10 fascinating traits of highly-successful people:

1) Enjoy Being Wrong: The most successful people legitimately enjoy being wrong. They’ve learned to embrace new information that forces you to change your viewpoint—these "software updates" improve upon the old.

(read on)

The most powerful paradoxes of life:

The Persuasion Paradox

Have you noticed that the most argumentative people rarely persuade anyone?

The most persuasive people don’t argue—they observe, listen, and ask questions.

Argue less, persuade more.

Persuasion is an art that requires a paintbrush, not a sledgehammer.

The Effort Paradox

You have to put in more effort to make something appear effortless.

Effortless, elegant performances are often the result of a large volume of effortful, gritty practice.

Small things become big things. Simple is not simple.

The Wisdom Paradox

“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.” — Albert Einstein

The more you learn, the more you are exposed to the immense unknown.

This should be empowering, not frightening.

Embrace your own ignorance. Embrace lifelong learning.

The Growth Paradox

Growth takes a much longer time coming than you think, and then it happens much faster than you ever would have thought.

Growth happens gradually, then suddenly.

When you realize this, you start to do things differently.

The Eisenhower Decision Matrix is a powerful tool for prioritizing your time and unlocking growth in your career, startup, business, relationships, or life.

A thread on how it works and how it can change your life...

Dwight D. Eisenhower was an American military officer and politician.

He was a five-star general in the United States Army and the first Supreme Commander of NATO.

After his military career, he was elected as the 34th President of the United States, serving from 1953 to 1961.

In both his military and civilian careers, Eisenhower stood out for his prolific productivity.

His secret?

Eisenhower observed that people often confuse the urgent with the important. He did not.

"What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important."

The Eisenhower Decision Matrix is a visualization tool that forces you to differentiate between the urgent and the important.

It allows you to prioritize your time accordingly and unlock new productivity and growth.

Let's cover the basics of how it works...

First, we have to define "urgent" and "important."

An "urgent" task is one that requires immediate, focused attention.

An "important" task is one that promotes or furthers your long-term values, goals, or principles.

Remember: Tasks can be both urgent and important.

20 ideas I can’t stop thinking about:

The Feynman Technique

To learn anything:

Step 1: Identify a topic
Step 2: Try to explain it to a 5-year-old
Step 3: Study to fill in knowledge gaps
Step 4: Organize, convey, and review

True genius is the ability to simplify, not complicate.

Simple is beautiful.

Intellectual Sparring Partners

Most of us need fewer friends and more intellectual sparring partners.

Friends are easy to come by.

Intellectual sparring partners are harder to find.

They will call you on your BS, question your assumptions, and push you to think deeply.

Boredom Alpha

Experiencing regular periods of boredom is a competitive advantage.

Your most creative moments come during bouts of boredom.

In the shower, on a walk, at a dinner by yourself.

You’re bored, your mind wanders, and creative insight strikes.

Boredom creates alpha.

Paths Open vs. Closed

Black Lines = paths closed
Green Lines = paths open

We spend too much time focusing on what might have been (black) and not enough time focusing on what may be (green).

Never underestimate the density of opportunity that lies ahead.

(h/t @waitbutwhy)

22 ideas from 2022.

The top 1% of ideas I encountered:

The Feynman Technique

Four steps to learn anything:

(1) Identify a topic
(2) Try to explain it to a child
(3) Study to fill in gaps
(4) Organize, convey, and review

True genius is the ability to simplify, not complicate.

Simple is beautiful.

Visualizing Time

1. Family time is limited—cherish it.

2. Friend time is limited—prioritize real ones.

3. Partner time is significant—never settle.

4. Children time is precious—be present.

5. Coworker time is significant—find energy.

6. Alone time is highest—love yourself.

Darkest Hour Friends

Most of your friends aren’t really your friends. They‘re just along for the ride when it’s fun or valuable.

The real ones are there for you when it’s neither—there for you in your darkest hour.

Treasure your Darkest Hour Friends.

Be one to someone else.

The Two-Day Rule

How to make new habits stick:

With whatever habit you're trying to build, never allow yourself to skip more than one day in a row.

Creates forward progress—but allows for the vagaries of life to enter without derailing momentum.

15 Powerful Quotes From Plato

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1. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”

- Plato

2. "Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow."

- Plato

3. “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”

- Plato

4. "Love is a serious mental disease."

- Plato

15 Deep Philosophy Quotes From "Confucius"

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1. "A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others."

- Confucius

2. “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.”

- Confucius

3. “By three methods we may learn wisdom:

First, by reflection, which is noblest;
Second, by imitation, which is easiest;
and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

- Confucius

4. “If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.”

- Confucius

A “razor” is a rule of thumb that simplifies decision making.

The most powerful razors I’ve found:

The Feynman Razor

Complexity and jargon are used to mask a lack of deep understanding.

If you can’t explain it to a 5-year-old, you don’t really understand it.

If someone uses a lot of complexity and jargon to explain something, they probably don’t understand it.

The Luck Razor

When choosing between two paths, choose the path that has a larger luck surface area.

Your actions put you in a position where luck is more likely to strike.

It’s hard to get lucky watching TV at home—it’s easy to get lucky when you’re engaging and learning.

The Arena Razor

When faced with two paths, choose the path that puts you in the arena.

It's easy to throw rocks from the sidelines.

It's scary and lonely in the arena—but it's where growth happens.

Once you're in the arena, never take advice from people on the sidelines.

The Optimist Razor

When choosing who to spend time with, prioritize spending more time with optimists.

Pessimists see closed doors. Optimists see open doors—and probably kick down the closed doors along the way.

Remember: Pessimists sound smart, optimists get rich.

15 Philosophy Quotes From "Voltaire"

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1. "The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom."

- Voltaire.

2. "The mirror is a worthless invention. The only way to truly see yourself is in the reflection of someone else's eyes."

- Voltaire.

3. "Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices."

- Voltaire.

4. "Give me the patience for the small things of life, courage for the great trials of life.

Help me to do my best each day and then go to sleep knowing God is awake."

- Voltaire.

14 tiny behaviours that make people instantly respect you more

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1. Talk less.

Speaking less demonstrates comfort in one’s own skin if coupled with a relaxed demeanour and adds to your sense of mystery.

2. Be relaxed and move slow.

Quick movements and fidgeting make you appear nervous and thus lower status.

3. Hold people’s eye.

Nothing says ‘I’m confident and I am interested in other people’ than holding someone’s gaze, especially for a little longer than might feel comfortable.

👀

4. Talk boldly.

Occasionally say something that needs to be said that no one else is daring to say.

Speak your mind honestly.