Bob Anderson, Ph.D.
If you were to die today, would you leave knowing you have lived your life to the fullest?
It’s a fact that balancing the responsibilities of life with the rewards of life is both difficult and challenging. Everyday life has the potential for stress, disappointment and frustration, as well as peace, joy and victory. In our hectic and fast-paced schedules, the negatives can easily overtake us. The world around us can become insane and take us with it— if we allow it.
Great news! It is possible to deal with the insanity of the world without becoming insane ourselves. You can balance the responsibilities of life and have fun doing it.
Fun, laughter, joy, adventure, play and magic are absolute necessities to having a successful, fulfilling and memorable life. Strengthening these characteristics in your everyday life can lead to more loving and mutually satisfying relationships. They can help you become more relaxed, playful, productive and efficient? even more desirable by others.
This book will help provide a sense of real meaning in your life. Finding that meaning will give you the ability to leave this world knowing you have really lived. The key to doing this is getting “Back to Basics”.
Back to Basics For Finding Sanity in an Insane World is a dynamic resource for those looking for balance, healthy careers, improved relationships and personal fulfillment.
Hold on to your seats! This is a book you won’t just read, it’s an adventure you will want to live!
Bob Anderson is president and founder of Back to Basics International, a professional speaking and training organization. As an international speaker and trainer, his most requested topics deal with leadership, teamwork, self-improvement and attaining excellence.
With over 30 years of uniformed service to his country, he currently holds the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in the US Air Force Reserves, and serves as the Security Forces Manager for the 917th Security Forces Squadron, Barksdale AFB, LA.
Bob holds Ph.D.s in human resource management and safety management, as well as a Masters Degree in police science and a Bachelors Degree in social psychology.
He’s a qualified rappel master, assistant SCUBA instructor and holds a second degree black belt in karate.
He’s an avid writer and enjoys writing in various genres including action, adventure, leadership and self-improvement.
This is where my first rule applies—When faced with difficult decisions remember this: It is not important what you decide—it is only important what you decide about what you decided.
It becomes a matter of your attitude about the circumstances you have or will create. If you decide it is the worst job in the world, it will be. If you decide you can’t be happy with the choice, you won’t be. If you decide the tasks are too difficult and you will fail, you will. Furthermore, you will find a legion of individuals that will be happy to enhance your failure.
Remember the adage, “Misery loves company”? Most folks do not like to see you happy, simply because they are not happy. Most folks do not like to see you succeed, because they don’t feel that they have succeeded.
If you fail, they are freed of the aspects of having to improve their circumstances. Now understand that this is not based in viciousness; it is based in laziness. See, if you succeed, it could force them to examine their own lives to determine why they have not been successful. Most folks don’t want to do that.
They favor a path of reduced expectations—they will just denigrate you for your successes. It’s easier than changing their circumstances.
Several years ago, I was promoted to the position of Training Director for a major plant. It was a job that I worked for and wanted very badly; and was fortunate enough to get.
During the first two months people would ask, “How’s it going?” My standard answer was, “If it was any better, I couldn’t stand it!”
After a couple of months, I noticed people looked at me funny. I was having the time of my life in my job and loved coming to work everyday. I started to realize I was making people uncomfortable with my enthusiasm.
I started answering the question with a more acceptable response, “It’s okay.” Within just weeks, this wonderful job became—okay. I was no longer happy to come to work; it had become just another job. However, I was accepted more easily by those co-workers that could not understand how happy I had been.
One day, I realized that I had allowed these folks to steal my joy. That was wrong, but it was my own fault. I did not understand the dynamics of protecting my own joy versus fitting in with others.
I do not believe that feelings determine your behavior. I believe the reverse to be true—your behavior determines your feelings. Years ago, Dale Carnegie said, “Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic”. He was right.
Anderson’s first rule is based on the simple premise that two people can be faced with exactly the same decision and circumstance and the same abilities and qualifications. One will choose option (A) and be miserable. The other will choose option (A) and be extremely successful and happy. The difference—Attitude!
Remember this, when faced with options that are not clear cut, when the pros and cons are nearly balanced. When faced with difficult decisions, it is not important what you decide—it is only important what you decide about what you decided.
