Selim's Journal June 2023

Updates and some recommendations from June 2023

Author

Selim Uysal
July 02, 2023

Hi Friends,

I'm glad to share my updates from June 2023 on my readings, runnings, and professional work.

I shared some of the highlights as posts on LinkedIn, but I want to share them as bullet points in case some of you haven't seen them.

  • I started to work as Safeguarding Specialist at Save the Children in Turkey for our Earthquake Response. In case you didn't hear the term safeguarding, it basically means protecting children, adults in the community, and our colleagues from any kind of abuse, maltreatment, and harm. See the post ​here!

  • On June 12 and 13, 2023, together with colleagues from UNICEF, UNHCR, and Support to Life, I co-facilitated Safeguarding Training of Trainers to the Child Protection Sub-sector Working Group Members. See the post here!​

  • I was reading Napoleon Hill's great book "Think And Grow Rich"; one of the greatest books on success and personal development of all time, and I came across the list of causes of failure; ​I listed the 30 causes here!​

Books

"The Richest Man in Babylon"

"The Richest Man in Babylon" is a book by George S. Clason that presents financial advice through a collection of parables set in ancient Babylon.

The book stresses the importance of saving at least a tenth of one's earnings, investing wisely, seeking knowledgeable advice, and avoiding unprofitable investments.

The primary character, Arkad, gains wealth through understanding and applying these principles and teaches others to do the same, emphasizing that wealth comes to those who act wisely with their money, not to those who earn a high income but spend foolishly.

Main points:

  • Save at least 10% of your income.

  • Wisely invest the money you save.

  • Seek advice from people knowledgeable about investing.

  • Avoid investments that sound too good to be true.

  • Understand that true wealth comes from acting wisely with your money, not just from earning a high income.

One quote from the book;

❝

"Wealth, like a tree, grows from a tiny seed. The first copper you save is the seed from which your tree of wealth shall grow. The sooner you plant that seed, the sooner shall the tree grow. And the more faithfully you nourish and water that tree with consistent savings, the sooner may you bask in contentment beneath its shade."

The Richest Man in Babylon

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

"The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is a book by Stephen R. Covey that offers a holistic approach to personal and professional effectiveness by aligning oneself with universal and timeless principles.

It's one of my favorite books, and that's why I read or listen to this book once or twice every year. The book suggests a paradigm shift as a means to achieve success, emphasizing character ethics and the belief in a "win-win" scenario.

It proposes that effectiveness in life comes from the integration of physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions, with the seven habits forming a step-by-step progression from dependence, through independence and ultimately to interdependence.

Main points:

  • Habit 1: Be Proactive - Take initiative and responsibility for your life.

  • Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind - Define your mission and goals in life.

  • Habit 3: Put First Things First - Prioritize tasks based on their importance, not urgency.

  • Habit 4: Think Win-Win - Seek mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in relationships.

  • Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood - Empathize with others' perspectives before seeking to be understood.

  • Habit 6: Synergize - Leverage collective genius, or the strengths of a group, to achieve goals.

  • Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - Strive for continuous improvement and renewal professionally and personally.

One quote from the book;

❝

"I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions."

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Running

According to my Strava records, since the beginning of 2023, I run 250 km, that's around 40 km per month and 10 km per week. It's not that bad considering the winter and the tragic earthquakes that happened in Turkey, but still, there is a lot of room for improvement.

I aim for 20 km per week, 80 km per month, and around 500 km for the second half of the year.

More to come on health, fitness, and running!

Recommended Newsletters and Apps ;

Here are some recommendations from me;

Newsletters;

Apps and Tools:

  1. ​Readwise​ and ​Readwise Reader​ (Reading and Read-it-later app): ​http://readwise.io​

  2. Strava (Running and Sport Tracking App): ​https://www.strava.com/​

  3. Duolingo (Language Learning): ​https://www.duolingo.com/​

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