Lead Dragon, Author at Upgrade Dragon

2019 Year in Review

As the year draws to a close, I am reflecting on the goals and habits that were important to me in 2019. Like many of you, I see the end of the year as a chance to look back and see what went right, what slipped through my grasp, and what I can improve as I go into the new year. Of course, my brain is already exploding with ideas of goals to strive for in 2020, but I know I have a better chance of success if I pause to take note of an obstacle here, a tweak there, and formulate my plans with this important context in mind.

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December 30, 2019

Batman / Discipline / Habits / Inspiration Locker! / Productivity / Superheroes

Batman and the Capacity for Self-Discipline

As a child growing up in the 1980s, my first experience with Batman was through the Superfriends animated show. After watching the show, I wanted to be just like those heroes. I vivdly remember going out in my neighborhood to patrol the mean streets of suburban Raleigh, NC with underwear proudly worn on the outside of my pants (oh yeah). I donned a blue cape (a blanket) which flowed off of my cereal and juice infused, four-year old frame. Yes, you could say I was a full-on Bat fan from the very start.

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October 16, 2019

Habits / Productivity

My Keystone Habits

In the book The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg, the author dedicates a chapter to corporations and how habits affect their business. In this chapter, Duhigg introduces the concept of keystone habits. These are behaviors so powerful that they can change and affect most or all other areas of your life. These habits are important for businesses and are absolutely transformational for the individual.

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September 6, 2019

Skill Acquisition

Getting Started

Last Friday we had our new piano delivered to the house. I say new but really it’s just new to us. It’s a Kawai upright from the 1990’s that’s been refurbished and it’s waaaay more piano than my playing warrants. It’s also a much nicer instrument than I thought I’d ever be able to afford. I’ve been a professional musician (saxophone) most of my adult life and while in college and afterwards, I’ve always enjoyed playing through chord changes and the odd part. I never really developed any worthwhile facility though, and now that we finally have a nice quality instrument in the house that’s a joy to play, I plan to make some serious progress.

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September 21, 2018