Do great minds think alike?

Hey guys I wanted to start a discussion or ask for some thoughts about a common saying that I noticed below Dads Profile Pic.

The question I am asking myself and you is,

Do great minds think alike?

What is Learning?

“Learning is the process in gaining information from the environment, modifying existing information, adding information to that already processed, deleting information, and organizing information in such a way that it can be maintained and used in further processing.” Unknown Author

It is amazing how important the unimportant must become, when trying to avoid the truly important!

Scroll # 2 Mastermind Alliance

Scroll #1 Definiteness of Purpose

The Stockdale Paradox

This is a must read story. It is by Jim Collins, author of the book, "Good to Great."

http://www.jimcollins.com/lib/goodToGreat/ch4_p83.html

Flow visual

1. Csikszentmihalyi saw optimal activities in the "flow" channel moving outward as skills are gained, and certainly before apathy sets in - clearly this parallels Vygotsky's theory of proximal development in learning situations.

2. Here Csikszentmihalyi summarized the results of his empirical research in terms of the main feelings reported for the various combinations of skills and challenge in the various activities undertaken. http://austega.com/education/articles/flow.htm

Flow...do you have it?

The following man received the “Thinker of the year award in year 2000.

“Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a professor…who has devoted his life's work to the study of what makes people truly happy, satisfied and fulfilled.”“Mr. Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced chick-sent-me-high-ee) is chiefly renowned as the architect of the notion of flow in creativity; people enter a flow state when they are fully absorbed in activity during which they lose their sense of time and have feelings of great satisfaction. Mr. Csikszentmihalyi describes flow as "being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost." http://www.brainchannels.com/thinker/mihaly.html

Flow occurs when a person?s skill level is perfectly balanced to the challenge level of a task that has clear goals and provides immediate feedback.
Almost any activity can produce flow if these elements are present, says Csikszentmihalyi, and making them a constant part of your life can enhance your work, personal relationships and leisure time.
Csikszentmihalyi…”has studied the lives of thousands of people for more than 30 years in search of what makes people’s lives meaningful and satisfying. He’s found that most people live at two extremes they are stressed by work or obligations or they are bored by spending their leisure time on activities such as watching television. But, says Csikszentmihalyi, people can live richer, happier lives by learning new skills and increasing the challenges they face each day.”
“'A typical day is full of anxiety and boredom,' says Csikszentmihalyi. 'Flow experiences provide the flashes of intense living against this dull background.' “
http://www.apa.org/monitor/jul98/joy.html

How does it feel to be in "the flow"?
1. Completely involved, focused, concentrating - with this either due to innate curiosity or as the result of training

2. Sense of ecstasy - of being outside everyday reality

3. Great inner clarity - knowing what needs to be done and how well it is going

4. Knowing the activity is doable - that the skills are adequate, and neither anxious or bored

5. Sense of serenity - no worries about self, feeling of growing beyond the boundaries of ego - afterwards feeling of transcending ego in ways not thought possible

6. Timeliness - thoroughly focused on present, don't notice time passing

7. Intrinsic motivation - whatever produces "flow" becomes its own reward

John Wooden's "Pyramid of Success"

Coach Wooden's 12 Lessons In Leadership


http://www.coachwooden.com/pyramidpdf.pdf

Design legend Niels Diffrient

Which Laws of Success can you hear as he describes has lifes work?


http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/520

Principle # 4, The Habit of Saving

I challenge everyone to open a saving account, and if you do not have one, make the minimum deposit to open one.
I challenge everyone, although you may already have a savings account, to make a weekly or monthly habit of depositing something in that account. You make the decision how much, $20, 10% of your income, you deside, but make it a habit.
I have opened a saving account last month and deposited my quartly bonus of $247 to start. The bank president told me that there was a minimum of $500 in the account or else there was a monthly service fee, but he said he would wave that fee for six months until I had the minimum balance.
I also committed to saving regularly by enrolling in an automatic payroll deduction from my weekly paycheck of $20 to go to the saving account.
This means that I will save $20 a week for 52 weeks a year, at $1040 per year, plus my 4 bonuses a year. In five years I would have $5200 just from $20 a week.

Principle #3, Self-Confidence

MasterMind Self-Confidence Formula
We come now to the point at which you are ready to take hold of the principle of autosuggestion and make direct use of it developing yourself into a positive, dynamic, self-reliant person. You are instructed to copy the following formula, sign it, and commit it to memory.

1. I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose, therefore I demand of myself persistent, aggressive, and continuous action toward its attainment.

2. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, bodily action, and then gradually transform themselves into physical reality. Therefore, I will concentrate my mind for thirty minutes daily on the task of thinking of the person I intend to be, by creating a mental picture of this person then transforming that picture into reality through my actions.

3. I know through the principle of autosuggestion, any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of realizing it. Therefore I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of the factors named in the seventeen lessons of the Law of Success course.

4. I have clearly mapped out, and written down, a description of my Definite Purpose in life, for the next five years. I have set a price on my services for each of these five years, a price that I intend to earn and receive through strict application of the principle of efficient, satisfactory service, which I will render in advance.

5. I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure unless it is built upon truth and justice. Therefore, I will engage in no transaction that does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to me the forces I wish to use and the Cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me because I will first serve them. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I believe in them and in myself.

I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory, and repeat it aloud once a day, with full FAITH that it will gradually influence my entire life so that I will become a successful and happy worker in my chosen field of endeavor.

Signed_____________________________________
Before you sign your name to this formula, make sure that you intend to carry out its instructions.

This reminded me of the R2 A2.

Benefits of the Master Mind Group

Following are general intentions for the MasterMind Group:

1. Providing support and encouragement to each other
2. Meeting and networking with other like-minded people
3. Benefiting from the experience of others
4. Accountability and support to assist you in moving forward
5. Brainstorming ideas and problem-solving challenges

Suggestions:

Before the first meeting, take some time to think about your intention for this group. What would you like to gain from being in the group? What was your purpose for joining? What specifically would you like to see yourself accomplishing throughout the duration of the group? Please write down your goals prior to the first call as we will be submitting our goals to the MasterMind during our first call.

Quote #04242009

"A definite, potent idea, when it is fresh in one's mind, may so change the biochemistry of that mind that it takes on the spiritual qualities which recognize no such reality as failure or defeat.
The major weakness of most men is that they recognize the obstacles they must surmount without recognizing the spiritual power at their command by which those obstacles may be removed at will."

Napoleon Hill
The Master-Key to Riches

Desire

From: Napoleon Hill

"Start now to analyze your desires and find out what it is that you wish, then make up your mind to get it."

"These are the steps leading from desire to fulfillment: first the burning desire, then the crystallization of that desire into a definite purpose, then sufficient appropriate action to achieve that purpose. Remember that these three steps are always necessary to ensure success."

Principle #2, A Definite Chief Aim

Quotes from " Law of Success" by Napoleon Hill

"Until you select a definite purpose in life you dissipate your energies and spread your thoughts over so many subjects and in so many different directions that they lead not to power but to indecision and weakness."

"Any definite Chief Aim that is deliberately fixed in the mind and held there with a firm determination to realize it, finally saturates the entire subconscious mind until it automatically influences the physical action of the body toward the attainment of that purpose."

"If success depends upon power, and if power is organized effort, and if the first step in the direction of organization is a definite purpose, then one may easily see why such a purpose is essential."

"Your Definite Chief Aim in life should be selected with deliberate care, and after it has been selected, it should be written out and placed where you will see it at least once a day."

This is the "How To"
"There is some one thing that you can do better than anyone else in the world could do, search until you find out what this particular line of endeavor is, make it the object of your Definite Chief Aim, and then organize all your forces and attack it with the belief that you are going to win."

From Dad:
In anything you read, hear, or see, you should run this process; Write down these four words and fill out what it means to you!

R2A2
Recognize- (This is what you recognized or learned or thought about the subject)
Relate- (This is what it means to you)
Assimilate- (How you will assimilate the idea into your life, what changes you'll make)
Action- (What will you do and when will you start)