And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

I read and reviewed Sharon Begley’s book, Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain (Ballantine Books, 2007).  I gave it an outstanding review ---- five stars out of five.  Then I read and reviewed Shawn Achor’s book, The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work. (Crown Business, 2010).  I gave it an outstanding review — five stars out of five.  What these two books have in common — and I’m sure there will be many more that discuss the topic — is neuroplasticity — the basis of and foundation for neurogenesis (brain growth).

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

I know that you’ve heard it all before; however, there is a better context now (neuroplasticity) that should renew the spirit, regenerate the willpower, and reinvigorate the body.  And, in all of this renewal, regeneration, and reinvigoration, you will automatically be renovating, redeveloping, and rebuilding something even more important than your spirit, willpower, or body, you will be revitalizing your brain.  Now, that’s a powerful incentive!


And Then Some News

Thursday Essay Preview -"Lucky Sevens" and Relationships

Thursday's Essay Preview

Thousands of couples got married on July 7, 2007, because they believed that date would result in wedded bliss—“lucky sevens” they thought.  But, what effect does luck have on relationships?

For this essay I depend on the research of Professor Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire who studied “luck” for more than ten years.  I have avoided using quotation marks, however, I depend on his article, “The loser’s guide to getting lucky” (sponsored on the Web by BBC News) for the information in this essay.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

So, for those who chose to marry on July 7, 2007, because it had the potential of bringing them triple the amount of luck for wedded bliss, I leave them the following suggestions.  Let your luck motivate you to pay attention and plan carefully.  First, pay attention to everything around you so you can take advantage of all opportunities to make life better for your relationship and your relationship partner.  Second, plan not just for today but for years ahead.  Plan to make time for yourself, for your partner, and to enhance your relationship.  Save money every week to assure financial security.  Because there is always an element of chance in life, you need to capitalize on that chance to make life more rewarding, challenging, and  exciting.  If luck is truly the confluence of preparation and opportunity, then it is easy not just to understand but to support what Thomas Jefferson said: “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have it.”

And Then Some News - Thursday Essay Preview

Thursday's Essay Preview

My wife and I took a seminar some time ago that used Wilson Learning materials, and one of the conclusions after learning about various social styles and determining our own, was that one of the key predictors of relationship success was versatility or a relationship partner’s ability to change and be variable.  The more rigid or inflexible a partner was, the less likely a relationship will survive.  In my mind, having a marriage that has lasted more than forty years, this appeared to be common sense.  I, as it turns out, am less versatile than my wife; however, she scored as extremely versatile, and it is revealed daily at a variety of different points in our relationship.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

Once you and your partner come as close as possible on important components of compatibility, then it depends on your versatility — your flexibility and willingness to adjust.  Improving versatility reduces tension in relationships and enables people to focus efficiently on daily tasks and the work to be done.  Partners who remain versatile, flexible, and nimble will benefit their relationship. This versatility helps them resolve problems — even though clear-cut answers may be impossible to find.  Effective partners know how to handle uncertainty by drawing on their experience and the experience of their partner. They are able to notice and analyze important issues in complex matters, track down answers, and resolve issues in mutually compatible and satisfying ways.

Site-stripe Updates and Richard L. Weaver II Thursday Essay Preview

And Then Some Publishing and ANTworkstudio Updates

This week the yellow site-stripe was updated.

What is that you ask?

Atop all of our blogs and many websites there is a yellow band that includes links to more books, videos, blogs... And Then Some!

Upon visiting the pages that include the site-stripe, the popular opinion was the site-stripe was too demonstrative and felt as if you were to navigate the current website using this feature. Confused? Most people were and that wasn't the point.

Our goal was for you to visit our many websites, videos, and blogs in the And Then Some Publishing and ANTworkstudio world using the yellow site-stripe. We weren't supposed to create confusion.

We hope we've fixed the issue. Use the new yellow site-stripe links and see more books, videos, baby books...  you guessed it... And Then Some!

Let us know what you think of our yellow site-stripe atop this page. Did you find something interesting? We hope you did! 

It's always fun to start off with a joke:  Laugh... And Then Some

Thursday's Essay Preview

 As I write these words (at the end of the first week of February), over one-third of those who made a New Year’s resolution have already broken them.  According to John C. Norcross, a professor of psychology at the University of Scranton, six months after January 1st, 46% of those who make them will not have fulfilled them, and FranklinCovey, based on a poll of 15,000 customers, claims that 80% of those making resolutions will break them.  So, how long does it take for the shine of a new resolution to rub off?

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

At the Time/CNN web site, Maia Szalavitz, in her essay, “How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions: Advice from the Experts,” writes: “ . . . recognize that willpower is like a muscle — it gets stronger with appropriate use but ultimately weakens if overloaded” . . .  set “short-term goals that are moderately difficult, realistic, concrete and measurable” . . . start “at a level that is challenging but not overwhelming [to] provide a sense of achievement and success — which can give you the drive to take on bigger challenges.”  That is, not only do you not need to let the shine rub off, but you can polish it to an even higher level of shine!

News... And Then Some