals, Lifehacks, Motivation, Procrastination, Targets

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About: Nagesh Belludi [hire] is a St. Petersburg, Florida-based freethinker, investor, and leadership coach. He specializes in helping executives and companies ensure that the overall quality of their decision-making benefits isn’t compromised by a lack of a big-picture understanding.

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Unless otherwise stated in the individual document, the works above are © Nagesh Belludi under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license. You may quote, copy and share them freely, as long as you link back to RightAttitudes.com, don't make money with them, and don't modify the content. Enjoy!