Hard to believe we’re already here … the end of the year, and the last issue of Further for 2018. We’ll pick back up on Thursday, January 3, 2019 (just to make sure you’ve fully recovered).
To close out this year, I’ve got some things for you to check out. First, I’ve been tinkering with the Further site design for what seems like months now.
I think we’ve finally nailed the essence of what Further represents, thanks to the amazing Rafal Tomal.
Check out the style of the new home page here, the newsletter format here, and individual newsletter items here.
You can now also leave a comment on individual newsletter articles. Look for the “Leave a comment” link beneath each item.
Next (and also with the help of Rafal), we’ve got updated gear for you. Notably, I’ve keyed in on the phoenix — no words, just the image — as the default representation for Further swag (which now includes cool coffee mugs).
We’ve also changed the font and increased the background image size on the Keep Going and Rise Above shirts, which have been fan favorites.
Check out all the gear here.
And last but not least, all three of the newsletter items this week are designed to prime your health, wealth, and personal growth for 2019.
As always, best wishes to you and yours. See you next year!
Keep going-
P.S. Sad to hear of the passing of Penny Marshall. She broke a lot of barriers as an extraordinary director (Big, Awakenings, A League of Their Own). She’ll also be fondly remembered as simply Laverne.
Can your health survive the holidays?
The holiday season is in high gear. Perhaps you’ve already indulged more than you’d prefer, with the home stretch to New Year’s Eve still ahead.
Is it possible to have a great time without hating yourself in January? Absolutely, just keep a few things top of mind:
- First of all, try not to stress out about all the various commitments the holidays entail. When we’re stressed, our bodies release the stress hormone cortisol, which promotes the accumulation of fat around the waist. You’re not going to need any chemical help with this.
- Next, don’t go all out with the food and booze thinking you’ll work it off with your New Year’s fitness resolution. First of all, 92 percent of people don’t keep their New Year’s resolutions. So, adding an extra five pounds in December is not going to make 2019 any easier.
- Keep your mind on your eating and your eating on your mind. Studies show that snacking when distracted leads to people eating approximately 10 percent more at the time, and nearly 25 percent more at the next meal. No mindless shoveling, please.
- On the other hand, mindfully treat yo self. Research finds that people who tend to overeat chocolate ate approximately 133 percent more of it after they couldn’t have the treat for 24 hours. Rather than viewing certain foods as bad or forbidden, have the mindset of “everyday foods” and “sometimes foods.”
- Finally, remember that the secret to lasting health and sustainable weight loss is getting back on track as soon as possible. Research shows that being self-compassionate promotes resilience and accountability. So don’t be harsh on yourself, just correct course and enjoy reflecting on your holiday indulgence.
More tips here:
10 Ways to Maintain Your Health & Fitness Over the Holidays (Psychology Today)
Is community commerce the business model for you?
None of the pioneering social media platforms — Friendster, MySpace, and Digg — maintained their dominance. That’s because the very network effects that allowed them to grow rapidly ended up working against them when people decided to move on.
It’s for this reason that I predicted years ago that Facebook would not persist as a dominant social media platform. It’s taken longer than I thought, but the decline is beginning — and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving group of people.
This anti-social media sentiment is everywhere as we head toward 2019. And it may present an entrepreneurial opportunity for you.
Recently, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian said that we’ve hit “peak social,” and that users will migrate away from social networks to more community-focused platforms. Author and computer scientist Cal Newport continues to warn of the many evils of social media, while advocating a more “indie” approach to online connection rather than Silicon Valley platforms.
The rise of niche online communities
“Community” was the original internet business buzzword, and plenty of companies have bungled the concept badly over the last 20 years. But it’s quite possible to get it right by balancing the needs of the community members with a business model that sustains the group.
I’ve been building online communities tied to business education since 2007. The general rule of thumb has been that people initially purchase for the education, but stay due to the connections they make in the community.
Now, community itself is taking the lead. With the array of quality free information plus the proliferation of affordable online courses, it’s the inspiration, connection, and sense of belonging with like-minded others that people realize is worth paying for.
Yes, people will pay for online connection
Originally, no one thought people would pay for online community. But since ad-supported social media went mainstream, people now know that if they’re not paying for the product, they are the product.
Long after Facebook’s audience dwindles to a tiny fraction of its peak, they’ll still be monetizing the data we gave them freely all these years. That can’t be put back in the box.
On the other hand, online entrepreneurs can now develop community commerce models that fill the gap left by former social media giants. A paid community weeds out trolls and eliminates much of the ugliness of free social platforms.
Serving the needs of the community begins with you belonging there as well — but you still have to run it like a business. An ethical business, I should add.
Hear that, Zuckerberg?
Don’t make these 4 mistakes when you’re building an online community (Fast Company)
Ditch idealism to become your best self
A few weeks back, I heard someone say that when people talk about focusing on process instead of results, it sounds idealistic. For me, this was a Princess Bride moment — I don’t think that word means what that person thinks it means.
An idealist is someone who envisions a perfect situation other than current reality, which is the opposite of someone who keys in on process. In other words, idealists are completely focused on the outcome, but not necessarily the work it takes to form new habits and improve in the direction of that outcome.
This is why so many people ultimately give up on their goals, because achieving the ideal in your head is harder than you think, and often impossible. Meanwhile, focusing on process is a surer path to improvement, and largely within your control.
Focus on what you can control
Let’s say you’re a guy who wants to add ten pounds of muscle in six months. That’s a doable goal for most men, but not necessarily within your control. Life, work, and your own genetics may make the achievement impossible within that time frame.
But you can instead resolve to create the habit of lifting weights. Make it a priority to get to the gym three times a week. If you miss a day, fine — just try hard not to miss two in a row.
You’ll have good, bad, and middling days for strength advances. But when your goal is to simply show up and lift, you win every time you walk through that door.
And guess what? Eventually you’ve got the muscle, and a habit that ensures you can keep it.
Structure and consistency for the win
It’s natural to head into a new year with resolutions and goals, but just 8% of us will be successful at getting our desired outcomes. Change your focus, though, and the success rate for significant improvement (rather than specific achievement) goes way up.
It’s all about structure and consistency. “Everything we see about success rate says that the most important thing is to structure your goals so you can be consistent,” says Drake Baer, author of Everything Connects.
What is meant by structure and consistency? Small actions that compound by being repeated over and over — also known as process. This is the key to your improvement in 2019, and there’s nothing idealistic about it.
further: flashback
RUN-DMC – Christmas In Hollis
A Very Special Christmas, 1987
Rap pioneers DJ “Reverend” Run, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell brought their own special flavor to the Christmas carol, thanks to mom “cookin’ chicken and collard greens” in Hollis, Queens. Christmas In Hollis is also featured at the beginning of the best Christmas movie of all time — Die Hard. (YouTube)
further: sharing
Please share this issue of Further. Thank you!
