Duncan Nugget® #143: The Smell of Desperation

Desperation is unattractive. Period. I learned that the hard way. People can smell desperation from a mile away. It stinks of fear, low self-esteem, and hopelessness.

Why is she all up on him like that? She must be desperate.

Why is he acting like he’s going to die if I don’t buy this car? He’s desperate.

Why has he called me 198 times in the last hour? I just met him yesterday. Is he really that desperate? 

Even if it is a desperate situation there’s no need for you to act desperate and hopeless.

Act like you know things will get better.

Act like you have an abundance mentality.

Act like you know that there is a power greater than you working on behalf of you.

Million-Dollar Question:
Do you smell like desperation?

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.

______________________

Got a question? Use this form to ask Al.

Duncan Nugget® #39: Context is Everything

Imagine that it’s 95 degrees. Is that hot? It depends on the context, doesn’t it?

If it’s the middle of February in Philly, 95 degrees is hot. If 95 is the temperature of your oven while you’re trying to cook a turkey then 95 is cold. It’s the same temperature, but the context changes everything.

“That’s not what I meant. You’re taking it the wrong way.”

Does that phrase sound familiar?

Something said the wrong way or taken out of context can spark an argument or start a war. It’s the same set of words, but the context changes everything.

Your problems can propel you or paralyze you. It’s the same scenario, but your frame of reference—the context—changes everything.

Before you assume, believe, or do anything THINK about the context because context is everything.

Duncan Nugget® #65: Warning Signs

“It is only after long-term lack of recognition that simple signals and obvious warning signs become complex challenges and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Work on problems as soon as they begin to develop.” – Al Duncan

Duncan Nugget® #21: Failure

No matter what happens or what mistakes you make–be it a bad grade, a bad interview, a bad relationship, bad credit, or just plain old bad decisions–always remember…

Suggested Reading:
A Lesson on Failure

A Lesson On Mastering the Lesson

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

—Frederick Douglass

Do you find that you struggle with the same things over and over again? If so, you haven’t mastered the lesson in the struggle.

You probably already know that in life, lessons repeat themselves until you…

Smart People vs. Wise People

Smart people learn from their mistakes; wise people learn from the mistakes of others. Learning from the mistakes and experiences of others will greatly accelerate your progress. It will also save you a boatload of time and money.

Suggested Reading:A Lesson on Mastering the Lesson