A Dozen Habits for Success

Leo Babuta of Zen Habits notes that success is the result of good habits.  Lately, I’ve been trying to develop some in myself and one of the best guiudes I’ve found is John Maxwell’s twelve daily disciplines (the Daily Dozen) from his book Today Matters.

 

Here’s the whole list, for reference:

 

1.)  Attitude: Choose and display the right attitudes daily.

            Is your attitude a plus or minus today?

 

2.)  Priorities: Determine and act on important priorities daily.

            Are your priorities keeping you focused daily?

 

3.)  Health:  Know and follow healthy guidelines daily.

            Is your health enabling you to succeed today?

 

4.)  Family: Communicate with and care for my family daily.

            Does your family situation provide support today?

 

5.)  Thinking:  Practice and develop good thinking daily.

            Is your thinking mature and productive today?

 

6.)  Commitment: Make and keep proper commitments daily.

            Have your commitments been kept today?

 

7.)  Finances:  Make and properly manage dollars daily.

            Have your financial decisions been solid today?

 

8.)  Faith:  Deepen and live out my faith daily.

            Has your faith been active today?

 

9.)  Relationships:  Initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.

            Are your relationships being strengthened today?

 

10.)  Generosity:  Plan for and model generosity daily.

            Has your generosity added value to others today?

 

11.)  Values:  Embrace and practice good values daily.

            Are your values giving you direction today?

 

12.)  Growth:  Seek and experience improvements daily.

            Is your growth making you better today?

 

You’re supposed to practice all twelve every day, but I figure at this point I’ll focus on one a day and see how it goes.  If I can do that over time hopefully all twelve will become habits!

Scott

The Sorry State of Pittsburgh’s Public Transit

Nineshift is an interesting blog that touches on future developments in work, life, and education.  Right now they are doing a series on post-petroleum transportation and link to an article by Neil Peirce in the Seattle Times on light rail developments in various US cities.  For example, check out the Purple Line being considered in DC:

 

 

So, let’s talk about Pittsburgh.  We just spent millions of dollars on light rail…to build a tunnel UNDER the Allegheny River to the stadiums.  Yeah, that’ll help commuters.  Whatever happened to the East Hills?  Or for that matter, the North Hills?  That’s right, we have buses…except that the number of routes have been cut, and money is being spent on expensive trips and gifts.

 

Maglev seems to have died a slow death, and there’s still no replacement.  So a two million plus population metropolitan area has few light rail options and nothing is in sight but vaporware.  But hey, we got a spur linking us to our shiny new stadiums!

 

And let’s talk about Route 28 a moment, shall we?

 

In his book Citizen Soldiers, Stephen Ambrose tells how in the beginning of America’s involvement in World War II they laid 200 miles of road in two months – roads, mind you, that had to bear the weight of Tanks!  The M4 Sherman, mind you, weight 30 TONS!

 

Now, it takes Penndot 2 YEARS to pave six miles of road on Route 28?  And Route 22?  And we won’t even mention the fact that they’ve managed to tie up most of the main arteries in and out of the city this summer – yeah, that’s visitor friendly…

 

Well, I guess that’s what happens when you go with the lowest bidders.  Anybody have any ideas on how PernnDOT could improve within the scope of their budget?

 

Scott

Partying with the Maniacs

 

 

Last Thursday night my wife, a friend of mine, and I all went to a launch party for Maniac Magazine’s annual fashion issue.  It was hosted at Eleven, a new restaurant in the Strip District.  The Strip is just east of Pittsburgh on the banks of the Allegheny River and despite it’s name has nothing to do with exotic dancers, despite what many of my company’s customers think.

 

Eleven was quite impressive and is definitely an upscale place.  It has two stories and for this night the VIP section for the party was on the top floor.  Our friend Viviana escorted us up to our own table, complete with gift bag and bottles of Absolut Vodka and Glaceau vitamin water.  There were also small cupcakes.  I’ve never been VIP before so I have to say we enjoyed it.  The view, towards the river, was beautiful and the weather was just right.

 

We didn’t eat there, although I’m told the entrees are quite good.  The appetizers certainly were; we tried mushroom pot stickers, mini-BLTs, and ricotta cheese bites.  I’m sure there are fancier names for them, but I’m not that upper class!  There was also an ice sculpture by Richard Bubin, and the man himself was drinking out of a lighted ice beer mug.  Mini of Pittsburgh’s  Bill Schmitt was there as well and the guests were able to have their pictures taken in front of the Mini Cooper banner.

 

The lovely blonde on their cover (see above) this month is Summer Wise.  She runs an internet business called Trendy Trousseau selling fashion items.  My wife introduced her to my friend and I early in the night, and then later had her picture taken with her.  My gorgeous brunette and a beautiful blonde – I’m looking forward to seeing that picture in the magazine!

 

The Maniac girls were there – April Hubal and Emily Geyman.  We also met some of the interns, including Whitney Meyer, Ashley Attisano, and Jackie Spyra.  Other members of the staff were there too.

 

The place was pretty crowded by 10:00 and it looked like quite a few people were enjoying themselves and the special Maniac martinis.  They also were flipping through free issues of the magazine, which features an interview with Jesse McCartney, a photoshoot of the B-94 morning crew, and an article on the House of Diehl as well as their usual columns and great coverage of Pittsburgh’s growing social scene.  Of particular interest to me was an article on the branding campaign for X Shadyside, a gym that always has eye-catching ads.

 

This was my friend’s first time at a Maniac event and he thoroughly enjoyed it, rubbing elbows with models and photographers and writers and various others.  We’re looking forward to their next issue!

 

Scott

This is why…

I’m not running an apology for not updating.  I was just wrong:

“Don’t forget to update.

It’s not that odd guilt that you might have for not posting anything. But, if you care at all about your audience, you have to post something that they’ll find interesting.”

Ouch.  More here.