Brandon Mentors a Real-Life Superhero Meet Graphic Novelist Jessica Jane Robinson and Her Alter Ego, Resilience!
And Transform Your Life! Since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world last year, many things have gotten shorter, like school days and our patience. But perhaps the main thing that’s grown shorter for all of us is our attention spans. In 2019, researchers from the Technical University of Denmark reported that our collective attention span is indeed narrowing — and it may be because we’re bombarded with tons of information that we don’t want to “miss out” on, whether we’re scrolling through Facebook or finding new videos on YouTube. Unfortunately, a poor attention span can affect us in many ways. It may impact our performance at school or work or cause communication difficulties in relationships. It may even result in poor health related to self-neglect and an inability to practice healthy habits. How do you fix it? Is it even possible to improve your attention span? Yes, you can! But it will take time. Here are a few ways you can get started. First, accept that you may make yourself a little mentally uncomfortable while expanding your attention span. It simply won’t feel natural to focus on a single task for a longer period of time than normal, but, with a routine, it’ll get more comfortable as time goes on. Second, give the Pomodoro method a try. Named after a tomato- shaped timer that its creator used, the Pomodoro method has gained a lot of attention over the years as a brain workout, and it’s a great way to slowly expand your attention span while accomplishing tasks. To get started, think of a small task. Then, set a timer to 25 minutes (or longer, if your attention span will allow). Work on your task for 25 minutes straight. Then, take a five-minute break. After the break, repeat the process. After four rounds, take a break of 15–20 minutes. Congratulations, you’ve used the Pomodoro method, which you can repeat as many times as you want. It’s very handy for getting your tasks finished in a flash, despite any attention span issues! Third, meditate, work out, or adopt new educational interests. Anything that keeps your brain, body, and spirit engaged can help you learn to focus better. There’s plenty of research that shows the benefits of meditation and exercise to your focus — the trick is exploration. Not every form of meditation, exercise routine, or hobby will work for you, so don’t give up right away! Stay curious and keep exploring. We’re living in a technological age where we can learn almost anything and reach almost anyone at the tap of a button, so we have to learn how to create opportunities for ourselves. We hope these tips help you get started! Improve Your Attention Span
When actress Jessica Jane Robinson entered the Miss California USA Pageant and chose environmental activism as her platform, she had no idea it would turn her into a superhero. But slowly, it happened. First, she became an activist. She helped launch a local composting program, recycling initiatives, and green programs in schools. Then, she found her alter ego: Recycle Woman.
“I had this grand idea that I would fuse my acting with my Miss Alameda platform. So, I wrote a short skit called ‘Recycle Woman’ that was really just a spoof making fun of myself,” she explains. In the skit, Jessica starred as Miss Alameda — a pageant queen who sees contamination in a trash can and turns into Recycle Woman! Recycle Woman educates everyone around her about the environment and greenhouse gasses. Jessica turned the skit into a short film, and when it debuted at a local theater in 2011, 300 people came to see it. “The audience loved the movie. They started telling me Al Gore needs to see it, we need to get it into schools. … That was basically the catalyst that launched me down the path of becoming a graphic novel writer and now a web producer, director, actress, and Al Gore Climate Leader,” Jessica says. Yep, you read that right: Jessica turned her eco-friendly superhero into a brand! When we met in 2016 at the Daymond John Entrepreneur Academy in Las Vegas, Recycle Woman (later renamed “Resilience”) was just a concept. But I saw the potential in Jessica’s pitch. And since I had already built a successful multimedia platform, she knew I would be a great mentor. We sat down together to look over her business plan, and I gave her feedback and advice. “I felt like I understood Brandon at a very core level and was inspired by him,” Jessica remembers. “I enjoyed his storytelling as well as his authenticity. Basically, I was a Brandon White fan as soon as I listened to him and heard him teach.” Fast-forward six years, and Jessica has both a business, Resilience Birthright Inc., and a nonprofit. She also published the first chapter of an all-ages graphic novel about her superhero! It’s called “Origins of Resilience,” and additional chapters and a web series are in the works. Along the way, Jessica took advice from my “Build a Business Success Secrets” podcast. “I realized I need to pace myself, take notes, and go section by section. There’s so much in there, including so many little tips that I'm utilizing right now,” she says.
Visit RBRorg.com to buy Jessica’s graphic novel, check out her videos, and see her appearances as Resilience.
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