Weekly Debrief – Oct 7th, 2024

Posted on by Jerad Hill

Last week, I started strong. I felt well-organized and had an overall restful weekend. As the week progressed, a lack of mental strength slowly chipped away at that early ambition. By the weekend, I was behind the curve and less effective than I wanted.

On Sunday, I ran the Trail Blazer 10K trail race in Whitefish, MT. I ran this race last year and finished in one hour and fifteen minutes 🐢. So far this year, I have run close to 300 miles and feel stronger than last year. I hoped to beat last year’s time. Unfortunately, I finished one minute slower.

I have spent considerable time this week pondering last week’s insight: “Your habits will dictate your routine, and your routine will dictate the quality of your life.” The results are shared below.

My weekly debrief and insights are available to those who support my substack. Please consider supporting my work.

Weekly Debrief – Sept 29th, 2024

Posted on by Jerad Hill

I write about a page each day in my journal. This page contains notes, quotes, scripture, and other insights I might have that day. I have been doing this for over two years now. Journaling has changed my life in many ways.

Lately, I have struggled with the fact that I am writing everything in a paper journal that nobody may ever see. I am not writing for anyone specifically, but I believe that thoughts and ideas should be shared. I plan to start sharing these privately with members of this Substack.

It will be private for a couple of reasons. First, much of it is personal. Perhaps most importantly, it contains insights I have thought about and spent the week distilling them into an idea. I believe there is value in that, and I only want to share it with people who want to hear it.

Weekly Debrief and Coffee at Black Rifle Coffee Company in Kalispell, MT

Weekly Debrief

Fitness:

  • Bike: 89.5 Miles
  • Run 3.1 Miles

Biggest Insight/Idea:

Your habits will dictate your routine, and your routine will dictate the quality of your life.

Weekly Wins:

  • Finished a bunch of youtube videos from a backlog and got many of them posted.
  • Started going through the mess that is my office. My wife is helping me get it cleaned out and organized.
  • Tuesday morning Bible Study discussion was excellent. We discussed how we can be a Timothy (encourager) or an Epaproditis (enforcer) to help keep each other on the right path.
  • Set some goals for October
  • Strong workout on Friday with a hard bike ride and one of my fastest 5k runs on the treadmill ever.

Weekly Loss:

  • Some wasted time procrastinating while avoiding work tasks.
  • Slept in longer than I needed to a couple of days this week.

The week ahead:

  • Film some comparison videos with the new cameras I am testing (Hike in Glacier, go flying, go on a bike ride)
  • Start posting to my Substack!
  • Figure out how I should post the weekly debrief.
  • Start a Bible reading challenge with my Tuesday Morning Guys during October.
  • Get a workout plan started with my daughter and I.
  • Work on my company website.

Ideas to work on:

  • How do I make fast decisions faster? Is my Personal Impact Filter enough or the right tool for that?
  • How do I tell y story and differentiate my brand in a sentence or less?
  • The only thing I have a chance of bringing into heaven is my children.

Future weekly debriefs will only be available to supporting members of this substack. Becoming a supporting member helps buy me a coffee and provide me with extra time to read, think, and process thoughts and ideas.

How I Make Decisions – Personal Impact Filter

Posted on by Jerad Hill

Do I have ADHD, or am I just overwhelmed with options? It would be easy to self-diagnose and assume that my inability to stay focused is some sort of deficit I have to learn to deal with. Perhaps we live in a world where it is nearly impossible to ignore the unexplored and stay on task. We are exposed to many potential ideas and opportunities every second; how can we stay focused?

This pseudo ADHD I have has served me well at times as a sort of early alarm to pivot, and I have done that a few times. I diversified my work just before the housing market crash of 2008 and didn’t suffer as hard as many others did. However, it has also held me back as a few moments of procrastination can lead me to start building a new website for some idea I dreamt up only moments before.

I have been self-employed for 25 years now. Only in the last year have I realized that I need a system to protect me from myself. Enter the Personal Impact Filter. It allows me to run an opportunity through a simple set of questions to see if it is something I should pursue further.

Components of the Filter

This filter is designed to help me make more informed decisions and qualify ideas effectively. It consists of two main parts:

  1. A Quick Assessment for Simpler Decisions
  2. A Detailed Evaluation for more complex decisions or ideas

The Quick Assessment allows me to rapidly gauge the time cost, energy drain, alignment with current goals, and impact level of a decision or idea. This helps me quickly determine whether to proceed with something or not.

The Detailed Evaluation dives deeper into various aspects of the decision, including:

  • Time and energy investments
  • Alignment with your specific goals
  • Impact assessment
  • Flexibility considerations
  • Resource allocation
  • Long-term considerations
  • A gut check for your emotional response

This comprehensive evaluation helps me avoid impulsive decisions and consider all relevant factors before committing to new ideas or opportunities.

The filter is designed to be flexible, allowing me to use just the quick assessment for simpler decisions and the full detailed evaluation for more complex ones. It also emphasizes my time and energy management priorities, alignment with my various life goals, and maintaining personal freedom.

Personal Impact Filter

Quick Assessment (for simple decisions)

  1. Time Cost: Low (1-3) / Medium (4-7) / High (8-10)
  2. Energy Drain: Low (1-3) / Medium (4-7) / High (8-10)
  3. Alignment with Current Goals: Poor (1-3) / Moderate (4-7) / Strong (8-10)
  4. Impact Level: Low (1-3) / Medium (4-7) / High (8-10)

Quick Decision Guide:

  • If Time Cost and Energy Drain are both Low, and either Alignment or Impact is High, consider saying Yes and exploring further.
  • If either Time Cost or Energy Drain is High, and both Alignment and Impact are not High, consider saying No and avoid.
  • For other combinations, proceed to the Detailed Evaluation.

Detailed Evaluation (for complex decisions or ideas)

  1. Time Investment:
    • Estimated hours per week: ____
    • Duration of commitment: ____
    • Is this a one-time event or a recurring commitment?
  2. Energy Requirement:
    • Mental energy needed (1-10): ____
    • Physical energy needed (1-10): ____
    • Emotional energy needed (1-10): ____
  3. Goal Alignment:
    • How does this align with improving health? (1-10): ____
    • How does this align with work focus? (1-10): ____
    • How does this align with company growth? (1-10): ____
    • How does this align with relationship building? (1-10): ____
    • How does this align with marriage improvement? (1-10): ____
    • How does this align with serving the church? (1-10): ____
  4. Impact Assessment:
    • Positive impact on personal life (1-10): ____
    • Positive impact on work-life (1-10): ____
    • Potential negative impacts: ________________
  5. Flexibility Check:
    • Does this lock me into a set schedule? Yes / No
    • Does this tie me to a specific location? Yes / No
    • How easily can I adjust or exit if needed? (1-10): ____
  6. Resource Allocation:
    • What current activities might I need to stop or reduce?
    • Will this take away from family time? Yes / No / How much?
  7. Long-term Considerations:
    • How does this contribute to my long-term goals? (1-10): ____
    • Are there any potential future benefits not immediately apparent?
  8. Gut Check:
    • Initial excitement level (1-10): ____
    • Anxiety or hesitation level (1-10): ____
    • Does this feel like an authentic “yes” for me? Yes / No / Unsure

I keep my Personal Impact Filter in a Google Doc so I can easily access it from any of my devices when I need it. Sometimes, I print it out and use a pen; other times, I duplicate it and save it as a new file. Occasionally, I will go back and look at the Personal Impact Filters I filled out in the past. I like to add notes and details about what I was thinking and what I was working on when the new thought or request led me to need the filter once again.

The Decision Making Process:

Running ideas and requests through this filter helps me quickly determine whether to investigate the opportunity further or pass and return to my existing priorities.

  1. Fill out the relevant sections above.
  2. Review your answers, paying special attention to high and low scores.
  3. Consider the balance between time/energy costs and potential impacts.
  4. Ensure alignment with your goals and values.
  5. Check that it doesn’t overly restrict your freedom or family time.
  6. Make a tentative decision: Accept / Decline / Need More Information
  7. Sleep on it for complex decisions. Revisit after 24 hours if possible.
  8. Make your final decision and commit to it.

Remember: It’s okay to decline good opportunities to make room for great ones that align better with my goals and values.

Overriding The Filter

Sometimes, I end up overriding the filter. Deciding to write this blog article this morning is a solid example of that. While I wouldn’t run a blog article idea through the entire filter, it was not on my agenda today. However, I responded to a post on Threads that somebody posted asking, “How do you make decision-making easier?” I immediately thought about my Personal Impact Filter and how it has helped me over the past year. Sharing what I have learned in a way that can help others charges me up, so it was easy to say yes to writing this article right away.

Updating The Filter

I have updated areas of the filter over the past year. As goals and lifestyle requirements change, so will the filter. It is a living document meant to help me stay focused.

What’s Important to You?

What are a couple of things that would be part of your Personal Impact Filter? Share them with me in the comments section.

Notion Book Quotes Widget for iPhone

Posted on by Jerad Hill

A few years ago, I switched from paper books to Kindle but found my way back to books in print. I felt that the Kindle left me disconnected from my reading content. You can’t simply thumb through a Kindle book.

I missed the ability to display my Kindle highlights as a widget on my phone’s home screen. I was using Readwise for that. Readwise makes it easy to view your Kindle highlights in the app and display random highlights in a widget on your phone’s home screen. Readwise allows for manual highlights entry, but if I have to manually enter them, I might as well use Notion.

After a few search requests, I landed on a script written by Mystery123SK. However, the script did not work with the Notion database format that I had created, so I began making changes to the code. I used to manually write code but have not had to exercise that part of my brain much in the last decade. This allowed me to use the latest version of Claude.AI from Anthropic.

I have seen many examples of using AI to generate code, but this was my first attempt. I asked Claude.ai to write a simple script that would bring in database content from Notion and display it in a widget that Scriptable (an iOS app) would generate from the code. It took me a few hours working with Claud to get it right, but I finally got the code to run correctly and display in a Scriptable widget.

Through my years of using Notion, I have always wanted my data to be formatted to make it easy to export into something else. That means using the Name field for the quote itself. I also wanted to use Select fields to sort and filter within Notion.

Here is what you need to create your own Notion Book Quotes Widget

  1. Notion – Get a free Notion account
  2. Quotes Database – Copy my quotes database to your Notion account.
  3. Scriptable App for iOS
  4. The Code – See below
  5. Your unique Database ID – See below
  6. Your unique Secret Integration API Token – See below

The Code

Copy this code into a new script in the scriptable app. It is best to view this post from a mobile browser so you can copy the code and paste it into the app.

// Notion settings
const databaseID = 'YOUR_DATABASE_ID';
const token = 'YOUR_SECRET_TOKEN';
const notionVersion = '2022-06-28';
const notionApi = `https://api.notion.com/v1/databases/${databaseID}/query`;

// Main function
(async () => {
  let quote = await readNotionQuote();
  if (!quote) {
    console.log('No quote found');
    return;
  }
  let widget = await createWidget(quote.text, quote.author, quote.book, quote.tags);
  if (config.runsInWidget) {
    Script.setWidget(widget);
  } else {
    await widget.presentMedium();
  }
  Script.complete();
})();

async function readNotionQuote() {
  let req = new Request(notionApi);
  req.method = 'POST';
  req.headers = {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${token}`,
    "Notion-Version": notionVersion,
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
  };
  req.body = JSON.stringify({
    page_size: 100
  });
  let res = await req.loadJSON();
  
  if (!res.results || res.results.length === 0) {
    return null;
  }
  let quotes = res.results.map(page => {
    let quoteText = '';
    if (page.properties.title && Array.isArray(page.properties.title.title)) {
      quoteText = page.properties.title.title.map(t => t.plain_text).join('');
    } else if (page.properties.Quote && Array.isArray(page.properties.Quote.title)) {
      quoteText = page.properties.Quote.title.map(t => t.plain_text).join('');
    }
    
    let authorName = page.properties.Author?.select?.name || '';
    let bookTitle = page.properties.Book?.select?.name || '';
    let rating = (page.properties.Rating?.select?.name || '').length; // Count stars in the rating
    let tags = page.properties.Tags?.multi_select?.map(tag => tag.name) || [];
    return {
      text: quoteText,
      author: authorName,
      book: bookTitle,
      rating: rating,
      tags: tags
    };
  }).filter(quote => quote.text.trim() !== '' && quote.author.trim() !== '');
  
  if (quotes.length === 0) {
    return null;
  }
  
  // Weighted random selection based on rating
  let totalWeight = quotes.reduce((sum, quote) => sum + Math.pow(2, quote.rating), 0);
  let randomWeight = Math.random() * totalWeight;
  let weightSum = 0;
  
  for (let quote of quotes) {
    weightSum += Math.pow(2, quote.rating);
    if (weightSum > randomWeight) {
      return quote;
    }
  }
  
  // Fallback to random selection if something goes wrong
  return quotes[Math.floor(Math.random() * quotes.length)];
}

async function createWidget(text, author, book, tags) {
  let widget = new ListWidget();
  widget.backgroundColor = new Color("#1C1C1E");

  let quoteText = widget.addText(`"${text}"`);
  quoteText.centerAlignText();
  quoteText.font = Font.boldSystemFont(16);
  quoteText.textColor = new Color("#FFFFFF");
  quoteText.minimumScaleFactor = 0.5;

  widget.addSpacer(8);

  let authorText = widget.addText(`- ${author}`);
  authorText.centerAlignText();
  authorText.font = Font.boldSystemFont(14);
  authorText.textColor = new Color("#AAAAAA");
  authorText.minimumScaleFactor = 0.5;

  if (book) {
    widget.addSpacer(4);
    let bookText = widget.addText(book);
    bookText.centerAlignText();
    bookText.font = Font.italicSystemFont(12);
    bookText.textColor = new Color("#AAAAAA");
    bookText.minimumScaleFactor = 0.5;
  }

  if (tags.length > 0) {
    widget.addSpacer(4);
    let tagsText = widget.addText(`Tags: ${tags.join(', ')}`);
    tagsText.centerAlignText();
    tagsText.font = Font.systemFont(12);
    tagsText.textColor = new Color("#888888");
    tagsText.minimumScaleFactor = 0.5;
  }

  widget.refreshAfterDate = new Date(Date.now() + 1000 * 60 * 60);
  return widget;
}

When I have time, I will likely commit this code to Github, a better platform for sharing code than this post.

Feel free to copy the code into Scriptable to create your own widget. Replace “YOUR_DATABASE_ID” and “YOUR_SECRET_TOKEN” with your database and secret token.

How to find your Notion Database ID

How to create a Notion API Token

You must create a specific Notion API Token for the script to connect to.

Connect the Notion API Token to your Quotes Database

After you create the integration, you must connect the database to it.

Your Own Custom Book Quotes Widget

Congrats, you now have your custom book quotes widget based on quotes saved in a Notion database.

Troubleshooting

The first time I ran my code, nothing happened. I had Claude add in error reporting. That allowed me to identify that the script was looking for an incorrect field name. The error received was: “No Quote Found.” That is the default error, which can mean anything. I went down the rabbit hole of asking Claude to add in more detailed error reporting but that simply added a ton of bloat to the code and didn’t help, so I started over.

  1. Ensure your Database ID, Secret Token, and Database Field Names are correct.
  2. Check that your database is connected to the correct integration.

I will update this post as I have more time. I will also produce a setup tutorial soon.

Becoming A More Sensitive Communicator

Posted on by Jerad Hill

As a business owner, husband, father, friend, and church member, I often face situations where conversations could lead to conflict. I have recognized a need to be more sensitive to others, especially when desiring to elicit change. I’m embarking on a journey to enhance my communication skills because I want to improve and provide value in all interactions and relationships. I’ve put together some strategies for preparing for difficult conversations, being a better listener, deciding when to speak up, and seeking feedback to improve.

My journey toward becoming more sensitive in my interactions is influenced by a unique blend of experiences. Growing up, I learned to be highly self-sufficient, which shaped my direct and straightforward communication style. This independence is a double-edged sword—it fosters resilience and self-reliance but sometimes at the expense of sensitivity toward others’ feelings. Additionally, years of navigating the rough waters of internet feedback, which is often blunt and unfiltered, have conditioned me to prioritize resilience over emotional response. These experiences and significant life challenges have instilled in me a strong desire for change and improvement, prioritizing effective outcomes over merely protecting my own feelings.

This blend of experiences has given me a perspective that is perhaps less traditionally sensitive but is now consciously evolving. Recognizing the impact of my background on my communication style, I am committed to adapting and refining how I connect with others. I understand that true leadership and personal growth involve asserting my views and genuinely hearing and valuing those of others. Here’s how I plan to apply this understanding to become more adept at managing and nurturing my relationships through sensitive and effective communication.

Preparing for Difficult Conversations

Preparing for a conversation where I anticipate conflict is crucial. I start by reflecting on my intentions and the outcome I desire. Is my goal to understand another perspective or to share my own view? Understanding my true intent helps shape the approach I take.

Researching and understanding the other person’s background and previous reactions will help me tailor my approach. I organize my thoughts and main points beforehand to stay focused and clear, ensuring that I’m not just reacting impulsively during the conversation.

Becoming a Better Listener

Over the years, I have become a much better listener, but work still needs to be done. This involves more than just hearing the words; it’s about understanding why they’re being said. I want to do better at eliminating distractions that distract me from the person speaking to me. This shows respect and helps me grasp the full scope of what’s being discussed.

I’ve also been working on deferring judgment. This means holding off on forming an opinion until I’ve fully heard and considered the other person’s viewpoint. It’s about being open, not defensive.

Responding Less and More Thoughtfully

The impulse to respond immediately can be intense in conversations, especially those charged with emotion or disagreement. However, I’ve learned that this quick-fire approach often doesn’t serve well, particularly given my tendency towards sarcasm. While sarcasm can sometimes lighten the mood, it can obscure my true intentions and may be dismissive or insensitive. To avoid these pitfalls, I am focusing on responding less and thinking more.

Taking a moment to pause before responding does more than just help me collect my thoughts. It allows me to consider the impact of my words and how they might be received. This pause is crucial to filter out sarcasm and ensure that my true intent, engaging in meaningful and constructive dialogue, shines through. By moderating my tone and choosing my words more carefully, I can convey my opinions in a way that is respectful and considerate of the feelings of others.

Additionally, I’m learning to use this pause to ask myself a few key questions: Is this comment necessary? Is it true? Is it kind? This reflection helps me avoid making remarks that could be hurtful or counterproductive, focusing instead on responses that contribute positively to the conversation. This practice makes me a more thoughtful communicator and a more sensitive participant in any discussion.

By committing to these changes, I aim to transform how I express myself, making my delivery more sensitive and my interactions more fruitful. This shift is not just about reducing sarcasm but about enriching the quality of my communications, ensuring I’m as effective in conveying my message as I am earnest in hearing others’.

Deciding What’s Worth Bringing Up

Not every disagreement needs to be voiced, and not every conflict needs to be resolved as I initially thought it should. I’ve been practicing assessing the importance of the issue at hand. If it affects core values or important objectives, it’s worth discussing. But if it’s a minor issue or based on personal preference, sometimes it’s better to let it go.

Reflecting Through Journaling

I journal daily, but I now use it as a tool to reflect on each significant interaction. After conversations, I note the context, key points, and outcomes, then analyze what went well and where I could improve. This includes assessing whether the other person felt heard and appreciated and identifying moments where I might have reverted to less constructive habits, such as sarcasm. This process helps me recognize and reinforce positive behaviors and critically evaluate areas for improvement. By committing to applying these insights in future interactions, I turn each conversation into a learning opportunity, fostering continual growth in my communication skills and sensitivity.

Seeking and Utilizing Feedback

Feedback is vital. I will make it a point to ask close friends or colleagues for their honest opinions about my communication style. This feedback has been and will continue to be instrumental in helping me understand how I come across and how I can improve. After conversations, I reflect on what went well and what didn’t, using this as a base for further improvement.

Moving Forward

Every conversation is a learning opportunity. By preparing thoughtfully, listening actively, responding judiciously, choosing my battles wisely, and seeking constructive feedback, I am becoming a better communicator and a more sensitive and understanding individual. These strategies minimize conflict; they enhance understanding and respect, paving the way for more meaningful and productive interactions.

This is not about virtue signaling; it’s a genuine expression of my commitment to personal growth and better communication. I’m also inviting accountability from those around me—family, friends, and colleagues—empowering them to call attention to my progress and setbacks. This accountability is crucial as it reinforces and reminds me of why I am doing this, ensuring that my efforts to listen more empathetically, respond more thoughtfully, and engage more constructively are not just aspirational but actualized in my everyday interactions.

Not always who I want to be

Posted on by Jerad Hill

I’m a husband and a father of four. I think, journal, and pray about the man I want to be for my family. Sometimes, I am able to carry out my desires. Other times, I don’t recognize myself. I want my wife and kids to get the best I have to offer, but at times, they get my most selfish side.

Sometimes, I have more patience for total strangers. I want my family to think of me as patient, but it’s hard to lead that way. I try to remove all distractions that would make me impatient, but those efforts fall short.

I have found that being a husband and a father is a lonely effort. Nobody wants to hear about your struggles or share their struggles. All we have is what we project, which is not an accurate depiction, intentionally or not. My most profound conversations are with men who recently experienced a tragedy like their spouse leaving them. It takes that amount of pain for a man to open up.

Dealing with everything within my own mind is a closed loop, making it more difficult for new information to enter. Sharing something out loud forces it to become real. You need someone staring back at you when words come out of your mouth, someone who cares. Feedback is everything.

I want to normalize talking about the difficulties of life. It should be normal. Doing life alone is not normal, especially when you have a choice. It’s easy to focus on the external and to point fingers. I point my fingers at myself. I am the leader. If those in my care are not thriving, it’s on me. I want to surround myself with others who take their job serious. They see it as a calling and desire new levels of greatness. I know there are people out there who want the same. Those who are willing to do the internal work and are not simply nodding their heads in agreement.

Who else is not always who they want to be?

Day Trading Recap – February 2024

Posted on by Jerad Hill

This month of small losses was tough, but I finished up $1,680 overall. Thankfully, I could keep most of my losses relatively small due to the smaller size of my account and my desire to limit risk. As I got further into the month, I started using the Bjorgum Key Levels indicator within TradingView, which helped me quickly identify key levels.

What I Traded in February

I only traded $SPY and $QQQ options this month.

Though my account size is small, I utilized just about all available funds each day, which, for a couple of days, saved me. I recognize this is risky behavior because I encourage myself to get back in the market and sometimes make an incorrect play, erasing an earlier win I had that trading day.

I only trade for an hour at the most each day, but many of these days, I allowed the market to consume my mind even after I was done trading. After deciding I am done for the day, I need to do a better job of closing down TradingView so I can focus on other work.

Crypto

I have been watching crypto and noticed the market has been sideways for a long time and seems to be consolidating. I decided to add to my holdings on 2/20 and again on 2/24. At the time of writing this, 3/1, the crypto market has been moving to the upside, with some exciting things happening around popular meme coins. Perhaps we will finally see Bitcoin hit a new all-time high in March.

My Options Trading Journey

Last month, I decided to get back into stock options day trading. I had been trading off an on for the last several years, having some success followed by setbacks.

During the first half of 2022, I took my account from $12,000 to shy of $200k. That was followed by several colossal mistakes that destroyed my account. Those drops are not withdrawals; they are money returned to the market.

Those few months were pretty emotional. In June, I decided to stop trading because I could not control my emotions. Thankfully, I was only upside down a few thousand from where I had started.

During 2022, I would jump back in a few times, making additional mistakes and stepping away from trading again. This happened multiple times between August and October.

I continued to try throughout 2023. As you can see, I struggled even more, barely coming out on top for only a few months.

After all of this carnage, most would give up and hand their investing over to something managed or automated. Not me. This journey has taught me so much about the market and, more importantly, myself. Day Trading will expose your flaws and test your mental resolve. Your account value can grow really fast, and with that, certain character traits will surface. No self-help book or counseling can do that for you. You might never know about some of these character traits until you find yourself in a situation where they thrive.

Though I do have financial goals, Day Trading is more about what I can learn about myself. The past few years have taught me that self-discovery is my actual journey. The market tells you things about yourself nobody else could or would, and I love that.

What I’m Watching Out For In March

My goal in March is to avoid chasing trades that end up working against me. I tend to get into a trade late and follow it backward, hoping it’s just a short pullback. I also get greedy after exiting a good trade, which leads me to get back into the market prematurely, where I end up erasing some of my gains if not handing it all back.

I have some scripture that I have been reading often to help me keep greed in check.

  • 1 John 2:16 – For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

    I desire to keep my eyes on the Father and immediately give thanks for the opportunity to trade and for the results. The moment I focus too much on how much I made, greed sets in. I strive to replace greed with thankfulness. Both cannot exist at the same time.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:10 – Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This, too, is meaningless.

    After a good trade, I can quickly think about the account growth and what I could do with that money. I must immediately turn to thankfulness and not focus on the monetary value itself because when I do, I end up getting back into other trades and making mistakes.
  • Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

    Avoid thinking about the value of the trade or my account throughout the day. After I’m done trading, I’m finished thinking about it.

The market also seems to be heating up a bit. There were more days of volatility than there have been now. I think March will bring more volatility, meaning more significant moves and opportunities. I am thankful for everything I have learned so far this year, as I feel better positioned to take advantage of volatility should it come.

I trade using Webull on my computer, smartphone, and table.

Fund your account with Webull and get a variety of free fractional stocks as well as zero commissions on trades.

Quitting without Disappearing

Posted on by Jerad Hill

I am removing most of what I have posted on social media. Here is why.

Enjoying Moments for what they are rather than the potential of a reaction.

The truth is, when I post to social media, I am hoping for a response. Most of us are. We want people to see what we are up to and in some way, we also desire their reactions. I often found myself getting worked up about making sure the image was just right and the caption was somewhere between witty and a humble brag. That’s not how I act in person with people who I care about and not what I want as part of a digital life feed.

I desire to enjoy the moments of my life with the people I care about. Taking that shared experience and posting it online out of a desire to get reactions from others turns that shared experience into something it never intended to be. Shared experiences should be sacred and remain that way.

People mostly don’t care, and why should they?

I found myself getting frustrated when I shared something I thought was neat and it received little to no response.

Why was I getting frustrated? Does the fact that I posted it to social media mean that those who follow me are somehow contractually obligated to reply? Why should I expect them to engage with my post? Is this post providing them some sort of value? Or is it informing them of a moment they didn’t get to take part in?

The fact is that most people are busy and are caught up in the workings of their own lives. Why should they stop what they are doing to appreciate something I posted to social media? Why should I in turn do the same thing for them?

My Photos Don’t Need to be Public

As a photographer, I am going to take pictures. I love capturing moments as they happen. I will share these photos with the people who were there or with family, privately. That doesn’t need to be public. If someone asks about something such as a recent vacation, we can look at the photos together on my phone creating a new personal experience together.

The Algorithm Doesn’t Rule Me

Whether I am posting content or consuming it, I am fighting an algorithm. This algorithm has one job which is to keep me on the platform longer. Whether it is rewarding me just enough to keep posting or guiding me deeper down a topical rabbit hole, it is in charge.

We live in the era of recommendation engines and AI guiding our decision-making, but I want to limit this as much as possible. Following where the algorithm leads me will simply narrow my point of view. In face-to-face conversation, we share our opinions and ideas and are presented with new opinions and ideas from the person we are talking with. The algorithm will lead us to new opinions and ideas but only to keep us scrolling longer. If it feels we are losing interest in a topic it will start to shift to another topic. I don’t want to be fed information like this. It is unnatural and likely harmful.

Why Remove Everything?

I am removing most of what I posted to social media because it serves no purpose to be there. If I leave it there I will feel the need to post something new. If there is nothing there, the pull to post to it is gone. I may be back on some of these platforms one day, but when I do return to them, it will be with a purpose for posting and not just to publicly share the fortunate moments from my life.

Why Share This?

If I am pulling back from publishing content online, why even post this on my website? I own my website. This is a platform I control and it’s simply a publishing platform. No feeds or algorithms are trying to figure out what to serve you up next. It’s simply an article.

I do not desire to disappear. I will continue to publish content on the web, but that content has to have a purpose and provide value.

Archiving Social Media

Posted on by Jerad Hill

Working on downloading and archiving as much as I can from social media. It is a time warp that I no longer wish to participate in. I won’t be deleting accounts as I want to preserve my usernames in case I need them in the future. With AI being allowed to learn from the data we publish to social media, I want to make sure I am not hand-feeding it information about my family and children that doesn’t need to be part of some company’s language model.

Stop Fighting the Social Media Algorithms; Do This Instead!

Posted on by Jerad Hill

We’re constantly bombarded with information tailored to our interests and behaviors. This personalized experience, primarily seen on social media platforms, results from sophisticated algorithms designed to capture and retain our attention. While seemingly harmless, these algorithms play a pivotal role in shaping our online experience, often at the cost of our productivity and well-being. Hear me out:

The Mechanism of Distraction

At the heart of the problem are the algorithms created by social media companies. These platforms offer ‘free’ services, but the actual cost is our attention, monetized through the ads we are served. The more time we spend on these platforms, the more ads we see and the more revenue these companies generate.

These algorithms are meticulously designed to learn from our behavior. They analyze vast amounts of data to predict what might keep us engaged next. Whether it’s a video, a post, or an advertisement, the content is tailored to hook our attention and keep us scrolling.

The Personalization Trap

A key feature of these algorithms is the personalization of content. Search results and news feeds are no longer a one-size-fits-all but are uniquely tailored to each user. This personalization is based on our previous interactions, searches, likes, and even the amount of time we spend on certain posts.

While this can lead to a more enjoyable user experience, it also creates an echo chamber, reinforcing our existing beliefs and interests and keeping us engaged in the platform longer.

The Human Cost of Algorithmic Efficiency

It’s essential to recognize that these algorithms are not neutral. They are designed with a specific goal in mind: to maximize the time we spend on the platform. If these algorithms were personified, they would be the individuals we avoid in real life – those who distract us and derail our productivity.

Yet, we continue to engage with them daily. Each time we unlock our phones and open an app, we willingly enter a battlefield where we are outmatched. These algorithms know our weaknesses and our preferences and are constantly learning how to keep us engaged.

A Biblical correlation would be likening the algorithm to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. The serpent was there to distract Eve and get her to sin. She could have avoided the serpent but chose to engage with it. The serpent’s famous line rings true today: “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4 ESV), but we do die a little bit when we give into the algorithm, allowing it to carry us away for hours on end.

Fighting Back Against the Digital Serpent

How do we resist the lure of these digital serpents? Here are some strategies:

  1. Set a Physical Timer: Limit your social media use by setting a physical timer. Place it out of arm’s reach so you’re forced to physically move when it goes off. This break can help snap you out of the scrolling trance.
  2. App Deletion: Consider deleting social media apps from your phone. They can still be accessed via a computer for necessary check-ins, but removing them from your phone eliminates the temptation for mindless browsing.
  3. Accountability: If self-regulation fails, enlist the help of friends or family. Share your screen time statistics with them and allow them to hold you accountable.

Towards a Healthier Digital Life

Algorithms, especially with the advancement of AI, are becoming more sophisticated. The real challenge, however, lies in mastering our minds. Instead of succumbing to the easy escape of scrolling, we can choose healthier alternatives like engaging in conversation or journaling.

With time and conscious effort, we can break free from the hold of these algorithms. By developing new habits, we can reintegrate social media into our lives in a balanced and healthy manner, ensuring that we use technology as a tool, not as a master.

Making the Most of the Last 10% of the Year: A Journey of Realistic Goal Setting and Achievement

Posted on by Jerad Hill

As we approach the final 10% of the year, it’s a perfect time to reflect on our journey through the past months. We start with a burst of enthusiasm each year, setting lofty goals and resolutions. Yet, often, these ambitions get sidelined by the hustle of our daily lives. It’s easy to underestimate the effort needed to achieve these goals, leading to a cycle of discouragement and, eventually, abandonment of our aspirations.

The opinions of others also influence our journey. Sometimes, well-intentioned but unhelpful comments can make us feel isolated in our pursuit of personal goals. This can be a significant deterrent, but it doesn’t have to define our journey.

Embracing Realistic Outcomes

As we navigate the last stretch of the year, it’s crucial to reassess and rewrite our goals with a realistic lens. For instance, I aimed to run 1,500 miles as a new runner but faced many setbacks, some health-related and some emotionally related. As of writing this, I am shy of 800 miles. If I ran an average of three miles per day, I could easily reach 900 miles. A partially achieved goal is infinitely better than one wholly abandoned.

Breaking Down Goals into Manageable Tasks

Reflect on your original goals and deconstruct them into smaller, more manageable tasks. Prioritize these tasks by ease of completion and their significance in achieving the overall objective. Which of these can you accomplish before the year ends? This approach allows for a more focused and achievable path to your goals.

Accountability and Motivation

Engage someone you trust to keep you accountable. Regular check-ins with this person, who has the authority to call you out on excuses, can be a powerful motivator to stay on track.

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Visual Tracking and Progress

Tracking progress is vital. Utilize apps or systems like a streak tracker or a personal log. I use Notion to log my progress, and I even redesigned my iPhone’s home screen to display my weekly running and cycling miles. Visual feedback is a great motivator and helps in recognizing your efforts.

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Creating Systems, Not Just Goals

The failure to reach goals is often not about the goal itself but the need for a system to achieve it. Prioritize time for your goals, schedule dedicated slots on your calendar, and minimize distractions. This structural approach is critical to turning aspirations into achievements.

Managing Demotivators

Be cautious about who you discuss your goals with. Some people, even unintentionally, can demotivate you. In my experience, focusing conversations with such individuals on their lives rather than my goals limits the opportunity for discouragement. Celebrate your achievements with them once your goals are reached.

As we make the most of this year’s final 10%, let’s also use this time to plan for the following year. Think about setting sustainable and reachable goals, building systems that support these ambitions, and surrounding ourselves with positivity and motivation.

Remember, it’s not just about reaching the finish line; it’s about the journey, the learning, and the growth that happens along the way. Let’s stride into this final phase of the year with determination and emerge stronger, wiser, and ready for the challenges ahead.

Let’s make these last months count and set the stage for a successful, goal-oriented new year!