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 …
Studio Sneak Peek #71: The Angry Bird
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! …
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Studio Sneak Peek #70: Swimming With Sharks
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 …
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Studio Sneak Peek #69: Jason’s Board of Directors
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 …
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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 …
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Studio Sneak Peek #68: Investing in Unknown Outcomes
A candid look behind the scenes of Jason’s studio, through the eyes of his biggest fan… …
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