How Emotionally Lazy are You?

Photo: HMK

I don't know why, but I LOVE picking apart Seth Godin's blog posts. I think mainly because his "nuggets" are designed to be helpful or be an "ah ha" moment of insight. Unfortunately, I think they are too often trying too hard and too often wrong.

Case in point: Latest is on the "new laziness." Here is the meat of it:

"...the new laziness has nothing to do with physical labor and everything to do with fear. Ifyou're not going to make those sales calls or invent that innovation or push that insight,you're not avoiding it because you need physical rest. You're hiding out because you're afraid of expending emotional labor.

This is great news, because it's much easier to become brave about extending yourself than it is to become strong enough to haul an eighty pound canoe."

REALLY? Does anyone really buy that? I've actually avoid tasks that require emotional labor by committing to doing physical labor as avoidance.

I'm sure you have too. Think about the last time you got REALLY upset about something youcould not complete not because it would be PHYSICALLY exhausting but because of the emotional or mental input it would require from you. I bet, much like me, you might have found a cleaning project or something you set aside that did not require mental and emotional output to get it done and you did it.

It might be cute to think of this as the new laziness but the problem with the concept: it is HARDER to do the emotional/mental work- otherwise, why are there so MANY blog posts about prioritizing, focusing, or finding the wherewithal to do what must be done?

Which is harder for you, finding the strength for physical or emotional labor?

Slow Death or Rebirth for Myspace?

Are we really watching the slow inevitable death of Myspace? With the integration with Facebook complete and the push towards what appears to be a mobile only function , isn't it time to call this one? One report says that Myspace is making $200 million less this year. They are functionally giving up on Myspace Music , which was always their bread and butter. Without the music tie in, why would people BOTHER with Myspace? I'm talking about it because my wife's band has used every medium known to mankind to promote themselves online and Myspace has been nothing but dead weight from the very beginning. Only bands and their most ardent fans go there. The rest are on Facebook. There is talk of selling Myspace, but who in their right mind would consider it? This will have some interesting implications for bands down the road. Many use Myspace as their de facto website, just pushing their domain name onto the customizable site. Now apparently, Reverbnation , a North Carolin

Check out my appearance on the The Toddcast Podcast

Click and watch the podcast recording of my appearance on the Toddcast Podcast Such a fun time!

New Life

It's weird, sad and slightly freeing. I've been headed towards a completely different life for a lot longer than I even knew. It took me a while to catch up to realize it was happening. Thankfully, I was cognizant enough to see it finally and mostly ready for it. It's amazing when you have the rug completely pulled out from underneath you. The adjustments are jarring. I made mistakes, but like most I learned from them, adapted, and tried my best to do better. The reason you see that truck next to a storage place? That's the sum of my life right now. Never take for granted that you will work hard for something or someone, and it will end up meaning very little. You are guaranteed nothing, owed nothing, promised nothing. Anything and everything can be taken away in a heartbeat. I wrote this to my kids a while back: I tried to be the best father I could be based on what I knew when I knew it and how I could. One of the lessons for your life needs to be: you need to b

Todd Lyden

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