Greg's Right FIT Newsletter #129

Techniques for FIT

Years ago, I created an alter ego, Mad Gringo, and he spouted off random bar-room advice from time to time. Consider some of his advice next week.

(the Mad Gringo evolution)

• No one accidentally becomes a jerk. 

• Take a nap is good advice anytime. 

• Two people = barstools; three or more is a table. Booths are only if you're fortifying yourself to take down a buffet. 

• If you never had it, you won't miss it. 

Being Human - More on perspective

The other side of the story

Last week I wrote about an idea for creating perspective from Marshall Goldsmith, executive coach to the stars. In that same file that I've labeled "perspective" is this list from palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware: the top five regrets of the dying.

1. I wish I'd had the courage to be true to myself
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard
3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
5. I wish I had let myself be happier

What's interesting to me about this list is that, like Goldsmith's exercise, it's presented as a way to help us make better choices today. If this list may be what you'll regret when you are dying, they advise, take care of these things every day and die with no regrets.

That seems like a sound interpretation of Bronnie's advice, but I'm bothered by two things in this list. One is that I think having our individual priorities change over the course of our lives is a good thing, but this list is presented as a "survey says" guide to living, a one size fits all. I'm sure my priorities in palliative care will not match my 25 or 50 year old priorities. Second, our memories are the stories we tell ourselves, which makes me wonder about the other stories Bronnie's patients tell themselves. If these are the five regrets, what are the five delights? What brought them the most joy over their lives? 

One of the keys to perspective is to make it unique to you. A challenge in today's world of always-on messaging. I know this because I spend most days helping companies get in the heads of their prospects and customers. Part of that effort is to understand what's in their brains, but part of it is to plant new thoughts in those same minds. To gently persuade prospects to consider different ideas over time. 

My advice for next week is to take a moment to consider and investigate the other side of the story when an opinion is presented. Describe the opposite opinion and put one in each hand. Seeing both sides, what is your perspective, your angle, your take?  

Random Stuff

Consumption

We're nearly empty-nesters. The kids are growing up and moving out. That's prompting a newfound interest in digging around the various closets and storage spaces around the house. As I dig, I've found a variety of aging electronics. They tend to be handheld, useful for taking pictures or recording video, and use media that I can no longer access. 

Mini-digital recorders, mini-vhs recorders, something called a Flip with a built in usb, an Apple iSight, a dvd in a bag for long car rides, a dashboard Garmin GPS, a dead UPS power supply, a Nikon snapshot camera I used at Mad Gringo, and a Pentax K-1000 kit with a couple of lenses. 

My guess is the Pentax K-1000, received as a gift in 1985, is the only item in working order. To know for sure I'd have to source a tiny battery for the meter along with some 35mm film. A quick search on Amazon shows a 10 pack of ISO400 for $31, but at 24 pics a roll, I'd need some little kids around to take pics of before the film goes bad. 

I should take a photo of everything here, just in case you want some of it. I'm sure there's an artist in your family that will make use of it, but first I need to wait for my phone to charge. . .or find the right battery. 

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