Leonard Ng

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The Art of Momentum: How to Actually Finish What You Set Out to Do

22.01.2017 by leonard ng // Leave a Comment

waterfall
Image by Isabella Jusková.

Those who make no mistakes have policies which naturally lead to victory. — The Art of War, 4

So you’ve made your resolutions for the new year, and hopefully at least one or two of them are achievement-based goals. As I pointed out in my last entry, achievement-based goals are the ones that give you the qualities money can’t buy: discipline, resourcefulness, commitment, and skill.

So how can we make sure that we successfully achieve what we have set out to do?

The answer lies in momentum.

Momentum is nothing more or less than the deliberate organization of your goals in a way that makes success inevitable.

Momentum is about creating a process and routine that will take you to your goal in the easiest possible manner. Then, once you have crafted your process, all you have to do is commit to it.

The process will then do all the heavy lifting for you.

Creating a Process that Works

When I was in the military, the army had a very simple way to increase the number of pull-ups new recruits could do:

  1. Drop by the conveniently located pull-up bar before lunch and before dinner.
  2. Pull till you can’t pull any more.
  3. Repeat.

It worked.

This process exemplifies the four most important principles behind any successful process: simplicity, convenience, frequency, and humility.

[Read more…]

Categories // A meaningful life, Peak performance, Productivity Tags // beginnings, deadlines, energy, finishing, fulfillment, goals, growth, momentum, productivity, vision, work

What Kind of Goals Are You Setting?

10.01.2017 by leonard ng // Leave a Comment

Sunrise road
Image by Karsten Würth.

It’s the start of a new year now, when many of us lay out our personal goals and aspirations for our planet’s next revolution around the sun. This is the season when we make our resolutions: statements of purpose for the changes we want to bring about in our lives.

Some goals, however, will make a much bigger difference to your life than others. So today I’m going to talk about the kinds of resolutions that will allow you to hold your head high by the time the year is done.

Let’s get to it.

Two Kinds of Goals

The goals people set themselves tend to fall into two categories: consumption-based goals and achievement-based goals.

The two differ in what they require from you. The first chiefly requires money. The second chiefly requires effort.

Let’s look at them both in greater detail.

[Read more…]

Categories // A meaningful life, Peak performance, The art of living well Tags // beginnings, focus, goals, growth, learning, priorities

When Meditation Hurts

18.12.2016 by leonard ng // Leave a Comment

lightning
Image by Brandon Morgan.

If you’ve read my previous entry you know the benefits of meditation: inner peace, deeper calm, greater joy, and enhanced asskicking.

So why aren’t you doing it?

I know all your reasons, because sometimes they’re my reasons too: Not enough time. Too tired. Can’t find a quiet space. Keep getting interrupted. Not in the mood.

But there’s another reason too, which seldom gets talked about:

If you’re completely new to the practice, meditation can make you feel worse about yourself, not better.

More on that today.

[Read more…]

Categories // A meaningful life, Meditation, The art of living well Tags // beginnings, emotions, growth, holistic living, meditation

Meditation for People Who Can’t Empty Their Minds

08.12.2016 by leonard ng // Leave a Comment

snail
Image by Aaron Burden.

People talk to me about meditation a lot.

But what they say generally falls into two categories. The first is a question: How do you do it? And the second is a statement: I can’t do it.

Today I’m going to address both of these concerns. But first let’s consider a couple of more fundamental questions:

Why meditate at all?

And what exactly is meditation, anyway?

Why Meditate?

You’ve probably heard about some of the benefits meditation brings: inner peace, deeper calm, fewer worries, reduced stress.

All of these benefits are real. Meditation stabilizes my emotions and clarifies my thoughts. It helps to make me a calmer, happier, wiser person, and my life is better as a result of it.

But to me the greatest advantage of meditation is probably the one least talked about:

Meditation makes you significantly more effective at kicking ass.

[Read more…]

Categories // A meaningful life, Meditation, The art of living well Tags // clarity, concentration, emotions, focus, holistic living, meditation, productivity, sleep, work

Five Ways to Find Meaning at Work

19.11.2016 by leonard ng // Leave a Comment

workman
Image by Leeroy.

“Choose a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Bullshit.

Work is work, even when it’s work you love.

Effort is required. Dedication is required. Some sort of consistent time commitment is required. You need to be willing to deal with hard things.

Any less and I wouldn’t hire you.

[Read more…]

Categories // A meaningful life, The art of living well Tags // following your heart, fulfillment, love, meaning, work

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Leonard Ng

Leonard Ng is fascinated with the practice of both the active and contemplative modes of life.

He is the founder of the copywriting agency Text/ure Collective, and is the author of two collections of poetry: This Mortal World and Changes and Chances.

Find out more about Leonard, or get in touch.

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© 2016 Leonard Ng.