Robert Ford is a writer, activist, and author based in Los Angeles, CA. He has authored a dozen published works of fiction and has authored nine non-fiction books. One of his most memorable works is The Power of Now. Ford co-founded the nonprofit organization One Mind.
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the Power of Now but never actually read what it is. I don’t even know if it exists and if it does, I’m not sure I would want to read about it.
The Power of Now is a short book that basically says to take the time to focus on the things that are important, to be present, and to realize that this can be our best chance to effect our greatest change.
Ford is the real deal. He’s an incredibly gifted and prolific author who has a huge influence on the way I think about work. His most famous work is probably one of the most influential books I’ve ever read (and I’ve read a bunch), The Power of Now. The book is about the power of seeing the present moment and its power to transform our lives.
It’s a book I think about a lot, because having kids doesn’t always make it easy to just sit in the present. I know Ford is a huge influencer on my life and I really love his work, but there are so many other things going on right now that I really need to take some time to focus on.
I get asked a lot about all of the ways I use technology, and I know I use it in my work, but there are some things that I use it for that I dont think about a lot. One of those is the things that I think about a lot is the way we use digital tools to help us to be more present. For example, I have the ability to send emails and text messages now that I dont have to do it.
Not everyone has the ability to send messages and text messages, but many people use email and text messaging to help them be more present. I see that everywhere. It is so easy to forget what it is you are doing or where you are in your day. I just finished reading “Not My Job” by Robert Forster, and it is a wonderful reminder that technology can help us to be more present and less reactive.
Just like any other technology, email and text messaging can help us to be more present, but there is also a dark side to it. For example, I am not exactly a person to be present during my meal. In my last job I had to check email, text messages, and Facebook while I ate. That was a challenge, because I had to actually be there physically. But with modern technology, we can keep our emails and texts brief.
There are so many people out there who have smartphones and they don’t always seem to be taking the time to check email and text messages during their daily tasks. Some people may not realize this but their phone is not actually making them more present. They are just keeping their phone close at hand.
Yeah, that’s right. When you have an iPhone, you’re already more present. You don’t have to make an extra effort to be more present. But most people are going to do more than check their email and text messages during their daily activities.