It's Not About You: A Brief Guide to a Meaningful Life

by Tom Rath

Your life has an unknown expiration date. Your efforts and contributions to others do not. The time, energy, and resources you invest in people you care for and your community keep growing forever.

We are, to a large degree, the product of what others have contributed to our lives.

If you are able to have at least five positive conversations for every negative one in a given day, it should carry forward and energize the networks around you.

You always have a choice of how to respond. Start by assuming the other person has positive intent.

we end up tailoring ourselves to suit our work rather than tailoring our work to suit who we are.

When you see a rare opportunity, take it. Life is too brief for living with regrets.

You don’t need any kind of permission or position to have a positive influence like this . . . you just have to start, today.

to make contributions to others’ lives that will grow infinitely in our absence.

Every morning, wake up and remind yourself: it’s not about me. Then ask yourself: How can I contribute to another person’s life today?