Exercises

Exercise: Imagine a Day Without Doof
Exercises / Fitness

Exercise: Imagine a Day Without Doof

Here’s an exercise, just to imagine something: Imagine 24 hours without ingesting any doof---that is, without putting anything in your mouth whose primary pleasure comes from added salt, added sugar, added fat, or convenience. Nothing packaged. You know you can do it. That is, you know you possess the ability to do it. You know humans lived that way for almost all of human history. I’m not saying doof is good, bad, right, or wrong. I’m not asking where it came from or how green or sustainable it is. I’m not even suggesting you try avoiding doof for 24 hours, just to think about it. But not just a cursory, “hmm… sounds hard. I could probably do it but wouldn’t want to.” Seriously reflect on…

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May 17, 2021
Exercise: Imagine a Day Without Using Electric Power
Exercises / Nature

Exercise: Imagine a Day Without Using Electric Power

Here's an exercise, just to imagine something: Imagine 24 hours without using any electrical power. You know you can do it. That is, you know you possess the ability to do it. You know humans lived that way for almost all of human history. I'm not saying electrical power is good, bad, right, or wrong. I'm not asking where it came from or how green or sustainable it is. I'm not even suggesting you try avoiding electrical power for 24 hours, just to think about it. But not just a cursory, "hmm... sounds hard. I could probably do it but wouldn't want to." Seriously reflect on the prospect. What would happen? What would you do more of? Less of? What do you expect to find…

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May 13, 2021
458: The Spodek Method: How to Lead Someone to Act Joyfully Sustainably
Exercises / Leadership / Nature / Perception

458: The Spodek Method: How to Lead Someone to Act Joyfully Sustainably

I’ve taught a half-dozen people the technique I use in this podcast---the hosts of the other branches of the This Sustainable Life podcast. They started calling it The Spodek Method, so now I do too. It's enabled me to reach amazing people, many of global renown, who enjoy the experience. It doesn't alone solve all the world's problems, but it works. The Spodek Method leads a person to share and act on environmental values. You can do it too with communities you’d like to join. You would contribute to a mission of changing culture from seeing stewardship and sustainability as a burden, chore, deprivation, and sacrifice to wanting to do it based on experience, expecting joy, fun, freedom, community, connecting, meaning and value.  Why Learn…

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May 12, 2021
Envisioning a more open world: an exercise
Exercises / Nature

Envisioning a more open world: an exercise

Here's an exercise I've enjoyed playing around with. I've written in other posts that the sustainable population of the Earth is 3.7 billion. I've read other reports that it's more like 2 billion. The number depends on the standard of living we choose, how much we wreck the Earth on the way to sustainability (it could go to zero), and other factors. I don't know why people want a bigger population. Everyone knows it has to level off at some number. Why choose 10 billion over 2 billion? By 2 billion we had Einstein and Mozart. By a few hundred million we had Buddha and Jesus. I'd love to live in a world with 2 billion people in it. The exercise: Imagine a world with…

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May 10, 2021
An empty sidcha I’m considering
Exercises / SIDCHAs

An empty sidcha I’m considering

Once I was getting ready to leave my apartment and trying to remember what to bring. My friend said "phone-wallet-keys" like a single word and since then I've thought of them as the basic what to carry. I go for a walk every day, at least to pick up my daily pieces of litter, which also brings me to the park. I also sing with all my electronics turned off every day. I usually do it in the park, but sometimes walking down the street. Lately, beyond turning all the electronics off, I've been leaving the phone at home. Yet more lately, I've been leaving the wallet home too. I can leave my key with the doorman. The new empty sidcha I'm considering The new…

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March 26, 2021
See my webinars on Initiative to Wharton and U. of Chicago Business School alumni.
Education / Entrepreneurship / Exercises / Leadership

See my webinars on Initiative to Wharton and U. of Chicago Business School alumni.

I recently spoke online to alumni groups from the Wharton and University of Chicago business schools on developing initiative, specifically from my book, Initiative. Here are reviews from NYU students who did the exercises I describe in them. I asked if I could share the videos from the webinars. Here they are. As I say in them, I designed them to give you enough to work with on your own. The book is more comprehensive. Contact me if you're looking for yet more, like coaching. The University of Chicago Business School webinar https://youtu.be/k1pSmCyq8RQ The Wharton webinar and announcement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xStDgI3odiY

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July 14, 2020
My reflection on an exercise assigned me: Drinking a Hot Beverage Without Judgment
steam, rising, from, cup, hot, tea
Awareness / Exercises / Nonjudgment / Perception

My reflection on an exercise assigned me: Drinking a Hot Beverage Without Judgment

A friend recommended to me an exercise I hadn't heard of. It sounds like the Three Raisins exercise I learned from Jon Kabat-Zinn, included in my leadership book, and assign in my leadership class. She didn't explain much about it, but my experience with experiential exercises told me that doing it would reveal more than any explanation. The exercise The instructions: Drink a hot beverage and when I think judgmental thoughts like, "it's too hot" or "it's too strong", switch to thinking descriptive thoughts. The instructions didn't suggest much to expect, but it didn't look too hard either. I just finished the exercise. What I did Since I drink nearly only water, I didn't know what to drink. I went to the kitchen figuring I'd…

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May 23, 2020
297: RIP James Lipton, a huge influence and inspiration
Art / Creativity / Education / Exercises / Leadership / Relationships

297: RIP James Lipton, a huge influence and inspiration

James Lipton, who started and hosted the show Inside the Actors Studio, died yesterday. Here are the notes I read from for this episode: I could talk about how much I enjoyed the episodes, his humor, and a few things I learned from his guests that only his interviewing could have elicited but I will go deeper, to share how fundamental his work has been to mine. Many times I've said that if my courses existed before I went to business school and someone were teaching them, I would have taken them instead of business school and gotten more of what I valued. He helped me create them. Context: I had taken leadership classes but, despite high grades from top school, I didn't know how…

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March 4, 2020
Hear me on the Ask Women podcast
Audio / Education / Exercises / Leadership / Nonjudgment / Stories

Hear me on the Ask Women podcast

Would you expect me on a podcast called Ask Women Podcast: What Women Want? With an episode title "How To Be A Leader With Women | The BJ Technique"? Yes, 'BJ' meaning what you think. Here are the notes about the hosts, Marni Kinrys and Kristen Carney: What do a female comic and a professional wing girl have in common? The realistically raw and hilarious perspectives on what women ACTUALLY want in a man. Prepare to be offended and awed as Marni Kinrys & Kristen Carney take you through the uncensored and often ridiculous mind of a woman to help you better understand, appreciate, and avoid getting punched by the next girl you come across. Listen to the episode I met Marni first. Here's her…

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February 14, 2020
My electric bill after a month with the fridge off
Choosing/Decision-Making / Exercises / Nature / Visualization

My electric bill after a month with the fridge off

A little over a month ago, I wrote in How long can I keep my fridge unplugged? how learning about fermentation and uses of electric power led me to see how long I could last in the winter with my refrigerator unplugged. Deciding to start First, I want to reiterate my process to decide to start the challenge. First the idea to try it came. Then I wondered if it was possible. Then I realized, of course living with the fridge off is possible, the question is how long. Then I wondered what I would do. Here's the key part that I've learned from my challenges and the opposite from what I learned from school: planning and analyzing delay starting and learning. I learned to…

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February 9, 2020
Adding less salt, sugar, and fat makes you taste more of each
Exercises / Nature / Perception / Tips

Adding less salt, sugar, and fat makes you taste more of each

Salt I wrote about my salt experiment of going a month adding no salt to any food. As I expected, though was still surprised at the result, when I added salt after that month, my normal amount tasted horribly over-salted. Adding maybe twenty percent made things taste as salty as before. Besides reducing my salt without using as much, I also became more sensitive to all the other flavors of my food. Since I cook with fresh, delicious vegetables, adding less salt led to more salt flavors and every other flavor too. Since I invite people over for famous no-packaging vegetable stew so much, I see some guests add as much salt as I used to. Sometimes I taste it and can't believe how salty…

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December 11, 2019
My dominant question. What’s yours?
Awareness / Exercises

My dominant question. What’s yours?

I saw friend-of-a-friend, podcast host, and memory expert Jim Kwik speak this morning. He mentioned a concept related to inner monologue: one's dominant question. He talks about it more on his podcast, but briefly, the concept relates to our inner monologue -- the voice running nonstop in our heads. I've written on inner monologue, including an exercise to help make you aware of yours: The Most Effective Self-Awareness Exercise I KnowA catalog of inner monologue thoughtsSome "The most helpful self-awareness exercise" commentsSome self-talk you’ll recognize, to improve your self-awareness If you haven't done the exercise, I recommend it. I call it the most effective self-awareness exercise I know for a reason, and I know a lot of them. You'll find that your inner monologue repeats…

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November 5, 2019
Cold Showers Rock
Awareness / Exercises / Favorites / Fitness / Freedom / Habits / SIDCHAs

Cold Showers Rock

I write a lot about cold showers. They may sound crazy, but bear with me and you may find them more helpful than you could have imagined. After taking a few in Shanghai because the water took five minutes to warm up that I couldn't stand wasting, in December of 2013, I took thirty days of cold showers. I can't tell you how much the discipline, dedication, and so on have helped. Taking them enables you to do things you wouldn't have thought you could but always wanted to, or that others dream of. If you're interested, read the posts in this series. Click on the links below to read my posts about it. 30 days of cold showers review: Lessons in discipline and pleasure…

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August 22, 2019
Initiative: online for pre-order
Initiative at Barnes and NobleInitiative at Amazon
Creativity / Education / Entrepreneurship / Exercises

Initiative: online for pre-order

Various stages of satisfaction come with finishing a book -- signing with a publisher, finishing a first draft, reaching copy editing (meaning no more substantive edits), seeing it type set, getting your first reviews from prominent writers, seeing the cover, and so on. Seeing it for sale at a retailer is one of the biggest. Since my last blog post, Initiative has appeared on Barnes and Noble and Amazon for pre-order -- the best kind of ordering. It delivers in ten days, but makes a great Mothers' Day gift already. It appears $1.40 cheaper at Barnes and Noble. I'd snap up the discount soon. Who knows how long it will last? Initiative at Barnes and NobleInitiative at Amazon The next big milestones are feeling the…

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May 11, 2019
The cover for my new book, Initiative: A Proven Method to Bring Your Passions to Life (and Work)
Creativity / Education / Entrepreneurship / Exercises

The cover for my new book, Initiative: A Proven Method to Bring Your Passions to Life (and Work)

Yesterday I shared the blurbs from early reviewers of my book, Initiative, set to launch May 21. Today, I'm sharing the front and back covers. I'd love your thoughts. Naturally, I want them to intrigue and attract non-readers. The front cover's image refers to the book's content but, I believe, stands on its own nonetheless. Reading the book will imbue the cover image with newfound meaning. Here's the front. Initiative's front cover Initiative's back cover Again, I'd love your thoughts. Also, if you write book reviews, for profit or fun, and are interested in writing a review for mine, please contact me.

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May 9, 2019
Join my free networking webinar Friday: Making Meaningful Connections (noon eastern)
Join my webinar with Columbia Alumni, Free, open to the public
Events / Exercises / Leadership

Join my free networking webinar Friday: Making Meaningful Connections (noon eastern)

This Friday, join my free webinar, hosted by Columbia College's alumni, open to the public. Register here or click the screen shot below We'll cover how to create meaningful connections with anyone in minutes, even if you're shy or consider yourself an introvert. Everyone loves the exercise, as far as I know. You'll see it in practice and you'll be able to use it in your life with anyone immediately. I still use it at least weekly. It's the exercise from my book Leadership Step by Step that introduces Unit 4: Leading Others. See you Friday! Register here

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December 11, 2018
Student reviews of my leadership course, summer 2018
A student review for my leadership course
Education / Exercises / Leadership

Student reviews of my leadership course, summer 2018

Last summer, I taught a short version of my course to working professionals. I taught it through NYU, though it's one of the courses I teach independently online and in corporations. It overlaps with my coaching for leadership clients. Here are the student reviews---as usual, all of them, no cherry-picking. Summer 2018 leadership student reviews Yes, I would definitely recommend this course to others. The combination of interactive classes, consistent feedback loop, historical examples, and in-person troubleshooting made it a very productive use of a mere 12 hours. I will definitely use these techniques in the future both at work and in my personal life. I would describe it as a course that teaches you relationship management skills in a unique way that provides you…

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October 3, 2018
My tricks
Exercises / Fitness / Freedom / Habits / SIDCHAs

My tricks

When I talk about my daily habits, people call me disciplined and act as if I have ability they don't. Nobody looks at a bodybuilder and believes he or she was born that way. Nobody hears a musician playing and thinks he or she was born playing. They developed their skills by practicing. I practice too. Sometimes the practice involves hard things and things you don't feel like doing but you want to. How do people consistently do things they don't feel like? I can tell you from experience that doing burpees never becomes easy or fun. I'm always satisfied and glad after finishing them, but never have I felt toward doing burpees how I feel toward eating a mango. Yet I've done a lot…

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September 27, 2018
Meaningful Connection in other languages
Education / Exercises / Leadership

Meaningful Connection in other languages

My Meaningful Connection exercise is one of my most popular and effective (they're all effective) from corporate speaking, one-to-one coaching, teaching, my personal practice, and my book. Since I have non-native English speakers in nearly every audience, I've decided to ask some to translate the script into various languages. My leadership class this summer afforded my first two translations. If you can help with others, please let me know. I'd love to feature your work. German Frage was sie neben Beruf und Familie gerne machen. Ich empfehle, "Was ist Deine/Ihre Leidenschaft?" oder "Was sind Deine/Ihre Interessen?" Sie werden erst noch etwas Gewöhnliches antworten: Reisen, Bücher, Essen, usw. Sage "Cool..., ich kenne jemanden den Du kennst der X aus diesem Grund macht und ich kenne jemand anderen,…

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August 8, 2018
Jordan Harbinger and how rehearsal *improves* spontaneity and authenticity
Audio / Exercises / Leadership / Relationships

Jordan Harbinger and how rehearsal *improves* spontaneity and authenticity

I'll soon post my podcast interview with Jordan Harbinger, one of the world's top podcasters. First I'm sharing this example of Jordan and how to learn to communicate authentically and genuinely---through practice and rehearsal. Think genuineness and authenticity matter in business? How about marriage? This recording features Jordan's wife talking about how Jordan came off, when she knew he practiced, rehearsed, and taught others to. Practice and rehearsal work because they make you authentic and genuine---the opposite of fake. No one was born with it. Everyone had to learn it. Jordan and Jen show how effective practice is in the most important parts of life---someone you'll spend the rest of your life with.

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July 31, 2018
Morning Routines and Success (Inc.)
Exercises / Fitness / Freedom / Habits / Inc.com / SIDCHAs

Morning Routines and Success (Inc.)

Morning Routines and Success You show me a successful person and I'll show you one with daily habits. MyMorningRoutine.com brings today's successful people's habits. You show me a successful person and I'll show you one with structured daily habits. The more successful, the more self-imposed, challenging, relevant, and active his or her habits. Even bad-boy athletes, apparently self-indulgent rock stars, and counter-cultural artists have habits. Rather, the long-term successful ones do. The most successful people in history and the world today are noted for their habits--success by their own standards, which could be money but could also be artistic output, peace of mind, or whatever they valued. Just as your habits can create success for you by your standards. What makes a habit valuable and effective If…

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December 20, 2017
Forbes (twice in one week): How Leadership by Authority Can be Counter-Productive (Video)
Forbes video on Joshua Spodek by Tim Frances
Exercises / Leadership

Forbes (twice in one week): How Leadership by Authority Can be Counter-Productive (Video)

Forbes' columnist Tim Francis of the company Profit Factory covered me with a video interview, How Leadership by Authority Can be Counter-Productive, at the core of my leadership practice and what I teach. Leading through authority is beyond ineffective. It's generally counterproductive. Watch the video for why. Actually, watch the video for more than why: watch to learn what to use instead of authority and how to develop the relevant skills. Thank you again to Forbes and Tim Francis.

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December 11, 2017
The 20/80 Rule, Leadership, and Integrity
The 20/80 Rule, Leadership, and Integrity
Education / Exercises / Inc.com / Leadership

The 20/80 Rule, Leadership, and Integrity

My Inc. post today, "The 20/80 Rule, Leadership, and Integrity," begins The 20/80 Rule, Leadership, and Integrity In a leader's relationships, the 20/80 rule counts, not the 80/20 rule. Leadership means people watch you--not to what you want to say or do, or mean to, but what you actually say and do. Attention to detail counts. Not sometimes, but always. What Vince Lombardi said about winning applies to leadership: Leading is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't lead once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all of the time. Leading is a habit. Unfortunately, so is failing to lead. You can learn attention to detail. I would say you have to, to lead authentically. Notice that attention to detail works the opposite…

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November 21, 2017
Education / Exercises / Leadership / Stories

Reviews and reflections from guest speaking recently

I recently guest hosted an online seminar for Park Howell's course in the Executive Masters of Sustainability Leadership program at ASU. The student reviews and reflections touched and inspired me. I can't help sharing them. I described and performed one exercise from my Leadership Step by Step book and course. You can imagine that if these results come from one session, how much doing all the exercises in the book or course would give. Enough from me. Here are the students. I thoroughly enjoyed Joshua Spodek’s perspective and angle he took to engage through experience to train leaders. I purchased his audiobook and listened to a bunch of it on the way into work today. He focused on developing empathy. But his method of confirmation…

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September 1, 2017
Answering my 5 whys
Dov Baron and Full Monty Leadership
Audio / Exercises

Answering my 5 whys

The other day I interviewed leadership speaker, author, and coach Dov Baron for my Leadership and the Environment podcast (not yet launched). He interviewed me for his podcast. Listen to our conversation (on iTunes) The interview was tremendous, with tears, laughter, insight, inspiration, dinner invitations and more. Sorry to make you wait for it, but I haven't launched my podcast. I asked advice for direction for my podcast. He recommended three exercises, which I decided to post here. The first is the 5 whys exercise: to answer five levels of why I'm doing what I'm doing. The 5 whys Why am I working on Leadership and the Environment? Because the science says that if we keep behaving as we are, we will pollute the Earth's ecosphere…

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August 23, 2017

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