Letter to a Friend Who Is Thinking of Starting Something New

Ideas start out small, weak and fragile.

In order to grow, ideas need financial capital.

But they also need emotional capital

focus less on what you achieve and more on who you become

You have to be willing to overcome the defaults and orient your business around the things that define you, all the way down to your KPIs. The things you measure should reflect the things you value.

quiet your ego and see reality clearly

Invention requires a long-term willingness to be misunderstood. When you do something that you genuinely believe in, that you have conviction about, for a long period of time, well-meaning people may criticize that effort. To sustain yourself over this time, you can’t look for accolades, and you can’t rely on being understood.

The best way to control your emotional capital is to fine tune your internal monologue and replace your hunger for approval with a desire to grow.

Scott Belsky coined the term insecurity work to describe work that does not move the ball forward, but is quick enough that you can do it multiple times a day without realizing.

Unlike insecurity work, deep work often feels elusive because it takes time.

It requires weaning yourself from distractions and being unencumbered by the highs and lows of th... See more

what will propel you to thrive has a little to do with your skills and a lot to do with your mind

Scott Belsky coined the term insecurity work to describe work that does not move the ball forward, but is quick enough that you can do it multiple times a day without realizing.

Unlike insecurity work, deep work often feels elusive because it takes time.