What does it mean to graduate?It’s an accomplishment, a milestone that marks the completion of one part of a journey. Our common understanding of it usually involves an academic degree or diploma.But too often, it’s also just the end. Full stop.About a quarter of American adults (24%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form. Other research shows that 47% of Americans didn't take all of their vacation time last year and 21% "left more than five vacation days on the table." That's time that could have been enjoying a new experience or exploring another city, state or country for the first time. Too often we associate learning as something we have to endure, and that it happens in certain places (schools and universities), and at certain times (also known as the “school year”). But learning is not something that stops during the summer, or after you walk across the stage with a funny hat to receive a diploma. A rich, …
The Best Time to Start
I received an email from a young man looking for advice. He recently graduated from the “comfort blanket of college and chucked towards the open jaws of real life.” He was hoping to receive some advice for young people in his situation to make the world outside not seem so threatening and overwhelming.The first step is to understand that although the world can be very overwhelming and threatening, it is also amazing and magical and overflowing with opportunity.The problem is that when confronted with uncertainty and overwhelm, most people hide under the false security of the status quo. We believe that if we get in line, do what we're told, and play by the rules, everything will be ok. But that life only seems safe. Trusting the outcome of your story to someone else?Now that's risky.My advice to young adults is to start chasing that dream now and stay the course. It will be hard, yes, but it only gets harder later. You have the advantage of naïveté and passion and low overhead and very …
Mike Baugher, June 2019 Adultitis Fighter of the Month
An Adultitis Fighter is someone who rallies against rules that don't exist and engages in ruthless, senseless acts of silliness that undermine Adultitis and its unadventurous version of adulthood. Once a month, we shine a light upon the most remarkable among us, holding them up as a dazzling example of what we should strive for in this epic battle against a formidable enemy. We had the good fortune of working with Mike Baugher during the planning of a recent speaking event and quickly realized that he was a guy of great intention. As he shares in his tips below, “Smile on purpose.” This perfectly summarizes how Mike lives… choosing to smile, laugh, play, and stay young-at-heart on purpose. Although “Adultitis” was a new term for him, the idea of staying fun and enjoying life was not a foreign concept by any means. We enjoyed collaborating with him creatively for his event. It was refreshing to see him take our theme and integrate it into the space and overall theme for his …
[Read more...] about Mike Baugher, June 2019 Adultitis Fighter of the Month
This Post Makes No Sense
We like to pretend that we are rational creatures. That’s cute.In his book, Predictably Irrational, behavioral economist Dan Ariely digs deep into the reasons why smart people make irrational decisions every day. It’s a fascinating read, and proof that we are not as logical as we think we are.Logic is the default mode of Adulthood. We pride ourselves on being rational and realistic.Children, however, do not shy away from the illogical, irrational, and (seemingly) unrealistic.The reason I think we grown-ups should be more like kids goes beyond making our lives more fun (although that’s a great by-product). It’s because it can help us solve big problems and achieve our most important goals.Another book that has gotten me fired up about this recently comes from advertising legend Rory Sutherland. In Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life, Sutherland argues that logic and rational thinking are not always the best way to solve our most …
Just The Way You Are
I recently had a speaking engagement in Pittsburgh. While there, I was able to visit the Heinz History Center, where they have a collection of props and set pieces from the television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, including King Friday’s Castle and X the Owl’s tree. Like many, I have been greatly impacted by the work and life of Fred Rogers. As we perused the gift shop, I was looking for a magnet to add to my big yellow tool chest in my studio. There were a number of options to choose from, each featuring different sentiments. The one I was most drawn to, and ultimately bought, was a pink one that said, “I like you just the way you are.” Although there were others I liked better in terms of design, I felt like this one had the message I most need to hear.I consider myself a confident person, but I often find myself focusing on the areas I fall short, wishing I was more this or more that. Sometimes I wish I was a bit more extroverted.I definitely wish I was handier …
Coffee with Kim & Jason: 5 Ways to NOT Ruin Your Next Vacation
You're invited! On Saturday, June 22nd at 10:00 am CDT, come join us at our kitchen table for a virtual cup of coffee and a casual conversation. We'll be speaking from experience as we share 5 ways to keep from ruining your next vacation, but we also want to hear from you! What have you learned while traveling, and how do keep Adultitis from coming along for the ride? You'll be able to chat with fellow members and have the chance to ask us questions live. Hope to see you there! 👉 Register Here P.S. If you can't attend the event live, but still have a question, feel free to leave it in the comments below and we will try our best to answer it. The event will be recorded so you can watch it later at this link! …
[Read more...] about Coffee with Kim & Jason: 5 Ways to NOT Ruin Your Next Vacation
What to Do About The Weeds in Your Life
If you’ve ever been to one of my speaking programs, there's a good chance you’ve seen me share this artwork.Recently, a person came up to me after a talk, and under her breath, sheepishly admitted, “I’m sorry, but they’re still weeds to me.”I thought that was interesting, especially because I never actually said they weren’t. Dandelions are, at least horticulturally speaking, weeds. But they are also, according to most four-year-olds, wishes. (And flowers for Mom.)The thing is, challenges are like weeds. Once a challenge has sprung up in your life, pretending that it doesn’t exist doesn’t make it true. A field of dandelions may very well represent a million weeds, but it can also represent a million wishes. It's both. The power comes in deciding which viewpoint you choose to adopt. The key word is CHOOSE.Basically, that’s what my book, A Chance of Awesome, is all about. It’s not about living in a magical fairy land pretending our problems don’t exist. (I’ve found that usually only …
[Read more...] about What to Do About The Weeds in Your Life
Why you’ll definitely want to buy at least 13 copies of A Chance of Awesome
Woot! A Chance of Awesome: How Changing the Way You See Changes Everything is now available to pre-order! (It'll be released on August 8, 2109.) All pre-orders will be signed by me and you’ll be automatically entered to win this sharp 20″ x 20″ framed canvas reproduction of the art on the cover! But that's not all! We also have limited edition Baker's Dozen and Fab Four Dozen packages available for people interested in buying a bunch of books to share with friends, employees, donors, clients, and sworn enemies. They come with some pretty sweet bonuses, like mini canvases featuring art from the book and even original oil paintings! Perhaps you're wondering: What in the world would I possibly do with all those books? Well, you could give them out to strangers on a random street corner or build a little fort for your Lego minifigs, but here are some more practical suggestions: Use them as client gifts.Give them to people you’d like to become …
[Read more...] about Why you’ll definitely want to buy at least 13 copies of A Chance of Awesome
How to Make Your Dreams Come True Faster
We recently surprised the kids by taking them to see Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin. (All five of us give it two thumbs up.) Us grown-ups can see a movie like that, a fantastical tale of magic lamps and genies and three wishes, and acknowledge it as a work of fiction. And yet, when our own dreams don’t come true as fast as it takes a blue-skinned genie to snap his fingers, we think something is wrong. Ok, maybe we don’t expect our dreams to come true the instant we wish for them, but I know there have been times in my life when the realization of a dream seemed to be in slow motion. It felt as other people were making things happen left and right, while I was stuck in neutral. The truth is, most dreams – especially the worthwhile ones – take longer to materialize than we think they will. The enthusiasm that accompanies us in the beginning is important. It is the rocket fuel that propels us forward, getting us to take that first step. But eventually, after the empty …
[Read more...] about How to Make Your Dreams Come True Faster
Set In Stone: Lessons from an Old Savannah Cemetery
Worn down gravestone in Colonial Park Cemetery, Savannah, GA. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with making a difference in the world. The bigger impact, the better.But the question I’ve come to wrestle with is, how does one measure the impact one’s made?Kim and I recently celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary in Savannah. It’s one of the most charming and unique cities in the United States. A highlight was walking through the Colonial Park Cemetery in the heart of the Historical District. Established in 1750, it's the oldest intact municipal cemetery in Savannah. I just love old crypts and gravestones. A number of them were worn down by history, with some engraved letters barely visible, others already lost forever. It struck me that normally, when we say something is “set in stone,” we consider it permanent. As these burial markers can attest...not exactly.Our lives are fleeting, and our actions can seem even more so. In a world pre-occupied …
[Read more...] about Set In Stone: Lessons from an Old Savannah Cemetery