Please see my “BOOK NOTES” for the latest notes from Steven Pressfield’s “The War of Art”.
Inspiring call to action. I am impressed on how simple the overlying message is: Do the work, ignore the resistance, and don’t expect perfect conditions.
My favorite quote: Fear tells us what we have to do.
I also liked the message about not focusing on what you think a specific market wants, but delivering the message you personally need to share.
Good thought book for the summer reading schedule…
I have noticed that most mornings, there is a line of people to take the escalator out of the train station to the street. People are waiting for the electronic stairs to lift them up to ground level.
Think about that for a moment, actually waiting to have someone do something that their bodies were built to do and are generally capable of doing.
The traditional “stairs”, right next to the escalator, are WIDE open. It amazes me that people would rather wait in line to take the escalator than walk up the stairs.
For me the opportunity to take the stairs is free exercise. People pay amazing amounts of money on diets, gym memberships, and all the latest fitness gear. When offered the free opportunity to get their heart racing just a bit, they’d rather take the ride offered, also free.
I’m not talking about the person who for physical reasons cannot take the stairs. Sometimes even abled people need a break. However, taking the stairs vs. taking the escalator also offers an additional benefit; particularly at the beginning of the day…the opportunity to get your mind and body moving forward with a positive force.
Positive thinking can often be aided by a physical force. The act of boldly climbing the stairs can make you feel empowered, in control, and ready to take on the daily grind. Small acts of this type will train the mind of the possibilities ahead for numerous obstacles.
It also serves as a reminder that we are in control of our actions and where we are going and where we want to go. Don’t let society give you a ride, take the stairs, take control.
If the only option is to take the escalator, then walk up the left side. You can still exert some exercise and control even when you have to play by society’s rules.
Everyone has “clients”, “customers”; those we serve. Some of us don’t even realize that we have “clients”. Those we serve are everywhere, not just in business, but throughout our lives.
Everyone serves someone or something.
In my experience, there are 3 keys to serving them well….
1) Know the client
Do you know your customers’ business, their culture? Do you know why they exist? If you want to differentiate your service, truly strive to know who you serve better than anyone.
Humans love to tell others about themselves. We sometimes spend too much time making sure those we serve know us well. Know them and they will want to know you.
Read their press releases, visit their websites, collect information and insights on those you serve. Be genuine.
2) Ask great questions
I used to ask clients, “How are we doing? Are you getting everything you need from us?”
As you may guess, I was typically getting answers like, “Everything is good, thanks.” Clients don’t want to be put on the spot and would rather not have to call you out in person. Sometimes, but not usually.
Instead, ask questions like, “How are you going to achieve your goals for the year? What do you care most about doing for your company/your organizaiton/your volunteer group? Who do you rely on for timely information you care about?”
Great questions lead to a greater understanding of the client.
3) Share information
Don’t hoard good insights, ideas, knowledge. Some of the most useful information I have shared with customers has nothing to do with my direct service or product. Once you truly know those you serve, you will have a better focus on what you can share.
This will lead to the sharing by those you serve, they will serve you as well.
Investing discoveries are well documented through time and have led to many fundamental rules of investing. This include, although not limited to models that maximize return for a level of risk, the best asset classes to invest in, and what quantitative factors drive long-term success. Many principles have proven to work and can truly be touted as fundamental principles of investing. They can be understood much like a scientist who can observe specific biological principles in order to understand and improve life.
But have we found the all the fundamental ways to successfully invest? Are there undiscovered asset classes, new ways to diversify, or unseen risks yet to be found?
Nathan Wolfe presented a TED talk entitled, “What’s Left to Explore?”. He described the portion of biological matter (“20% of the genetic information in your nose doesn’t match anything that we’ve ever seen before”) that cannot be identified. The lesson being that we haven’t uncovered all the critical secrets or laws of biology. There remains so much to discover and those discoveries could unlock new ways to fend off viruses or other ways to improve human life. The same is sometimes inferred in investing, we get complacent with the principles we know, the formulas that have worked, and the risks that have played out.
I believe we haven’t finished discovering the best ways to invest in ways to build wealth, create jobs, provide income, and provide for the various institutional missions that exist. Although we can sometimes apply too much scientific rigor to investing and ignore the behavioral elements of human beings that make it difficult to predict, the “dark matter of investing” is critical to explore in order to achieve true long-term success.
Opportunity doesn’t knock. It doesn’t follow. It doesn’t even care.
Small habits create bigger habits. Bigger habits create better habits. Better habits create feeling of accomplishment which create confidence. Confidence feeds courage, courage can’t resist hunting opportunity.
Please look at my notes/highlights of some of my favorite books. There are links under “book notes” page. I will be adding others soon.