Author: neil

[Link] The Untapped Potential Of Personal Narratives

John Hagel draws attention to the possibilities that always show up when we are able to continuously evolve our personal narratives, and acting on those along with others in ways that help us learn faster:

..most of us are pursuing personal narratives today that don’t provide a call to action for others to join us.

..if we’ve found a really exciting opportunity out in the future, we can become very motivated to ask for help from others and, if the opportunity is appropriately framed, it can motivate many to invest time and effort in addressing the opportunity. This helps us to get significant leverage and have far more impact than if we try to do it all by ourselves. If it’s a big opportunity that will take years to achieve, it can also help us to build long-term, trust-based relationships that will play a significant role in overcoming our fear.

[Link] 50 Short Rules For Life From the Stoics

Ryan Holiday synthesizes from the vast body of Stoic philosophy:

Don’t talk about it, be about it. The whole point of Stoicism is what you do. It’s who you are. It’s the act of virtue, not the act of talking about virtue. Or reading about it. Or writing about it. It’s about embodying your rules and principles. Letting your actions speak for you.

[Link] Be A Pro for One Hour

Steven Pressfield inspires:

Even if we’re working a full-time job, waitressing, driving an Uber, juggling kids and ex-husbands and all the other heartaches and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to, we’re in the same boat with many, many full-time, big-name professional artists and entrepreneurs.

 

[Link] 10 Things to Say Besides Yes

‘No’ might be only two letters but it’s often the hardest thing to say. I’ve struggled with this more often than I care to admit.   Scott Eblin has a few suggestions worth considering (& putting to practice).

Lots of folks are headed for a crash if they don’t master the art of answering the next request for their time and attention with something other than an unqualified, “yes.” In the interest of preserving your health, sanity and well-being, I’m offering ten things you can say besides, “Yes,” when someone asks you to attend their meeting, join their project or take on another commitment. Practicing these ten phrases and having them in your hip pocket to use when needed will enable you to collaborate with and support your colleagues without sinking yourself in the process.

[Link] The Right Amount of Time

Seth Godin offers a couple of alternative choices

There are two other choices, worth considering:

  1. Spend significantly more time than anyone else thinks is reasonable. Charge appropriately. Perhaps this will lead to an extraordinary outcome.
  2. Spend far less time than you’re supposed to, and invest that time into processes and alternatives and benefits that everyone else is overlooking.