Change Anything

I don't know whether or not you are familiar with VitalSmarts, (the company I work for) but it was founded by several authors: Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler. Over the years they have become three-time New York Times bestselling authors for their books: Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer. Pretty dang cool. They are now releasing a new book! It’s called  

Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success

So why is this a big deal & what is it even about? 

Well...here's a quick summary:

"Change Anything reveals a proven, scientific process to successfully take on any challenge in our lives-challenges like saving money, changing bad work habits, quitting smoking, increasing productivity, or losing weight. But here's the secret: willpower is not the answer. With a clearer understanding of the real forces that shape our actions, we can make better decisions, change our outlook, and replace bad habits with good."

"Individuals who have the power to change their behavior are individuals with power. Master the skills taught in this book and reach a new level of personal influence." 

-Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Effective People & The Leader in Me

 It releases tomorrow. You should totally buy it.

(Side note: I hate telling people what to buy, but if I make a blog post about it I get a free sweatshirt) :)

Book Smart vs. Street Smart

I've learned  lately that if all of my room mates and I get home at the same time, we will be up for at least another hour talking about various things. It is quite enjoyable, but sometimes that means we don't get to bed until like two or three in the morning! A few days ago Kate came up with an random question (which she is quite good at doing).

Would you rather date/marry someone who:

is extremely smarter than you

 

OR

someone who is extremely dumber than you?

 Dumber? Is that a word? Sorry to put that in such a rude way, but you know what I mean. I guess you could think of it as book smart and street smart. I think it's a pretty hard question because they both have their pros and cons. I've had the blessing to be able to date a lot and I feel like I have experienced both sides. If they are way smarter than you then you always feel insignificant and like you can never measure up-which isn't very healthy. But then if they were pretty dumb you would constantly either have to dumb yourself down to their level, or simplify everything so that they can understand you. Hmmm....

What do you think? 

On another note...March Madness is back in business :) Thank goodness, it's been pretty boring the past four days. BYU is playing Florida tonight and I have to admit that I am getting really nervous, excited, anxious, and everything in between. I even painted my fingernails blue for good luck. I know they can do it, but I sure hope they can pull out with the win! I'm going with Krista, Shannon, and some other friends to the Keddington's house in Centerville to watch it. I'm excited to see where these crazies come from..

Sweet Sixteen!

I may or may not have teared up when I saw this on tv last night...

I've never been so proud to be a BYU fan.

We're in the sweet sixteen, baby!

Upsets

The best part of the year is upon us! 

MARCH MADNESS! 

I couldn't be happier. 

I love the excitement. 

I love the energy. 

I love the unpredictability. 

I love the anticipation. 

I love the upsets. 

I love love love the upsets. There is nothing more thrilling than when the under dogs win. I get so excited for them! Unless of course I didn't pick them... Like Morehead St? What the... Thanks for screwing up my bracket. Kentucky really worried me for awhile yesterday too. I have them going to the final four! That game shouldn't have been that close, but then what am I saying? This is March Madness :) 

Speaking of upsets, look what was in the Daily Universe today:

(Friday 411 issue: 3.18.2011)

Thanks for the chuckle, Daily Universe.

I know you may be a little surprised at how much I get into March Madness, but it's the truth. I'm kind of obsessed, and proud of it. I'd say my dad trained me well. :) To be completely honest, I have to limit myself to how often I can check stats or turn on the tv to watch the final minutes, or else I won't get homework done. ha

To keep up the tradition I filled out a bracket on espn.com and joined a couple groups. I could be humble and say that I'm doing "good", but I don't feel like it. I wanna brag! I'm winning. ALL of the groups I'm in. That includes my family, friends, ward, and co-workers! My bracket is a beaute. I've only missed three games so far. Yessss. (Said in a Napoleon Dynamite voice) Let's just hope I can keep this up...

Other goodies:

-They showed the "Teach Me How to Jimmer" commercial on National TV yesterday. NBD...

-My teacher wrote "have fun" on the board yesterday. Whaat? haha I'll save that story for another day...

-Starburst jelly beans. Yum!

Day 30

What have you learned in the past year?

Jayson, me and Angi

-I'm a way different Brittni than I was a year from now. I'm the new and improved :)

-My trials have improved me and have helped me come to realize what my strengths and weaknesses are.

-I'm smarter than I thought I was.

-If it's January-don't go camping in Salina.

-8:00am class is the most ridiculous idea ever.

-I have some really really great friends.

-Don't ever get a bone contusion. 

-If the interior door of your car comes off, just screw it on! Works like magic.

-Sometimes I speak with a really nerdy college student vocabulary.

-Road trips are one of my favorite hobbies & always will be.

-It’s quite thrilling to throw water balloons at parked cars on Squaw Peak.

-It's impossible to have good grades, a social life, and sleep. Choose two...

-byu.edu could set a record for being the slowest loading website.

-You'll always have differences with people. Part of life is learning how to deal with them.

-It gets harder and harder to make time for clogging.
-I often listen to this song on repeat. It's my new favorite.

-I really love it when my classes get canceled.

-Things. Take. Time.

-"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved." (Thomas S. Monson)

-Vanilla frostys are good at any time of day.

-I hate goodbyes. Always will.

-Don't try to compare your single's ward at home to the ones at BYU.

-Never do a long-distance relationship. It doesn't get easier.

-This website fascinates me. 

-Alaska is beautiful.

-The best part about an evening class is that when you walk outside its sunset!

-I really like FM 100.3.

-I really really love random facts.

-Choosing not to buy a parking pass is a good idea because you learn how to parallel park.

-Jeans from Buckle fit incredibly well.

-Heartbreak stinks.

-Sometimes dating feels like a chore. Today is one of those sometimes.

-My parents are awesome.

-My parents are Awesome.

-My parents are AWESOME.

-It's totally worth missing class to go see Jimmer play.

-Blogging is quite enjoyable, but I find it getting lower and lower on my priorities list while I'm in school.

-I get surprisingly passionate about March Madness.

-When you first meet a guy at BYU he doesn't care about how old you are, where you're from or what your major is. He cares about your hand. Your left hand. And when I say your left hand...I mean your ring finger.

-I enjoy critiquing wedding announcements with my roommates.

-Never take Housing the Family and Food Science in the same semester. You will have a minimum of one test a week.

-One of the hardest things to do is when a guy asks you out on a date and you have to tell him you’re not interested.

-Never wear heels the day after you run a 5k. It hurts really bad.

 Growing up isn't just about becoming an "adult." Because let’s think about it, when people say "when I grow up…" what is Up? Will there a day when you think “yep, I’m “up!” No. It’s a process. Growing up isn't about growing taller or becoming more independent.
*It's admitting you're wrong.
*It's allowing yourself to be vulnerable.
*It's about putting your walls down and letting people in.
*It's having your heart broken.
*It's letting someone heal it.
*It's voting for what you believe in.
*It's believing something simply because you know it's true.
*It's learning to trust others.
*It's letting go.
*It's allowing yourself to cry.
*It's allowing yourself to laugh.
*It's realizing how much your parents really love and care about you.
*It's knowing that your mom is always right.
*It's understanding what does and doesn't matter.
*It's accepting that you are far from perfect.
*It's choosing to be happy.
*It's learning to trust the Lord when nothing else makes sense.
*It's planning your future.
*It's about finding yourself.

Growing up is about finding joy in the journey.

"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

♥

Day 29

Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad:

This was really hard. Music simply has a way of speaking to me that no one else does. I love it! I'm one of those weirdos that knows pretty much every song on the radio even before it has been playing for 10 seconds. Nerdy, I know. Yet I am content to listen to music hours on end, no matter the genre.

                                            Happy:

                                            Be OK-Ingrid Michaelson

                                            Grace Kelly-Mika

                                            If It's Love-Train

                                            Madison-Chris Merrit

                                            Fearless-Taylor Swift

                                            She (for Liz)-Parachute

                                            Mama's Song-Carrie Underwood

                                            Forget You-(edited/Glee version)

                                            Can I Have This Dance-HSM 3

                                            Unstoppable-Rascal Flatts

                                            Marry Me-Train

                                            Sad:

                                            Once-Rascal Flatts

                                            Vienna-The Fray

                                            Just A Dream-Nelly

                                            Holdin' On-Rascal Flatts

                                            Fearless-Colbie Callait

                                            Just A Dream-Carrie Underwood

                                            A Little Bit Stronger-Sara Evans

                                            The Scientist-Coldplay

                                            Wild Horses-Natasha Beddingfield

                                            Already Gone-Kelly Clarkson

                                            Bored:

                                            Hey Ya-Obadiah Parker

                                            Jim Brickman goodies

                                            Claire de Lune

                                            Jack Johnson

                                            John Mayer

                                            Matt Nathanson

                                            Anything acoustic. I love it!

                                            Hyped:

                                            Clogging music
                                            My running playlist (called "Goodbye Marge")

                                            Note: If you name your belly I promise it is 

                                            easier to want to get rid of it ;)

                                            Mad:

                                            Everything I'm Not-The Veronica's