Author Archives: Edward Brownlee

African American Experience during WWII

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African American Experience During World War II

The book provides a historical perspective of the 1.2 million African American service members’ experiences on the unit and personal level serving in a segregated U.S. military and for an American society that denied them equal opportunity and basic civil rights. African Americans served in every military branch (Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marine Corps).

Besides serving in segregated units, they were assigned menial tasks, provided inferior training and resources, denied opportunities to serve in combat units, and faced racism despite fighting for liberty, justice and freedom abroad while being denied those platitudes at home. Basically, they battled for liberty and freedom on two fronts? home and abroad.

 

Lessons from the book: From Failure to Success: Everyday Habits and Exercises to Build Mental Resilience and Turn Failures Into Successes

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Top 10 Lessons from the book: From Failure to Success: Everyday Habits and Exercises to Build Mental Resilience and Turn Failures Into successes By Martin Meadows

1. If you face a difficult problem and you tell yourself, “I don’t know how to deal with it,” you’ll think of reasons why you can’t do it — and not potential solutions. Your brain acts on your instructions, and it’s the words you use that steer your thinking process. If instead you tell yourself, “Okay, let’s find a way to figure it out,” you’ll think of potential solutions and probably solve the problem. Same problem, different words, different outcome. As powerful as our brains are, words can fool them — and you can use this phenomenon to your benefit.

2. Dwelling on your failure reinforces it and makes you less effective at dealing with future failures. Turning the failure into a lesson will help you to reinforce a positive coping mechanism.

3. The next time you fail, resist the temptation to let anger, frustration, discouragement or self-guilt make you give up. Give yourself time to process the negative emotions, and then make a list of the lessons you’ve learned from not reaching your desired outcome. This will help you develop a positive mechanism for coping with failure. When you transform a failure into a list of lessons, you’ll empower yourself by thinking in terms of possible ideas for improvement instead of poisoning yourself with negativity.

4. Whenever you find yourself angry at a situation you can’t change, remind yourself that it’s not up to you. Accepting that things are beyond your control will give you a sense of peace and enable you to move on. Peace of mind comes from focusing on what you can control instead of wasting your energy on things you can’t change. the only things you can always control are your own thoughts and subsequent beliefs, attitudes, and actions.

5. If you repeatedly fail with the same goal, it’s possible you set unrealistic expectations and are stuck in the false hope loop. To avoid failing due to unrealistic expectations, make sure to carefully research the feasibility of your goals. Does an average entrepreneur build a six-figure business in six months?

6. If you’ve already failed a couple of times and want to try again, consider completely changing your approach, rather than trying the same approach again and expecting different results. Perhaps the approach you’ve taken isn’t founded on healthy principles or doesn’t work in your unique situation. When you close your mind to alternative approaches, you can get stuck in the failure loop forever.

7. When setting a new goal and deadline, remind yourself that ultimately even if you don’t achieve something by your self-imposed deadline, you’re still farther ahead.

8. Sacrifice is necessary. Sacrificing less-important goals will give you more power to work on the most crucial objectives. Prioritize big life improvements like changing your diet, getting a better job, starting a business, or finding a life partner, over less significant objectives.

9. Embrace boredom. It’s exciting to set new goals or follow new strategies, but if you prioritize excitement over effectiveness, you’ll only lose focus and possibly fail. If something works, stick to it.

10. Practice defensive pessimism by imagining the worst and preparing for it. The next time you find yourself preparing for a situation that produces anxiety, come up with a list of everything that can go wrong. Then, address every item one by one by coming up with a list of possible solutions and implement them to reduce the risk of the setback happening.

11. If you don’t believe you deserve success, you’ll sabotage your efforts. If you limit your growth because you’re afraid of hurting others, remind yourself that becoming a better person gives you more resources to help them.

12. If you don’t recognize your strengths, make a list of your motivations, strengths, relationships, and other assets that can help you achieve your goal. Then think of past situations that you solved, thanks to these resources.

13. The best way to build long-term resolve is to develop a long-term passion that consistently motivates you to persist in spite of challenges. When performed over the long term, it will build up your reserves of mental strength while you’re enjoying yourself.

14. You must believe that if you persist at it, you will get better at it. You won’t stick to anything in the long term if you doubt your abilities to improve.

15. Find a way to introduce a big change in your life with little commitment and investment on your part. If it works well, make it a permanent change.

 

https://wa.me/2348087816044

Apple cider vinegar can lower blood sugar

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Registered dietitian Carol Johnston, a professor of nutrition and an associate dean in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University, has been studying the effects of acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, on diabetic blood glucose levels, since 2004.

“If I was to show that vinegar slows progression to diabetes, then I would need hundreds of people and millions of dollars to do the studies, because diabetes has a lot of causes, including genetics,” Johnston said.

But studies do show acetic acid can be used as one tool in helping people lower blood sugar. A 2019 randomized clinical trial found “a 10 point decrease in fasting glucose concentrations,” Johnston said. “They used two ‘spoons’ of vinegar in a glass of water twice a day.”

In Johnston’s research, the people who benefited most from the use of vinegar were insulin-resistant, a condition called prediabetes. “In those with prediabetes, it was too good to be true,” she said. “It fell a good bit and stayed that way. It may be this is the group that could benefit the most.”

It’s not just apple cider – the antiglycemic response can be induced by any sort of vinegar: red and white wine vinegars, pomegranate vinegar or even white distilled vinegar.

“Basically, what acetic acid is doing is blocking the absorption of starch,” Johnston said. “If my study subjects eat a starch and add vinegar, blood glucose will go down. But if they drink sugar water and add vinegar, nothing happens. So if you’re having bacon and eggs, don’t bother. It only helps if you are consuming a starch.”

“If you’re taking a diabetes drug, the vinegar could amplify the effects of your meds,” she warned, “and your doctor might want to adjust your dosage.” Studies show the vinegar can reduce blood pressure, triglycerides and total cholesterol in rodents fed a high-fat, cholesterol-rich diet. But full-blown studies have not been conducted in humans.

Freeman, who serves on the American College of Cardiology’s prevention board, said there could be some benefit because of its antioxidant properties, like other heart-healthy fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli and blueberries.

Dog Sitting on a Nail Story

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There is a story of an old man and his dog sitting on the porch. It’s hot outside. The old man is sipping on his lemonade and the dog is sitting next to him moaning in pain.

The neighbor across the street hears the dog moaning for several minutes, and his curiosity gets the best of him, so he approaches the old man.

He asks the old man, “why is your dog moaning?” The old man responds by saying: “the dog is sitting on a nail.”

Perplexed, the neighbor asks, “why doesn’t the dog just get up and move to another spot on the porch?”

The old man takes another sip of lemonade, smiles, thinks about his response and says, “it doesn’t hurt bad enough!”

Even though the dog was moaning in pain, the pain wasn’t “bad enough” for the dog to do something about it. Instead, all he did was moan.

All the dog really needed to do was stand up, move several inches, and find a comfortable spot on the porch to lay down.

People Can Be Like the Dog

This story describes human nature. People are comfortable, even if they are unhappy and are experiencing pain. We all have a comfort zone. Your comfort zone dictates your daily habits, thoughts, actions and success in life.

Additionally, people fear change. People also fear failure. Many people are unhappy with their lot in life, but they will not step out of their comfort zone and change. Why? Because the pain doesn’t hurt bad enough for them to make a change in their life. They believe the pain of changing is greater than the pain of staying the same.

It’s not until people get sick and tired of being sick and tired, and make the decision they will do whatever it takes, that they will change and do what they need to do.

Intrinsic Value by Warren Buffett

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Warren Buffett’s investment strategy is simple:

  • Buy businesses, not stocks. In other words, think like a business owner, not someone who owns a piece of paper (or these days, a digital trade confirmation).
  • Look for companies with competitive advantages that can be maintained, or economic moats. Firms that can successfully fend off competitors have a better chance of increasing intrinsic value over time.
  • Focus on long-term intrinsic value, not short-term earnings. What matters is how much cash a company can generate for its owners in the future. Therefore, value companies using a discounted cash flow analysis.
  • Demand a margin of safety. Future cash flows are, by their nature, uncertain. To compensate for that uncertainty, always buy companies for less than their intrinsic values.
  • Be patient. Investing isn’t about instant gratification; it’s about long-term success.

Warren Buffett is a proponent of value investing, which looks to find stocks that are undervalued compared to their intrinsic value.

Financial metrics like price/book (P/B), price/earnings (P/E), return on equity (ROE) and dividend yield carry the most weight on the Buffett scales. In addition, he seeks out companies that have what he calls “economic moats” – high barriers to entry for a competitor who may wish to invade the market and erode profit margins.

https://x.com/brianferoldi/status/1695438447417471471

MCT Oil

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MCT oil is a supplement from coconut and the molecules are smaller than those in most of the fats you eat, absorbed into the bloodstream quickly leading to higher energy level and more.

MCT Oil (Medium Chain Triglycerides) Benefits:

  • Promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria, which strengthens the intestinal barrier.
  • Anti-Inflammatory
  • This oil can promote fat loss by increasing your metabolism, reducing body fat
  • Powerfully reduces appetite

Adding it to your morning cup of coffee, in your salad dressing, smoothies, and other non-cooked foods (it has a low smoke point, so avoid using MCT oil where heat is involved). Do not cook with it. Drizzle it over proteins and vegetables.

For beginners, start with 1 tsp.(4 grams) and scale up to 1 tbsp. (15 grams) per day.

Bulletproof Coffee

✔️ Brew a cup of high-quality coffee
✔️ Add 1-2 tablespoons of grass-fed butter
✔️ Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of MCT oil
✔️ Blend until frothy and creamy

Benefits:
✔️ Boosts mental clarity and focus
✔️ Sustained energy without the crash
✔️ Helps with weight management
✔️ Enhances cognitive performance

Quality matters! Use top-notch ingredients for maximum nutrients and effects.

Evaluating Companies

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A way to evaluate a company’s profitability is to compare its return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted cost of capital (WACC).

Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business.

The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. If the ROIC is higher than the WACC, it indicates that the company is creating value for shareholders.

Small Cap Stock Investing

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Small Cap Stocks

Ten Things You Should Say To Yourself!

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In the intricate landscape of your minds, the thoughts you harbor can mold your reality. Your self-talk, the inner dialogue you have with yourself, can be either a force of empowerment or a source of self-sabotage.

Here are ten mantras that can help you navigate the depths of your consciousness and cultivate a more positive and fulfilling life.

1. “I am capable and deserving of success and happiness.” Banish the notion of inadequacy. Remind yourself that you possess the skills and potential to achieve greatness and that happiness is not an elusive dream but a state of mind you can cultivate.

2. “I have the ability to learn and grow.” Replace self-doubt with the belief in your adaptability and resilience. Embrace challenges as stepping stones towards personal development and self-improvement.

3. “Failure is an opportunity for growth.” Reframe your perspective on failure. Embrace mistakes as valuable lessons that pave the way for future success. Every stumble is a chance to rise stronger than before.

4. “I am worthy of love and affection.” Dismiss thoughts of unworthiness and embrace self-love. Recognize that you deserve care and affection, just as much as anyone else.

5. “Happiness is within my reach.” Dispel thoughts of eternal dissatisfaction. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Seek joy in the little things and acknowledge that your happiness is within your control.

6. “My journey is unique, and I celebrate my progress.” Avoid the pitfalls of comparison. Each path is distinct, and every step you take is a milestone on your individual journey. Celebrate your growth and accomplishments, however big or small.

7. “I embrace my imperfections and focus on growth.” Release the burden of perfectionism. Embrace your flaws and acknowledge that they are a part of what makes you beautifully human. Channel your energy towards self-improvement instead.

8. “Change is natural, and I am adaptable.” Embrace the ebb and flow of life. Recognize that change is inevitable and that you have the power to adapt and evolve through life’s transitions.

9. “I hold inherent value and make a difference.”Reclaim your sense of importance. Your thoughts, actions, and presence have an impact on the world around you. Embrace your uniqueness and cherish the difference you make.

10. “I believe in my ability to achieve my goals.”Replace doubt with determination. Break your goals into manageable steps and trust in your capacity to persevere. Success is attainable with a steadfast belief in yourself.

Conclusion

As you navigate the labyrinth of your thoughts, remember that you hold the key to your own empowerment.

The words you say to yourself shape your reality, influence your actions, and ultimately define your destiny.

Embrace the power of positive self-talk, for it can be a guiding light on your journey to a more fulfilling and contented life. Ignite the fire within you to conquer challenges, embrace growth, and create a future brimming with possibility and purpose.

References:

  1. https://youthvillage.co.ke/10-things-you-should-never-say-to-yourself/#