Sam Thomas Davies's Blog, page 7

Words Into Works #096 | Seven Tools for Life

In Be Useful, Arnold Schwarzenegger outlines seven fundamental principles for finding one’s true purpose, drawn from his diverse and successful career as an athlete, actor, and politician. Schwarzenegger emphasizes the importance of clear vision, hard work, effective communication, and resilience, all underpinned by his father’s advice to always be useful. Let’s discuss each principle in turn. […]

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Words Into Works #095 | The Four Enemies of Clear Thinking

In his book Clear Thinking, Shane Parrish emphasizes the importance of managing our instinctual reactions to maintain clear thinking and focus on our goals. He identifies four key biological defaults—emotion, ego, social, and inertia—that can lead to unforced errors if not consciously controlled. These instincts, beneficial for our ancestors’ survival, can now trigger counterproductive responses […]

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Words Into Works #094 | First Principles

In his book Think Like a Rocket Scientist, rocket scientist turned-author Ozan Varol emphasizes the importance of breaking free from conventional thinking. While our past experiences and knowledge can be valuable, explains Varol, they can also limit our perspectives, causing us to mimic others or rely on outdated assumptions. Varol suggests that, rather than imitating, we […]

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Words Into Works #093 | Neutral Thinking

In his book, It Takes What It Takes, Trevor Moawad emphasizes the power of neutral thinking as a high-performance strategy, especially in moments of crisis and pressure. Neutral thinking, explains Moawad, rejects judgment and focuses on accepting the irrevocable nature of the past. Moawad explains that, unlike other motivational systems that rely on illusion and […]

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Words Into Works #092 | The Five Buckets Principle

In his book, The Diary of a CEO, Steven Bartlett discusses the profound concept of the “five buckets” that determine an individual’s professional potential. He introduces this idea with an anecdote about Elon Musk, emphasizing how people’s perceptions change based on the fullness of these buckets. The five essential buckets are: Knowledge. What you know […]

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Words Into Works #091 | BANTA

In his book Getting to Yes: Negotiating an Agreement Without Giving In, Roger Fisher addresses the challenges of negotiating when the other party has a stronger bargaining position. Fisher acknowledges that no strategy can ensure victory when all leverage lies with the opposition. Just as one cannot grow lilies in a desert, certain realities in […]

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Words Into Works #090 | 10x Is Easier Than 2x

In his book, 10x Is Easier Than 2x, Dr. Benjamin Hardy discusses the transformative power of aiming for tenfold, rather than twofold, improvement. According to Hardy, doubling success often meets resistance, as people associate it with doubling their workload. The concept of 10x growth, however, fundamentally changes this mindset. It’s not about working harder, says Hardy, […]

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Words Into Works #089 | The WRAP Process

In their book Decisive, Chip and Dan Heath offer a framework for making better decisions called The WRAP Process. “To make better choices,” write the brothers, “we must avoid the most common decision-making biases.” While awareness of biases and irrationalities isn’t sufficient to avoid them, we can use The WRAP process to help us make […]

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Words Into Works #088 | The Six Pillars of Resilience

In her book Mindset Matters, Gemma Leigh Roberts highlights resilience as the quintessential skill for the evolving work landscape. After all, resilience facilitates overcoming challenges and fosters learning and growth from those experiences. “The construct of resilience can be complex to navigate,” writes Roberts. “It can be tricky to know where to start when focusing […]

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Words Into Works #087 | The Three Core Habits of Organization

In his book, The PARA Method: Simplify, Organise, and Master Your Digital Life, Tiago Forte posits that all information in our lives can be distilled into four categories: Projects: These are short-term tasks aimed at achieving specific goals, such as completing a webpage design or renovating a bathroom. Areas of Responsibility: These entail broader, ongoing […]

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