I was going to add a little bit of personal info about me in here, however, I don’t matter at this point in time. Maybe later I’ll add an About Me, or something. Until then, suffice it to say, I’m one intelligent(not smart) idiot. I’ll paint a quick picture explaining this.
I buy many books, and have also bought a number of courses. 95% of these books are books that are to better my life. Every book I buy, I read from front to back. Sometimes more than once. I see how the information would change my life. However, that’s only if I would actually apply it. There in lies my problem, and why I say I’m an idiot.
Books and courses on finance? Have both, from varying view points too. Dave Ramsey, to Ramit Sethi. However, my finances are NOT in order.
Books and courses on physical strength and muscle gain? Sure. Hundreds upon hundreds of dollars invested here. Jim Smith, Joe DeFranco, Zach Even-Esh, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tim Ferriss. And no, I’m not strong, or muscular.
What about diet? Hell, I have three of the best books I know of on it. The 4 Hour Body, The 4 Hour Chef, and The Paleo Solution. But, I’m a fat man.
Well then, what about books on the omnipresent subject of personal development? Of course. Tony Robbins, Stephen Covey, Dan Miller, Neil Fiore. Yet, I’m still struggling.
So, with these gems, and many more, in my collection, how could I possibly be floundering with my life? How could I not be able to lift large boulders with ease, with a body fat percentage near single digits, and have riches to spare, all while having a great, contended home life with my family?
Simple.
Lack of implementation.
I’m quite intelligent, but not very passionate about anything in particular. As such, although I can rationalize how the information I’ve digested is certainly of benefit, I lack any emotional drive to actually follow through with anything I’ve learned, for more than a short span of time.
One great example is when my wife and I followed the Dave Ramsey method of budgeting. Within months we had thousands put away in the bank. Months later, we gave up. No real reason. It wasn’t too hard too follow. It wasn’t cramping our lifestyle. We just simply lost any emotional attachment to what we were doing, and didn’t care to do it anymore.
Another example was using the Slow Carb method of eating from Tim Ferriss’, The 4 Hour Body book. In the first week alone, I lost 6lbs, and the wife lost 7lbs. Next week, was pretty much similar. Within a month we were both wearing pants we hadn’t worn in 10 years or so. Then, again, we lost all the emotion behind our new movement, and killed it. Nowadays, we’re at our biggest ever.
You might be asking, “Why are you bothering to put your failures out here for others to read?” Well, I’m not all that sure, as of yet. At this point, as I blog about the different books I have read and courses I have paid for, I’m hoping I’ll be able to use this as some sort of catalyst towards actually using the knowledge I’ve paid to gain.
So, then, why would you want to bother reading this blog? Maybe you won’t. Or, maybe you’ll come across a book or course you think can help your own life, and decide to pick it up. Or, possibly, you might know of a way that has worked for you to build a sustained “fire under your butt”, and wouldn’t mind sharing it with me. Or, if for no other reason, maybe you need to read about someone struggling more than yourself, so that you can feel a bit better.
In any case, I now welcome you to the home of, The Intelligent Idiot.