“The blade itself incites to deeds of violence.” – Homer

Right from the first quote I could tell this book would be violent and insightful. Thankfully, it was!

The Blade Itself is a fantasy novel written by Joe Abercrombie in 2007. I note the date because it’s very recent. Most fantasy worlds have been around for quite a bit and new contenders never fair well in this demanding genre.  But this series is strong enough to survive.

The Blade Itself is the first book in The First Law trilogy and introduces the cast of characters, and the world they live in, with a nice flow. Each character’s attitude and purpose in the world are very real and relatable. A lot of fantasy books take the humanity out of their heroes to leave them appearing unscathed and strong until they are inevitably bested. The Blade Itself does a great job of bringing out the humanity right away and making you question what the heroes even want.

Logen Ninfingers is a notorious barbarian who wishes to be free from violence but is regretfully always around it.

San dan Glokta used to be the most notable soldier in the Union but once he was captured by enemy soldiers, and brutally tortured, he became a crippled, resentful shell of his old self.

Jezel Luthar is a young, arrogant nobleman who thinks most men are beneath him and that most women should literally be beneath him.

Bayaz, First of the Magi, is a short-tempered wizard who can kill men without moving a finger and hides his true purpose to those he brings along on his journey.

The story is driven by these complex characters. Seeing into their minds and understanding what they want is what kept me reading. The order of chapters was laid out with different perspectives from all of the characters in a way that made their experiences feel fresh.

The story does a great job of leaving me with questions about sorcery, true motives, and future battles but didn’t flesh out on a lot of what it introduced. A lot of the big mechanics like magic and where our heroes are bound to are revealed in the later books. As an introduction, this book is fantastic, but for those looking to experience a wide range of explanation must continue the series. Thankfully I plan to!

These books feel vastly different from other fantasy novels and has often been compared to the A Song of Ice and Fire series (better known as Game of Thrones). Story elements may be similar with perspectives and the focus on magic and swordsmanship but the direction and movement of the story is more linearly focused and quicker. Where Game of Thrones and other fantasy books can spend a long time fleshing out the world, The First Law trilogy pushed the story further in each page and goes at a fierce pace.

In closing, this trilogy looks to be a contender completely separate from other works of fantasy. With a tight focus on a few unique characters and bloody-quick pacing, The Blade Itself will make you feel more apart of the world with each page. Explore something new and give it a try!

Prioritizing Reading

Tags

Distractions, Elimination, Priorities, Purpose, Reading, Schedule

So you want to read, eh? 

You used to read a lot in high school but now you don’t.

Maybe you never read that much before but you decided it would be a good change in your lifestyle.

Or you’d like to do some writing of your own and reading is the gateway to writing.

Whatever reason you have, reading is important. Finding time throughout your college days to read can be difficult but also damn satisfying. Reading more after a period of inactivity requires determination and purpose. Let’s build a plan! 

Step 1: Know Why 

The most important part of any habitual change is your purpose. Without a purpose, you’re effort will wilt away and eventually you’ll give it up. Keep at your strong purpose and it’ll get easier to start.

For me, I wanted to read more because I wanted to feel fulfilled with stories. Watching television, movies, comics, or other forms of entertainment never left me feeling as accomplished as when I read a good book. 

Step 2: Make a Loose Schedule

When you have a schedule where reading can fit nicely throughout your day, you’ll find more time to actually sit down and start reading. Try looking at your schedule and seeing where you have gaps of time. Start by simply allotting at least 1 gap of time each day to reading, no matter how long it is.

I never knew I had a lot of free time to spend on reading until I started to find gaps throughout my day where it could fit. A 1-hour gap between classes was enough for me to build momentum and start finding more time throughout my day to spend on a good book. 

Step 3: Eliminate the Distractions

As I’ve mentioned in a previous blog post, removing distractions from your life can help you achieve your goals. Taking away the distractions is far more beneficial than just adding more productive habits. You have to start eliminating what will take you away from your reading goal in order to put the habit in motion.

Removing the distraction of the internet has been a long, fierce battle. Each day I spend less time wasting away on Reddit, Facebook, and YouTube and more time on reading. All it takes is consciously telling myself “is this habit going to benefit me in the long-run?” and I quickly get off the internet and pull out a book while I wait for class. 

Like all habits, reading must be planned out and nurtured for a good couple of months before it becomes second nature. Eventually, it’ll be possible for you to read even 1 book a week if you have the drive to do it.

Start asking yourself if this is something you want to focus your time on then go into the building a plan and eliminating distractions.

I promise you with just a few tweaks to your priorities, you’ll be wasting less time on the internet and more time flipping pages.

~Nick

Being Honest with Yourself

Tags

Goals, Growth, Honesty, Motivation, Productivity, Self help

Hey all!

A concern I’ve recently developed is whether or not I’m being honest with myself.

Throughout the earlier parts of my life, I felt like the world was against me.

Girls rejecting me were dumb girls. Bad grades were a result of bad teachers. Missing appointments were my parent’s fault.

Throughout high school, the world was mostly cruel.

I sorta felt like some missteps in my life were a direct result of my own problems but I didn’t think that way all of the time. Even if I did, I never consciously told myself.

Now that I am older, and experienced a few more trials in life, I feel like being honest about failure is a key part of personal growth.

Once I got past blaming the world I started to accept that some things are just out of my control…but then what about the things in my control? Was it really healthy to accept all of my problems and move on with my life?

No way.

I had to force myself to admit when it was my fault I failed. I had to say it out loud. If I didn’t, I never learned. “You didn’t ask that girl out because you were afraid. You failed that test because you didn’t study. You didn’t make the cut because you didn’t put in the effort.” I started to be honest about why I wasn’t performing the way I wanted to, in all areas of my life. It helped quite a bit.

First, being honest with myself stopped me from complaining. I wasn’t clouding myself with negative energy anymore. Blaming external events instead of things in my control made me feel like a victim. Accepting my own faults helped me to stop looking for excuses in every problem I faced.

Second, it made me take more chances. It helped me to fear the self-blame. I didn’t want to be telling myself later that it was my fault I failed. I wanted to be relishing in victory! Knowing I would stick to blaming myself for not taking action motivated me to not stand idly and make the move I needed to. I take many more chances now. Fear of inaction trumps fear of failure.

Third, it provided clarity in my life. I started to see what it was I truly wanted and what I needed in order to get it. I realized I was afraid to dance in front of people because I never entered cyphers despite calling myself a dancer. Once I accepted I was afraid, I realized I needed to go into a circle without thinking which ultimately eliminates the fear. I’ve come much further as a dancer because of that acceptance. Accepting your faults helps you to find ways around them.

Being truthful with yourself opens up possibilities. Once you start to acknowledge what you’re doing, with clarity, you’ll start to ask yourself if it’s the right thing to do. Knowing your goals and what motivates you is key as well. You’ll admit to yourself that you’re not doing what’s necessary to get what you want and every time you evaluate your actions you’ll be closer to getting to your goals.

The next time you are required to evaluate yourself, see how much of that result came directly from you. What can you do next time to make sure you get the results you want?

Until next time!

~Nick

PS. The frog means nothing. I just love frogs and this one has a cute, little umbrella! 

The Martian is a masterful blend of humor and suspense!

Tags

Andy Weir, Books, Mars, Reading, The Martian

“I’m pretty much fucked.”

That first line pulled me in and got my attention. I didn’t let go until the very end and boy was it hard to let go.

The Martian, Andy Weir’s first book, was phenomenal! In just under four days, I read it faster than any book I’ve ever read. It’s just that good. 

Weir’s engineer background and lifetime love of all things space helped make The Martian an impressively accurate representation of life on Mars….especially when things go wrong.

The story revolves around Mark Watney, a botanist/engineer, who gets stranded on Mars after a disaster forces his crew to leave him behind. Upon realizing his situation, he declares himself “fucked,” but using his engineering skills and innate drive to stay alive, he does his best to find a way off the planet.

The reason this narrative is so captivating is that Watney is able to find quick solutions to his problems and crack jokes throughout the whole thing. No matter what predicament he finds himself in, he does his best to remain calm, find humor in his hopeless situation, and then start to devise a plan of action. His detailed explanations of how to fix an oxygen tank, drive out out in a rover, or fix the “HAB” unit he has to live in is fascinating. When sprinkled with his own dark humor, though, it makes the story that much more captivating.

The main lesson I got from this book was how to properly problem solve. Watney took every challenge and laid out what he had to do in order to survive. He remained calm, looked at his options, started to think out loud, cracked a joke here or there, and got to work. What was most impressive was how he was forced to calculate the time it would take to complete each task. Life on Mars is hard. When you’re stranded there with little food, water, and oxygen, it gets even harder. Every aspect of his life had to be calculated.

If I took anything from this book it’s that we should all start living our lives a little more calculated. Maybe not down to food rations, but at least to our own time. Every step we make costs us valuable time. Doing what is most important now will help in the long run.

It’s a blast of fun! I’ve never read a book that’s made me laugh and tense up at the same time. Watney is a riot and this book is a perfect example of how to get your readers laughing the whole way through. If you’re looking for a wonderfully compelling story I highly recommend The Martian.

~Nick

Ready Player One is the Nerd’s Book for Everyone!

Tags

Books, Ender's Game, Reading, Ready Player One, The Dead Zone

In regards to my birthday last month, my lovely girlfriend Gayle asked me if I enjoyed obscure 80s references and pop culture in general. Confused I said, “Sorta?….” Not knowing what she had in store, I was instantly curious.

A week later I had her gift, Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline, in my hands.

Not only was this the fastest I have ever read a book, considering the total page length, but this was one of the 3 books that made me cry. Along with Ender’s Gameand The Dead Zone, Ready Player One brought me to tears throughout most of its ending.

Without giving much away, this is a story of purpose, belonging, friendship, mystery, and above all, adventure. The story is set in a not-too-distant Earth where a young boy named Wade and the rest of civilization seeks escape from their dismal planet through a virtual reality simulator, called “The Oasis,” that provides access to any resources one may need. Movies, Television, Online Shopping, Artwork, Literature and especially Gaming. The main focus of this reality system was the Massively Multiplayer Online experience that any user could engage in. This is where the majority of the story takes place.

The book starts off with the death of James Halliday, the creator of this virtual reality. On that day, a video is released detailing that a contest for ownership of “The Oasis,” and his billion-dollar fortune, has just begun. The lucky person who can find three keys that unlocks three gates and get to the lucky egg will be the new owner. The person who can analyze the riddles first will win. The catch is that each riddle is a direct reference to a video game, TV show, movie, book, or band that was popular in the 80s. James Halliday wanted the whole world to experience the same things he loved.

Wade, sick of his life in the “real world,” makes it his life mission to win the competition.

Other individuals, that are determined to win as much as Wade, join the fight and he learns quickly about who to trust and what it’ll take to win. Inside the biggest video game known to man, almost every kid in the world is researching popular 80s video games, shows, movies, and music to find clues to Halliday’s vast fortune.

The book picks up very fast and I could barely put it down when I started. If it wasn’t for the 3 parts that break up the plot I probably would’ve read non-stop.

The characters are real, likable, and ones you want to root for.

The premise, although in the future, is relatable: we all want to escape from our circumstances at times.

The enemies create brutal obstacles. When they beat the heroes, you’ll get angry. When they’re beaten by the heroes, you’ll almost get up and cheer!

The nods to pop culture are plentiful, and even though I only knew about half of the references, I enjoyed the means by which Wade was able to analyze each clue and potential riddle.

It’s a blast of fun and there isn’t a dull moment in the entire story. Whether you like video games, the 80s, barren futures, or computers, you’ll love this book!

It has something in it for everyone!

Trying to stay motivated

Tags

Journals, Motivation, Productivity

Hey world,

Friends throughout college have been obsessed with productivity. We’re always throwing around ideas about how to stay productive and linking to our favorite blog posts about what to do to keep us going. I definitely enjoy reading them but I discovered after months of no real change in my motivation that the posts don’t help alone. We have to actually apply what we’re learning. How can you apply the many rules? With unavoidable reminders every day!

1) Keep a journal

I always keep a journal with me. I don’t always write, but the times I do have helped me to remember what it is I truly want. Just seeing my journal in my bag is enough to remind me of the goals I had set. It’s helped me to close my laptop and open up a book, to take an extra hour to finish homework, and to stop procrastinating and actually send out my resume. Writing down thoughts about that day or taking notes about what will bring you success are just some of the things I write about. As long as I’m focused on succeeding, it belongs in my journal.

2) Narrow down what you want to do

A lot of the time, we just don’t have a clear outline of what we want to do. This is okay, I promise. Start thinking about what makes you happy, what skills you want to learn, and how you want to grow. Continually write down your thoughts, in your journal perhaps, and eventually you will narrow down the things that really have meaning. Once you stick to those activities, your life will start falling into place and you can begin to learn what it will take to get what you want. I recently joined a life insurance firm as a sales agent and I love it! The atmosphere is wonderful and my mentor teaches me new skills each day. I’m being coachable and absorbing as much as I can. I’ve begun to mimic a lot of the successful people there in order to learn what they do. Find your direction and stick to it.

3) Leave reminders wherever you can

Merely telling yourself that you want success is not enough. It’s hard to stick to habits that are, at first, hard to keep up. Leaving a motivational poster on your wall can be what causes you to go to the gym instead of staying in bed. As long as you put value in the reminders you leave around you’ll be truly affected by them. I am just starting to do this. One of the best habits I’ve developed is to leave a slice of folded paper in my wallet with my daily goals and the words “Lives Remaining: 0” on it (in honor of Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder, who did that in his journal). This has helped me to remember what it is I need to do every time I pull out my wallet. It has even helped me spend less as I see it sitting there before I can get to my money. Whatever works for you! Posters, notes around the house, self-help books on your book shelf, etc. will all push you to achieve greatness if you put value in them.

– Keep a journal. Discover what you want to do. Stay motivated with visual aids.

I still have a long way to go but I’ve been doing my best to consistently keep these three things going so that I can be happy with my results.  I want to know what you guys are doing to stick to your goals, or maybe just to find out what your goals are. Maybe something you do can benefit me! It’s all trial and error at this point and I expect a lot of error as I experiment with all of this.

Until next time!
~Nick

Doing one thing is NOT doing something else

Tags

Elimination, Motivation, Productivity

Hey all!

So, I am currently working at a life insurance firm. Our charismatic president gives speeches in our Monday morning meetings and today’s focus was on where you allocate time. Now, some of what he focused on related to our firm and the business we do but he went on a lot more about our personal lives. He explained that when he started working on his business he had to eliminate aspects of his life that just weren’t beneficial to his success at all. Every fiber in his body was aimed at his goals. No television, no games, no unnecessary articles online, no nothing! Of course breaks were a big priority to regain his focus and not burn out but when he was set on the path he just kept going. What do you do and how does it help you get what you want?

I spent a lot of my day thinking about the unnecessary parts of my life that just don’t take me to where I want to go. I am on the internet A LOT (like all college kids), I watch various shows online, I spend time dancing, I read books for pleasure, I go on dates with my girlfriend, have hour-long meals, and a number of other activities. “But wait Nick! Some of those activities make you a happy, better person. Why would you want to give it up?” I certainly don’t plan on giving any of these things up any time soon, my girlfriend would kill me, but I am preparing myself for future decisions. We have to start thinking about this now: What are you willing to give up to get what you want? I certainly don’t want to stop reading, my previous post explained the benefits of a good book, and I sure as hell don’t want to stop going out with my girlfriend. But will it really make a big difference in my life if I give up browsing Reddit? Watching Netflix? Dancing? I love dancing and it’s made me see my true potential but down the line it’s just not going to bring me to the levels of success that are in my sights. Currently, I don’t plan on stopping any of these activities. I enjoy my time as a student and I want to learn and grow as much as I can. Reading about business and learning skills that will help me get where I want to is doable with my student schedule but only if I give up the things blocking my path. I had a lot of fun with you, internet, but man you’re a time waster.

If you have the drive for success and you have a vision of where you want to be, identify and eliminate the unnecessary parts of your life! Just don’t lose your humanity. I plan on working at this company until I graduate and then go full-time. I really see room for growth here that I don’t see anywhere else as a college student. I’ve only been working for 2 months and I’ve already started to adopt the culture and really identify as a member of the team. The concept of doing what you need to for success while eliminating the unnecessary spoke to me and made me see my own potential. I’m happy with my decision to be here and I hope that I continue to eliminate the distractions so that I can grow the way I want to.

How do we study our best for our tests? We eliminate the distractions. We don’t talk to people. We focus 100% of our attention on the material. Why shouldn’t we act that way throughout our whole lives? You only have one important test and it lasts your whole life.

What can you eliminate from your life? What will you stop doing so that you can succeed? 

~Nick

I love reading, God damn it!

Tags

Game of Thrones, Reading

Hello everyone!

George RR Martin’s masterpiece, A Game of Thrones, as well as the other books in the ASOIAF Series, got me hooked on reading again! I started reading his books the Summer before my Freshman year of college and once I started I was hooked. My pace was slow at first but of course I had to work at reading. I hadn’t read books of that size in quite awhile so I was a bit rusty. I pulled through in the end and finished it all! This was a year ago. Since then I’ve been keeping up a very nice pace and thanks to the encouragement of my girlfriend Gayle, an avid reader, I’ve been able to read over 10 books since then. If High School Nick had heard this news he wouldn’t have believed it.

I’ve read Frank Herbert’s Dune, two Stephen King novels, Aldous Huxley’s masterpiece Brave New World, Animal Farm by George Orwell, Artemis Fowl, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, and multiple self-helps books. I could tell you what I’ve learned from all of these books but I’d rather let you know how I’ve felt after reading all of these books: amazing. There’s just something fulfilling about finishing a novel. I felt motivated to work harder, regardless of the type of book I read. I was sleeping better. I was more health conscious. Reading has become one of the most fulfilling hobbies I’ve ever had and it’s become more entertaining for me than other forms of media. You can’t look at a TV show a different way. You can’t re-imagine a movie. A comic book’s pictures will never change. But a book, well, that canvas can be painted over and over again and the only limit is your mind.

There’s nothing quite like connecting to a character of your own vision and seeing them progress at the pace you read. It’s truly living in someone else’s shoes. It’s just too hard to get that same connection in movie’s or television. I’m certainly not saying that other forms of entertainment are subpar to books. Books are just beneficial in other areas of your life. The increased levels of productivity, flux of new ideas, and emotional intelligence that develop from reading overshadow the insignificant benefits of other forms of entertainment. Reading has been eclipsed by video games, movies, and television. The interest in reading just doesn’t seem as high as it did in my parent’s generation. I will definitely be reading more than I’ll be plugged in and I hope that more people see the light and join me!

I want to continue this path. I want to dedicate myself to reading a book every 2 weeks, then a book every week, and then even more. Since I started, my reading speed has increased quite a lot and I am finishing books faster than I ever was before discovering the world of Westeros (A Game of Thrones). It’s the story that drives you forward to see what’s next. Week after week you find more time to put into reading because you want to see the progression of the characters and story. This is how I started reading more books in less time. All it takes is one character, issue, theme, idea, or setting that interests you. That one book that will get you back into reading like you probably did in elementary school. For me, that series was the Game of Thrones series (A Song of Ice and Fire for the true fans). Find that concept or idea that truly interests you and start reading books that relate. I promise it’ll snowball from there!

What do you care about? What interests you? What gets you excited? Find a book on that subject, whether non-fiction or fiction, and get started!

~Nick