Episode 35 - An Environment for Improvement and the Origins of St. Patrick's Day

Creating an Environment For Self Improvement

Aspects of a Growth Environment

1. Others are ahead of you

You need people in your life who you can learn from. You can’t make all the mistakes yourself. There isn’t time. Learn from the experience of others.

2. You are still challenged

Complacency kills growth. And it’s super boring.

3. Your focus is forward

There’s no such thing as standing still. You’re either moving forward or your sliding backward. Time is vicious, and it’s especially hard on the idle.  Muscles atrophy, skills deteriorate, memories fade. Keep moving forward so you can keep what you have. 

4. Atmosphere is affirming

This goes back to the last episode and the power of positivity.

5. You are out of your comfort zone

We also talked about the benefits of risk. Staying where you’re too comfortable eventually makes most improvement minded souls uncomfortable.

6. Others are growing

If the people around you aren’t improving, then it’s going to be hard to change by yourself. In fact, you’ll be lucky if they don’t drag you back with them.

7. Willingness to change

Clayton G Orcutt said “Change itself is not progress, but change is the price we pay for progress.” Change can be hard but it’s a necessary evil in order to be successful. I would say if achieving your goals won’t change your life they’re probably too small.

St Patrick’s Day


Much of what we know about St Patrick’s Day is made up. St Patrick’s color’s not even green. It was originally blue.

Born in Britain, St Patrick was forced into slavery in Ireland at age 16. He escaped but later returned to spread the gospel to the Irish in 432 AD and convert them to Christianity. Supposedly he used a shamrock to explain the trinity to the Irish peasants, though this could be a legend. You may here about Patrick driving snakes out of Ireland. It’s thought this could be a reference to driving pagan druids out of the country.

May have become a drinking holiday because restrictions on alcohol were often lifted on St Patrick’s Day. One tradition was to put a shamrock in a glass of whiskey then drain it shamrock and all, or toss it over your shoulder.

Check back next week for adventures on the high seas as we launch a piratey episode and learn some awesome stuff.