Hodgepodge for $400 please, Alex

Written By: Dr. Rich Houston, Director of the Culverhouse School of Accountancy

• Have a good attitude about doing what you’re supposed to do in whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish, all while being nicer to yourself.
• Did you “fail” (whatever that means) because you were incapable or because you were unwilling?
• I saw this on Linkedin: “You can’t get through it if you don’t go through it.”
• Relatedly: “I’m only going to do what’s mandatory” is no way to live and “I’m only going to do what’s beneficial for me” is even less of a way to live. And, um, how do you know what will be beneficial and what will not.
• If you don’t try because you think you’ll fail, you never would have:

1. Fallen off a bike.
2. Felt helpless in the water.
3. Struggled to read.
4. Been guided by a coach.
5. Burned the toast.
6. Scraped a rock while driving (wait a second, that was me my second time behind the wheel. The first time, I drove off a flat asphalt playground onto a flat patch of grass.).

• There are too many opportunities not taken, perhaps because we’re paralyzed by the multitude available.
• Are you easily underestimated? If yes, instead of viewing it as a slight, view it as an advantage and use it for your benefit. People who encounter you often will leave thinking they “won,” only to later think “hey, what just happened?”
• Do not overestimate other peoples’ work ethic. Doing so causes you to underestimate yours.
• Two choices:

1. Door 1. You need to study but you’re sick of it, your friends ask you to go out, and you do…leading to a negative outcome.
2. Door 2. You need to study but you’re sick of it, your friends ask you to go out, and you don’t…leading to a positive outcome.

Which would you pick? The choice is not as easy as it seems. Door 1 is immediate pleasure, with long-term pain (and / or regret). Door 2 is immediate FOMO, and delayed gratification. Given that people often prefer instant gratification, the choice requires exhibiting discipline and setting priorities.

• Dressing for 2 pm is problematic when the difference between the morning and afternoon temperatures is as large as it’s been this week.
• Why does wist mean “to know or have knowledge” and wistful mean “having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing.” I wist than I’m wistful for Tacogi’s shrimp burritos with shrimp sauce.
• One of my doctors “fit me in” today. Others did not. Things like that make me look at people differently.
• There must be millions of reasons, thousands of things to keep you from doing what you wanna do. If it isn’t this then it’s that, back where it’s at, and you’re never through. I’m gonna spend the rest of today makin’ a list of things to do. Yes, that was written by Joe Walsh.
• This week, I learned two things from an episode of the British Baking Show. First, Noel said to a contestant: “If you really concentrate you can slow time down.” The contestant said “OK, alright.” I thought Noel’s comment was meant to be funny, and maybe it was, but there is something more. This week, my students answered the question “Is it a marathon or a sprint?” A few pointed out that if we live in the moment, and focus on what’s in front of us, our perception of time slows. So, Noel was right. Second, I learned that desserts spelled backwards is stressed. Whatever that means. Come to think of it, the sentence would mean something different if it were “stressed spelled backwards is desserts.”
• Something great that a student wrote: “When I was reading a definition of the word marathon, the sentence ‘The triumph of will over reason’ caught my eye. I think that is just a more beautiful way of saying endurance. It also reminds me of the phrase ‘mind over body.’ With regard to how I approach my work and responsibilities, I want to gain confidence in my marathon mindset.”

• Never underestimate the impact of timing. Appearing in someone’s life or something you say or do at the right time can mean more than you imagine.
• Last week, my students answered the question “Figuratively speaking, are objects in your rearview mirror larger or smaller than they appear?” Here’s a great answer:

Objects can appear larger or smaller. It’s analogous to a funhouse mirror—your angle determines the distortion. You step to the right and the objects double in size, towering over you. Step to the left, and they seem small and insignificant.

The metaphor of a car’s rearview window applies to whether you dwell in the past or look to the future. Dwelling in the past will almost always make an event seem larger and closer than it truly is. If you choose to drive while staring at your rearview mirror instead of looking through your windshield you’ll crash, just as giving power to things in your past will cause you to miss what’s directly ahead of you. While your rearview mirror is helpful in gauging your surroundings, what truly matters is focusing on where you’re headed, all the while handling the obstacles and enjoying the views.

You can control the distortion by choosing the perspective from which you view your life.

Finally, time to start reminding you to complete UA’s scholarship application. Most scholarships are not based only on grades, need also plays a role. If you have financial need, please tell your story in the space provided in the application! You do deserve to be considered.