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I asked myself the one question that helps answer many others . . . What would this look like if it were easy?
What would this look like if it were easy?—in
there was one seed of a possibility . . . What if I assembled a tribe of mentors to help me?
So, why not spend a week test-driving the path of least resistance?
Life punishes the vague wish and rewards the specific ask. After all, conscious
thinking is largely asking and answering questions in your own head. If you want confusion and heartache, ask vague questions. If you want uncommon clarity and results, ask uncommonly clear questions.
“The stupidity of people comes from having an answer for everything.
Often, all that stands between you and what you want is a better set of questions.
Good questions in the wrong order get bad responses. Conversely, you can punch well above your weight class by thinking about sequencing, as most people don’t.
let them warm up with lightweight questions
which are less abstract and more concrete.
The superheroes you have in your mind (idols, icons, elite athletes, billionaires, etc.) are nearly all walking flaws who’ve maximized one or two strengths.
you succeed because you find your unique strengths and focus on developing habits around them. . . .
Since what we don’t do determines what we can do, I like asking about not-to-do lists.
Many problems of “focusing” are best solved by defining what to ignore.
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” It’s a short reminder that success can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations we are willing to have, and by the number of uncomfortable actions we are willing to take.
look at their life’s journey as perhaps 25 percent finding themselves and 75 percent creating themselves.
You are the author of your own life, and it’s never too late to replace the stories you tell yourself and the world.
What would it look like if it were easy?
It was such a positive contrast to the harsh experience of closing the restaurant. I’ve learned to envision the ideal end to any project before I begin it now—even the best gigs don’t last forever. Nor should they.
When in doubt, let kindness and compassion guide you. And don’t be afraid to fail.
the more clear I am about what my goals are, the more easily I can say no.
Bliss is the highest peak of what brings you joy.
bliss is what makes you feel most alive.
rate new candidates on a 1–10 scale. The only stipulation was they couldn’t choose 7.
if I have to decide between a 6 or an 8, it’s a lot easier to quickly determine whether or not I should even consider it.
focus means
saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are.
“Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.”
Don’t be intimidated by anything.
specialize—the great human achievement is to specialize as a producer of goods or services
Self-sufficiency is another word for poverty.
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
we have the power to change anything and everything.
“I’m starting with the man in the mirror”—Michael Jackson. Same messag...
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“An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.”
“These individuals have riches just as we say that we ‘have a fever,’ when really the fever has us.”
I think the key to life is to figure out when it makes sense to save mental energy and be like Keating (I’m super conforming in my clothing choices because it’s not something that’s important to me) and when in life it really matters to be like Roark and reason independently (choosing your career path, picking your life partner, deciding how to raise your kids, etc.).
don’t get daunted out of shooting for something you want, especially by potentially unfounded assumptions.
Obsess over figuring out the funnest, most
exciting, most natural shape of yourself as a writer and start doing that.
By focusing inward on yourself as a writer instead of outward on what you think
readers will want to read,
I’ve learned to make my “no” list by starting with my “yes” list.
how do you define a vague concept like “important”? I use a couple of simple litmus tests:
When I find myself with an opportunity, I ask myself whether I’d be happy if my epitaph had something to do with this project.
For me, the Epitaph Test is usually a reminder to focus my time and effort on doing the highest-quality and most original creative work I can.
Litmus test for deep work
For my social life “yes” list, a similar test could be called the Deathbed Test.
in the fog of our day-to-day rush that we’d think it makes sense to neglect our most important personal relationships.
Make sure I’m dedicating my time to the right people with the question, “Is this someone I might be thinking about when I’m on my deathbed?”
