Mark introduces the topic of self mastery and self transformation. Jim found 12 rules of self mastery online
Discipline
Focus
Resilience
Consistency
Solitude
Energy
Mind
Body
Legacy
Time
Surround
Untouchable
Jim explains how he was attracted to this framework
He connects this exercise to self awareness. He shares that our life is “on us”. No one is coming to help. We are responsible for our lives
Mark begins by reading the definition of each word. First is discipline. Mark suggests there is no destination. It’s a journey. Jim suggests discipline requires us to do hard things every day. Mark distinguishes between what we can’t control and what we can. These 12 practices are all within our control Mark reads the definition of discipline. He talks about his routines and how he is impacted by missing his routine. Jim reflects on the irony of associating discipline with freedom
Mark shares how all 12 are connected. He then reads the definition of focus
Jim shares how all our devices make focus very difficult. Mark talks about how his intellectual curiosity is a challenge for him.
Jim connects self awareness to self mastery. It’s the beginning of self mastery. Unfinished things become a source of regret and anxiety
Mark reads the definition of resilience…one of his favorite words
Jim says what doesn’t break you makes you. He sees this as the opposite of victimhood. Mark reflects on how we react to hardship. Jim agrees. Both guys reflect on how we react to people who opt for victimhood versus self accountability
Mark shares how he qualifies people in interviews by asking about hardship
Consistency is next. Small actions repeated over time. Mark shares his experience with getting close to quitting and says the closer you get to quitting, the closer you are to success. Jim shares how hard consistency is and how most people quit. He talks about the creative mind works regarding patents. Mark remembers the successful people he knows and Larry Bird in the context of showing up. Jim puts the perspective on showing up…ready, prepared, on time and energized
Solitude is next. Jim loves this idea because of the clarity it brings. It eliminates distractions. Being alone is something to strive to be comfortable with. Mark separates being alone and being lonely
Next is energy. Energy is a currency. Some people give energy and some people take energy away. Mark shares his experience with the news. He stopped watching because it was sapping his energy. Jim agrees. Mark says he lets people take his energy to a fault. He talks about both his daughters and how they handle new relationships. Both guys laugh about Mark’s ex-wife and her narcissism.
Once agian it’s a matter of self awareness. Next is the mind. Mark brings up his mind centered work. He equates it with exercise and compares the mind with the body. Jim relates this topic to the flywheel framework and the 5 areas of life. How directly the body and mind are dependent on one another.
The body is the next topic. Mark talks about eating with purpose and how challenged he is by it. Jim says if the body is not attended to, everything else is off. Jim says he gets his best thoughts when he is exercising. Mark shares how the 4 mile walk he took this morning, healed his mind. Next is legacy. Mark reads the definition of legacy and frames it as an issue that becomes bigger for men as we age. Jim talks about how he was thinking of legacy as an ego thing and how he has shifted his opinion toward impact versus ego. People want to serve and leave impact. He shares how he prefers not to get attention or credit for his service. Mark checks the time and suggests they quickly finish the list.
He summarizes with time, surround and untouchable. Jim addresses time as be careful with who you give your time to. Be selective of who you spend your time with. Mark suggests that you are the product of the 5 people you spend most of your time with. Jim references the idea of being untouchable. Mark concludes with his opinion about young people today and their struggles. He shares how important these 12 principles are for young people to live by. Jim adds that these 12 are good for all men. Not just young men. Jim ends with his opinion that these principles have been discouraged for means thought they might be toxic or bad
