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The Eye of the Tiger: A Tale of Twin Brothers and One Unforgettable Marathon

Please note that this document results from a discussion between Bill and Don Tomoff and an iterative approach to using AI Large Language Models (LLMs) through original writing and answering a thorough 35-question deep dive Q&A to help provide greater insight into the twins’ efforts toward their 1983 Revco-Cleveland Marathon. This final result is a collaboration with Claude AI.

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NotebookLM Audio Link (10 minutes)

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Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Shared Goals

The unique dynamic of being twins created an unparalleled training advantage. Living together and working similar schedules, Bill and Don created a natural accountability system that enhanced their preparation. Their shared commitment amplified their efforts, demonstrating how having the right training partner can multiply success.

2. Preparation Meets Opportunity

The brothers’ success wasn’t just about race day performance—it was the culmination of years of disciplined training, including their college running experience in the hilly terrain of Athens, Ohio. When perfect weather conditions arrived on race day, they were ready to capitalize on the opportunity because of their thorough years of preparation and experience.

3. The Value of Experience

Having completed multiple previous marathons, both brothers brought valuable knowledge to their approach. Bill’s consistent finishes and Don’s learning experiences from DNFs contributed to their strategic wisdom. They understood the importance of pacing, hydration, and mental preparation—crucial in their peak performance.

4. Strategic Patience

Their race execution demonstrated the importance of disciplined pacing and strategic patience. Targeting negative splits and maintaining steady communication throughout the race showed how controlling early enthusiasm can lead to stronger finishing performances. Their ability to run together for 23 miles exemplified this strategic approach.

5. The Impact of Support Systems

Family, friends, and colleagues played crucial roles in their success. From pre-race family dinners to race-day supporters along the course to professional recognition afterward, their achievement was enhanced by a community that understood and celebrated their efforts. This highlights how personal achievements often rely on a broader support network.

6. The Role of Timing in Life

At age 24, the twins recognized and seized an opportune moment—when they had the freedom to dedicate themselves fully to training while building their professional careers. This teaches the importance of recognizing and maximizing such windows of opportunity.

7. Transferable Skills

The discipline and resilience developed through their running journey transferred directly to their professional lives and personal challenges. The “I can do hard things” mindset they developed proved valuable in their accounting careers and in facing life’s unexpected challenges, such as Bill’s son Ryan’s battle with cancer.

8. The Power of Incremental Progress

Don’s journey from a high school pole vaulter to running a 2:30:34 marathon demonstrates how consistent effort and gradual improvement can lead to remarkable achievements. His seven-minute improvement in the marathon shows that significant breakthroughs are possible through dedicated training.

9. Mental Toughness

Their ability to maintain focus and execution during the crucial final miles of the marathon, especially after separating at mile 23, demonstrated the mental fortitude they had developed. This mental toughness, forged through years of training and competition, proved valuable beyond their running careers.

10. The Legacy of Achievement

Their performance that day created a lasting legacy that continues to inspire. The achievement wasn’t just about the times they ran—it was about the broader lesson that ambitious goals can be achieved with proper preparation, unwavering dedication, and strong support. Their story demonstrates how a single day of excellence can provide inspiration and lessons for decades.

These takeaways illustrate that the 1983 Revco-Cleveland Marathon was more than just a race—a culmination of preparation, partnership, and perseverance that yielded lessons far beyond the finish line. The Tomoff twins’ experience shows how athletic achievements can provide a foundation for success in all areas of life while highlighting the unique advantages of having a twin brother as a training partner and the importance of a robust support system in achieving ambitious goals.

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May 15, 1983 | Revco-Cleveland Marathon | Bill and Don Tomoff

Complete Document

On a cool, drizzly morning in May 1983, twin brothers Bill and Don Tomoff stood at the starting line of the Revco-Cleveland Marathon, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The familiar opening riffs of Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” still echoed in their minds from their pre-dawn preparation ritual. Neither brother knew it then, but they were about to experience a defining moment of their competitive running careers—supported by a network of family and friends who had been integral to their journey.

Early Foundations

The Tomoff twins brought unique strengths to their running partnership. In high school, Bill had distinguished himself as an exceptional distance runner, ranking seventh in Ohio in the two-mile run and finishing 31st at the state cross-country meet. His school records in the mile (4:28.9) and two-mile (9:31.5) stood as a testament to his early promise. Don, meanwhile, had pursued a more diverse athletic path, balancing cross-country with pole vaulting during track season. Despite splitting his focus, he consistently performed well, often finishing as the second man on their seven-man varsity team and securing 15th place in the Southwest Conference meet while Bill finished fourth.

Their paths briefly diverged in college when Don initially attended Ohio State University before transferring to Ohio University. NCAA regulations in the 1970s required him to sit out a year from competition after the transfer, though he continued training with the team. During his senior year at OU, Don achieved modest but well-earned success, and in the two years following graduation, he began to come into his own as a distance runner. While he never quite caught up to Bill in road races or marathons, the gap between them had significantly narrowed—a testament to his determination and growth as an athlete.

The Path to the Starting Line

The journey to this pivotal race began a year earlier when Bill completed the 1982 Revco-Cleveland Marathon in 2:30:55. Missing the sub-2:30 mark by less than a minute sparked a fire within him. “Next year, I am going to break 2 hours and 30 minutes!” became more than just a goal—it became an obsession that would shape the next twelve months of both brothers’ lives.

At 24, the Tomoff twins were uniquely positioned to chase this ambitious target. Fresh out of Ohio University with business degrees, they both worked in Big Eight public accounting firms. While their professional careers were demanding, they were still unencumbered by family commitments or other obligations that might have divided their focus. This freedom, combined with their shared living arrangement and identical work schedules, created an ideal environment for serious training.

The Training Regimen

The twins’ preparation for the marathon was comprehensive and disciplined. They initiated a more structured training schedule about ten weeks before race day, targeting 70 miles per week. However, their actual mileage often fluctuated between 60 and 80 miles depending on the week’s demands. Rather than taking complete rest days, they opted for light runs to maintain their rhythm and keep their legs active.

Their training incorporated a mix of longer runs for endurance building and up-tempo and fartlek sessions to vary the pace and incorporate speed. The schedule was designed to build not just mileage but quality in their running. During the busy season at their accounting firms, when they sometimes wouldn’t get home until after 9:00 PM, they still made sure to fit in their runs, even if abbreviated.

The hilly terrain around Athens, Ohio, where they had trained during their college years, had built a foundation of strength that would serve them well on Cleveland’s flat course. While many runners sought flat courses to qualify for Boston, the Tomoff twins knew their hill-trained legs would give them an advantage in maintaining pace over 26.2 miles.

Nutrition and Lifestyle

At 24 years old, their approach to nutrition was straightforward—they ate when hungry, fueling their high-mileage training without overthinking the details. Looking back, they recognize that they might have unlocked even more potential with a more structured approach to nutrition and recovery. However, their youth and natural energy served them well, allowing them to maintain their demanding training and work schedule.

Pre-Race Preparation

The evening before the race followed a familiar pattern: a family gathering for a carb-loading dinner featuring lasagna. This tradition provided physical preparation and a moment of relaxation and connection before the challenge ahead.

Race day began at 5:00 AM, with their signature ritual of playing “Eye of the Tiger.” The song, which had become their anthem during training, now focused their minds on the task ahead. The three-hour window before the 8:00 AM start gave them ample time to prepare physically and mentally. The quiet drive downtown that Sunday morning took only 20 to 30 minutes, but they allowed extra time to ensure a relaxed preparation at the start area.

Race Day Support

The Revco-Cleveland Marathon had evolved into a family tradition, drawing supporters who understood the magnitude of what the twins were attempting. Each year, loved ones would gather along the course, creating islands of encouragement that helped carry the brothers through the challenging miles. Their sister Billie had even ridden her bike alongside them for entire marathons in previous years, providing companionship and moral support that made the miles seem shorter.

The twins’ support system extended beyond family. Friends and former teammates who understood the demands of distance running came out to cheer them on, creating an atmosphere of shared excitement and anticipation. These supporters lined the streets of Cleveland, particularly along Euclid Avenue, during the final mile, adding an electric energy to the race’s conclusion.

The Race Strategy

Having completed ten previous marathons each, the brothers brought considerable experience to their race strategy. Bill had successfully finished his previous attempts, while Don had learned valuable lessons from a couple of DNFs (Did Not Finish). Their plan was methodical: maintain open communication in the early miles, discuss pace and strategy while taking advantage of every hydration station, and alternate between water and Gatorade.

The goal was to run negative splits—completing the race’s second half faster than the first. This ambitious strategy required patience and discipline, especially in the early miles when fresh legs and race-day adrenaline could tempt them to push too hard too soon.

The Race Unfolds

As the race began, perfect conditions prevailed—cool and damp, ideal for marathon running. The familiar landmarks of their hometown course rolled by: Lake Road through Rocky River and Bay Village, the Detroit-Superior Bridge, and the streets of downtown Cleveland. The first half went according to plan, with the twins crossing the halfway point at 1:14:40, on target for their goal.

For 23 miles, they ran shoulder to shoulder, their synchronized footfalls a testament to years of training together. Their communication remained steady, though it became more focused as the miles accumulated. They knew they had no margin for error if they wanted to break 2:30.

Then, at mile 23, came the pivotal moment. “I have to back this pace down a bit,” Don said. Bill’s response was immediate and focused: “We have no room to spare to bring this home under 2:30.” With those words, the brothers separated, each running their separate race to the finish.

The Final Push

The crowd’s energy intensified as Bill approached the finish line on East 22nd Street. Among the cheering supporters, he heard a familiar voice. His college friend Bob Mirth called out, “You’ve come too far now—kick it into the finish!” That encouragement, from someone who deeply understood the moment’s significance, provided the final surge of energy Bill needed.

Bill crossed the finish line at 2:29:48, achieving his dream of breaking 2:30. Just 46 seconds later, Don finished at 2:30:34, demolishing his previous personal best by approximately seven minutes. It was a stunning achievement for both brothers—Bill had shaved 1:07 off his previous best, while Don had improved by nearly seven minutes.

Professional Recognition

The following Monday at Coopers & Lybrand, Bill received an unexpected phone call from Bill Reidy, a long-time partner. Reidy, a runner himself, called specifically to congratulate Bill on his performance. This recognition from a respected senior partner, someone who truly understood the magnitude of their achievement, added another layer of satisfaction to their accomplishment. It demonstrated how their discipline and dedication to running were noticed and valued even in their professional lives.

Looking Forward

The success of the 1983 Revco-Cleveland Marathon had an unexpected bonus for Bill—his sub-2:30 time guaranteed his acceptance into the New York City Marathon that October, adding another significant chapter to his running journey. However, both brothers were beginning to transition their focus to their professional careers fully. While running remained a passion, their competitive racing careers were entering their final phase.

Legacy

The 1983 Revco-Cleveland Marathon became more than just another race for the Tomoff twins. It was a testament to the power of shared dedication, disciplined preparation, and unwavering support—not just from each other but their entire network of family, friends, and colleagues. The experience reinforced their belief that “I can do hard things,” a mindset that would serve them well throughout their lives and careers.

This mindset proved particularly valuable in later years, especially when Bill’s son Ryan was diagnosed with childhood cancer at age two. The resilience and “one day at a time” approach learned through running helped the family face this challenge, as Ryan survived cancer five times over the next 28 years.

The lessons learned through running—particularly about preparation and perseverance—proved invaluable in their professional lives. The ability to stay calm and focused under pressure, developed through years of competitive running, became a crucial asset in their demanding accounting careers. The brothers realized their athletic background had taught them invaluable life lessons about enduring challenging moments, digging deep when things get hard, and maintaining a relentless learning mindset.

More than four decades later, the legend of that cool May morning continues to grow in the brothers’ memories. What seemed at the time like just another day of competition has become a touchstone moment—a perfect confluence of preparation, execution, and support that produced their finest marathon performances.

Bob Mirth’s tragic death in 1991, struck by a drunk driver while returning home from a marathon, adds a bittersweet note to the memory. His encouraging words at the finish line remain a poignant reminder of the power of friendship and support in achieving life’s most challenging goals.

The Eye of the Tiger still burns bright in their memories, a reminder of what can be achieved when dedication meets opportunity, when preparation meets perfect conditions, and when two brothers, supported by a community of family and friends, push each other to reach their absolute best.

For Bill and Don Tomoff, the 1983 Revco-Cleveland Marathon stands as more than just their fastest race—it represents the pinnacle of what they could achieve together, a testament to the unique advantage of having a twin brother as a training partner, and a reminder that with proper preparation, unwavering dedication, and the support of those who believe in you, dreams can become reality.

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The Reckless Choice: Why Avoiding Personal Growth Is More Dangerous Than You Think

Summary – Collaboration with Claude AI

In October 2024, an inspiring book launch event for Seth Godin’s “This is Strategy” sparked a profound reflection on personal development and the consequences of our choices. The event’s moderator, Bina Venkataraman, author of “The Optimist’s Telescope,” introduced a compelling perspective on reckless decision-making that resonated deeply.

The post challenges conventional thinking about personal growth, arguing that not investing in continuous learning isn’t just unwise—it’s reckless. Drawing on four decades of witnessing transformative technological advances, from personal computers to generative AI, the authors emphasize how unprecedented opportunities for learning and development are now accessible to virtually everyone.

The #TwinzTalk message is questioned – from their usual gentle reminder about staying relevant through continuous learning to a more urgent wake-up call. They assert that in today’s rapidly changing world, ignoring opportunities for personal development is careless and harmful to individual potential and broader societal contributions.

The piece concludes with a passionate plea for readers to embrace personal development, starting with small steps but maintaining consistency. It’s framed not just as self-improvement but as a responsibility to maximize one’s positive impact on the world. The message is punctuated by two powerful quotes emphasizing the importance of giving your best while maintaining humility—a balanced approach to serious personal development.

Full Original Writing

On Monday evening, October 28, 2024, my wife Terri and I attended a book launch event at the Sixth and I Synagogue in Washington, DC. The event was a celebration and discussion of Seth Godin’s latest book “This is Strategy.” The conversation, audience, and book signing made for an inspiring and memorable evening!

October 28, 2024 at Sixth and I | Bina Venkataraman and Seth Godin

The moderator for the evening was Bina Venkataraman, who did an incredible job guiding the discussion with Seth. Seth shined the light on Bina’s book “The Optimist’s Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age.” Thanks to Seth’s encouragement, I purchased Bina’s book on Amazon (Kindle $4.99!) and started reading the next day.

In the introduction to her book, Bina makes a compelling point about reckless decisions that we all make:

“This book is about the decisions we make as individuals and collectively that have great consequences for our lives and the lives of others, the decisions we may come to regret or celebrate. It is especially about decisions that are reckless—when we ignore clear signs of opportunity or danger in the future. Through close investigation of such decisions across many contexts, I have discovered the untapped power we have to make wiser choices.” [Bold emphasis is mine].

In our #TwinzTalk encouragement about personal development and the imperative that we all must consistently invest in ourselves (for our own growth and then our ability to contribute to helping others), Don and I often follow our encouragement with “The choice is yours. Consistently be learning and growing, or become irrelevant in the long run.” After reading and contemplating the above paragraph from Bina, I could not help but ask myself, “Are we being too gentle with our encouragement?“

“It is especially about decisions that are reckless—when we ignore clear signs of opportunity or danger in the future.”

Definition per Merriam-Webster:

“reckless: marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences”

When an individual decides to forgo continuous learning, developing their skills, and minimizing their potential to make a more meaningful contribution in the world, is this decision reckless? Don and I would argue inaction or dismissal IS reckless. An aspect of our careers that we treasure is the gift and privilege of being born into a time in history that has provided technological innovations and advances that have enhanced our personal and professional lives. Over the past 40 years (!), we have witnessed countless “game changing” technologies that have evolved to individually affordable and indispensable tools, such as:

  • Personal computers,
  • Spreadsheets,
  • The internet,
  • Working in digital environments (PDF),
  • Note taking apps (Evernote),
  • Social media to learn from, engage with, and generously share our expertise with others,
  • Cloud storage (Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.),
  • Collaboration platforms to allow more transparent communication and minimize email use (Slack and Microsoft Teams),
  • Online learning (often free – YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy, etc.), and now…
  • Generative AI (ChatGPT, Claude AI, Google Gemini and NotebookLM, and Perplexity, to name a few).

If you are not engaging with and educating yourself about our rapidly changing world, Don and I will now argue that this is an individual decision that is reckless. This is how strongly we feel about the importance of relentless personal development.

What is most important in your world, and how can you start/keep moving forward on a daily basis? Start small, but start. You deserve to be the best you are capable of being and the world needs your best contributions. Please.

A few thoughts to reflect upon regularly:

“Take what you do seriously. Do not take yourself seriously.” -Twinz Bill and Don Tomoff

“To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.” -Steve Prefontaine

Steve Prefontaine Quote | To give anything less than your best

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The 8-Minute AI Miracle: NotebookLM Technology Created an Audio Conversation of the Tomoff Twinz Story

A theme #TwinzTalk Don and I have lived by throughout our lives is “always be preparing.” This means embracing learning and personal development—for ourselves and to help those in our lives—and encouraging those in our lives to do the same.

“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”

-Seneca

I prompted ChatGPT to interpret and explain the quote further. The response is worth sharing and is included at the conclusion of this post.

Opportunities will present themselves in our lives in unimagined ways. We should continually ask ourselves, “In my areas of interests/responsibilities, am I diligently and consistently working to be prepared to the best of my abilities?” The example discussed below could not have been imagined a mere five years ago!

A recent evolution in the GenAI arena is Google’s NotebookLM. Conor Grennan, Chief AI Architect at the NYU Stern School of Business, noted this in a recent LinkedIn post:

“I have had exactly three (3) jaw-dropping AI moments over the past 18 months. One of them just happened.”

“3. Google’s NotebookLM

This was just in the past week.

This is one of these things where you have to hear it to believe it. You’ve probably heard how it can create realistic sounding podcasts out of long boring documents, with two people speaking.

But it REALLY SOUNDS like two people are talking. I’m not going to try to explain it, because that would be like trying to explain how cool a card trick was.

Go to the website, you can try it for free. Or don’t, I don’t care. But unless you experience it, you don’t get it.

What this changed for me was a new way of absorbing information. People love podcasts for a reason – they’re easier to digest and learn from than long research documents.”

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An opportunity for a use case of NotebookLM came to my mind when talking with Don about the hype and potential to consider trying out this new AI evolution. Since June 2020, my wife Terri and I have been active writers. I have written four unpublished memoirs. My fourth memoir was a gift to Don, titled Double Vision: Seeing Life Through Twin Eyes.

Using NotebookLM, I uploaded a PDF of the memoir (77 pages) and requested an Audio Overview. In only a couple of minutes, an audio file of less than eight minutes was provided. Preparation met an unimaginable opportunity, and the result was jaw-dropping! Preparation (I had a 77-page memoir in PDF format) met opportunity (the availability of the AI audio capability in NotebookLM), which resulted in the luck of generating a priceless AI audio overview conversation about the memoir! Don and I were stunned by the result.

Check out the audio here.

I encourage you to listen to the audio conversation if you are interested in learning more about our lifelong adventure as twin brothers with similar interests. We believe the overview beautifully summarizes the unpublished memoir I wrote and gifted to Don in December 2023.

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ChatGPT Interpretation and Explanation of Seneca’s Quote

The quote by Seneca, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” underscores a fundamental Stoic belief that what often appears to be “luck” is not purely a matter of chance, but rather a result of one’s readiness to act when the right moment arises.

Stoic Interpretation

  1. Preparation as a Foundation: In Stoicism, preparation is within our control—it involves cultivating wisdom, developing our skills, and continuously striving to improve ourselves. This prepares us for future challenges or opportunities that are outside our control. Seneca suggests that we should not passively wait for luck but actively engage in self-improvement to be ready for any situation that may come.
  2. Opportunity and External Events: Opportunity often arrives unexpectedly and is not something we can control. However, Stoics believe that by staying vigilant and practicing awareness, we can recognize these moments when they appear. Since the Stoics valued rational action, being prepared means we can seize the opportunity and respond in a way that aligns with our values.
  3. Luck as a Blend of Control and Acceptance: The Stoic view on luck is that it’s not entirely random but a combination of being prepared (which we can control) and recognizing the external opportunities (which we cannot control). To Seneca, this is why what many see as “luck” is simply the outcome of consistent preparation over time.

By understanding that our “luck” is often rooted in our preparedness, Seneca emphasizes personal responsibility and focusing on what we can control. This aligns with the Stoic principle of living a life where we proactively build our capacity to respond effectively to the world.

Key Takeaway

This quote invites us to see ourselves as active participants in creating “luck” by being prepared and vigilant. Rather than waiting for chance, the Stoic approach is to live with purpose and readiness so that when opportunity strikes, we’re positioned to make the most of it.

September 9, 2024 | ncaCPA Fall Conference | #TwinzTalk Don and Bill Tomoff
#TwinzTalk Encouragement – Always be learning and do your best!

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The Long Game of Kindness: Shifting from Daily Distractions to Lasting Impact

“What we are taught, we learn. What we cultivate, we absorb. There are no small acts of kindness. Each compassionate deed is like watering a redwood seed. You never know what heights it might reach.”

–Eric Weiner book The Socrates Express, interpretation of Confucius Philosophy

This post is inspired by Seth Godin’s blog post, “Are you day trading?” published on December 28, 2017 (Ship It calendar day: September 14, 2024), and Eric Weiner’s book The Socrates Express. In Seth’s post, he references the day-trading many of us do every day that compromises our ability to bring our best to our lives and the work we do. We don’t even realize this is happening! Consider this from his post:

“We’re hooked into something volatile, easily measured and emotional. We overdo our response to news, good or bad, and let it distract us from the long-term job of living a useful life.”

“It’ll be volatile with or without your help. Better to set it aside and get back to the real work of making a difference instead.”

Better to set it aside and get back to the real work of making a difference instead. We must be disciplined and intentional with our precious asset of time. Where is your time being “stolen” by daily drama or mainstream news that gets us hyped up? Yet, if you pause and contemplate for a few seconds, you can decide not to engage with the moment and go about making a difference in your life! Small daily micro-moments can shift your entire presence in your world and interactions with others. Consider:

  1. Eliminate consuming mainstream media news.
  2. Do not judge or offer an unsolicited opinion.
  3. Do not gossip.
  4. Read a book.
  5. Be more patient.
  6. Be more tolerant.
  7. Stay calm.
  8. Help others.
  9. Be grateful.
  10. Express thanks and appreciation.
  11. Adopt a mindset of abundance and generosity. Be kind.

All of the above examples are making a difference. How we live daily will contribute to making a difference for ourselves and others. Every moment we allow agitation, frustration, or anger to enter our sphere is time forever lost to the possibility of kindness.

December 11, 2022 | Bill and Terri Tomoff IRL Meetup with Seth Godin

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June 2019 – TwinzTalk at Kelleys Island – Be Good To People

Kindness. Small acts of kindness will change your world. Know this. I recently listened to Eric Weiner’s The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers. From the Amazon book description:

“Eric Weiner combines his twin passions for philosophy and travel in a globe-trotting pil­grimage that uncovers surprising life lessons from great thinkers around the world, from Rousseau to Nietzsche, Confucius to Simone Weil. Traveling by train (the most thoughtful mode of transport), he journeys thousands of miles, making stops in Athens, Delhi, Wyoming, Coney Island, Frankfurt, and points in between to recon­nect with philosophy’s original purpose: teaching us how to lead wiser, more meaningful lives. From Socrates and ancient Athens to Beauvoir and 20th-century Paris, Weiner’s chosen philosophers and places provide important practical and spiritual lessons as we navigate today’s chaotic times.”

In Chapter 9, How to Be Kind like Confucius, Eric notes this about kindness [Bold emphasis is mine]:

“What we are taught, we learn. What we cultivate, we absorb. There are no small acts of kindness. Each compassionate deed is like watering a redwood seed. You never know what heights it might reach.”

“Kindness is always there, whether we notice it or not. “The Great Asymmetry,” the late Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould called this phenomenon. “Every spectacular incident of evil will be balanced by 10,000 acts of kindness,” he said. We witness these acts every day on our streets and in our homes and, yes, on the New York subway. An elderly woman braves a cold November day to feed the neighborhood squirrels; a businessman, late for a meeting, stops to help a single mom carry the groceries to her car; a teenager, skateboard in hand, notices an expired parking meter and drops a quarter in. That these ordinary acts of kindness rarely make the news renders them no less real, or heroic.

It is our duty, almost a holy responsibility, says Gould, “to record and honor the victorious weight of these innumerable little kindnesses.” Gould, a hard-nosed scientist, saw a practical reason for registering goodness. Kindness honored is kindness multiplied. Kindness is contagious. Witnessing acts of moral beauty triggers a flood of physical and emotional responses. Observing acts of kindness encourages us to act more kindly ourselves, a phenomenon confirmed in several recent studies.

I experience the kindness contagion firsthand. After my week riding the F train, hyperalert to acts of kindness, I become kinder myself. I hold doors for people. I pick up litter. I thank my barista—and leave a tip when she isn’t looking. These small acts won’t snare me the Nobel Peace Prize or sainthood, I realize. But it’s a start. A few more drops on the redwood seed.”

Are you interested in learning more and being more intentional about kindness (please…)? Check out KindLoook.com (Look, a little longer, with kindness…), developed by Daniel Burns, a tremendous human who encourages us all to notice and celebrate acts of kindness. Join the movement of kindness!

Our world is too often dominated by noise and negativity, yet we have the power to create a different reality. If we take small steps to put aside the noise and instead focus on micro-moments of small, intentional acts of kindness, we can be part of a movement toward positive change. Whether eliminating toxic media consumption, practicing patience, being more tolerant, or helping others, each small act contributes to a larger culture of kindness. As we become more aware of the kindness around us, we become kinder ourselves, creating a contagious cycle of good. 

Rajesh Setty | Rules for Heart-Led Relationships
Be Kind – Bill Tomoff and Doug Cantlay
November 11, 2023 | Worthy Rally in NYC | Andrea Sanchez, Bill Tomoff, and Kate Nasser

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Draw a Map

Draw a map. Be a leader who, by example, encourages taking initiative and creating an environment of possibility.

“Human nature is to need a map. If you’re brave enough to draw one, people will follow.”

—Seth Godin

We ALL have an opportunity to “draw a map.”  To help yourself, your profession, and your employer.

Today, Generative AI (i.e. ChatGPT and Claude) is providing an incredible opportunity to upskill and rethink how you work. Embrace these times and aggressively invest in yourself and build your skills to help yourself and others.

Possibility Coffee Mug
#TwinzTalk Don and Bill Tomoff at Ohio University College Green
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An AI Conversation Exploring the Power of Tacit Knowledge

This post is part 2 of 2 related to tacit knowledge. Part 1 can be accessed here: Tacit Knowledge: Embracing Your Secret Weapon in Personal and Professional Growth.

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When I want further insight into a topic, I have developed the practice of collaborating with ChatGPT or Claude AI (LLMs) and having a back-and-forth conversation regarding my area of interest.

Please note I am looking for “directionally accurate” insight while understanding that LLMs can hallucinate or give me inaccurate responses that agree with my suggestion. Knowing this propensity, I will ask the LLM to take a contrary position and provide help regarding where my thoughts are off base or need further clarification.

My post presented here is a dialogue I had with ChatGPT about tacit knowledge. Below are nine prompts for which I asked ChatGPT for input. I thought the overall content was informative and helpful in understanding more specifics about tacit knowledge. 

I hope you find this dialogue helpful!

Before sharing the specific ChatGPT prompts and responses, I asked Claude AI to provide a summary overview of the dialogue. I was pleased with the result and here is the edited version to inspire you to read further and consider the power of embracing tacit knowledge in your life.

Introduction to Tacit Knowledge – Collaboration with Claude AI

As explored through the below conversation with ChatGPT, tacit knowledge is a powerful force that shapes our personal and professional lives in subtle yet profound ways. It’s the unspoken wisdom we accumulate through experience, the intuitive understanding that guides our decisions, and the unique perspective that allows us to connect dots in innovative ways.

Embracing tacit knowledge means:

  1. Valuing your experiences and reflecting on them deeply
  2. Recognizing that your unique insights are invaluable assets
  3. Actively seeking diverse experiences to broaden your tacit knowledge base
  4. Understanding that collaboration and long-term relationships build shared tacit knowledge
  5. Leveraging your implicit understanding to enhance creativity and problem-solving

By consciously developing and harnessing your tacit knowledge, you unlock a wealth of potential for personal growth, professional success, and innovative thinking. It’s the key to developing a “disproportionate advantage” in your field and life.

Remember, while explicit knowledge can be easily shared and documented, it’s your tacit knowledge that can truly set you apart. Embrace continuous learning, remain curious, and never underestimate the power of your lived experiences. Your journey in developing tacit knowledge is ongoing and boundless – it can your guide to a richer, more insightful life and career.

Listing of Nine ChatGPT Prompts

  1. When coworkers work together for a long time (several years), a good working relationship enhances their collective performance. I always referred to this as “they know my work preferences and how I think.” To me, this seems like a form of tacit knowledge that benefits an organization. Am I stretching too far with the concept?
  2. Everything that ChatGPT or other LLMs generate, would be explicit knowledge?
  3. However, how a person uses explicit knowledge and the creativity it may inspire can be triggered by an individual personal or career experience is then an example of tacit knowledge potential? Am I on track here?
  4. Thank you for clarifying! Thus the more varied our learning and experiences, the greater our potential to “connect the dots” in ways others cannot do. Thus tacit knowledge improves the value we can provide using explicit knowledge?
  5. Please provide brief encouragement for people to understand the importance of personal development. The process enhances the building of tacit knowledge, which then helps broaden the reach of working with explicit knowledge and connecting dots in ways that many may not, enabling greater creativity and innovative solutions.
  6. How does personal development contribute to building tacit knowledge? I want to be sure I understand your reasoning for your response.
  7. Please challenge my thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps in connecting information that helps me develop tacit knowledge. Are you comfortable this is true, or am I following an inaccurate consideration?
  8. In a blog post I am drafting, I referenced the advantages that my twin Don and I have enjoyed throughout our personal and professional lives. We simply thought, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.” Now that I am aware and understand tacit knowledge, I believe this is exactly what Don and I share. Would you please interpret my thoughts and add further clarification?
  9. You are an expert in personal development and the benefits of developing tacit knowledge. Please review my questions and our conversation above. Are there any additional thoughts or emphasis you would add to the discussion? Our goal is to encourage and inspire our clients to actively embrace their own personal development.

Full Dialogue with ChatGPT: Prompts and Responses

Prompt1 – Working relationship building tacit knowledge:

When coworkers work together for a long time (several years), a good working relationship enhances their collective performance. I always referred to this as “they know my work preferences and how I think.”

This seems like a form of tacit knowledge that benefits an organization. Am I stretching the concept too far?

Response1 – Working relationship building tacit knowledge:

No, you’re not stretching the concept at all. When coworkers develop a deep understanding of each other’s work preferences and thought processes, they are indeed leveraging tacit knowledge. This shared, implicit understanding enhances communication, collaboration, and efficiency, leading to improved collective performance. This form of tacit knowledge is valuable to organizations as it fosters smoother workflows and better team dynamics.

Prompt2 – LLMs only explicit knowledge:

Everything that ChatGPT or other LLMs generate would be explicit knowledge?

Response2 – LLMs only explicit knowledge:

Yes, everything that ChatGPT or other language models generate would be considered explicit knowledge. This is because the information provided can be clearly articulated, documented, and shared with others in written or verbal form. Language models like ChatGPT process and output knowledge that is structured and easily communicable, fitting the definition of explicit knowledge.

Prompt3 – Explicit knowledge expanding creativity and then tacit knowledge:

However, how a person uses explicit knowledge and the creativity it may inspire can be triggered by an individual personal or career experience is then an example of tacit knowledge potential? Am I on track here?

Response3 – Explicit knowledge expanding creativity and then tacit knowledge:

Yes, you are absolutely on track. While explicit knowledge provided by ChatGPT or other sources can be clearly articulated and shared, how a person uses this knowledge, along with the creativity it inspires, can indeed be influenced by their personal or career experiences. This application and the intuitive, experiential insights that emerge from it are examples of tacit knowledge. It reflects how individuals integrate explicit knowledge into their unique contexts and practices, leveraging their own tacit understanding to innovate and solve problems.

Prompt4 – Connecting the dots of varied explicit knowledge:

Thank you for clarifying! Thus, the more varied our learning and experiences, the greater our potential to “connect the dots” in ways others cannot. Thus, does tacit knowledge improve the value we can provide using explicit knowledge?

Response4 – Connecting the dots of varied explicit knowledge:

Exactly! The more diverse our learning and experiences, the greater our ability to “connect the dots” in unique and insightful ways. This enriched tacit knowledge enhances our capacity to apply explicit knowledge creatively and effectively, thereby increasing the value we can offer. Varied experiences and continuous learning help us develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding that allows us to leverage explicit knowledge in ways others might not, leading to innovative solutions and improved performance.

Prompt5 – Personal development to broaden tacit knowledge:

Please provide brief encouragement for people to understand the importance of personal development. The process enhances the building of tacit knowledge, which then helps broaden the reach of working with explicit knowledge and connecting dots in ways many may not, enabling greater creativity and innovative solutions.

Response5 – Personal development to broaden tacit knowledge:

Investing in personal development is crucial because it builds your tacit knowledge, enriching your ability to use explicit knowledge creatively. Expanding your experiences and learning enhances your capacity to connect the dots uniquely. This leads to greater creativity and innovative solutions, setting you apart personally and professionally. Embrace personal growth to unlock your full potential and make a lasting impact.

Prompt6 – Personal development contributing to building tacit knowledge:

How does personal development contribute to building tacit knowledge? I want to understand your reasoning for your response.

Response6 – Personal development contributing to building tacit knowledge:

Personal development contributes to building tacit knowledge through the following ways:

  1. Experience-Based Learning: Engaging in new activities and challenges allows you to gain hands-on experience, crucial for developing practical skills and insights that can’t be fully captured in written form.
  2. Reflection and Practice: Regularly reflecting on your experiences and practicing new skills helps internalize what you’ve learned, turning it into intuitive knowledge.
  3. Social Interactions: Collaborating with others, seeking mentorship, and networking expose you to diverse perspectives and approaches, enriching your understanding and problem-solving abilities.
  4. Continuous Improvement: Personal development encourages a mindset of lifelong learning and adaptability, which helps you continuously refine and expand your tacit knowledge.
  5. Real-World Application: Applying explicit knowledge in real-world situations helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, deepening your tacit understanding.

Focusing on personal development enhances one’s ability to integrate and apply knowledge uniquely and innovatively, ultimately increasing one’s effectiveness and creativity.

Prompt7 – Challenge thought that explicit knowledge helps develop tacit knowledge:

Please challenge my thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps connect information that helps me develop tacit knowledge. Are you comfortable this is true, or am I following an inaccurate consideration?

Response7 – Challenge thought that explicit knowledge helps develop tacit knowledge:

Your thought that a wide variety of explicit knowledge helps connect information to develop tacit knowledge is well-founded and generally accurate. However, let’s explore a potential challenge to this idea:

Challenge:

Depth vs. Breadth: While a wide variety of explicit knowledge can provide a broad foundation, it may not always lead to deep, nuanced tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge often requires deep immersion and repeated practice in specific areas. Therefore, spreading oneself too thin across many areas might limit the depth of tacit knowledge one can develop in any single domain.

Counterpoints to the Challenge:

  1. Interdisciplinary Insights: Even with a broad base, the ability to draw connections across disciplines can lead to unique insights and problem-solving approaches, enhancing tacit knowledge.
  2. Adaptive Expertise: A variety of explicit knowledge can foster adaptive expertise, allowing individuals to apply their knowledge flexibly across different contexts, which is a valuable aspect of tacit knowledge.
  3. Complementary Skills: Different areas of explicit knowledge can complement each other, creating a richer, more integrated understanding that enhances overall tacit knowledge.

Conclusion:

While depth in specific areas is crucial for developing profound tacit knowledge, a broad base of explicit knowledge can still significantly contribute to the ability to connect the dots and innovate. Striking a balance between depth and breadth is key to maximizing explicit and tacit knowledge development.

Prompt8 – TwinzTalk Disproportionate Advantage is Actually Tacit Knowledge:

In a blog post I am drafting, I referenced the advantages my twin Don and I have enjoyed throughout our personal and professional lives. We simply thought, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.“

Now that I am aware and understand tacit knowledge, this is exactly what Don and I share. Would you please interpret my thoughts and add further clarification?

Response8 – TwinzTalk Disproportionate Advantage is Actually Tacit Knowledge:

Certainly! Here’s an interpretation of your thoughts, integrating the concept of tacit knowledge and providing further clarification:

My twin Don and I have enjoyed unique advantages throughout our personal and professional lives. We often reflected, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.” This advantage is deeply rooted in the tacit knowledge we’ve developed together.

Tacit knowledge refers to the intuitive, experience-based insights and skills that are difficult to articulate but are incredibly valuable. Our shared experiences, from tackling challenges to exploring new technologies, have fostered a deep, implicit understanding between us. This tacit knowledge enhances our ability to:

  1. Innovate: Our curiosity and early adoption of technology have allowed us to stay ahead of trends, adapt quickly, and find creative solutions that others might not see.
  2. Collaborate: Our strong, intuitive bond as twins allows us to anticipate each other’s thoughts and actions, leading to seamless collaboration and effective teamwork.
  3. Problem-Solve: Years of shared experiences have equipped us with a unique perspective on tackling problems, enabling us to draw from a rich pool of personal insights and practical know-how.

We’ve expanded our tacit knowledge by continuously nurturing our curiosity and embracing new technologies, creating a significant competitive edge. This shared tacit knowledge isn’t just a product of our skills but a synergistic outcome of our twin bonds, experiences, and mutual growth.

This clarification emphasizes how your shared experiences and behaviors have contributed to developing valuable tacit knowledge and enhancing your personal and professional capabilities.

Prompt9 – Inquire to ChatGPT – any additional thoughts or emphasis:

You are an expert in personal development and the benefits of developing tacit knowledge.

Please review my questions and our conversation above. Are there any additional thoughts or emphasis you would add to the discussion? Our goal is to encourage and inspire our clients to actively embrace their own personal development.

Response9 – Inquire to ChatGPT – any additional thoughts or emphasis:

Your discussion on the interplay between tacit and explicit knowledge in personal development is thorough and insightful. However, there are a few additional thoughts and areas of emphasis that could further enrich the conversation and inspire your clients:

1. The Power of Reflection

  • Emphasis: Encourage clients to regularly reflect on their experiences, as reflection is a critical practice for converting experiences into tacit knowledge. By analyzing successes and failures, clients can deepen their understanding and internalize lessons that enhance their intuitive decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
  • Actionable Tip: Suggest keeping a reflective journal where they note key experiences, what they learned, and how they felt. This practice not only builds tacit knowledge but also fosters self-awareness.

2. Learning Through Social Interaction

  • Emphasis: Highlight the importance of learning from others. Tacit knowledge is often transferred through mentorship, collaboration, and informal discussions. Encourage clients to seek out mentors, participate in professional networks, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers.
  • Actionable Tip: Recommend joining or forming mastermind groups or professional communities where members regularly share experiences and insights. This can accelerate the development of tacit knowledge through shared learning.

3. The Role of Curiosity in Tacit Knowledge Development

  • Emphasis: Curiosity is a driving force behind personal development and the accumulation of tacit knowledge. Clients who actively seek out new experiences, ask questions, and explore unfamiliar territories are more likely to develop a rich reservoir of tacit knowledge that fuels innovation and creativity.
  • Actionable Tip: Encourage clients to set aside regular time for exploring new topics, skills, or industries outside their immediate field. This can lead to unexpected connections and insights that enhance both their tacit and explicit knowledge.

4. Balancing Depth and Breadth

  • Emphasis: While broad knowledge is important, emphasize the need for clients to develop deep expertise in specific areas. A balanced approach allows them to apply explicit knowledge effectively while drawing on deep, tacit insights in their areas of expertise.
  • Actionable Tip: Help clients identify key areas where they can deepen their knowledge and skills while encouraging them to explore diverse fields. This balance can be a cornerstone of their personal development strategy.

5. The Continuous Nature of Personal Development

  • Emphasis: Stress that personal development and the growth of tacit knowledge is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Encourage clients to view every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow and to embrace change as a catalyst for development.
  • Actionable Tip: Suggest that clients set long-term personal development goals and revisit them regularly, adjusting as they grow and their understanding of themselves deepens.

6. Tapping Into Tacit Knowledge for Innovation

  • Emphasis: Reinforce the idea that tacit knowledge is a key driver of innovation. The more clients develop their tacit knowledge, the better they will be at developing creative solutions and connecting disparate ideas in ways others might not.
  • Actionable Tip: Encourage clients to engage in creative problem-solving exercises, like brainstorming sessions or design thinking workshops, where they can practice applying their tacit knowledge in innovative ways.

Conclusion:

By embracing personal development and understanding the role of tacit knowledge, your clients can unlock deeper levels of creativity, insight, and professional effectiveness. Encourage them to actively cultivate experiences, relationships, and practices that foster the growth of tacit knowledge alongside their explicit knowledge to truly maximize their potential.

Through my conversation with ChatGPT, I hope you are inspired to develop your tacit knowledge throughout your life. Stay aware and curious, and keep learning!

July 2024 – Tanmay Vora’s Sketchnote – Explicit and Tacit Knowledge
Dall-E #TwinzTalk Brainstorming

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Tacit Knowledge: Embracing Your Secret Weapon in Personal and Professional Growth

This post is part 1 of 2 related to tacit knowledge. Part 2 can be accessed here: An AI Conversation Exploring the Power of Tacit Knowledge.

*****

A theme that #TwinzTalk Don and I frequently touch on is the importance of giving yourself time and space to be aware of nuances in areas of importance to you. Notice something, sit with it, and ask yourself, “How might this impact my world?” Particularly in professional environments, it is too easy to be consumed with urgent matters all day, every day, and our actions become rote and automatic without giving much thought. We must be aware and catch ourselves when this is happening.

My weekend reading included a July 18, 2024, blog post by Tanmay Vora, The Iceberg of Organizational Knowledge: How to Unlock Tacit Knowledge.

Tacit knowledge.

While I am aware and believe in the build-up of [difficult to replace] knowledge based on years of experience, Tanmay’s blog post and visual sketchnote explained tacit knowledge, and this term articulated beautifully what I felt has been a strength for Don and me throughout our careers. We all have tacit knowledge, yet the key is understanding and appreciating where we gain strength to help our lives and others. Don’t take for granted the gift of experience, as it contributes to tacit knowledge that is unique to you.

Before diving into Tanmay’s blog post, I asked ChatGPT to provide a 50-word description of tacit knowledge:

“Tacit knowledge is personal, experience-based knowledge that’s hard to formalize and communicate. It includes intuitive skills, insights, and know-how gained through practice and social interactions, often unique to individuals and crucial for innovation and problem-solving.”

Below, I will share highlights from Tanmay’s blog and then present my further thoughts about tacit knowledge in personal development—beyond the resume (which is explicit knowledge).

Building from an original post from Nick Milton and an insightful share from Helen Bevan, Tanmay created his blog post and included a thought-provoking sketchnote.

Nick Milton’s post “Why you can’t solve knowledge problems with information tools alone” noted:

“Firstly much of the knowledge of the organisation is never codified as information. People know more than they can tell, and tell more than they can write. Maybe as much as 80% of the knowledge in an organisation is undocumented, and can only be accessed through networks, communities of practice, and conversational processes such as Peer Assist and Knowledge Exchange. Information tools leave this knowledge untouched.”

“Finally, many of the knowledge problems are cultural. People are incentivised to rush on to the next job rather than to spend time reflecting on lessons, no matter how important. They may not want to share knowledge, as they feel this knowledge is better kept to themselves in order to build their in-house status and value. People suffer from “not invented here” syndrome which leads them to prefer to reinvent than to reuse. There is no point in organising your project information if people do not want to seek for knowledge, and would not use it if they found it. I often use the analogy of teaching your child to read. The first thing you do is instil a love of books, so the child is eager for stories. Afterwards you can organise the book collection, but that comes later. Firstly we need the hunger for stories. Similarly we need to instil a hunger for knowledge as one of the first steps in KM, before organisation can be helpful.”

Up to 80% of organisational knowledge is tacit and undocumented. This observation was the highlight of Helen’s share on LinkedIn and led to Tanmay’s blog post. When I read his post, I could not stop contemplating the concept (and compelling value) of tacit knowledge! Tanmay notes:

“The hidden treasure of organizational knowledge is tacit knowledge that is deeply rooted in people, their experiences, skills, insights and judgements. Tacit knowledge doesn’t come to the fore easily because it resides in the minds of people. How to react to a specific situation? How to connect seemingly discrete dots? That’s all tacit and invaluable at the same time. Unlocking tacit knowledge is how organizations break past their internal barriers to improve and innovate.”

The sharing of tacit knowledge requires a strong culture. If an organization has high turnover or coworkers who don’t work well together, tacit knowledge will reside within individual workers (protecting their “value” by not generously sharing with their coworkers) or leave the organization through employee attrition. Let this thought sink in. In some organizations, how often does senior management take the perspective that workers are replaceable, not understanding the tacit knowledge that is being lost?

Tacit knowledge in personal development is the noodle I wrestled with all weekend and early this week. In collaboration with ChatGPT, I gained insight that deepened my curiosity. Please understand I was seeking “directionally accurate” information that could keep me thinking down the path of tacit knowledge present in my and Don’s lives when we were unaware of the concept of tacit knowledge. We simply thought, “We have built a disproportionate advantage thanks to our experiences, curiosity, and willingness to be technology early adopters.“

A second blessing in my career was having the privilege of years-long relationships with co-workers that greatly enhanced our professional value to each other and the enhanced performance we could bring to benefit the organization. Now I realize we were leaning into tacit knowledge!

Tacit knowledge represents a vast and valuable resource within organizations and individuals. It is the uncodified wisdom gained through experience, intuition, and practice that often drives innovation and problem-solving. Recognizing the importance of tacit knowledge is the first step in harnessing its power.

In my next post, I will explore cultivating and enhancing our tacit knowledge through intentional personal development practices. Please follow my curiosity in a dialogue with ChatGPT as I seek clarity on how our dedication to personal development can help us develop greater tacit knowledge and increase our value to the world. Let’s turn tacit knowledge into a powerful personal and professional growth tool.

June 26, 2024 | Don and Bill Tomoff at Maryland Government Finance Officers Association Conference
July 2024 – Tanmay Vora’s Sketchnote – Explicit and Tacit Knowledge
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Tiny Drips Creating Huge Impact: Unlocking Your Potential Through Daily Habits

Summary Overview – Collaboration with Claude AI

This post explores the transformative power of adopting small, positive habits and committing to them daily. Drawing from experiences as competitive distance runners, my twin Don and I share how our discipline developed through running, benefiting all aspects of our lives.

The importance of consistency and perseverance is emphasized, with personal examples of my habits intentionally cultivated since 2012. Examples include daily reading, planking, writing, and flossing. When practiced consistently, small habits can lead to remarkable results over time.

References to James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” and Seth Godin’s blog posts underscore the impact of showing up every day. A personal story about my son Ryan’s cancer diagnosis illustrates how life events can suddenly bring clarity to our priorities, highlighting the importance of focusing on what truly matters.

Readers are encouraged to reflect on their lives, make intentional choices about where they dedicate their energy, and consider adopting small, positive habits. The post argues that consistent practice not only leads to personal growth but can also inspire us to help others and approach life with gratitude and kindness.

Ultimately, the message is clear: small, daily actions compound over time, leading to significant personal development and positive life changes.

Full Original Writing

Adopt one small positive habit, and commit to showing up for daily execution.

For twin Don and I, our careers as competitive distance runners refined attributes within us that have benefitted our careers and lives. In high school and college, we developed the habit of incorporating our training regimen into every single day. Yes, off days were planned, but we learned the journey to being our best selves meant unwavering dedication and perseverance day in and day out, a lesson that has inspired us in all aspects of our lives.

Over many years, we achieved continual improvement and understood hard work and consistency win in the long run. Throughout college, in our careers, and our lifetime of personal development, consistency is woven into the fabric of “who we are.”

Of course, our distance running careers involved a commitment of a couple of hours per day, but we now prioritize [very] small habits daily. The practice of showing up and executing daily compounds in unimagined ways. Once the results are experienced with one habit, the desire and commitment build to adopt another habit, then another, and before long, a steady daily routine is built that can change your life!

You may think, “I don’t have time to fit one more thing on my list of priorities.” In a blog by Seth Godin, shared further below, he notes:

“Keep showing up. If it matters, keep showing up.” We often have the good fortune of deciding what matters to us and how to spend our most precious, nonrenewable asset: time. However, inevitably, we will also have priorities thrust upon us – the life-altering moment in my and my family’s lives was the 1996 diagnosis of my son, Ryan, with childhood cancer (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). October 17, 1996, was a day that provided instant clarity about my swirling list of “important” matters. The only things that mattered were dedicating my time and energy to saving Ryan’s life and supporting my family. Terri Tomoff published a memoir, The Focused Fight, in March 2021, sharing our family and Ryan’s story of successfully battling cancer five times.

2004 – Bill and Ryan Tomoff – Bald heads before Duke PBMT trip

I do not want anyone to have clarity forced upon them. Yet, I want to encourage everyone to prioritize time for reflection and do the internal work of intentionally assessing their choices about where they dedicate their energies. Please.

James Clear’s book Atomic Habits is inspiring and I highly suggest reading and keeping a copy close by for future reference. A YouTube video, Tiny Habits that Create Remarkable Results, by After Skool provides a beautiful nine-minute animated summary. A key point (many discussed in the video!) is that we must realize that “Your outcomes in life are a lagging measure of your habits.” Thus, establishing positive habits that are small and easy (so small that you can tackle the habit(s) every day) is the key to making long-term progress. Consistent positive habits will inspire you and can snowball into other positive habits, which change your life dramatically!

Since 2012, I have intentionally focused on my personal development by making small changes one at a time. My progress and dedication have grown into several daily habits that, over the longer term (say 1,000 days, as Seth Godin discusses in the blog shared below), have rewarded me immensely. I also enjoy the discipline these habits have built into my daily life. The daily habits that I have built into my daily routine include:

  1. Tenacious reader and personal development advocate since September 2012.
  2. Planking daily since March 25, 2018.
  3. Morning reading since January 1, 2020.
  4. I have been writing daily or contemplating ideas for writing for 5 or 10 (often longer) minutes since June 8, 2020.
  5. Involved in writing communities of practice since June 8, 2020. Life-enhancing initiative shared with my wife Terri. These communities are the essence of “We rise by lifting others. (Robert Ingersoll).”
  6. Flossing teeth daily since June 1, 2021. Thank you, Susan Myhr Fritz, for the inspiration!
  7. Being kind and helping others through micro-moves. Approaching each day with a mindset of abundance. We all have gifts to share, and we must be generous with our talents.
  8. Pick up trash regularly. Inspired by the Litterati app initiative shared in this TED Talk.
  9. Pause and be grateful. I am grateful for the gifts in my life and happy for others’ achievements.
  10. Choose to lead. I strive to lead by the example of my actions.
January 19, 2019 – Bill Tomoff Plank at Arsenal Emirates Stadium (London)

Regarding helping others, please read this encouragement from the Daily Stoic, “If you want to feel better, do this.”

“So if you want to feel better today, if you want to find a bright spot in this dark landscape of uncertainty and fear, the solution is simple: Do good. Help others. Be of service. Think less of your problems and try to help others with theirs. You’ll be amazed at the happiness this brings… to you and to them.”

As I referenced above, Seth Godin often stresses the importance of the long-term persistence of showing up every day. Please read the following quick blogs of encouragement:

One thousand little steps

“And every one of those improvements was met with resistance. Every change was fought, tooth (!) and nail. Every one had critics and skeptics and hold outs.

That’s how the world changes. By drips. Persistent, generous, tiny drips.“

The drip

“Change, real change, is the result of focused persistence.”

“The challenging part, and the reason that change doesn’t happen as often as it should is that we get distracted. Today’s urgent is more urgent than yesterday’s important.”

“There are very few overnight successes. Very few… got there with thunder and lighting. It happens with a drip.”

“Keep showing up. If it matters, keep showing up.”

Think about a small, positive habit you can start today and commit to for the long haul. Consistency is key to unlocking your potential for success. While this concept is simple to grasp, the execution requires dedication. Be the person who perseveres.

When to start? Not “one day,” instead make today “day one.”

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Incremental Excellence: Compounding Personal Growth through a Daily Drip

We all have active schedules and tasks that “must get done.” Throughout our careers and lives, twin Don and I have too often seen folks prioritize and let the day-to-day urgent matters overwhelm the opportunity to do the more important work of the long-term potential of investing in their personal development. Our quest is to shine the light on the disservice we all do to ourselves (and others) when we do not prioritize the important work of investing in ourselves.

“But what does Socrates say? “Just as one person delights in improving his farm, and another his horse, so I delight in attending to my own improvement day by day.””

—Epictetus, Discourses, 3.5.14

When we think of “investing,” the common thought turns to investing money or saving for our future. Taking care of our financial needs is another critical topic, but here, the emphasis is investing our resources into ourselves toward developing our best talent and potential. There are no shortcuts to improving ourselves. We must show up daily and persist in doing the work required to refine our talents. The excellent news is that daily small incremental investments in ourselves compound exponentially over time.

“Every small positive change we make in ourselves repays us in confidence in the future.”

—Alice Walker

Seth Godin, in the blogs shared below, makes compelling observations:

Where are your assets?

“Do work and get paid once. Build an asset and get paid for as long as it lasts.“

The drip. In this post, Seth shares the magic of showing up and persisting to make real change.

“Change, real change, is the result of focused persistence.”

“The challenging part, and the reason that change doesn’t happen as often as it should is that we get distracted. Today’s urgent is more urgent than yesterday’s important.”

“Keep showing up. If it matters, keep showing up.”

Several benefits of prioritizing personal development include:

  1. Building an asset: As Seth notes, building an asset for ourselves is valuable and something you own.
  2. Leading by example: When we challenge ourselves to grow, we can inspire others to do the same.
  3. Help others: We are better positioned to help others as our skills increase. We must not lose sight of developing ourselves to contribute more to the world.
  4. Increased adaptability: Personal development enhances our ability to adapt to changing circumstances, making us more resilient to challenges.
  5. Enhanced self-awareness: By investing in personal growth, we gain a deeper understanding of our strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations.
  6. Improved decision-making: As we develop ourselves, we refine our critical thinking skills and gain new perspectives, leading to better decision-making in various aspects of life.
  7. Greater sense of fulfillment: Pursuing personal growth often leads to a stronger sense of purpose and satisfaction in life.
  8. Better relationships: Personal development can improve our emotional intelligence, communication skills, and empathy, leading to healthier and more meaningful relationships.
  9. Increased productivity: By honing our skills and improving our habits, we become more efficient and effective in our daily tasks.
  10. Expanded opportunities: As we grow and develop new skills, we open ourselves to new career paths and life experiences.
  11. Continuous learning mindset: Embracing personal development fosters a lifelong love of learning, keeping our minds sharp and engaged.
  12. Increased self-confidence: Our self-confidence naturally grows as we overcome challenges and achieve personal goals.
  13. Enhanced creativity: Personal growth often involves exploring new ideas and perspectives, which can boost our creative thinking abilities.

Personal development is not just a luxury; it’s necessary for anyone seeking a fulfilling and impactful life. The benefits we’ve explored – from building valuable personal assets to enhancing our adaptability and creativity – demonstrate the profound impact that consistent self-improvement can have on our lives and those around us.

I hope my thoughts help inspire you to reflect on how dedicating time daily to personal development, learning, and growth can exponentially improve your day-to-day performance and provide you with much fulfillment. Remember, as Epictetus wisely noted, there’s a unique delight in attending to our improvement day by day. Keep showing up, stay persistent, and witness the small, daily investments in yourself compound into remarkable transformations over time. Choose the steady drip of daily personal development. Don’t say “one day” instead, make today “day one.” Your future self will thank you!

Continual Education – 5 Hour Rule (Compounding impact)
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Choose Possibility: How Small Shifts in Thinking Can Create Big Changes

Over the past five years, my daily reading of the Stoicism philosophy has often reflected the importance of managing our minds. How we think, interpret, and respond to external events.

Am I prioritizing my efforts to use the gift of my mind and the opportunity for rational thought? I contemplate this question daily as I strive to bring my best talents and abilities to the world.

In this post, I focus on shifting our mindset to one of possibility. Here are a few resources to inspire you to approach your life through a lens of possibility:

In his blog post, A Commitment to Possibility, Seth Godin notes:

“So many people to connect with, so many things to learn. Doors to open, helping hands to be offered.

The magic of our time is that forward motion multiplies and ideas can be shared like never before.”

The second resource comes from the twinz book recommendations – The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. Read and share this book. Inspiration guaranteed!

Bill Tomoff with book The Art of Possibility

In this three-minute video, Ben shares examples of the power of possibility.

“You can choose one of two ways of being every single moment of your life. You can either be in what we call “the down spiral” or radiating possibility.”

“Radiating possibility is a discipline. It’s a rigorous discipline. That is why you have to practice, and practice, and practice, and practice. [Have people in your life who are open to possibility]”

James Clear, author of the book Atomic Habits, wrote this review of The Art of Possibility. Highlights I especially enjoyed:

  • Everything in life is based on your reference frame. Look at things in a new way and suddenly your problems fade away.
  • Instead of focusing on how you measure up, focus on how you contribute to the world around you. Contribution is not measured based on other people. It’s only measured based on what you put into the world around you. That’s it. If you add something, you contributed.
  • The conductor can lead the most powerful orchestra in the world, but does not make a sound. His or her only power is in getting the players to produce the beautiful sound they are capable of.
  • Rule #6: Don’t take yourself so damn seriously. [Bill and Don #TwinzTalk LOVE this rule!]
  • The more attention you shine on a subject, the more evidence of it you find. This is how downward spiral talk escalates into a reality.

As we navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, adopting a mindset of possibility can profoundly impact our experiences and outcomes. By embracing and practicing possibility, we open ourselves to a world of potential. Possibility is a practice, a discipline that requires consistent effort and mindfulness. By cultivating this mindset, we can enrich our lives and contribute to a more optimistic world. The choice is yours every second of every day: will you spiral downward or radiate possibility? Choose possibility!

Possibility Coffee Mug