Month: March 2013

DJ’s invented Hip Hop

Hip Hop music was invented by DJ’s. DJ’s that changed DJ’ing forever. These DJ’s did not use the turntable like it was supposed to be used. They pushed the limits and invented a new form of music and a new way of using the turntable.

Hip Hop music was invented by DJ’s such as Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. These DJ’s would take breaks – drum and other parts of a record and play them back. They would get double copies of a record and “juggle” the break. They would take that small bit of the record rewind it and play it forming a continuous repetitive beat. This repetitive beat evolved into Hip Hop music. They transformed the music and made a new one.

They used records and turntables just like your grandparents told you not to. Many years later Hip Hop DJ’s are still doing this, but on a whole new level. See Mix Master Mike here scratching, juggling and using the turntable like an instrument.

Use additive thinking

Here’s another technique for dealing with our friend failure. We all fail and we all make mistakes. But those mistakes can’t crush you. They are all part of the process. The process of learning.

Stop saying, “if only I had done this or that.” Stop, “I should have, I could have, etc…” These are known as subtractive thinking. Use additive thinking. Additive thinking focuses on how you can make an improvement or find a solution for the next time. Subtractive thinking reinforces the mistake and additive thinking introduces a positive solution that can be used in the future.

 

The Difference Between Talent and Skill

Talent is your natural ability. Something that you are born with. It’s given. Skills are not given. They are earned or rather learned. Talent can only get you so far. Michael Jordan was talented, but talent didn’t earn him the reputation that he has today. It took discipline and hard work.

Skill is learned and really anyone can learn a skill. Skill comes with practice. Yet some skills favor some people more than others. Talent is not enough. You need skills which are learned through discipline. But don’t try learning any skill for the sake of it. Find your talents and then apply the skill.

How to get in shape and stay in shape

Getting in shape is relatively easy, however it takes effort and a change of habits. Your habits have gotten you to where you are today. They also are most likely why your body is in the shape that it is in now.

There are many means of getting in shape and you don’t need a gym or a class to do it. You can do it for free. You can walk, hike, run, cycle, swim, do yoga, dance, lift weights, play sports, do martial arts or go to the gym. But you don’t need the gym or a class to do it. You need discipline. Some times you won’t feel like it, but I guarantee if you push through it that you feel much better about yourself than if you don’t.

Discipline can be learned. It’s not a skill that just a few people have. Believe it or not you learned how to get in the shape that you are in today. If you don’t like it then you can change it. You most likely got in the habit of brushing your teeth. How would you feel if you didn’t do that? Probably pretty gross. Like brushing your teeth you can get in the habit of getting into shape – exercising.

You need frequency. You should get some exercise everyday and you should do something more intense at least 2 days a week, but 3 or 4 is better. If you want to burn fat then you need to raise your heart rate. More often for a shorter period of time beats less often for a greater period of time.

Here’s an example of the exercise that I currently do. Everyday I walk, I do yoga (about 20 minutes) and meditate. 3 days a week I do pull ups, leg raises ( for my stomach), push-ups, some kicks and leg isometrics. All of that is free and I don’t currently go to a gym or take a class.

Staying in shape

The key to staying in shape is to find a balance. Many people fail to keep an exercise routine going because they go all out. If you don’t think you can keep it going then don’t start in the first place. Many will get themselves psyched up and they will go to the gym for four hours a day for a week and then quit and get discouraged cause they are not seeing results.

See and feel the results. Getting in shape makes you feel good. So when you start your program think about longevity. Can you keep this going for a long time? And how about your diet? Are you eating mostly whole foods? Are you getting enough sleep? Studies show that a lack of sleep can cause weight gain.