After four weeks of tough competition, readers have crowned a champion. After four weeks of tough competition, New Jersey Monthly readers have crowned an underdog, Slack Tide Brewing Co., as New Jersey’s top craft brewery in the magazine’s 2019 Jersey Craft Beer Madness Competition. The competition began on February 26, with Jersey’s top-16 craft brewers (chosen by a panel of beer experts) pitted against each other in the elimination contest. For the contest, New Jersey Monthly split the state into northern and southern regions, with Interstate 195 as the dividing line. The eight northern and eight southern breweries were seeded 1 through 8, based on the vote by the expert panel. “It’s pretty exciting,” says Jason Campbell, who owns Clermont-based Slack Tide Brewing Co. with his brother Tadhg. “We were stoked to be in the top 16 to begin with.” The first big shock of the competition came in Round 1 when Slack Tide, 7th-seeded in the southern bracket, knocked off number-2 seed Tonewood Brewing. Slack Tide won another upset in Round 2 by beating Lakewood’s only brewery, Icarus. In round 3, Slack Tide pushed past their Cape May County neighbors, top-seeded Cape May Brewing. The final round pitted Slack Tide against Magnify Brewing, the 6th-seed in the northern bracket. Magnify had upset top-seeded Kane Brewing to reach the final round. Slack Tide’s full-court press of promotion through social media lifted the brewery to victory. “We tried to mobilize our base as best we could,” says Campbell. “We really just went with it.” This included sharing a new link on their Facebook and Instagram pages when each new round went live on four successive Tuesdays. They also updated their website homepage with an image of each bracket round and a link to vote. The win is just the latest exciting milestone for Slack Tide. In January, the brewery celebrated its third anniversary. Now, they can’t wait to share the good news with the fans who helped them sweep the championship.
Darius Foroux for Bergen Review Media That’s the thinking error that I’ve made in the past. And I’ll tell you why it’s a mistake to assume positive thoughts are good. I want to ask you a question. How many hours per day do you think? “I never thought about that.” So let me get this straight. You’re thinking all the time, and yet, you never think about how much time you spend thinking. That sounds like an addiction to me. I know, because I’m addicted to thinking too.
When someone says that overthinking is bad, we often assume that only negative thoughts are wrong. And by that definition, it automatically means that positive thoughts are good.
That’s the thinking error that I’ve made in the past. And I’ll tell you why it’s a mistake to assume positive thoughts are good. But first, let’s talk about the difference between positive thoughts and negative thoughts. Positive thoughts vs. negative thoughts I think most of us agree that negative thoughts are related to:
After all, negative thoughts make our lives worse. And positive thoughts should make our lives better, right? I wish that were the case. However, the truth is that when you overuse your brain, just like a drain, it can get clogged. The result? Foggy thinking. Which leads to bad decision making. You Are Not Your Thoughts Sure, you become whatever you think about. No one said it better than Marcus Aurelius in Meditations: “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” Our life situation is shaped by the quality of our thoughts. I believe in that. However, most of us assume that we are our thoughts. We say: “Well, I can’t help but think these things. That’s just me.” No, that’s NOT you. You can decide what thoughts to ignore in your mind. I like how Eckhart Tolle puts it in The Power Of Now: “The beginning of freedom is the realization that you are not the possessing entity — the thinker.” The only way to stop identifying yourself with your thoughts is to stop following through on all your thoughts. Instead, decide to live in the present moment — where you don’t have time to think, only to experience. How do you live in the present moment?Thinking is a tool. And instead of using that tool during the 16 or 17 hours that you’re awake, only use it when you NEED it. But how do you do that? Here’s the 4 step process I’ve used to stop overthinking.
Thanks for reading! I also wrote a book on this topic. It’s called THINK STRAIGHT. Check it out if you want to learn more about controlling your thoughts. This article first appeared on Darius Foroux. Tesla Model 3 is now entering the European market and it is making some automakers nervous. According to a new report, Porsche and Audi reverse-engineered Tesla’s new electric car and they were quite surprised by its cost. It’s somewhat common in the industry to purchase vehicles from competitor to see what they are up to, but it also becomes a necessity for vehicles that are seen as important disruptors. The Model 3 appears to fit the description as it apparently outsold all other premium sedans combined in the US. During the early production ramp up, it was difficult to get your hands on a Model 3, but some automakers paid a pretty penny to be amongst the first to be able to check out the new electric car. About a year ago, two Model 3 vehicles were spotted on their way to Germany – presumably to be reverse-engineered. Later, a report came out about a German automaker being impressed by Model 3 after reverse-engineering it. Now a new report from Germany’s Manager Magazin (German and paywall) includes a deep dive into the state of Audi with comments from executives and insider sources. It claims that Porsche and Audi, who are working together on a next-generation electric platform, had to change their approach because the cost was too high compared to what Tesla is achieving. They report: “The Porsche and Audi engineers have to change [the PPE] because Tesla’s Model 3 has gotten better than they thought.” The next-gen platform called Premium Platform Electric (PPE) was greenlighted almost two years ago and it is expected to be ready around 2020 or 2021. According to the new report, the first version was coming at about 3,000 euros too expensive, which Porsche is said to be able to absorb but Audi wasn’t on board. They believe that they need to lower the cost in order to be competitive with other upcoming EVs. The battery cell cost is apparently the biggest factor that pushes the cost of the platform higher and Tesla claims to be leading the industry on that front. According to the report, Audi and Porsche could delay the PPE in order to improve the cost and be competitive with Tesla. The PPE is becoming increasingly important for Audi according to Manager-Magazin’s report, which describes a failing e-tron program: The e-tron as the first electric Audi is not only late. It does not reach some target values and has become far too expensive with more than two billion euros in development costs. The approximately 600,000 cars sold for the break-even are now regarded as an illusion. The e-tron electric SUV was supposed to be delivered to customers last year, but Audi says that software issues have resulted in delays. The German automaker is still planning several other vehicles based on the same platform before the PPE becomes available. Electrek’s TakeWe often hear complaints about Tesla not yet delivering on the base $35,000 version of the Model 3, which I think is fair, but we still need to acknowledge that Tesla is the only automaker currently mass producing a compelling long-range EV and doing it profitably. I think that’s what is impressing Audi and Porsche here and what they wish to emulate with the PPE platform. A decade from now, I think we will not only look back at Model 3 for how the vehicle program accelerated EV adoption through volume but also for the impact it had on other automakers. The fact that they were apparently 3,000 euros behind for a platform coming in another 2 years just shows how Tesla is far ahead. As for the e-tron program, the report is worrying. I’ve been cutting Audi some slack over the delays for the e-tron SUV, but I’d like to see some volume soon.We hear that the launch in the US is still planned for Q2 2019. From the slow, simmering frustration that builds with being on hold with a customer service representative for 30 minutes to the quick snap at your barista when she takes longer than usual to make your oat milk latte, chances are that everyone has wondered how to be more patient every now and then. Kelly Davis, director of peer advocacy, supports, and services for Mental Health America explains that as technology advances and constant reachability can deprive us of time to rest and reset. “Even in the workplace, we’re expected to be available 24-hours a day. Now, your boss is in your pocket, your friends are in your pocket, and it’s really easy to have those expectations go both ways,” she says. “You feel the stress of other people being impatient with you, wanting you to immediately respond to things, and then you’re also expecting people to immediately respond to your needs, even if it’s not consciously.” Besides making even the nicest people irritable, the increasing inability to tolerate delay or a wrench in the plan can have some negative effects on your health, too. “Impatience creates stress, and stress has tremendous health implications,” says Jordana Jacobs, a NYC-based licensed clinical psychologist. “When we’re under stress, it causes chronic low inflammation in the body.” And, of course, inflammation’s the culprit behind a laundry list of problems that span everything from acne to gut to digestion issues. No thanks. So in this world that expects instant gratification all the time, how is one to cultivate patience? Experts divulge key advice, below. 1. Practice mindfulness and meditation Both Davis and Jacobs advise bringing a mindfulness and meditation practice into your life—whether you notice your impatience or not. “A mindfulness or meditation practice can help you become more present, teach you how to control your breath, and really focus on just being aware of the things that are happening in your body and around you, and in turn that helps with being less reactive,” says Davis. Even if you’re simply sitting on your floor for 10 minutes in silence every day, that could be enough. Davis says that once you implement this strategy, chances are you become more initially aware of the physical signs of impatience like faster breathing and tensed-up muscles, and can then slow your breath and bring yourself back to the moment (and peace!) more quickly. 2. Practice positive self-talk You can be your own (patience) hype-woman. How to do that? Davids recommends to turn up your positive inner voice. “When you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed with impatience, try this: say ‘I have time, everything doesn’t have to happen at once, other people are doing their best, and I’m doing my best,'” she says, adding that you can even make it into a mantra, repeating it with your breath until it sticks. When you’re practicing this positive self-talk, Davis adds that you should acknowledge your current emotions and remind yourself that what you’re feeling is only temporary. “You don’t have to come up with a solution just yet—calming yourself down should always be your first step,” she says. 3. Be patient with yourself Of course, on the journey of becoming a Zen-like patience queen, it’s key to remember to be patient with yourself. It’s okay if you mess up sometimes (and, like, stomp past a slow-walker). “Practice self compassion when you do get impatient, because it’s a skill that you build over time,” says Davis. “We’re constantly bombarded with getting things right away and other people expecting us to do things right away, so it will take a bit of time to practice and build the muscle again.” 4. Remind yourself that life is short If all else fails, remind yourself that life is short. Jacobs believes that understanding your limited time on earth can help you better understand your priorities, especially when it comes to the little things (like getting cut in line at the post office). “Deep relationships, love, meaning, and purpose rise above all and we more easily disentangle from the minutiae of our daily lives,” she says, making it easier to be patient when things don’t go your way. This might not feel as helpful in the heat of the moment (who likes to be cut in line?) but having perspective can help you take a step back when you’re about to snap. Consider it the “carpe diem” approach to patience. Naturally, impatience is linked to anger and irritability. Here are 3 therapist-approved tips on how to let go of anger. Reminder: Lack of sleep can lead to anger, so make sure to catch enough ZZZ’s. This is the power of the compound effect. Even if you engage your intellect only marginally in some activity, it can bring significant effects over a year. Most of daily activities — that are not totally mindless — will sharpen your mind when practiced over a year. This is the power of the compound effect. Even if you engage your intellect only marginally in some activity, it can bring significant effects over a year. I practice(d) most of the below activities for at least a year. It’s hard to estimate their effect of my brain’s acuteness, but I got some interesting results that speak for themselves. 1. Learn new knowledge Our capacity for learning is astounding. In the last few years I studied multiple topics, most of them for the first time in my life: self-publishing, personal development, habits development or online marketing. It’s not about becoming an expert (especially not in 10 minutes a day), but about the web of associations your brain creates. Now I get ideas regarding personal development while reading a scripture, or a thought about how a brain works pops out when I study my website traffic. 2. Consolidate old knowledge For about 2 years I had been studying professional documentation learning about databases. I had been working with databases at that moment in time for more than 8 years, but I had very little formal knowledge (two 6-month courses on university). I passed three professional exams, obtained two certificates and got a better job (35% higher salary). All of that came from 10-minute study sessions. 3. Learn new skills One skill I deliberately practiced for 10 minutes a day has been speed reading. I quickly doubled my reading speed and maintained my skill at this level. Thanks to those practices I read a few dozen books I wouldn’t have read otherwise. 4. Practice gratitude I keep three gratitude journals. Filling them with my entries takes about 10 minutes. This activity will not only sharpens your brain, it will improve EVERYTHING in your life. Gratitude makes your brain positive and when your brain is positive: “Every possible outcome we know how to test for raises dramatically.” — Shawn Achor I tested it on myself. It works. For everything indeed. 5. Meditate Studies had confirmed that meditation improves performance and productivity. I suppose it sharpens brain as well.Surely, it magnifies your self-awareness and self-knowledge is one of the foundations of success. “Success in the knowledge economy comes to those who know themselves — their strengths, their values, and how they best perform.” — Peter F. Drucker 6. Journal. Thinking in writing has this magical quality of clarifying your thoughts. What was a tangled web of incoherent associations in your head becomes on paper a clear and concise project/ plan/ train of thoughts/ discovery. It’s also great for gaining self-knowledge. 7. Exercise Ancient philosophers knew that already and modern research confirmed common sense: A sound mind in a sound body.People who exercise regularly have better cognitive abilities. 8. Listen to different music I mean, a different kind of music at every session. The nature of connection between music and brain performance is still an enigma for scientists, but one thing we know for sure: it’s powerful. I’ve seen an awesome documentary about how old people with dementia living in a vegetative state got animated when listening to a music from their youth. And different kinds of music activate different part of our brains. 9. Listen to podcasts You may learn something. You may hear some fascinating stories or facts. The best in this activity is that you can do it in background while doing something else (chores, workout, walking, etc.) 10. Solve puzzles There is a plentiful of logic games out there. Don’t focus on getting to another level. Instead try a new game every week (or even every day). 11. Solve real problems I work in IT support in my day job (applications, databases and servers maintenance). I HAVE TO solve real-life problems every single day. I had no idea what it meant for my creativity and attitude till I started studying personal development. Most people stay stuck in “I can’t” attitude. I don’t. Finding a way out is my second nature. Brainstorming, narrowing down options, trial and error approach — they are for me as natural as breathing. Admittedly, I did it for a lot more than 10 minutes a day. 12. Come up with ideas Ask a question and brainstorm 10 different answers. Preferably to some practical problem. Even better if it pertains to your life. Claudia Azula swears that idea generation train your brain like a good workout trains your body. Bonus: write them all down (see #6 above). 13. Use your non-dominant hand for daily exercises Brush your teeth, answer the phone or do any other everyday trivia. It’s known that cerebral hemispheres control one side of your body each. When you use your non-dominant hand neurons run through your less used hemisphere. It’s sharpening your brain in my dictionary. 14. Learn new words Extending your vocabulary expands your mental horizons. Your vocabulary is like a set of filters your brain uses to process all the sensual impulses and channel them to your conscious mind. This article was originally published on Medium. Looking back on the times the Academy got it right when it came to the biggest prize. The night of the Oscars ceremony – which was first held 90 years ago this May – is the one essential date in the movie world calendar, the giddy, glamorous apex of industry celebration. It’s fascinating and infuriating. But the Academy Awards don’t always get it right. In fact, on many now infamous occasions, they got it totally wrong. Giving How Green Was My Valley best picture over Citizen Kane, for example. But while there is always going to be debate over whether the best picture actually won best picture – merit is a difficult thing to quantify, after all – each year’s top prize winner and, perhaps more importantly, the reaction to it, tells us something about the cultural zeitgeist. The Academy Awards represent, indeed, a snapshot of a section of America’s prevailing concerns, the issues and themes that are deemed important by the Academy voters and by the audiences who voted with their feet and put the film on the awards circuit in the first place. Of course, prevailing concerns can be swayed, as they were in the era of Harvey Weinstein’s notoriously forceful awards campaigns. And the issues that concern the average Academy voter are unlikely to overlap much with those of the average punter. But the best of the best pictures over the past nine decades are not just the most elegantly crafted pieces of film-making – they are the films with themes that resonate still with a present-day audience. Wendy Ide Avoid the "Peter Principle." This post is part of Forbes’ Career Challenge: Position Yourself For A Promotion In 15 Days. Every additional year I spend in the workforce, I realize promotions become increasingly mystifying. The guy you never thought would advance suddenly gets a raise. Your colleague who definitely didn’t deserve it gets promoted. Your peer, who is no smarter nor harder working, gets promoted more quickly. But you also get promoted faster than you expected maybe as many times as you’re disappointed. You are recognized for work you thought everyone was doing. And you get a raise when you least expect it. After 10 years of watching these promotion cycles, I’ve decided they only get more and more complex. Promotions at work, by and large, still mimic “promotions” at school. At school, you do well in an intro-level class, and you then advance to the next. That process, however ill-suited, is the same one in place for promotions at work. Do well in your existing job and you will excel. But the skill set to excel in your current job doesn’t necessarily match the skill set required for the job you’re stepping into. You don’t have to look far to find examples. It’s common to see great software developers who get promoted and then poorly manage, great writers who get promoted to editors and then poorly edit, business analysts who get promoted and then poorly manage or sell the work. In short, the promotion problem is everywhere. So common, in fact, that there’s an entire management theory around it: The Peter Principle. The Peter Principle |
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