What's in a name?

Can I ask you something?....

What does a Martha look like to you? Is it a white middle aged woman? 

How about a Woody? Definitely not a black man right? 

Which of these shapes below would you call Takete and Maluma:

Words convey symbolic ideas beyond their meaning. The majority of us think malumas are soft and round while taketes are hard and sharp. These were the findings of renowned psychologist Wolfgang Köhler. The University of New York, led by Brett Pelham, studied this unconscious bias phenomena and identified we all have an “implicit egotism”. That is to say people “prefer people, places, and things that they associate (unconsciously) with the self...people’s positive automatic associations about themselves may influence their feelings about almost anything that people associate with the self.”

This is almost obvious but it raises an important question: How much does this subconscious judgement contribute to prejudice? Imagine you met someone whose name is Heaven or Mercedes? Would you take them as seriously as a David or Alexander? The country singer Johnny Cash has a song called A Boy Named Sue. It tells the misfortunes of a boy whose deadbeat dad gives him a girls name before disappearing from his life. Naturally, the boy seeks vengeance and when he confronts his bum of a father in bar brawl; he (father) contends it was his way of making sure his son survives in this tough life. It's a good song.

So should we all change our names like actors do, in order to improve our prospects of getting jobs and opportunities. Would Norma Jean Mortenson be as successful had she not changed her name to Marilyn Monroe? When a name rolls off the tongue, rhymes or sounds quirky, at an implicit level we associate more positive emotion with it. If you are Jamaal—even if you are white—you are more likely to be stopped and searched than Steven.

Here is a list of my three favourite names

Haile Selassie –Ethiopian Emperor

Shoghi Effendi –Head of the Bahá'í Faith

Shaka Zulu– Zulu King

What are yours?

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

A great leader doesn't let pride get in his way.

It’s the year 1201 AD. Imagine you are a great general on the battlefield. At your disposal is the most powerful and revolutionary army that ever existed. Adrenalin courses through your veins as you manoeuvre to inflict slaughter — and avoid death. Out of nowhere, a lone arrow swishes past, piercing your prized warhorse in the barrel. You both plummet to the ground. Your enemy is formidable, but you are certain victory is eminent. 

When the dust settles and your enemy has been vanquished. You demand to know who toppled you and killed your horse. A brave enemy soldier (now prisoner) has the nerve to stand up and declare it was him! With all your men watching, do you: 1. Kill the soldier 2. Let him go or 3. Hire him? I am willing to bet most of us would make an example of this miscreant to show our strength and inflate our pride but not Genghis Khan. Genghis made that man a high ranked officer in his army, even nick named him “jebe” or “arrow” in honour of their encounter on the battlefield.

Why is this even relevant to anyone? Genghis Khan didn't conquer 12 million square miles by chance. He operated on a structure of meritocracy. Sometimes you have to put your ego aside and acquire the talent of your adversaries and competitors. Only work with the best if you wish to remain the best. 

Former Apple CEO, John Sculley who pushed Steve Jobs out of the company over a dispute regarding licensing Macintosh's software to other PC makers later admitted it was a mistake. Jobs was the key player and Scully wanted to exercise his position rather than listen to what his best player had to say. That’s why the company was struggling in the late 90s. "At that point, only Steve Jobs could have revived the business. There's no way I could have ever done the things Steve Jobs did." Sculley said.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

Charles Darwin's letter to a ‘lying scoundrel’.

I read the letter below on the Charles Darwin correspondence project website. It highlights a common vice of the human condition: disloyalty. While professing friendship in private, St George Jackson Mivart, a Catholic zoologist, lambasted Darwin's Book the Descent of Man in his reviews— the scoundrel! He also went a step further and accused "Darwin’s son, George, of supporting prostitution" thus implying "Darwin’s own theories as immoral." When Darwin had quite enough of Mivart's duplicity he wrote: 

To St G. J. Mivart 12 January 1875

Jan 12th 1875

Sir
Your article in the Q. R. for July 1874 contains a wholly false & malicious accusation against my son, Mr G. Darwin. You had a fair opportunity in the following number of retracting your infamous & explicit accusation, & you did not make even this small reparation.— Your article also includes deliberate misrepresentations of what I have published.
Therefore I refuse to hold for the future any communication with
Sir | Your obedt. servt. | Ch. Darwin
To | St. G. Mivart Esq

Cambridge University Library (DAR 97: C36).

Originally published by darwinproject with permission of the Darwin family and the Syndics of Cambridge University Library.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more checkout: http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

Is great Art the bastard child of sorrow?

I think some of the greatest and most universally applauded Art is the bastard child of sorrow. I deliberately utilize the word “bastard” because sorrow never sticks around. It visits every now and then, to impregnate the artist with negative emotions from which art is born. A true artist is one who can transform their suffering into other forms of emotion through creative and imaginative expression. Some leave their pain on the canvas so you can vicariously live through it like Picasso’s Guernica and others hide it like Jackson Pollock’s abstract work. I use the word art broadly, not just painters, but authors, musicians, actors and performers.

Tragedy&sorrow usually trumps comedy&joy when it comes to art. I don’t know why. And the more tragic the life stories of the artist, the more poignant and revered their output. Van Gogh was a downtrodden and deeply misunderstood outcast. Virginia Woolf suffered depression. Picasso's philandering was a clear indication of an unfulfilled yearning for love. B.B. King sang, “Nobody loves me but my mother, and she could be jivin', too.” Richard Pryor set himself on fire after freebasing cocaine and drinking 151-proof rum. Marlon Brando escaped domestic abuse. Charlie Chaplin’s mother was in a mental asylum. I could go on, but I won’t.

In Picasso’s own words “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

I mean look at this list of the worlds most expensive paintings! They are all pretty sombre.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

Will Smith's sickening work ethic

A piece of advice. If you ever make it to Hollywood and you are privy to a membership in one of the plush gyms Will Smith goes to; don’t challenge him on the treadmill. You could be more experienced or talented than him but he promises,“either you are getting off first, or I am going to die! It’s really that simple.” Smith, who admits, “I don’t see myself as particularly talented, where I excel, is ridiculous, sickening! work ethic” is speaking metaphorically but there is some good foundation to his belief. 

When he was only twelve, his father dismantled a long brick wall outside his business, just to ask Will and his brother to rebuild it. While most of us were challenged enough stacking LEGO, the Smith boys were learning to persevere with real life bricks. Laying one brick at a time, as perfectly as possible. It took them a year and a half but they did it! At the end, their dad said, “Now don’t you ever tell me there’s something that you can’t do!”

What a lesson.

When you see Newsweek label Mr. Will Smith “the most powerful actor in Hollywood”, you can bet they ain’t talking about his endurance on the treadmill.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

The Stoics and your ABCs

I like the Stoic philosophers. Their work has endured and is still relevant today. I particularly enjoy the teachings of Cicero, Seneca, Epectitus and meditations of the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius. I like their philosophy because it’s practical, doesn't get too bogged down with semantics. The Stoics taught that destructive emotions come from errors in judgement. And that a person of “moral and intellectual perfection” ought to be immune from such trappings.

Epictetus said, “It is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters” This resonate with me and I can imagine it resonates with most of us. Fast forward a couple of thousand years and an American psychologist by the name of Albert Ellis, develops a cognitive behavioural therapy technique simplified as the A-B-C model. It goes: an Action, coupled with a certain Belief produces a certain Consequence. Most times we jump from A to C but in order to avoid undesired consequences; we must evaluate B. 

Doesn’t matter if you are a scientist, philosopher, artist, professor, teenager, teacher, employee or parent; we all lose our cool. Next time you are faced with a challenging situation (A), try and be aware of your judgement (B) in order to improve the outcome (C). Don’t just be ruled by emotions, take a break, assess the situation and let logic lead the way.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

We become what you expect by Tom Asacker

Tom Asacker is an author, business advisor and change agent I recently interviewed for the website: www.onhumancondition.com This is is what he says about the power of expectations:

In 1967, thirteen-month-old Daniel Kish had his second eyeball removed.

And his mother had to make a crucial decision.

Lower her expectations and protect her blind son from the world.

Or treat Daniel like any other boy and let him do what he wanted to do.

She chose the latter.

And that conscious act of faith changed everything.

Daniel didn’t wither, he thrived.

He became one with his world and learned to negotiate it.

To run, climb, play, and even ride a bike.

Primarily by making palatal clicks with his tongue.

Echolocation, like a bat.

(You can listen to Daniel’s amazing story at this link.)

Daniel Kish blossomed into an amazing human being.

But it was his mother who made that possible.

By giving up control and setting Daniel free.

Free to experience.

Free to fail, free to discover, free to learn.

And, eventually, free to see.

We’re living in a low expectation world.

One where leaders place us in tight little bubbles.

And feed us intravenously with bland, risk-free nutrients.

Hoping to protect us, and themselves.

God help us, they’ve even banned sledding.

Anaïs Nin wrote:

“Life is truly known only to those who suffer, lose, endure adversity and stumble from defeat to defeat.”

Because without suffering, without defeat, without adversity we’re subjected to a grave, unintended consequence.

We eventually go blind.

The Business of Belief Paperback – 30 March 2013

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

Why should you know Dent-de-Lion du Midi?

Imagine you work at LEGO. A Swedish man, with shoulder length hair, a rugged beard down to his chest and clad in knickers (hiking gear) shows up asking to speak to the head honcho, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen. The man says his name is Dent-de-Lion du Midi or “Dandi” for short. He says he has an idea to share with the company. Do you grant him access? Of course not!

Well that doesn't stop Dandi. He manages to charm two technicians from the audiovisual department to watch a clip of his 3-D modelled LEGO idea. They’re impressed. He follows with a pitch to turn physical LEGO bricks into a digital format; a database of high quality renderings of ALL the LEGO Group’s product portfolio. Why? Because if this is done; any LEGO design team will be able to quickly create “digital versions of the physical kits, as well as 3-D LEGO cartoons, films, building instructions, television ads and other marketing collateral.” Essentially, a virtual building and testing system—which was a no-brainer. In May 1995 the executives at LEGO authorised Dandi to work with a team of coders and graphics professionals to begin R&D under the name: The Darwin Project. The team grew rapidly to 120 people!

By 1996, Dandi’s team wowed the crowd at the worlds largest graphics conference SIGGRAPH with a virtual reality, LEGO version of New Orleans—where the event was held. At the execs dinner, Kjeld stood up and told the Darwin Team, “You people are the future of the company”. 

Marvellous!

Just goes to show, you never know where your best ideas can come from.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

Brick by Brick Paperback – 6 March 2014

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

How to Tell Stories: The Three Shapes

Kurt Vonnegut was a renowned author and literary genius. When it came to story telling, he felt there were only three types of stories we love to share: 

1. Problem solving story. A problem is encountered. A solution is created and problem is solved by the end. [BLUE]

2. The boy meets girl story. Something exciting happens to you, you lose it but eventually gain it back. [RED]

3. The Cinderella story. You start in the lowest circumstances imaginable. Things get better and better until you reach the pinnacle of your potential success. Something happens, causing you plummet. The lessons learned from the experience; either help you get back up or render you emotionally content with who you've become. [GREEN] 

From our cave painting beginnings, to medieval times, to the industrial and information age; these are the main types of stories we have been telling and retelling. This is essential for anyone looking to tell a good story, build a great brand, create rapport or successfully market a product.

Listen to the billionaire John Paul DeJoria, of the Paul Mitchell and The Patrón Spirits Company tell his life story and you won’t help but root for him. 

He knows how to tell a good story.

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

Doubt: The other Character in the Room.

Every one of us is followed by a shadow. Not the literal one, formed by blocking rays of light. No, the metaphoric one: the shadow of doubt. It lingers to suffocate any hopeful vestiges of ambition. I really want to do this, but….. That is the power of doubt. It’s important to get to know doubt. It’s the only way to understand that; wavering opinion and uncertainty is built on the unreliable grounds of fear. After all, what is fear but the greatest exaggerator?

Brad Bird is a movie director with an infectious passion for creativity. Speaking on the subject of indecision at Google he says, “Doubt is always a character in the room. And it’s the alpha in the room. You, have to try and “find a way to win every time!... It’s easier to knock down an idea than it is to protect it and nurture it and help it get strong. Negativity is like a weed that is really hardy and doubtous... you can make any idea sound bad... The internet, as good as it is; is also a killing ground for good ideas where people snark from the shadows and kill positive things in their cradle”.

Brad Bird’s words aren't just birds. There is a deep truth to this.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

What Seth Godin says about the Dip

Seth Godin is an American author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker. The following, is an excerpt from his best selling book, The Dip:

Almost everything in life worth doing is controlled by the Dip. It looks like this: 

At the beginning, when you first start something, it’s fun. You could be taking up golf or acupuncture or piloting a plane or doing chemistry – doesn't matter; it’s interesting, and you get plenty of good feedback from people around you. Over the next few days and weeks, the rapid learning you experience keeps you going. Whatever your new thing is, it’s easy to stay engaged in it. And then the Dip happens.

The Dip is the long slog between starting and mastery….between beginner’s luck and real accomplishment….It's easy to be a CEO. What’s hard is getting there. There’s a huge Dip along the way. If it was easy, there’d be too many people vying for the job and the CEOs couldn't get paid as much, could they? Scarcity is the secret to value. If there wasn't a Dip, there’d be no scarcity. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Successful people don’t just ride out of the Dip. They don’t just buckle down and survive it. No, they lean into the Dip. They push harder, changing the rules as they go. Just because you know that you are in the Dip doesn't mean you have to live happily with it. Dips don’t last quite as long when you whittle at them. 

The Dip Paperback – 26 July 2007

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

Mrs. Greaves

So who is she? Well, to me, she was a smoke-puffing, eye-wincing, draconic, old goat! Ahem, I mean boarding school housemistress. With her white hair, withered and tanned skin, she would patrol the corridors with a gait so intense it could put the fear of God in anyone. My portrait of her is smeared with bias and ought to be taken with a pinch of salt but I was only seven when she reigned – I suppose she would've been around 70. She was a stern lady of principles but these were her main: 

1. No cursing 

2. Always keep a neat bed.

On the first point, the other students and I did OK, but I don’t think there we many who met her standards when it came to bed making. She treated this like an art and would pull the sheets off the bed and make you make the bed again and again if your efforts were unsatisfactory. Even if it meant you were late for class!

On initiation, she would demonstrate the art to a new student herself with elegance and pride. Tucking and smoothing the bottom sheet under the mattress, before making immaculate hospital corners with the bottom corners of the top sheet. Then, she’d spread the blanket over the bed and secure it with hospital corners. She’d relish folding the top sheet over the blanket, pull the bedspread over the bed before fluffing up the pillows and spreading them on her masterpiece. As a new student, one of the prefects would oversee the process for a couple of days, beyond that point you were on your own.

So I have to be honest, I despised that scrupulous woman. She made my life a living hell, even at seven. She died within a couple years of being at the school but I’ll never forget her. Overtime, I have come to appreciate she was my first real initiation into the “real” world. I remember her fondly because she taught me a valuable lesson: you need to be tough through life. People like her challenge your fortitude and ability carry yourself with dignity and grace. As Les Brown once said, “If you do what is easy your life will be hard, if you do what is hard, your life will be easy”. Who is your Mrs. Greaves?

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

What I learned from Animation: The Power of Anticipation.

As an animator with over 7 years industry experience in Games and TV; there is a certain principle of animation called “anticipation”, which I think is a fitting metaphor for achieving objectives. Early Disney animators learned that audiences could not easily follow character actions unless an “anticipation pose” was added to allow them time to guess what the character is going to do before doing it. So when Goofy, winds up his baseball bat before swinging it or Tom arches his back, lifting one foot off the ground before zipping towards Jerry; that’s anticipation! So how’s this relevant to achieving your goals in life?

To fire an arrow, you must draw the bow. To get a good aim, you must pause or focus before release. In Kyūdō (Japanese Archery) an expert is one who can reach a state of Shin-Zen-Bi: “truthful focus”, before releasing the shot. Don’t just go out there willy-nilly, knocking on every door in life. Don’t be haphazardous. Don’t move without anticipation or act without thinking. Observe your environment. You must focus! Stay in a state of anticipation for longer. It makes your desired action that much more powerful and easier to execute.

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter
https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition 

That is why. A short story by Muhammad Ali

Two peasants were travelling down a winding road on their way to see the king. When they approached the gates of the kingdom an army of foot soldiers bullied them and ran them off. Then one peasant said to the other, "That is why." 

The next day, the two peasants travelled down the winding road again with hopes to see the king. This time an army of horse soldiers rode up, threw stones at them and ran them off. Then the peasant said to his friend, "That is why."

The two peasants would not give up, so they travelled the winding road again. This time the king's carriage pulled up, and when the king saw the two peasants standing there in torn clothes, with cuts and bruises all-over them, the king got out of his carriage, walked up to the two peasants, put his arm around them, and gave them each a gold coin. As they walked back down the winding road, one peasant said to the other again, "That is why." 

When they were both back home sitting in their little huts, the other peasant asked his friend what he meant when he said, "That is why?" The first peasant responded:

"That is why they are foot soldiers, and that is all they will ever be. That is why they are horse soldiers, and that is all they will ever be. And that is why he is king.

I always try to make time for the poor and the powerless, the young and the old. So, that is why.

-Ali is the Greatest!

From the book: 

The Soul Of A Butterfly Paperback – 1 Sep 2005

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter
https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition 

How to fight Depression?

"I felt a funeral, in my brain..." That's how author, Andrew Solomon begins his TED talk: Depression, the secret we share. He is quoting the poignant first line of a poem by Emily Dickinson about the loss of self; depression. According to the World Health Organisation, depression affects more than 350 million people globally and is the leading contributor to disease. In September of 2014, my brother, Jolly passed away unexpectedly. Nothing prepared me for the unrelenting grief. There were times when I was so low I dreaded getting out of bed. There are many reasons why people suffer depression...The main thing to remember is that it's all part of being human. The shocking news of Robin Williams's suicide, followed recently by 24 year old Christopher James Hardman (Lil' Chris), was deeply moving. Not just because it reminded me of my brother; but because they were both exceptional talents. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. No matter how bad you feel about life; remember, nothing stays in any state forever. Having known numerous people battling depression, what I've learned is that it's all a matter of mental perception. The best way to change that, is to engage in behaviour which allows you to create a different vantage point.

These are things I have found to be particularly useful:

Love yourself in order to give love.

It's difficult to give love when you feel unlovable. You, succeeded out of three hundred million sperm to be here. To say you are unique is an understatement!

Be more objective and less judgemental.

Not everyone looks at life through your lens. Forgive people and expect less. Everyone is looking for the same things you are looking for: meaning and love in life. 

Laugh and exercise.

Laughter is the best medicine. That's not a trite observation; lots of scientific studies have proven laughter boots your immune system and health. Same for exercise.

Find meaning, a belief, a passion; something to live for.

Victor Frankl, a Holocaust-survivor and psychiatrist said, "Those who have a "why" to live, can bear with almost any "how".

Remember, time is for you not against you. 

Emotional pain reduces with time. This is a perennial truth and wisdom among all cultures on earth.

For more help, there are lots of people in similar circumstances as you, so please talk and share your pain with someone.  

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

What is Success?

I first seriously asked the above question to my father when I was around eleven and his answer was: perseverance. For a long while that satisfied me, because my father is living proof. From a small village in Malawi; he's eluded poverty to become a well known and respected business man. But, I can’t say I really understood what he meant until much later.  

Success is very subjective. Financial and materialistic success are probably the most highly esteemed forms. Frank Sinatra said, “The best revenge is massive success”. This quote resonates with a lot of people because it is popular belief that money and fame are success. A happy guru, meditating in an ashram somewhere, is not as successful as a champagne guzzling business executive with a supermodel wife, large estate and sports car.

Monetary success is important, but I’d agree with my dad that success is not a result; it is the actual process of pursuing. The more sedulous or deft you become at pursuing your targets; the more success you’ll attain. In-fact, a recent psychology study revealed that imagining materialistic success (i.e. the fancy car, wife, estate etc.) is actually counter productive. We tend to relax about our goals if we can effectively imagine how we’d feel if they were met.  

Success is taking a risk into the unknown. Doing something different! Money doesn't make you happier; it just opens possibilities. A cocaine addicted celebrity and tycoon philanthropist are both wealthy but we can guess which one of them is happier. But don’t take my word for it. Another recent study revealed how, the more money you make the less able you are to savour simple pleasures, thus the higher the chances of being unsatisfied and unhappy.

I guess when it comes down to it, all of us are self-made but only the successful will admit it! Being successful is a state of doing, persevering with what you are passionate about.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

How to deal with Rejection

The simple answer is: pretend it never happened. Doesn't matter if it's social, work related or emotional rejection; don't dare give it power! Winston Churchill defined success as "the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." Father of the light-bulb, Thomas Edison was deemed "too stupid to learn anything" by his teachers. As an inventor, it took him 1,000 failures to create the light-bulb. When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps." 

One of my favourite films is The Shawshank Redemption. Not just because I like to imitate Morgan Freeman's smooth intonation; but because it's packed with useful life lessons. For example, when Andy Dufresne is assigned a dilapidated library to look after, he begins writing weekly letters to the state senate for funds to improve it. Every-week he is disappointed by the state's lack of response. In fact, they don't just reject him; they completely ignore him! Yet he persists, writing two letters a week instead of one, for six years! In the end, boxes of books are delivered to the supervisors office plus a cheque for two hundred dollars. But it doesn't stop there, in Red's (Freeman) own words: 

"And you'd be amazed how far Andy could stretch it. He made deals with book clubs, charity groups. He bought remaindered books by the pound."

In the end, The State Appropriations Committee succumbed to Andy, on account of his persistent letter-writing campaign to improve prison life. All rejection, has the potential to affect your emotional health; which affects your thinking; and limits your potential to be conducive to success. This is why it's important to ignore any rejections. Lupe Vélez... a beautiful Mexican actress at the height of success ended her (whilst pregnant) life, after being rejected in love by Austrian actor, Harald Ramond. Needless to say, this is not the way to handle rejection.  

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

Is man the cruellest Animal?

Before his passing, Sam delivered a presentation at TEDxMidAtlantic titled: My Philosophy for a Happy Life. Weighing an abysmal 22 kilos; Sam explained how progeria (accelerated premature ageing) affected his life. Although he spoke with the zestful cadence of a teen, his body looked fragile as that of an elderly person. “I am OK with what I can’t do because there is so much that I can do”, he declared. Sadly, his condition worsened and he died not too long afterwards. At the time of writing, his talk has been viewed 8 million times on you-tube. Reading people’s comments, I was shocked by the nasty remarks from heartless viewers:

“This thing talks???” 

“Are we really taking advice from an alien now? Fucking humans” 

“Sam had a happy life with his ugly face and now he's dead. Discuss”

“ET Came Back!”

The Stoic Philosopher Seneca said, “All cruelty springs from weakness.” I completely agree. The question is what are the weaknesses affecting the above individuals? What flaws exist in a society which produces people so devoid of compassion? It is far easier to be cruel than kind it seems but stupidity is not an excuse.

Sam’s List for a Happy Life 

1. Be OK with what you ultimately cant do, because there is so much that you can do. 

2. Surround yourself with people you want to be around.

3. Keep moving forward.

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition

Learning empathy from an eleven year old.

It's nearing summertime in the UK and with the balmy weather; comes the desire to hit the basketball court and pretend "I've still got it". A few weeks ago I went to the court and was nearly hustled out of a pound by a savvy eleven year old kid called Stan. He and his henchman, Tom, challenged me to a "first to three points" game. I thought it'd be a breeze but the pesky kids managed to secure a two point lead, albeit with fluky shots! In the end, it was my sheer brute strength that secured an incontestable victory. 

So anyway, as the sunny spell continued, I frequented the court and got to know young Stan. Sometimes I'd see him playing against guys twice his height, other times we'd shoot some hoops but two things were apparently clear; he was always the youngest and keenest guy on the court. One day, we were chatting and I asked him why he doesn't play kids his own age? This is what he said.

Stan: Well I do...I played Tom earlier.
Me: How did it Go?
Stan: Well, I have been letting him win recently because he cries if he loses.
Me: Oh yeah? 

Stan: Yeah, but he says he has some anger issues and conflicted emotions so I let him win so he doesn't feel worse.

I was stumped. This kid clearly was able to place himself in another human being’s shoes and make a decision to override his pride and ego. As the author, Mohsin Hamid says, “Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself". I have to say, I was moved and impressed. 

He challenged me to another game, and no; I didn't let him win!

If you enjoyed the article, let me know what you think below and SUBSCRIBE

For more articles, please visit: www.onhumancondition.com

Discuss and comment on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/onhumancondition

Add us up on Twitter

https://twitter.com/Ohumancondition