I challenge my self to write 50 posts in 50 days. Every day one lesson, one tip, or one tool that I use and which help me in my life and capoeira. Enjoy and hope it will be beneficial for you, too. This originally was written for my students.
The results we witness in life are like the tip of an iceberg—visible, yet merely the surface of a more profound process. Much like the majestic icebergs that originate from glaciers, life’s outcomes stem from a gradual accumulation, starting as individual thoughts—tiny snowflakes that compound over time. This phenomenon, often called the Snowball Effect, mirrors the transformative power of cumulative actions and beliefs.
CULTURE: from the Latin cultus, which means care.
Culture is all a community’s beliefs, values, and attitudes, and how they influence the behavior of its members.
Odds are, the latest office debate or family squabble isn’t worth winning. Most arguments are only tangentially related to your end goal.
James Clear
In previous posts on leadership, duplication, and integrity I wrote about how capoeira can be a disguised leadership academy and about the challenge of passing the baton of leadership to a new runner. Today I would like to focus on leadership qualities and how they are different from managers.
If you are surrounded by a lot of drama, it’s a clear sign that you need to take action.
Momentum (n.)
a strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events.
When a train doesn’t have momentum, even a brick on the rails can stop it. But when the train gains momentum, it can crash into the cement wall, and people in the back won’t even notice it.
In life, at work, and even in capoeira, I consistently remind myself that what brought me here won’t take me there.
Transitioning to the next level or pursuing a new goal requires a completely different set of skills and activities. It’s not just about doubling up your current efforts.
A reminder to myself.
I consider myself an intense person. Some people might say I’m crazy about capoeira. In fact, I’m crazy at whatever I do.
Malandragem is a Portuguese term for a lifestyle of idleness, fast living, street smarts, cunning, and resourcefulness – traditionally celebrated in samba lyrics, and deeply rooted in Brazilian culture and history. It reflects a way of navigating life with a certain cleverness and adaptability, often in the face of adversity.
I used to work at Alibaba, a Chinese and multinational technology conglomerate, for a few years. The founder of the company, Jack Ma, was somewhat of a legend. There was no cult of Jack Ma inside the company, but a high level of respect and appreciation. A lot of stories were passed from mouth to mouth about the ‘labors of Chief Ma,’ or Teacher Ma as we would call him back then. And one of the stories was about his socks…