Prior to the name "Taking Monday", it was originally called "NiceADays". The social networking site still had the same theme of spreading goodwill. We tried incorporating various healthy-living themes, but the main differences was that was sent out daily "nices". Nices were philanthropic or healthy challenges that we gave our users to do at some point during the day. We realized that daily "nices" can even be challenging for our team, so we switched them to weekly "nices" after a while. Here are some examples of "nices" we posted and sent out to our subscribers:
1. Anolis lizards (anoles) boast an impressive range of behaviors that have withstood the test of time.
One of these behaviors has captured the attention of world renowned scientists –that of the lizard “pushup,” the actual term used among herpetologists. When approached by a potential aggressor, anoles will drop and begin doing pushups—an impressive display of their physical prowess. While performing these pushups may avoid further confrontation between two anoles, there have been few cases of humans who have run away due to a lizard’s pumping, no matter how strong he appears.
While it’s important to be mindful of your personal safety, how often do you respond to people you don’t know in a friendly way; like the individual you’re sharing an elevator with or the person you order a drink from? What about your co-worker or classmate who asks you for help? Is your response similar to an “anoles pushup” or will you act affably? For this Week’s NICE, let’s take a step back before responding and remember that being welcoming to others can make a difference. For a bonus, let’s take a chapter out of the anoles-book and remind ourselves to stay physically fit.
2. How well do you know your neighbors? According to recent research* Americans are more socially isolated today than they were just two decades ago. While advances in technology have undoubtedly contributed a variety of benefits to society, these same advancements have increasingly facilitated the withdrawal of modern humans from communal spaces and into zones of individual isolation (and in turn, desolation). Items such as television sets and personal computers allow us to entertain and inform ourselves in the privacy of our own homes, but at the risk of lessening our social ties to each other.
Today, ND challenges you to better connect with your community. Instead of parking yourself in front of the TV to watch yet another baseball game, join or organize a local outdoor softball league and connect with a team of like-minded individuals. Volunteering your extra time is yet another means of developing social bonds while simultaneously enriching your local environment. In fostering these relationships, you will come to feel more connected to the community around you – enhancing both your own well-being as well as actively contributing to the well-being of others.
*Putnam, Robert. “You Gotta Have Friends.” Time Magazine. 25 June 2006
3. Have you taken the time to write out your goals? It may be a good idea as abundance and success are often correlated to the clarity of your goals.One such example is a study that took place between 1979 and 1989 at Harvard where graduates of the MBA program were asked “Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?” It turned out only 3% of graduates had written goals and plans. They found the 3% of graduates who had clear, written goals when they left Harvard were earning, on average, 10 times as much as the other 97 percent of graduates all together. For this Week’s NICE, don’t be content keeping your goals “in your head.” When they are merely thoughts, they are more likely to be unclear and ignored. This week, take the time to sit down and write your goals and aspirations out.
4. Have you ever been so immersed in activity, that you became oblivious to any distraction and even to the passage of time itself? For researcher Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced: chick-sent-me-high), this type of experience is known as flow. Flow is the subjective experience of an activity that is enjoyable simply for its own sake. It is characterized by intense concentration, total lack of distractibility, loss of time, and elevated mood. Once the activity is over, people often report feeling a great sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, and personal satisfaction. According to Csikszentmihalyi, the path to enhancing one’s quality of life lies in spending as much time in flow as possible.
Activities that make one “flow” vary from person to person. However, the formula for achieving flow is universal: being good at something you find enjoyable and worthwhile. Whether it be cooking, painting, playing sports, or writing, ND challenges you this week to find your flow.
5. Human beings are often said to be creatures of habit. While most of our routines serve a positive purpose in our lives, most people can admit to having at least a few habits that they would like to see altered or eliminated; Perhaps you have a habit of being too critical of others, or have a habit of biting you nails.
A major misstep that people take when attempting to change their bad habits – whether that habit be a minor or major one – is in taking too big a step, too soon. As author Mark Twain once said, “Habit is not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.” Whatever your habit may be, this week ND challenges you to take the first step towards your goal. Just one small step can put you on the right path toward finally conquering that bad habit.
And here are some of the cheesiest videos ever made. While I can't help but turn red watching these videos, I am reminded how thankful I am to my friends. I still owe you for life.
This was a Nice A Days 101 video.
We wanted to show an example of a "Nice". In this video, Fondo is helping out his roommate carry things to her car despite wanting to nap a little longer.
This was another example of a "Nice". In this video she decided to help someone change their flat tire despite wanting to eagerly bite-into her food.
This was another example of a "Nice"; my friend Toney and I had a small fundraiser and walked 30 miles for Refugee Day Awareness.
I wanted to document our team coming together to work on Nice A Days. Nothing ever came from the company (100% my fault), but we have this cheesy video we can look back on.
And these videos really have nothing to do with anything except only exist to embarrass me.
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"Future" News Articles
I had several fictional articles drawn by my friend Damir. My intent is to draw an ambitious project undertaken by well-known leaders, and challenge what we think might be possible when the right people come together.
It is not intended to spread propaganda albeit these don't really fit the color of propaganda anyway.
Anyway, these are imagined stories that exist in my brain.
Please Note
I had these drawings built in the 2019 timeframe. Although I think a world where these news articles came true would be worth seeking, in 2021, I removed these photos from the Home Page after taking Race, Inequality and American Democracy and International Law at the Harvard Kennedy School because I fear they may come across as skipping over global justice, and overlooking the importance of holding leaders accountable for violations against human rights.
I have mixed feelings on them now.
While I think individuals with great wealth can use their influence to make much needed change, I'm not sure individuals should have the kind of wealth individuals like Bill Gates have. I hope to write about the logic and my train-of-thought in a future blog. I think he has saved a lot of lives though with the Gates Foundation though. So I am torn and still thinking about these drawings below.
Taking Monday Y Combinator 1-Minute Founders Introduction Video - 2018
I applied to the Y Combinator this past fall and did not make the final cut. They don't provide any details on why teams are rejected but the feedback I received from colleagues is that the game is usually stacked against pre-product market (higher risk) teams. Anyway, I had a good time building my application material, and here is my 1-minute founders video that was a part of the application process.