Are Video Games Affecting Our Success?

Tweet

Found on Penn State
https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/10/23/video-games-cause-or-cure-for-adhd/

   Does playing video games affect our desire to succeed in real life? I started thinking about it after forcing myself to stop playing a game on my phone so I could be productive. Is this mental break from reality helping me or hindering me in my quest for attaining my goals? 

   How many of you play video games when you get off of work? Every other American adult does says Pew Research. We all know that video games are fun and time-consuming, but are they distracting us from achieving any dreams we have? Or another daunting question; are video games satisfying our desire for success in a fake world?

   Looking at research done by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), 42% of Americans play video games 3 hours or more a week. That seems right to me since almost all my friends have a gaming system they play regularly. 

   Are we playing too much? Are they sucking hours away that should be utilized in maintaining relationships and building dreams?

Found on Make Use Of
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/video-game-stress-reduction-need-start-playing-right-now/

   Video games are a great way to be interactive and zone out from the real world. It doesn't help us in that many ways though. Books help our literacy, language and growth of knowledge. I can't say too many video games can say the same. 

   I also feel it's easier to put down a book to go do something than it is to pull away from a video game. I know plenty of people who don't get things done because they were caught up finishing a level.

   Just about every game I see today has achievements, projects, quests, etc. They latch on to our aspirations of progress. We all want to have the best items or things, and video games have given us a faster way of obtaining success. 

   The drawback is that it's all fake...Excluding people who are paid gamers or design them, nothing that you put into the game will show in the real world. 

   Are people okay with their cubicle jobs now since they have success in a fantasy world? I hear people boast about the level they're at, what boss they've killed, or what car/house they've built. 

   It seems to me our society could be changing from a proactive real world to a proactive fantasy world. What are your thoughts? 

   Brad Slaughter is a Co-Owner of Try-Fun Fitness & Training, Writer for Inside My Inquisitive Mind, Producer, Entrepreneur and trained in Social Media Marketing By Corsera. 

   Follow him on Twitter - @bradslaughter89

                  or Facebook - @OfficialBradSlaughter

Crabs In A Bucket Principle: This Could Be Why You're Failing

Tweet

Found on Work At Home Rockstar
http://www.workathomerockstar.com/crabs-in-a-bucket/

   Being the existential thinker that I am, most of my conversations revolve around society, building businesses and the reality of the world. Interestingly, a common thread through most of these conversations involve the "Crabs In A Bucket" principle.

   I call it a principle instead of a syndrome because it's not a hereditary mutation of genes, but a societorial complex that has been ingrained in us for centuries. Especially in the lower classes.

   If you put 1 crab into a bucket, it can easily grab the top of the bucket and lift itself out. Now, if you put just 1 more crab in that bucket, the crabs will not escape. When 1 of the crabs tries to lift themselves out, the other crab will latch on and pull it back down.

   If you're from a small town or low-income urban area, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's hard to rise up and achieve success when you don't have much support from your peers. 

   Anything that you want to do that's out of the norm, like not partying to study or building a business instead of working at a 9-5, is looked down upon. If you're not doing what they're doing, something is wrong with you. 

Found on the Warriors Edge
https://warriorsedge.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/ending-mediocrity-the-crab-in-the-bucket-syndrome/

   Usually, I have found those people had dreams and failed, or they fear failing the dreams they have currently. So if they can't make it, then neither can you. To most, the simple answer they'd say is, "Just move away from there" or "Don't listen to them and keep pushing". I can't explain to you how hard that can be. 

   You grew up there, you want to have fun with everyone else, your friends and family are there, you have no support outside of your area, etc. It's a scary feeling and I don't blame some people for staying.

   When you see inspiring success stories, they usually originate from little wealth and class. But what people forget is the rejection of success factor, which make these stories amazing. 

   You rarely hear of a kid from money being rejected to do the things they dream of. They're encouraged to do these things, and they thrive. 

   Our society has escalated that jealousy factor to such a point that we are keeping people from attaining their goals. We hinder instead of inspire. To all the dreamers out there, take heed. 

   Look at the people around you. Are they lifting you up, or pulling you down? If you are feeling disheartened about your goals and dreams, chances are you might be with the wrong crowd.

   Brad Slaughter is a Co-Owner of Try-Fun Fitness & Training, Writer for Inside My Inquisitive Mind, Producer, Entrepreneur and trained in Social Media Marketing By Corsera. 

   Follow him on Twitter - @bradslaughter89
                  or Facebook - @OfficialBradSlaughter

Confidence is Key: 3 Ways to Learn Keep Successful

Tweet

Found on New York Times
http://nyti.ms/2bZUw75

   Since the day we moved into our apartment, I've been clocking in pool time daily. It's a great way to pass the time while I'm waiting for the sauna to heat up. 

   Through daily practice and games I've played with my girlfriend and neighbors. I have gotten much better. I studied the more advanced players on how they shot and what decisions they made during the game. I'm proud at what I have accomplished, but for some reason I do horrible in certain games. The shots that I miss are ones I've sank time and time again. What's going on with me?

   I realized today what the problem was. It's an obstacle that I've faced multiple times in my life.

   When I wasn't in the zone, I would look at the ball I wanted to hit multiple times. Lining up the shot again and again in my head. I would second-guess myself when I shot and miss the pocket. Now I am unsure of myself and miss the next few shots. I'm in a funk until I make an easy pocket to gain back my composure.

   I lost my confidence. I noticed that when I didn't overthink the shot and just went with my instinct, the ball went in 9 times out of 10. I'd look at the desired ball I wanted to sink, line up the shot, look down at the cue ball once for aim and fired; looking at that desired ball all the way through the motion until it ricocheted off the cue ball and fell into the chosen pocket. 

Found on Payne Insider
http://www.payneinsider.com/blogs/payne-insider/confidence-key-sports-betting

   This ideology carries over to any area you can think of. To successfully learn anything you need to take these steps:

1. Reach out to people in your industry to work under. Study everything they do when the pressure is on and off.
2. Practice that skill EVERY DAY.
3. Once you have gained the knowledge to at least be an influencer in the field, keep the confidence.

   Almost every time you make an error, it's because you have lost that confidence. You have second guessed yourself. Take a step back and reflect on what you are doing. Instead getting down about it, psyche yourself up. You're amazing at the task and will accomplish it with ease. 

   Now that you have that thought in your head, go back at it. You won't make that mistake if you remember how good you are. You put in the time and energy. Don't let one lapse of concentration take you out. Believe and win.    

   Brad Slaughter is a Co-Owner of Try-Fun Fitness & Training, Writer for Inside My Inquisitive Mind, Producer, Entrepreneur and trained in Social Media Marketing By Corsera. 

   Follow him on 

Twitter - @bradslaughter89

 or Facebook - @OfficialBradSlaughter

Stop Asking, Start Doing

Tweet

Found on Meme Maker
http://www.mememaker.net/meme/just-do-it37/

Stop Asking Start Doing

   Here you are, staring at your screen. The photo and title seemed interesting so you just clicked. Well, stop asking yourself if you want to go back and keep reading, because perseverance is the key.

   Everywhere you go, there they are. People, complaining up and down about how life is going, how this or that is the other person's fault, and how this person or business should accept them. 

   Well, to get the first two out of the way. Life is going bad because you believe it is, so change your mindset. And maybe you should actually look at the situation instead of blaming the other person, because it's a good possibility you have fault in it too.

   Now to the last one. If you think someone should accept you for who you are, hang your hat with up with all the other entitled humans of the world and take a seat. 


   Here's a fact of life, not everyone thinks the way you do. They have different passions and beliefs, and have a right to their own opinion. They could be a scrooge and not want any happiness from anyone so they can pass around their self-loathing. Some people won't even give you the time of day, just because you trigger something bad in them. Sad I know, but it happens all the time.

   So, stop asking for them to accept you and do something about it. 

Found on Series Ideas
http://churchsermonseriesideas.com/stop-talking-start-doing/

   For example; Ambercrombie and Fitch's former CEO Mike Jeffries spoke openly about not carrying XL and XXL sizes in his stores. They don't cater to larger women. Is Jeffries short-sided in his moral thinking? Most likely, but from a business sense he's targeting his market. Frankly, he doesn't care about you, he cares about his niche market.

   I'm sure that pinged a few nerves, but here's my point. He's not going to change his strategy and complaining won't hurt his sales. So instead of yelling at your screen or writing nasty posts on your feeds, find a solution. 

   Start your own line of clothing just for plus sized women. Build the market and make all those curvy women feel amazing in those clothes. Now you have a brand that will make companies like Ambercrombie rethink their position. But I'm sure you won't care anymore since you've made an amazing brand that lights up those women's lives!

   This aspect is in every market. Everywhere you look, there is a good possibility someone is being excluded. Walk away and start your own path. Many businesses and empires have come from rejection. So the next time you get denied something, find a way to build and grow from it instead of opening your mouth to complain.

     Brad Slaughter is a Co-Owner of Try-Fun Fitness & Training, Writer for Inside My Inquisitive Mind, Producer, Entrepreneur and trained in Social Media Marketing By Corsera. 

   Follow him on

Twitter- @bradslaughter89                                                                                              or Facebook - @OfficialBradSlaughter

Winners Don't Pay Attention To Opponents

Tweet

Found on Sporting News

http://bit.ly/2bTlVY3

   Phelps versus Le Clos has been talked about since Phelps wanted in to this year's Olympics. The last time they matched up for the world to see, Le Clos beat him by the tiniest of margins. Phelps couldn't handle walking away with that loss, so he came back.

   He lost, which meant he had to train harder, and get better before this event started. He saw nothing but more gold in his future. Le Clos stoked the fire before the Olypics started, but Phelps wasn't going to let anything divert his goal to finish as champion.

The Rock I Can't Put Down

Tweet

Found on Artflakes
http://bit.ly/2bghU01

   A few entries ago I talked about the most amazing beach I've ever been to. While we were there, my girlfriend and I found quite a few rocks to add to our collection; but this rock moved me. 

   For most people, they only experience a feeling of pure bliss a few times in their life. For me, this was one of those times. I wanted something to symbolize this event to give me peace when I needed it. 

   The moment I picked the rock up I felt a wave of relaxation. It fit perfectly in my hand and was one of the smoothest rocks I've ever felt. I closed my eyes and rubbed the rock. The happiness I experienced from this beach and this rock was greater than any feeling I've received from nature. When I opened my eyes, my smile could not extend further. I caught up with everyone, but never let go of the rock.

   Now that I'm home, the rock lays on my bedside table. Every morning when I wake and a few times during the day I pick it up. I close my eyes and rub the rock, inhaling and exhaling like the waves of the ocean. I'm back on that beach again. Feeling the cool breeze and smelling the fresh, salty air. Any stresses or negative feelings I had have vanished. 

   What makes you feel pure bliss or joy? Do you have a souvenir from that? If you don't I highly recommend you go out to that spot and find something. Hold it and internalize that moment. That item will forever hold that peace inside it, for whenever you want to unlock it again.

   To all my awesome readers, I would love for you to share an item that means this much to you. Tell me where you found it and why you feel the harmony inside it. I feel this will inspire others to go out and find their own token of tranquility. Your comment might be the exact thing someone needed to reach serenity.   

     Brad Slaughter is a Co-Owner of Try-Fun Fitness & Training, Writer for Inside My Inquisitive Mind, Producer, Entrepreneur and trained in Social Media Marketing By Corsera. 

   Follow him on

Twitter- @bradslaughter89                                                                                              or Facebook - @OfficialBradSlaughter

What Will Future Historians Think of Us?

Tweet

Found on Indian Country
http://bit.ly/2beLMYW

   The book that I'm reading is Born To Blog by Mark Schaefer and Stanford Smith. It has taught me so much on how to create an awesome blog and I work towards making this blog better every day. While I was reading it yesterday, I came across a few paragraphs on history and memoirs.

   Historians today spend their lives researching and collecting artifacts, books and memoirs written by a select few who had the knowledge of writing. A millennia from now, with the notion that humans still exist, the massive amount of collected history would take generations to unfold.

   It's amazing to think that only 150 years ago a small percentage of humans knew how to read or write, whereas now we have eclipsed 80% literacy rate around the globe! With the advent of the internet, now anyone can write for the world to see. These blogs are modern day memoirs that can never be burned or thrown away. We can share the real history of the world, not the history that's written by the winners.

Found on No Camels
http://bit.ly/2bybqFG

   A conflicting thought comes to mind though. How will the future historians sort through ALL of these memoirs to create a concise view of what the world was like today? Just like past writers and philosophers, we only write from our point of view. The story is always tilted towards our beliefs, even if we try to tell both sides. You can never truly be in the other person's shoes to tell what they feel and experience in relation to yourself. Will our history that we write today just be more convoluted jumble to sort through? 

   Will they think of us as revolutionaries in this advanced network, or will they pity us for the egotistical narcissism we dirty the web with? Think about what you put up on the internet. It never goes away, and it will be what future generations will see you as.

   Regardless of either argument, I am hopeful that what we write and do today will change our future for the better. The more we speak out about what is happening in the world, the better off we will be. The internet has connected us as a human race and we must utilized this to uncover the horrible realities of today, so we have a chance to be able to record history tomorrow.

   

     Brad Slaughter is a Co-Owner of Try-Fun Fitness & Training, Writer for Inside My Inquisitive Mind, Producer, Entrepreneur and trained in Social Media Marketing By Corsera. 

   Follow him on

Twitter- @bradslaughter89                                                                                              or Facebook - @OfficialBradSlaughter