Reminders for myself

Normal is how you become a slave. When you fall for other people’s view of the world you give up on your own. That’s the real tragedy.

Painter Vincent van Gogh on hope:

"Many people seem to think it foolish, even superstitious, to believe that the world could still change for the better. And it is true that in winter it is sometimes so bitingly cold that one is tempted to say, "What do I care if there is a summer; its warmth is no help to me now."

Yes, evil often seems to surpass... See more

Whenever I find myself wanting to do something new or adding another task to my to-do list, I ask myself “Is this a shiny object?”

I’d tell men and women in their midtwenties not to settle for a job or a profession or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means, seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt

To start defining your problems, say (out loud) “everything in my life is completely fine.” Notice what objections arise.

“Debt defines your future, and when your future is defined, hope begins to die. You have committed your life to making money to pay for your past.”

— Kent Nerburn, Simple Truths: Clear & Gentle Guidance on the Big Issues in Life

Success is built in rooms no one would photograph.

The people who change things aren’t at the parties, they’re home on Friday night, obsessed with problems everyone else finds tedious. Their Instagram looks empty because their life isn’t shareable. Just the same unsexy routine, day after day. They aren’t doing anything glamorous. They’re just... See more

There are different types of hard work:

1. Outthinking (a better strategy, a shortcut)

2. Pure Effort (working longer, intensity)

3. Opportunistic (positioning yourself to take advantage of change)

4. Consistency (doing average things for longer)

5. Focus (saying no to distractions)

Each of these requires a different type of hard work.

Restlessness is a sign you've overstayed your welcome with where you are and need to leave by moving toward the person you can be. Our love of stability keeps us where we are. The key is to leave just before you’re ready. If you leave too late, you miss the opportunity.