Roll the Dice

 Continuous improvement, lifelong learning, relentless pursuit of knowledge.... whatever you want to call it, I'm obsessed with the process of slow, continuous change, known as Kaizen. On any given day, I might be listening to business books on Audible, while learning a new creative activity (You're welcome for my awesomely weird fairy-core content!) Lately, I've been exploring 3D printing, leading me to 3D design. Today's very special blog features my first design, a 12 sided dice based on Napoleon Hill advice from a century ago.... bridging the past and the present, while bringing together art, technology, and development. Yes, I have ADD ;-)

Wait, what is this and WHY? Let's break it down!

Productivity

Most people want to increase productivity, meet goals, and feel successful. So many things get in the way of this effort: constant distractions, mental health, a mile long to-do list, or trying different productivity methods hoping something will stick, and ending up more frustrated and disorganized than you began.

Gamification

One of the most significant causes of procrastination is having items on your to-do list that you LOATHE. Can't stand dishpan hands? How's your kitchen counter looking? Math isn't your favorite.... how's your budgeting? You can gamify your to do list at home, work, or school. It also takes some decision pressure off, because you let the dice decide, like a productivity magic 8 ball ;-)

Daily Practice

Have you ever had a "lucky" item? Maybe a coin, a stone, or something meaningful that you carried with you always? That's the idea behind this dice. Carry it in your pocket or bag, use it as a reminder to stay on track with your goals, decide what to tackle next, remember what is important, and break out of anxiety or nervousness.

To achieve success, we must work on each of the 5 areas every day, and eventually master them ALL. If you only work on the areas you prefer, you won't see results. All five must be implemented and practiced daily.

But I'm already so busy! I have no time!

Instead of mindless scrolling, try mindful rolling. You can use this anywhere at any time, like a fidget spinner for goal achievement. 

What should you work on next? Roll the dice. Any of the tasks in your life can be put into these buckets, and letting the dice decide can help to shake you out of indecision, procrastination, or the fight/flight/freeze response. It connects your mind and body, bringing calm and order. It's also sort of fun. 

Becca, I need more explanation....

No worries, a class on Rolling the Dice is coming to Udemy soon, complete with a productivity tracker!

The five secrets to success from Truthful Living, by Napoleon Hill and modernized by Jeffrey Gitomer, is a quality read if you're looking for new development books. This book includes a collection of notes and lectures from 20 years before he wrote Think and Grow Rich, when he was a Professor of Advertising at George Washington Institute in Chicago, Il.

Napoleon developed 5 keys to success: External vigilance, self confidence, enthusiasm, chief aim, and providing more service than you are paid for.

I have summarized them into:

• Vigilance- External vigilance means that you’re continuing on your path regardless of what happens in your life. You can do anything you want, but not all at once. If you’re focused on your most important goals, you won’t have time for activities that don’t help you work towards those goals.
• Confidence- Self confidence can be challenging regardless of color, creed, gender, education, or financial status. In fact, once people become successful, they can feel more challenged by confidence issues because they're trying to live up to their own (often unrealistic) expectations.
• Enthusiasm- Love what you're doing. Make it fun- or at least interesting. Find ways to make the unpleasant more tolerable (ahem.... creating a game piece to help with personal development). Look for the opportunities instead of the obligations.
• Purpose- What Hill called the "chief aim", I believe, is your life purpose. The one big thing you feel internally driven to achieve in life. This might be parenthood, starting a company, or feeling happy.
• Value- Provide more value than expected. Go above and beyond. Provide more service than you are paid for, and deliver it on time or early. 

Do you have a dice? You can get started today! But stay tuned, we’ll have a course, productivity tracker, and the Dice will be hot off the presses soon!

In Service,

Becca

(Special thanks to @HeartlandHomeHacks for brainstorming with me).

#napeonhill #productivity #gamification #dice #goals #heartlandhomehacks