No idea how to get adsense to work again

Somewhere along the way adsense decided to stop showing ads on this blog, and I have no idea how to solve this. I've tried to contact them many times but there is no reply. Except a notice that this blog is not suitable for ads, though it has been using adsense for many years before.

Somewhere along the way they changed the rules and I am unable to gather what's the change that caused this and have no way to get any help on this by any form of support. =(

How To Overcome Nervousness

Okay, maybe overcome might be too strong a word.
Here’s a little ‘hack’ I use to try to reduce my anxiety.
Instead of feeling nervous like I typically do, I try to trick myself into believing I am being really excited instead.
If you think about it, the body’s reactions are practically the same.
My heart rate increases, I blush a little, and perhaps ever so slightly my hands tremble. But my attitude towards the matter changes completely.
Instead of feeling dread or resistance.
I start to look forward to it.
And before I realise. I actually forget that I’m nervous.
I genuinely start to get excited and pumped!
Try it.
Change anxiety to excitement.

You’ll thank me later.

Manage Energy, Not Time

It took me 30 years to realise this — managing time just doesn’t work.
At the end of the day, time is a limited resource.
By managing time, you’re just trying to be everything to everyone. By making little time slots for different tasks. It makes you work harder. Work longer. Be more drained at the end of the day. It kinda feels like running on a hamster wheel. It’s a constant battle to keep afloat.
There are two key things about energy;

No. 1
Unlike time, energy can be expanded, conserved and renewed.
Expand.
Build up your physical health to expand your energy bank. Try meditation. You’ll realise that energy levels are adjustable, unlike time.
Conserve.
Set up rituals, or habits to break up a long concentrated work period. Try the Pomodoro Technique. You’ll realise that you can keep your energy level up even though you’re running through a huge chunk of work.
Renew.
Slot in regular breaks or do things that you enjoy every now and then between work periods. Start recognising things that renew your energy. Know when to make use of them to give yourself a boost.

No. 2
Two tasks that may take up the same amount of time, may not necessarily use up the same amount energy.
Usually, things that make you take a deep breath and sigh before starting takes up the most energy. Find if you can outsource this task or leave it at the end of the day so it doesn’t drain you up right from the start.
Once you start recognising this, you’ll realise that you can easily finish twice the amount of work in half the amount of time. Seriously.

Start managing energy, and not time!

Always Judge A Book By Its Cover

On the cover;

There is the title. And the summary. Which both combined gives you an idea (albeit vague) of what the book is about. If it’s the type of book you’re interested in the first place.

There is the design or imagery. Which some might say speaks a thousand words. If it’s a short book, that technically means you’re already halfway through reading it without even flipping a page!

There are sometimes lists of awards, best seller rankings, and comments from other notable people. Which will help you gauge the worthiness of the book by virtue of crowd knowledge.

So.

Always judge a book by its cover!
How else would you do so?
Read every single book out there before deciding?

Stand Still And You Go Backwards

An oldie but goodie from Casey Neistat — Life Explained in 27 Seconds.

Life is like going the wrong way on a moving sidewalk.

Walk and you stay put.
Stand still and you go backwards.
To get ahead you have to hustle.

It’s scary how fast the world is moving these days. One blink and you’re left way behind. Invest in yourself daily and push forth.

I’ll see you at the other end.

You’ll Get The Truth, But Never The Reason

If employees quitting is like a breakup.

If products not selling is like rejection.

Then exit interviews are pretty much like asking why she broke up with you.

And focus groups and/or surveys are like asking her, ‘why not me?’.
You’ll get the truth (hopefully) and maybe some half-truths.
But never the real reason.
The fundamental issue.
The core of the problem.
That’s why in typical situations, I don’t really believe in focus groups, surveys and similar modes of getting raw information out of people.
There’re just too many implications that will render the results moot.
Want to know what people really think?

Just observe.

Just listen.

People tell you their inner thoughts by their actions.
Where they are going next. What are they spending money on.
It’s scary how much data is out there for you to crawl.
They tell you their deepest thoughts by screaming on social media.
Be it by ranting, or by raving.
You don’t ask them, you don’t incentivise them, you don’t put them in an awkward position where they feel it’s polite to give half-truths.
They volunteeringly put their hearts out there in the open for you!

How crazy is that?

The Hacker, The Hipster & The Hustler

The 3 guys you need to build a tech startup.

Commonly known as the Minimum Viable Team.

The Hacker.
He’s the guy coding the product.
Behind-the-scenes making sure things run smoothly and securely.

The Hipster.
He’s the guy in charge of creative and design.
Not just visually, but experientially.

The Hustler.
He’s the guy that sells, sells and sells.
To both the users and the investors.

Have you found your 3 pillars or are you loop-sided in this equation?