This Is Only for the Open-Minded

People have a hard time dealing with information that contradicts what they think. In fact, it’s not unusual for people to completely ignore (sometimes unintentionally) anything that challenges their beliefs. Most folks only seek information that validates what they want to think and believe.

The Myth of Learning Styles

Science Daily has posted an article debunking the notion of learning styles. This was a hard one for me to accept because I’ve taught many seminars and classes on learning styles. What are your thoughts?

(This is a scientific article, so it’s heavy reading.)

Science Daily | Learning styles debunked

Duncan Nugget® #51: The Delusion of Success

What do successful, self-motivated, high-achievers and people who play the lottery have in common?

They’re delusional. 

People are motivated more by the perceived probability of success than the actual probability of success. 

I’m about to go outside in this thunderstorm and fly a kite.

Benjamin Franklin. Delusional. 

It’s 1836, I’m 16 years old, and I’m going to tell the world that slavery is wrong and women are just as good as men.

Susan B. Anthony. Delusional. 

I’ve been in jail for 27 years…guess I should run for president.

Nelson Mandela. Delusional.

The next time somebody calls you delusional because the odds are against you accomplishing your goal, thank him or her for the compliment.

The White House Internship: A Public Service Leadership Program

This is a cool internship. It’s a chance to get some hands-on servant leadership experience.

The White House Internship: A Public Service Leadership Program

Generation E – Students Leading Clean Energy Future

Free Report from The National Wildlife Federation – 35 ways students are creating a sustainable future at U.S. colleges and universities

Generation E: Students Leading for a Sustainable, Clean Energy Future – Campus Ecology – National Wildlife Federation

Increase Your Green – Empowering YOU to Green Your School

@dosomething and HP launch a national campaign: Increase Your Green.

Increase Your Green | Do Something

Q & A: Context is Everything Part 2

[Q & A from Facebook based on Duncan Nugget #39: Context is Everything]

Q: [ Adam Fletcher Sasse] Sometimes we need the context to change though Al. What do we do when the context doesn’t change as fast as we need it to?!?

Adam, good question! The answer is simple (but far from easy):

You have to make an accurate, honest assessment of what is and is not under your control. Focus on the aspect of the context you can control and work on that. Most people spend too much time focused on what they can’t control.

Sometimes we do need (want) the context to change (like the economy). We don’t have complete control over that, but we do have complete control over our spending habits. We do have complete control over attitude and effort.

Gandhi, MLK, Mother Teresa, Joan of Arc, Frederick Douglas, and any other great person in history faced contexts that weren’t changing fast enough. But they honed in on what they could do. They did that with an unstoppable attitude, courage, and sustained, maximum effort.

Eventually the context changed.

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Got a question? Use this form to ask Al.