🤔 Morning thoughts (October 23 - 29)
Every Sunday I share a quote and a reflection on it for each day of the week.
Themes of the week: deliberate decision making, comfort, ignorance, control, fear, rules, leadership, loneliness, learning success
Sunday - October 29, 2023
"There’s one more pattern I see in successful people: They treat success as a learnable skill. That means they figure out what they need and they go and get it."
Scott Adams, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
Knowing what and how you need to learn is as much a skill as anything. It’s probably the most fundamental one.
Saturday - October 28, 2023
"So yes, you’re alone, out there on the track in the rain. You’re the only one responding on Christmas. But having the lead is, by definition, a little lonely. This is also why it’s quiet in the morning. You have the opportunities all to yourself. Don’t worry about setting any records . . . just report for duty. No excuses."
Ryan Holiday, Discipline Is Destiny
The moments of isolation and loneliness will guarantee you swing the other way of the spectrum surrounded by the people you are able lead because you went through those internal battles.
Friday - October 27, 2023
"If the rules are such that you can’t make progress, then you have to fight the rules."
Ashlee Vance, Elon Musk
Following a structure might not always be the best path. At times you have to force your way out of it to find your path again.
Thursday - October 26, 2023
"Turning pro is a decision. But it’s such a monumental, life-overturning decision (and one that is usually made only in the face of overwhelming fear) that the moment is frequently accompanied by powerful drama and emotion"
Steven Pressfield, Turning Pro
Extreme emotions can be a signal that you’re progressing and moving past your fears. Use them as a motivation to keep you going and learn to manage them.
Wednesday - October 25, 2023
“Most humans suffer from a lack of impulse control, ignorance, and ignorance of our (wait for it) ignorance”
Scott Galloway
Not knowing you don’t know and not being able to control yourself are the most dangerous and easiest pitfalls a human can fall into. We’re predisposed for it.
Tuesday - October 24, 2023
"If you feel you are taking on a bit more than you can handle, that’s probably the perfect place to be."
Scott Adams, Reframe Your Brain
Find the edge between balance and burnout and stay there. Stay engaged with the work so the work engages with you.
Monday - October 23, 2023
“One reason the best in the world make consistently good decisions is they rarely find themselves forced into a decision by circumstances. You don’t need to be smarter than others to outperform them if you can out-position them.”
Shane Parrish, Clear Thinking
Everything you do at any moment is contributing to taking you to either a better or worse position to take that next decision that will make or break your success. Curate your moments. Be present.