Author Archives: ljgale

Three three three

The fourth tennis ball in a can. The bonus mini pen to make a four-pack. The fourth point in a thesis. The fourth project team member. Four downs to score. Ménage à quatre?

Why is #4 such a curse?

I lose less tennis balls when I use a 3-pack can. I hang on to pens longer when there’s just three. People absorb information better in sets of three. My project teams were great with three. Football teams are more likely to get a first down if they don’t get to 4th. Ménage à trois gets weird when you add another.

When isn’t three enough? And optimal? And more efficient?

Downsizing for success

If you have an hour to write an email, you’ll write it in an hour.

If you have a large suitcase to bring on your vacation, you’ll fill the large suitcase.

If you have a big plate at the lunch buffet, you’ll fill the plate.

Yes, getting more done, being less cluttered, and eating less can be quite the internal battle. But why fight it? Downsizing is so much easier.

Consistently rewarding

Monday through Friday, I post to this blog. The deadline is 8am CST.

Do I always make the deadline? No. Do I always hit a home run? No. Am I always looking forward to publishing something new? No.

But has this blog been the most consistent part of my life over the last year? Yes.

Rewarding, beneficial, recognized, fulfilling, fun, satisfying also work.

Free blogs at wordpress.com.

They were focused on the problem

Focus on the problem, not the people. Any scholar in negotiation will tell you that.

A vendor at the flea market is an unkind bastard. But if you need some art and he is trying to sell you his, you discuss the problem and try to make a deal. Another piece of perfectly fine art is available at the next booth.

Your boss is cheap. But if you need a raise and they are trying to keep you on their team, you discuss the problem and try to make a deal. Another perfectly fine, better paying position is available down the street.

A belligerent regime runs a powerhouse in the Middle East. But if you want their nuclear weapons program scaled back, you focus on the problem and try to make a deal. Weapons grade uranium is bad in the wrong hands.

If you want to negotiate to mutual interest, you focus on the problem, not the people.

For someone trying to defend the US’s recent nuclear deal with Iran, this would be their argument. They were not focused on the untrustworthy, Israel-hating, terrorist loving regime. They were focused on the problem.

Not instead, but maybe in addition to

Fabricating limited supply. Retailers do it to the extreme on Black Friday.

But the people who really need your money can’t do the same. Typhoon survivors and cancer patients and the working poor. They have unlimited supply of need and can’t pretend they don’t.

“Instead” isn’t realistic because people love getting their Black Friday deals. But how about “In addition to?” In addition to spending money on stuff that’s in limited supply, take some of those savings incurred and buy some stuff where supply is truly unlimited.

Pick a cause and spend some cash. It’s a great deal. Even on Black Friday.

Visualize the summit

The people who attempt to climb Mount Everest are all alike. Nuts. And one more thing. They all know the power of visualization.

These people visualize the entire journey. From planning in their living room to hanging on to life in a frigid, rocky, and oxygen-deprived base camp tent, they visualize themselves at the summit.

Because if these guys focused on the pains incurred during the climb, most wouldn’t even begin. And if they did, they’d be less likely to reach the top. And if they did reach the top, it would be a lot less sweet.

Visualize the summit.

Lenny Gale was a CPA; The American’T Dream

This the 6-minute video made my day, woke me up and inspired me. It echoes stuff I write about. Stuff I talk about. Stuff I think about. It’s called The American’T Dream.

The American’T Dream is a poem about making an impact. Redefining success. Doing something with your life outside of the 9-5.

My favorite lines:

  • Look who’s laughing now.
  • Successful people take a course of action that coincides with their belief or passion.
  • There’s nothing wrong with making an honest living. But are you really living?

Of course, this isn’t for everyone. If you’re working your butt off at your job to pay your mortgage, your children’s’ student loans & weddings and your retirement fund, be proud. You’re appreciated more than you know (Dad).

But if escaping the 9-5 is or ever has been on your mind, check out The American’T Dream.