Author Archives: Edward Brownlee

Green Grass

Posted on by

The phrase “Is the grass greener on the other side?” is a common way of asking if something that seems better or more desirable than one has is so. It is based on the proverb, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”, which means that people tend to be dissatisfied with their situation and always think that others have it better, even if they don’t. The proverb has been traced back to ancient times, but it became popular in English after a song by Raymond B. Egan and Richard A. Whiting in 1924.

The phrase can be used in different contexts, such as relationships, careers, lifestyles, etc. For example, someone unhappy with their marriage might wonder if the grass is greener on the other side, meaning if they would be happier with someone else. Or someone bored with their job might think the grass is greener on the other side, meaning they would enjoy a different career more. However, the phrase also implies that the grass is not greener and that changing one’s situation might not bring the expected happiness or satisfaction. It is a way of reminding people to appreciate what they have and not to idealize what they don’t have. A counter-phrase that expresses this idea is “the grass is greener where you water it, ” meaning that good situations come from the effort and attention you put into them, not from dreaming about them.

How Did You Fail This Week…Embrace Failure

Posted on by

“Failure is not the outcome; failure is not trying. Don’t be afraid to fail.” ~ Sara Blakely, Spanx Founder and CEO

There is tremendous value in embracing your mistakes and learning invaluable lessons from them. Failure is nothing to be afraid of.

Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, said that as a child, her father encouraged failure and as would pose an unusual question to her and her brother over dinner: “How did you fail this week?”

“He encouraged us to fail, and not to be afraid of it,” she told me. “If we didn’t have something to tell him that week, he would be disappointed.”

When Blakely tried out for the cheerleading squad and was “horrible and didn’t make it,” he high-fived her. When she revealed that she lost her campaign for senior class president, he told her that was amazing.

Blakely says she learned to find her hidden gifts in moments of disappointment or error. Instead of locking up in fear when things go wrong, she says people must find the beauty in these moments.

 

References:

  1. https://leaders.com/articles/women-in-business/sara-blakely-spanx/

Embrace Risk and Failure

Posted on by

Failure is simply a matter of an individual’s perspective and mindset.

To be successful in business and life, you must be willing to take risks and, therefore, accept failure. Jeff Bezos, founder and former CEO of Amazon, believed it’s essential to view failures and setbacks “as helpful obstacles that drive learning.”

“Whatever your goals are, don’t give up no matter how hard it gets,” he stated. Great businesses and organizations don’t exist to grow and make money. Instead, they solve societal problems, from tiny issues to giant dilemmas.

The first step to problem-solving involves defining what that problem is. The key is to get to the root of the problem. One of the best ways to discover the root cause of a problem is by utilizing the 5 Whys method. When a problem happens, could you ask why it happened five times? In theory, the last answer should get to the heart of the issue.

Bezos has long encouraged his teams at Amazon and others to take big risks and embrace failures. In 2019, Bezos told Amazon associates: “We need big failures if we’re going to move the needle — billion-dollar scale failures. And if we’re not, we’re not swinging hard enough.”

References:

  1. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/03/jeff-bezos-on-failure-dont-give-up-no-matter-how-hard-it-gets.html
  2. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/13/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-on-how-to-succeed-in-business.html

According to Jeff Bezos, it’s essential for an entrepreneur to “be a missionary,” you “can’t be mercenary,” meaning that you have to be mission-motivated, not money-motivated.

“Missionaries build better products and services — they always win,” said Bezos. “Mercenaries are just trying to make money, and paradoxically, the missionaries always end up making more money.”

Keep Your Personal Power

Posted on by

“Energy is the essence of life. Daily, you decide how to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal and by maintaining focus.” ~ Oprah Gail Winfrey

Mentally strong people have healthy habits and mindsets. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that help them keep their power and set them up for success in life, according to Amy Morin, psychotherapist and author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.

Here are nine ways to keep your power.

1. Don’t waste energy complaining.

There’s a big difference between complaining and problem-solving. Venting to your friends, family, and co-workers keeps you focused on the problem and prevents you from creating a solution. Grumbling not only implies you have no power over your situation but also shows you lack power over your attitude.

2. Accept responsibility for how you feel.

Saying your mother-in-law makes you feel bad about yourself, or claiming your boss makes you mad suggests they have power over your feelings. Don’t let other people’s behavior dictate your emotions. Accept that it’s completely up to you to manage your emotions, regardless of how others behave.

3. Establish healthy boundaries.

Giving in to guilt trips and refusing to speak up for yourself gives power to others. Recognize that you’re in charge of yourself rather than blame others for wasting your time or forcing you to do something. Establish healthy physical and emotional boundaries that give you control over how you spend your time and whom you spend it with.

4. Practice forgiveness.

Holding a grudge against someone who has hurt you doesn’t punish the other person. Instead, it only punishes you. When you waste valuable time thinking about a person you feel wronged you, it takes away your ability to enjoy the moment.

Forgiving someone is the best way to take back your power. But to be clear, forgiveness isn’t about saying what the person did was OK. Instead, it’s about letting go of the hurt and anger that interferes with your ability to enjoy life.

5. Know your values.

When you’re not clear what your values are, you’re at risk of becoming more like a helpless passenger rather than a confident driver in your own life. You’ll be at risk of jumping on board with other people’s ideas, and you may be easily led astray. Take back your power by acknowledging your values and living true to what’s important.

6. Don’t waste time on unproductive thoughts.

Have you ever come home from work and spent the entire evening wishing you didn’t have to go back again tomorrow? Suddenly, you’re giving your eight-hour workday 12 hours of your time. Take control over the thoughts that occupy your mind so you don’t provide more brain power to areas of your life that don’t deserve it.

7. Avoid language that implies you’re a victim.

Saying things like “I have to work 60 hours a week” or “I had no choice but to say yes” infers you’re a victim of unfortunate circumstances. While there will certainly be consequences for your decisions, acknowledge that you always have choices.

8. Make your self-worth independent of other’s opinions.

If your self-worth depends on others holding you in high regard, you’ll likely become a people-pleaser. Not everyone needs to like you, nor must they agree with your lifestyle. You can evaluate the merit of criticism you receive but never allow one person’s opinion to determine your self-worth.

9. Be willing to stand out from the crowd.

Self-doubt and fear can make you want to blend in with those around you. But trying to fit in with the crowd will cause you to disguise yourself as who you are. Trust that you’re mentally strong enough to stand out and dare to be different.

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude,” says Oprah Gail Winfrey.

References:

  1. https://www.inc.com/amy-morin/9-ways-mentally-strong-people-retain-their-personal-power.html
  2. https://amymorinlcsw.com/about-amy/

Posted on by

Nursing home care and medical services are now free to the Greatest Generation (World War II veterans) under a new policy by the Department of Veterans Affairs that waives enrollment fees, copays and monthly premiums for the roughly 119,000 World War II veterans still alive.

The no-cost care is effective immediately under the new VA policies announced Friday. Veterans who served between Dec. 7, 1941, and Dec. 31, 1946, are eligible for the free health care. They must be enrolled in VA health care to qualify.

Veterans turned down previously for coverage are encouraged to reapply, as are those denied coverage because of income eligibility restrictions.

Cap Rate

Posted on by

The cap rate, an abbreviation for “capitalization rate,” is a real estate metric that reflects the expected rate of return on rental property investments.

The Cap Rate, or “Capitalization Rate,” is a fundamental real estate valuation ratio that compares a rental property investment’s annual net operating income (NOI) to its current market value.

The cap rate formula is the ratio between a rental property’s net operating income (NOI) and its fair market value (FMV) as of the present date, expressed as a percentage.

Cap Rate

  • The cap rate is defined as the potential rate of return on a rental property building, such as a commercial real estate investment.
  • The cap rate formula divides the net operating income (NOI) of a rental property at stabilization by the property’s market value as of the present date.
  • < UNK> Real estate practitioners frequently use the cap rate to compare different investment opportunities to determine the property with the most attractive risk-return profile.
  • The higher the cap rate, the higher the risk and potential return – all else equal.
  • There is no reasonable cap rate, per se, because the decision is subjective and contingent on the specific investor’s risk-return profile. Still, most commercial real estate investors target a cap rate between 4% to 10%.

Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Posted on by

On CNBC’s Make It, 107-year-old Shirley Hodes shares her secret to a long and happy life: Don’t wait for your dreams to come true.

Shirley Hodes, who celebrated her 107th birthday earlier this month in North Carolina, says, “Not everyone has their dreams come true.” If you want to be happy in life, especially as you age, “you must look at other things besides dreams.”

That philosophy means reorienting yourself towards finding joy in small things, in what you can control, and in wanting what you already have. It is about being grateful.

“You must be content with who you are and what you can expect of yourself. Find things that are satisfying,” Hodes says.

Cultivating this kind of happiness mindset requires effort. But the work can pay off: Positivity is linked to a longer and healthier life.

Here are top tips for staying happy as you get older.

  • Think of yourself as fortunate and blessed. Be thankful for all the things and people currently in your life.
  • Believe that tomorrow will be better than today.
  • Focus less on what others have and more on the aspects of life you can feel grateful for.  Don’t get swept up in jealousy or resentment,
  • Find delight daily in the small things. I listened to books on tape, took walks, watched old movies on TV, and had a scoop of ice cream after dinner. Most importantly, family and friends.

Source: 107-year-old shares her secret to a long and happy life: Don’t wait for your dreams to come true  https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/21/107-year-old-shares-her-secrets-to-happiness-as-you-age.html

Veterans Day 2023 — Saturday, November 11.

Posted on by

Veterans Day 2023 occurs on Saturday, November 11

Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. The day pays tribute to all American veterans—living or dead—but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War.”

Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day.

As the nation prepares to observe Veterans Day this year, USAA hopes to challenge the nation to go beyond simple gratitude to create real, positive impacts in the veteran community.

A new survey sponsored by USAA reveals disparities between young military/veterans and their older counterparts in how they prefer to be recognized for their service.

In response to these findings, this Veterans Day, USAA is introducing a new campaign hosted that encourages Americans to “Go Beyond Thanks” to honor our military and veterans by going beyond simple gratitude to create real, positive impacts in the community this holiday and every day.
#GoBeyondThanks