So, I’m reading a pretty good book. There’s a link there to the left. I had this book on my wish list for some time. It’s one of those self help books that touts something that honestly sounds too good to be true. The idea was someone else would buy it for me and I could take in the information and not feel ripped off when it turned out to be a load of crap.

Well, I heard the author on a recent netcast I listen to. I forget if it was Jumping Monkeys or what. But, he had some neat insights to share on the show. So I decided to give his book a chance, and I just happened to have a Barnes & Noble gift card. :)

Well, so far so good. It’s not a load of crap. The author really has some nice takes on getting things done. Some things I know well, and do. Some things I know well but don’t do. heh. And some things new to me. I’m not going to recount the whole book here, obviously, but I do want to jot down some of my thoughts as they come to me, and perhaps the success or failure I encounter during the exercises. Especially since I’ve decided to take it seriously. What do I have to lose right? They are sometimes called Comfort Challenges, and I think they would make good blog fodder…

So, here are the three things I have on my plate goin forward:

1) Comfort Challenge: Learn to Eye Gaze - For the next 2 days, gaze into the eyes of conversational partners, or just strangers on the street. Don’t break the gaze until they do. The idea is to face your discomfort and thus defeat it. I like the way the author cautions you to blink occasionally so as not to accidentally pick a fight.

2) Comfort Challenge: Learn to Propose - Stop asking for opinions and start proposing solutions. I like to think I’m good at this already. But, I’ll take the challenge and pay more attention to it. 2 days on this one too.

3) Action: Media Fast - Go on a one-week media fast. No newspapers, audio books, or non music radio. No news websites. No television at all, except for one hour of pleasure viewing. No reading books except for this book (LOL) and one hour of fiction pleasure reading. No web surfing unless it is necessary to get work done. The author notes that necessary means necessary, and not nice to have. :) MY BLOGS ARE NECESSARY!!! This one convinced me to take his challenges. This should be good.

4) Comfort Challenge: Get Phone Numbers - The author wants you to go out and get the phone numbers of very attractive members of the opposite sex. Well… I’m thinking I won’t be doing this exercise. No need. I know I could get those numbers. Please! ;) LOL I’m damn cute!!! More importantly, I’m HAPPILY married to a very cute girl!

So, here we go with these exercises. Also, in case you haven’t figured it out, I do recommend this book. It’s an interesting read, and some good info there! I mean, who doesn’t want a 4 hour work week, right?