Comments on: How to Build a Solid Foundation for Self-Improvement http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:53:24 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Lilly http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-315356 Lilly Fri, 01 May 2009 13:22:55 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-315356 I agree with your post completely (and some others of yours I read, especially construction/destruction flow). For some people, though, thinking about the foundation and building it seems to leave them in a state of inaction. For others, like me, for instance, I need to stay in the present moment (no fast forwarding to the future) and just do something related to a goal. That means literally not thinking about the "goal" of building the foundation, only doing one step to get there. If my goal is to work at home, generating money from a website, for example, I can plan, sketch and research for a long time, or I can jump in with both feet, purchase a website, and learn as I go. I really believe both methods are effective for different people. With time, the slow process of learning as I go that I am forced to do, builds a great deal of confidence, and solidifies the foundation, of which, belief in yourself is paramount. And the simple act of buying a website (before even figuring out the rest) can be very empowering and propel you to keep moving forward. For the poster who wants to get up at 5:30am, a book I read "One Small Step Can Change Your Life" would suggest you set your alarm to go off only 5 minutes earlier than it does now.... for one month. The next month, set your alarm again to begin going off only 5 minutes earlier... eventually, and effortlessly, you will reach your 5:30am goal. Much easier to implement and you don't have to "think" about it. I have created a Facebook group, called CREATE THE LIFE! - please join us. We'll be completing super-easy weekly challenges (of YOUR choosing) to change your brain a little at a time and find support for eventually changing your life. Lilly I agree with your post completely (and some others of yours I read, especially construction/destruction flow). For some people, though, thinking about the foundation and building it seems to leave them in a state of inaction. For others, like me, for instance, I need to stay in the present moment (no fast forwarding to the future) and just do something related to a goal. That means literally not thinking about the “goal” of building the foundation, only doing one step to get there. If my goal is to work at home, generating money from a website, for example, I can plan, sketch and research for a long time, or I can jump in with both feet, purchase a website, and learn as I go. I really believe both methods are effective for different people. With time, the slow process of learning as I go that I am forced to do, builds a great deal of confidence, and solidifies the foundation, of which, belief in yourself is paramount. And the simple act of buying a website (before even figuring out the rest) can be very empowering and propel you to keep moving forward.

For the poster who wants to get up at 5:30am, a book I read “One Small Step Can Change Your Life” would suggest you set your alarm to go off only 5 minutes earlier than it does now…. for one month. The next month, set your alarm again to begin going off only 5 minutes earlier… eventually, and effortlessly, you will reach your 5:30am goal. Much easier to implement and you don’t have to “think” about it.

I have created a Facebook group, called CREATE THE LIFE! – please join us. We’ll be completing super-easy weekly challenges (of YOUR choosing) to change your brain a little at a time and find support for eventually changing your life.

Lilly

]]> By: Best Weekend Reading From Around The Web http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-295174 Best Weekend Reading From Around The Web Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:02:51 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-295174 [...] Scott posted a good article about building a solid foundation for self improvement. [...] [...] Scott posted a good article about building a solid foundation for self improvement. [...]

]]> By: Andresito http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-294498 Andresito Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:57:50 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-294498 Great advice, I never thought it this way. Thanks for the structure and previous articles. Focus on gradual changes is the best way to internalize the habits, no doubt about it. However, as you said, it has to be a matter of tweaking, not too easy, not too hard. On waking up early, I recall S Pavlina suggesting to sleep at different times and consistently waking up at the same time. Sleeping and eating properly (every 2-3 hrs) is a must. Great advice, I never thought it this way.
Thanks for the structure and previous articles.

Focus on gradual changes is the best way to internalize the habits, no doubt about it. However, as you said, it has to be a matter of tweaking, not too easy, not too hard.

On waking up early, I recall S Pavlina suggesting to sleep at different times and consistently waking up at the same time.

Sleeping and eating properly (every 2-3 hrs) is a must.

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-293938 Scott Young Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:56:20 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-293938 Glen, That's great. I think many people went through the process of getting their foundation straight before tackling the bigger goals. -Scott Glen,

That’s great. I think many people went through the process of getting their foundation straight before tackling the bigger goals.

-Scott

]]> By: Glen Allsopp http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-293667 Glen Allsopp Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:32:26 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-293667 I completely agree with you scott and love the post idea. I did something similar when I first started my site. Stumbled! Cheers, Glen I completely agree with you scott and love the post idea. I did something similar when I first started my site.

Stumbled!

Cheers,
Glen

]]> By: Kevin http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-293448 Kevin Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:44:41 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-293448 Nice points there. It's definitely important to have the basics down, the habits that are needed for most goals. Organization and fitness is a definite must. Once you get in a routine of something, and it gets broken, it's easier to get back to it the second time around. Nice points there. It’s definitely important to have the basics down, the habits that are needed for most goals. Organization and fitness is a definite must. Once you get in a routine of something, and it gets broken, it’s easier to get back to it the second time around.

]]> By: Peter Levin http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-293309 Peter Levin Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:02:39 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-293309 I know that habit is a key to everything we do and that we need to form them so we can operate on autopilot and spend less energy on performing an action. Totally agree that time to time it is not easy to stick with habits, I would say that it is could be hard Especially difficult period of forming a habit, first 10-15 days I proud that I quit watching TV 7 years ago and do not have any desire to start doing it again. That one was easy But as you mentioned Adam, to wake up at 5:30 - it is alo my goal, is not always works for me :) I think what would fix it is some kind of accountability log which will help to track the progress. I have a journal, but I am a little bit disorganized, so my peaces ended up in different places anyway. I started out several accountability sheets before, but ended up using none of them. I am still working in this direction of creating optimal and simple system for me to form a habit without quitting way to soon. I tried various systems but came to the conclusion that I need to create my own perfect system that works for me I know that habit is a key to everything we do and that we need to form them so we can operate on autopilot and spend less energy on performing an action.

Totally agree that time to time it is not easy to stick with habits, I would say that it is could be hard

Especially difficult period of forming a habit, first 10-15 days

I proud that I quit watching TV 7 years ago and do not have any desire to start doing it again. That one was easy

But as you mentioned Adam, to wake up at 5:30 – it is alo my goal, is not always works for me :)

I think what would fix it is some kind of accountability log which will help to track the progress. I have a journal, but I am a little bit disorganized, so my peaces ended up in different places anyway. I started out several accountability sheets before, but ended up using none of them. I am still working in this direction of creating optimal and simple system for me to form a habit without quitting way to soon.

I tried various systems but came to the conclusion that I need to create my own perfect system that works for me

]]> By: Miki http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-293292 Miki Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:10:09 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-293292 Hi Scott, Everything in life has to have a solid foundation to support what's placed on top. You've done an outstanding job of applying that to our own personal growth - I happen to agree wholeheartedly with you! So many people look for quick fixes, the change it now approach that they don't understand a basic fact - that in order to enjoy lasting change, you have to become the person that would be that change - the foundation! Hi Scott,
Everything in life has to have a solid foundation to support what’s placed on top. You’ve done an outstanding job of applying that to our own personal growth – I happen to agree wholeheartedly with you!

So many people look for quick fixes, the change it now approach that they don’t understand a basic fact – that in order to enjoy lasting change, you have to become the person that would be that change – the foundation!

]]> By: Mike Stankavich http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/comment-page-1/#comment-293280 Mike Stankavich Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:01:35 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2009/03/04/how-to-build-a-solid-foundation-for-self-improvement/#comment-293280 Scott, thanks for some great perspective. As I read this, I realized that I have spent much of the last two years working on foundational issues. And now I'm starting to see the benefits. I particularly like your point that if your daily routines aren’t conductive to your goals, you need to rely on willpower for every action. Addressing just that one factor can multiply your output. A lot of procrastination shows up while gathering willpower to break routine. Scott, thanks for some great perspective. As I read this, I realized that I have spent much of the last two years working on foundational issues. And now I’m starting to see the benefits.

I particularly like your point that if your daily routines aren’t conductive to your goals, you need to rely on willpower for every action. Addressing just that one factor can multiply your output. A lot of procrastination shows up while gathering willpower to break routine.

]]>