You Gotta Learn Something! (5 Things I Learned This Week)

Yo, interneters! Author Jason Jack here to let you know 5 things I learned this week. As the saying goes, learn something everyday. Because, you gotta learn something, right?

What I learned the week of October 5th-11th 2013:

1. I-hope IHOP won't make I-sad :(

I told my significant other we shouldn't go to the IHOP down the street. The last time we went, we didn't order flies with our meals but we got a swarm of them flying around our table. And the time before that? Our eggs were under-cooked, as runny as water. But given the misses was hungry, we went anyway, and boy was it an adventure!

First off, our server took our order, walked away, then came back to our table a few minutes later asking if we were ready to order. He forgot he just took our order even though we were the only people in the restaraunt--it was mind blowing! (lol) We told him we already gave it. He smiled and walked away only to return moments later saying the other waitress didn't remember taking our order. That's when we said HE was the one that took our order--not a good sign.

The misses wanted soup. Easy? Not for our guy. He returned with a bowl, placed in it front of her, and said, "We're out of the soup you wanted but I'm sure you like this." She didn't. To top it off, after he gave us our food, we NEVER saw him again. He did not give our check he just vanished like a very peculiar magician. Going forward . . . maybe I'll go back to this IHOP just for a good laugh :)

2. REMINDER: You can CHANGE things!

Plans, what you eat for dinner, how you react to compliments and put downs, hobbies, mental conditions, your diet--it all can be changed to a degree. It just needs our will power to do it. If something is stressing, we can call ourselves on reacting negatively to it, take a deep breath, take our minds to a happy place, and replace the negative thoughts with positive. We our in control, and we have the power to change. Going forward, I'm going to turn any coal moments in life to gold. I want you to, too!

3. Orthography and Prosody, dig it!

Ah, two words I have never heard of before this week are two words I really dig. Prosody is the rhythmic and intonational aspect of language, while orthography is the way the words in a language are spelled (placed). That is, prosody is the flow and the way something is said and orthography is how a word is written. Going forward, I will use these words more often.

4. Proper dividing of tasks make Team Work, well, work!

If you are dealing with a task that can be divided up between people, it is vital you give the right person the right task. A person comfortable with data research should do research and the person who is comfortable making calls and emailing contacts should do just that. It sounds simple enough, but it is easy to give someone a job to complete that fights against their strengths. Going forward, let's strive for better team cohesion by the proepr separation of tasks.

5. Accomplish everything by thinking it's the end of the world!

When the zombie apocalypse hits, or the next big asteroid smacks Earth, just remember one thing: there will not be a place for leisure. If you don't have something to do, you are expendable, nonessential. Going forward, use this to your advantage. Use this "end of world thought" to be more productive. To make your goals come true, always be productive, always do something. No wasted time because there is no place for it in your world. No wasted time because it doesn't exist.  Make your goals come true by staying busy and eliminating time wasters.

That's just 5 things I learned this week. What did you learn?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

--Author Jason Jack

Author Jason Jack on 'Success Envy'

Dear author Jason Jack, what do you think about other people's success?

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Success Envy.
We've all seen it. It may just have been an off handed comment or a full blown diatribe. It may be full of spite and it may not even be envious at all. But it will always be negative.

I define success envy as "any comment or action lobbied against a person/institution who has achieved something". It may not be a comment made out of envy at all but a judgement (but success judgement just didn't have a good ring to it).

EXAMPLES . . .

"That was a GREAT song, but Miley Cyrus didn't deserve (credit for) it."
"Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga's a joke! She doesn't deserve the success!"
"Call of Duty is mindless crap. People should be playing good games instead."

Pick any industry and you'll find examples of this seed of negativity.

I cannot stress this enough--we as individuals, then as a family, a community, then as common Earth-dwellers, have the responsibility to do better and to be better. Judging other people/companies/groups who have achieved success because YOU have deemed it incorrect or undeserved goes against a world of peace and cohesion.

• We should be praising each other for sticking our necks out for our dreams.
• We should be patting each other on the backs for seizing opportunities when they come.
• We should be happy we live in a world where we can make our desires a reality.
• We should support each other the entire way through, even when success arrives.

Because when one does well, we all do well.

Then why do some people judge what others deserve? Maybe because we are jealous, or maybe not. Maybe because we think we know what is quality and when we see success come to those that are below that quality bar, we think it's undeserved, in need of ridicule.

But the negativity only shows the world the person you are. Miley Cyrus, despite what you have to say about her current behavior, is doing what she is doing and she is successful. Call of Duty is played and enjoyed by millions every day and bought by millions every year. Stephanie Meyer gave millions of young and old readers a story to embrace even if it wasn't to this or that person's liking. They're successful no matter what you say, something to remember when you feel that bitter bug crawling to the surface.

Time is precious, and I think we should be driving our energies on celebrating the successes in life while focusing on making our goals, dreams, and hopes realities. Perhaps, we shouldn't be wasting time on harsh critiques that only serve to suck our energy and turn us into downers.

SO . . .

After today, perhaps we'll let other's achievements not irk us but brighten our day, give us the motivational support we need, because another person's success is not bad at all. Another person's success simply proves that if we just do what's in our hearts, what we truly believe in, we can achieve it.

Other people's success, a beautiful thing, proves this. Be happy, be supportive, be motivated by it. And your success will come or perhaps it already has :)

Until next time.

--Author Jason Jack

You Gotta Learn Something! (7 Things I Learned This Week)

Yo, interneters! Author Jason Jack here to let you know 7 things I learned this week. As the saying goes, learn something everyday. Because, you gotta learn something, right?

What I learned during the week of September 28th-October 4th

1. Signing autographs is uncomfortable experience and I'm a clutz at it.
The pressure! The anxiety to deliver to a person who wants your fancy scribble! It's kind of terrifying in part to the fact that I believe I'm a pretty humble dude. Honestly, I'm no one special. All I've done/am doing is creating and doing what I love to do. Going forward, I will make a game plan for signing my 'graph.

2. Writers don't live forever . . . contrary to what I believe
I always thought Tom Clancy would live forever, creating thick tomes of writing to the joy a legion of fans for all eternity. Hyperbole, sure, but I really never gave thought to a literary world without him or Stephen King, Nora Roberts, or Dean Koontz for that matter. As a writer, they're part of the legacy to follow for young writers like me. So, Tom Clancy, rest in peace and thank you for your contributions to the world.

3. Doubt comes with the territory (of being human) so deal with it
Just because for one moment, or perhaps two, you don't think you can means you can't. Learn to ignore those voices, because it does get better on the other side :)

4. REMINDER: Do the dishes before they pile up! Saves time.
Going forward, I will do the dishes when they get dirty (crosses fingers).

5. Sometimes, it's easy to confuse others expectations of you as your own--but don't do it!
It's pretty easy to internalize what a spouse, parent, or friend wants from you for what you want from yourself. I got confused this week and had a seed of doubt that I learned was not from me. When I realized this, I felt so much better, in control, and relieved I was not doing anything "wrong" but I let another person's wants/needs/doubts into me. Going forward, I will be better prepared to protect myself against this.

6. Even the tiniest effort forward is still going forward
Going forward . . . I will go forward? :) Achieving is still achieving, no matter how big or small.

7. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is addicting!
It's a video game. It's for Nintendo's new home console, the Wii U. It's super duper fun :) (I played 16 hours in about 10 days!!)

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That's what I learned this week. What did you learn?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

--Author Jason Jack

Author Jason Jack on 'Taking Control'

Dear author Jason Jack, what do you think about our lots in life?

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It is important to understand that if you don’t take control of your life then your life will take control of you.

I've been around, met, and spoken to so many people that blame the world and its obstacles for their short comings: their bad health is because they don’t have the time or means, their extra weight is because they don’t have time or the means—life just has not provided them the means to do better.

This is a fallacy.

Everyone is born with the means to do better. We may be born into a less privileged environment, which is a strong current in the face of our ascension, but we only allow failure if we use our shortcomings as excuses to why we can’t succeed.

Some people have it worse than others (little known fact—I was once homeless, been to shelters and lived in my parents car, and grew up in poverty) but every person’s obstacles are equally important. And first and foremost, it is up to the individual to find that motivation and drive from within to do better. To escape the less fortunate environment. To ascend into a better place mentally, spiritually, financially, career wise, or whatever may be the goal to achieve.

As humans, we are mortal. We do not have the time to blame the world or others for our lots in life. For if we do, we will remain bitter (an ill way to live). All it takes is for you, me, or the next person to wake up and say, “I’m going to take control of my life” and mean it. 

Enact upon it, and live it.

Flip the switch and take control, because we have a lot more weight on how we live our lives than we think.

SO . . .

Stop telling yourself you can’t change your life. Because, you can. You may have a sky high mortgage, tens of thousands of dollars of debt, or thirteen children (heck, you could be homeless), but you still have you. And you’re ability to do more today than you did yesterday is the best asset in the world.

Use it.

Until next time,

--Author Jason Jack.

Author Jason Jack on 'Happiness'

Dear author 'The Jason Jack, what do you think about Happiness?

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It's something more people need to place at the center of their lives, if not their entire existence.

My mom always told me "in order to make other people happy, you have to be happy first". What I took away? Happiness spreads. Being happy encourages other people to be happy.

And I'm glad I was told this at a younger age (early teens), because it was a mantra I've kept with me even unto today. Life can be cut short at any moment and to live even a single day with a grey rain cloud hanging overhead is a horrible way to experience the world.

That's why I don't deal with negative people or situations, and you shouldn't either. If I have the option, I will remain cordial but cut him/her out of my life. This is not mean, it is a way to ensure your life is the best it can be. Ever heard of the saying "surround yourself with positive people"? Well, the put-you-downers must go!

Corrosive, leech like "friends", "family members", and even "spouses" need not remain in your orbit, and you ALWAYS have the final say on who stays and who goes (I put those groups in quotes because honest people who want you to be happy will not bring you down). Do NOT let anyone ever guilt or mentally restrain you into staying in a toxic relationship. Excise the habits and people that are keeping you from smiling in the morning, laughing in the afternoon, and truly enjoying life at night.

Just have the courage to step up and say, "I'm going to be happy. I'm getting rid of the trash right now!"

I think too many people want happiness but do not take the necessary steps to ensure it happens. So, today and not tomorrow, start searching for that dream job, read that book you've wanted to read for the past year, hang out with that friend who believes in your dreams and stop talking to that friend who only wants to complain, complain, complain.

AND REMEMBER . . . Complaining is not venting!

Venting is meant to make you feel better while putting your problem into words. Once you understand the problem, you can face it head on, solve it, and feel the happiness of satisfaction. This is productive.

Complaining, on the other hand, is not productive in the slightest. It's meant to put people, institutions, and situations in a bad light. It's not meant to be productive but to harm. And happiness' weakness is negativity, hate, and harmful aura.

SO . . .

Take control of your life and put happiness back at the center. Start building a life where you love working, you partake in meaningful relationships with those around you, and you take care of yourself without letting others dictate your life.

Because, honestly, when are you going to start living? Tomorrow or today? I choose to smile now. What about you?

Until next time.

---Author "The Jason Jack"

FOR ADDITIONAL READING:
The Habits of Supremely Happy People, by the HuffingtonPost.com

Wallpaper Wednesday! In That Moment

Welcome to 'Wallpaper Wednesday!' for my new short story, In That Moment!

(In That Moment, front cover)

To celebrate the release of In That Moment, I wanted to give all of you interneters out there FREE wallpapers for your desktop/laptop computers!

I've provided the wallpaper in two sizes. So, pick your favorite and feel free to plaster them around the net as you like :) Enjoy!

Background 1024x768:

Background 1336x768:

Book Description:

What Would You Do?

Charles Frank has it all. A loving wife, an adorable newborn daughter, and a good paying job. But on his way home, one second--one moment--shatters his entire picture-perfect life, and he is forced to make the toughest choice he has ever faced--

To live or to die?

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Purchase Here:

Paperback/ Kindle / Nook / Smashwords / Full PDF

SAMPLE: PDF

Download My New Short Story For FREE!

To celebrate the release of my new short story, In That Moment, I want to give it away--for FREE! (*story provided in PDF format)

If you are a Smashwords user, you may also download the file at its Smashword product page.

If you want to support me (the author), download the Kindle version which includes my commentary of the piece and an excerpt from my short story, Pleasure Button! :)

Enjoy!

SAMPLE: PDF

PRODUCT PAGE: In That Moment