If you pay attention to Wal-Mart, you’ll get an idea of why most people get serious about a diet in April.
Right around August, Wal-Mart stocks up a central aisle with Halloween candy. That stays in place until November 1 when by some sort of magic, Christmas candy appears. Because Christmas is pushed on us earlier and earlier each year, by December 20, the aisle is cleared and through the miracle of night shift, on January 2 the aisle is transformed into Valentine’s Day. Once that amorous holiday ends the night of February 14, the aisle is rebranded into Easter candy. Since Easter can happen in March or April, usually by the time it’s over, people realize that summer (and thus Speedo and bikini season) is nearly here. This sets off a second gym rush (usually as big as the January 2 rush) in a mad dash to get off the junk food and into a swimsuit.
Of course it’s not just the candy at Wal-mart that causes this. It’s also the eating and drinking that takes place at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and St. Patrick’s day. Then you factor in cold and wet weather and that leaves humans as functioning versions of hibernating bears.
But this post isn’t about weight loss and fitness. I’m the wrong guy to write on this subject. I’d like to talk about your intellectual health.
If you’re The Boss, of a group of employees, volunteers, or just your Self or your family, the main skill you use is your brain. World class athletes train year-round which also includes nutritional monitoring. But since few of my readers are more than just armchair athletes, we have to all rely on our brains to create revenue and give us job security.
What are you feeding your brain?
My morning routine consists of reading. First my Facebook updates, then USA Today, followed by ESPN, my Verizon NFL Mobile app, LinkedIn and then CNN.
This is the equivalent of having a breakfast consisting of pork rinds, a chicken breast, some Oreos, a box of Hot Tamales, a spoonful of used cat litter or oatmeal (depends on the quality of the articles or memes), and a bowl of dog crap. In other words (and note the analogy follows step-by-step) I’ve been starting my day with my brain severely malnourished.
Sure I have a ton of good books on my Kindle. I also have some great running shoes, boxing gloves, and matching shorts and dry-fit shirts. But having them and not using them won’t help. It takes some lifestyle changes.
So to change it up, I’ve been listening to podcasts. Tim Ferriss, Jocko Willink, and Seth Godin, and Malcolm Gladwell. I’ve been back into my books. And I feel (and think) much better. Since I make a living with my brain. I’ve got to treat it better.
But what about you?
If you make your living or run your business through your brain, how are you feeding it? How are you exercising it?
All of us have the intellectual CAPACITY to be the mental equivalent of a LeBron James. What will you do this week to build that up?
After all, who wants to work for an intellectually-challenged boss? Not me. Not you. So don’t be one.