Live, learn, or die stupid

People have considerable control over their physical, mental, and spiritual health, said Dave Mitchell, author of “Live and Learn or Die Stupid,” in his thought leader session Monday at the America’s Credit Union Conference & Expo in Boston.

“We need to better manage ourselves to find contentment,” he said.

The road to contentment involves these things, Mitchell said:

1. The precarious nature of reality. What you choose to focus on and how you interpret the situation equals reality, he claimed. We have the power to decide whether to relate to things positively or negatively.
2. Why is your best friend so negative? You are your own best friend, he said.“What kinds of conversations are you having with yourself?” he asked. “Positive self-talk decreases stress exponentially. Pay attention to your internal dialogue.”
3. A contentment formula. Mitchell shared 14 things that lead to contentment: love, optimism, courage, freedom, proactivity, security, health, spirituality, altruism, perspective, humor, purpose, values alignment, and intrinsic rewards.

Based on lessons learned from being a corporate trainer and a T-ball coach, Mitchell said  teamwork only goes so far. But “seamwork” can bring greater success. Likening it to a patchwork quilt of individual strengths sewn together, Mitchell said it’s sturdier than traditional forms of teamwork.

“The vast majority of companies I’ve worked with have excellent teamwork within the individual departments of the organization,” he said. It’s in the seams—between departments and staff—that many organizations are weak.

“That’s what those kids taught me. Focusing on what you can do to contribute to the success of others is the best way to ensure success for yourself. That’s the concept of seamwork in a nutshell.”