Crippled CEO Blog #181: Upgrade your brain’s operating system

Crippled CEO Blog #181:

The colors and textures of language influence the painting of our perspectives. There’s a word in Scottish — “hurkle-durkle” — that means the act of lounging in bed long after it’s time to rise. It’s an amazing word for something we’ve all done before. But imagine if you had a single word for that in English. Would you feel less guilty about enjoying those extra moments of comfort?

Now, English has its own treasure: “serendipity,” the art of finding something good without looking for it. No direct translation in other languages, yet it’s a universal concept, isn’t it? That happy accident, like stumbling upon a hundred-dollar bill on a sidewalk stroll.

And there’s more to this linguistic loot of words that we don’t have direct translations for in English:

• Saudade (Portuguese): That deep, nostalgic longing for something or someone that you love and miss.

• Sobremesa (Spanish): Lingering at the table after a good meal, sharing stories and laughs.

• Waldeinsamkeit (German): The forest solitude, the feeling of being alone in the woods, at peace.

• Komorebi (Japanese): The dance of sunlight through the leaves, a reminder of nature’s quiet beauty.

• Fernweh (German): A crave for travel, an ache for distant places, a homesickness for the unknown.

Each word is a window into the soul of a culture, the values they hold dear, and the experiences they treasure.

So, what does this mean for us as entrepreneurs or just people trying to do better?

Language isn’t just a tool for communication; it’s the operating system of our mind. When we expand our linguistic database, we upgrade our brain’s software. We become capable of seeing and feeling the world in ways we didn’t before. It’s like adding new features to an app you thought you knew inside out.

Imagine if we applied “hurkle-durkle” to our business philosophy. Instead of rushing to act, we linger a little longer in thought, allowing ideas to brew. And what if “serendipity” became a business strategy? Rather than over-planning, we leave room for happy accidents.

As you weave these words into your language, watch your world expand. You’re not just learning vocabulary; you’re gaining new eyes for unseen colors, new ears for unheard melodies.

So, next time you find yourself enjoying a “hurkle-durkle” morning or a “sobremesa” evening, remember that these words are more than letters strung together; they are experiences, emotions, and philosophies wrapped up in syllables.

(Do you know who I love to hurkle-durkle with? Your mom. She’s always trying to hurkle my durkle. Your mom also gets a text from me every Sunday with a link to the latest blog post. Send a text to 561-726-1567 with the word CRIP as the message to get a link to the blog as soon as it’s up.

Did you know that I have a YouTube channel now? I do! I am putting up two videos every single week. Go search for Crippled CEO and you’ll find me. I would appreciate it if you subscribed.)