In order to decide if something is valuable or not, which ones are your criteria?
Do you pay attention to the message or to the messenger?
Probably there's no clear answer for this one: I guess it depends on the circumstances for most of us.
Still, when I stumble upon a quote that I consider very strong and empowering, I don't really care that much about who said that.
If it resonates with me, teaches me something, and brings me further, I appreciate it anyway.
This is the case with this one, attributed to different people and often to the otherwise unknown Frank Outlaw:
Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Sometimes, the quote goes even further and goes like "Character is everything". Wow.
Still, it doesn't matter if Mr. Outlaw (nomen est omen?) said it or not, the value of the growth mindset related to a quote like this one is very clear to me.
It implies that you can have an impact on your words, your thoughts, your feelings, your habits and your emotional and mental state.
It implies that you can work on those things, improve them, get better at it and enjoy the process as a part of the designing process that will create, over time, the person that you are going to be and that you are willing to be.
It implies that you can decide how to deal with your circumstances and your environment, even if they are outside of your control (like they partially are at any given moment).
Do you pay attention to the message or to the messenger?
Probably there's no clear answer for this one: I guess it depends on the circumstances for most of us.
Still, when I stumble upon a quote that I consider very strong and empowering, I don't really care that much about who said that.
If it resonates with me, teaches me something, and brings me further, I appreciate it anyway.
This is the case with this one, attributed to different people and often to the otherwise unknown Frank Outlaw:
Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
[Beyond the whodunit, the whosaidit...
Who did actually say this very empowering quote?]
Sometimes, the quote goes even further and goes like "Character is everything". Wow.
Still, it doesn't matter if Mr. Outlaw (nomen est omen?) said it or not, the value of the growth mindset related to a quote like this one is very clear to me.
It implies that you can have an impact on your words, your thoughts, your feelings, your habits and your emotional and mental state.
It implies that you can work on those things, improve them, get better at it and enjoy the process as a part of the designing process that will create, over time, the person that you are going to be and that you are willing to be.
It implies that you can decide how to deal with your circumstances and your environment, even if they are outside of your control (like they partially are at any given moment).
From this perspective, reading good books, being exposed to interesting and innovative concepts, looking for food for thoughts, staying open and going beyond your comfort zone are useful tools of the trade for enhancing your growth, both personally and professionally.
You can notice the same with the people around you: what are they talking about?
Their latest like on Facebook? The juicy and gross celebrity gossip? The ultimate hype that will last a week and then vanishes like it has never happened?
What that annoying colleague did and what that crazy person said and what their neighbor then...? (I am sure you got what I mean)
The last time something went wrong and, of course, it was not their fault?
...
Or maybe they are talking about the latest book they read, instead?
A breathtaking workshop they attended?
A new concept they are researching?
The new hack they learned and are now implementing in their private life and/or career?
Words, thoughts, and ideas are vital, because they shape your mental landscape and will have an impact on your present and your future.
Also because of this, I like to keep a book wish list and to scout for great books that can teach me something new and expand my knowledge and awareness, one day at the time, one page at the time.
From now on, you will find once in a while some books that could be interesting for you.
Feel free to check them out, and enjoy!
[Do you spend your time with
great minds, average minds or...
small minds? And what do you talk about?]
You can notice the same with the people around you: what are they talking about?
Their latest like on Facebook? The juicy and gross celebrity gossip? The ultimate hype that will last a week and then vanishes like it has never happened?
What that annoying colleague did and what that crazy person said and what their neighbor then...? (I am sure you got what I mean)
The last time something went wrong and, of course, it was not their fault?
...
Or maybe they are talking about the latest book they read, instead?
A breathtaking workshop they attended?
A new concept they are researching?
The new hack they learned and are now implementing in their private life and/or career?
Words, thoughts, and ideas are vital, because they shape your mental landscape and will have an impact on your present and your future.
Also because of this, I like to keep a book wish list and to scout for great books that can teach me something new and expand my knowledge and awareness, one day at the time, one page at the time.
From now on, you will find once in a while some books that could be interesting for you.
Feel free to check them out, and enjoy!
Decision making
Thinking, Fast and Slow
by Daniel Kahneman
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2011)
The Undoing Project
by Michael Lewis
W. W. Norton & Company (2016)
Economy & Money
A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles
by Thomas Sowell
Basic Books (2007)
Revised edition
The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times And Ideas Of The Great Economic Thinkers
by Robert L. Heilbroner
Touchstone (1999)
Revised edition
Mindset
Entrepreneurial You: Monetize Your Expertise, Create Multiple Income Streams
by Dorie Clark
Harvard Business Review Press (2017)
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Carol Dweck
Ballantine Books (2007)
Updated edition
Tags: Books, Decision making, Money, Mindset, Growth, Quotes
What to read next:
The questions you can ask yourself if you are looking for an effective excuses detector that can help you recognize your blind spots (and your BS)
You could also enjoy:
The paramount importance of showing up, and what two powerful quotes by Aristotle can do for you in the process
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
by Carol Dweck
Ballantine Books (2007)
Updated edition
Tags: Books, Decision making, Money, Mindset, Growth, Quotes
What to read next:
The questions you can ask yourself if you are looking for an effective excuses detector that can help you recognize your blind spots (and your BS)
You could also enjoy:
The paramount importance of showing up, and what two powerful quotes by Aristotle can do for you in the process
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