🤔 Morning thoughts (February 24 - March 2)
Every Sunday I share a quote and a reflection on it for each day of the week.
Themes of the week: Discipline, Character, Process, Mastery, Perspective, Grit, Transformation
Sunday - March 2, 2025
"He couldn't remember how many warriors he had clashed with; there had been dozens of them, all well-trained, superior swordsmen. It was not hard to find able swordsmen. What was hard to find was a real man. While the world was full of people, all too full, finding a genuine human being was not easy."
Eiji Yoshikawa, Musashi
Skill can be learned and mastered but character is not as malleable. You need to get to your core to shape who you are. And that requires honesty, integrity, and commitment.
Saturday - March 1, 2025
"To the masters, repetition of the boring fundamentals is not boring. They have developed intrinsic philosophies and reasoning behind their actions. They look forward to it every day, because they understand that nothing good comes from the quick fix."
Dan Koe, The Art of Focus
When attention to detail and quality of the craft become the reward, you know you’ve detracted from the outcome. You’re embracing process and the practice.
Friday - February 28, 2025
"What is required is that you are aware of what you want to achieve, that you know the motions you must intentionally repeat to accomplish the goal, and that you execute your actions without emotions or judgments; just stay on course."
Thomas M. Sterner, The Practicing Mind
Detachment from the outcome and attachment to the process. That’s how you “grind”. It’s more about actual love for the craft and selfless acts of service rather than pure achievement.
Thursday - February 27, 2025
"We all have our genre. Some people live a tragedy, others inhabit a never-ending religious drama, some approach life as if it were an action film, and not a few act as if in a comedy. But in the end, they are all just stories."
Yuval Noah Harari, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow
Your life’s plot is constantly directed by your thoughts, experiences and actions. The script you’ve been given can and will be changed. It’s up to you how much of an active part you play in those changes.
Wednesday - February 26, 2025
"Those who seek an easy life will lead a harder life than those who seek a good life. The easy life is one of fear."
Mike Cernovich, Live Not by Fear
Most think that by removing friction life will present them with a smooth, downhill flow. In reality when your focus is on ease and no effort, what you get, is the lack of engagement you put in. Life feels empty when you wish for it to be free of obstacles.
Tuesday - February 25, 2025
"Grit is your ability to step up every day and do the work, even when it’s not being recognized, when it’s not producing results, when you’re exhausted or distracted—that’s success, just in its gestation phase."
Scott Galloway, The Algebra of Wealth
Bering your definition of success down to the work you do day after day. Progress is the work in progress. Not the outcome, not the result. But the actions you take no matter what.
Monday - February 24, 2025
"By walking slowly, he becomes aware of the firmness of his step. He knows that he is taking part in a decisive moment in the history of humanity and that he needs to change himself before he can transform the world."
Paulo Coelho, Warrior of the Light
Be steady and resolute in pursuing your goals. The first step is always an internal one. Go deep before you go far.