Indre Viskontas, everyone’s favorite opera singing neurologist, did an audiobook series on the life and work of Oliver Sacks. It’s called Radiant Minds: The World of Oliver Sacks and it’s brilliant. Listen to each chapter like a podcast. It's presented this way (and it works really well). If you're unfamiliar with Sacks, think of a real … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Indre Viskontas’ Oliver Sacks Audiobook
Tag: psychology
People Will Do Anything For Those Who…
A Blair Warren quote on persuasion: People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicion, and help them throw rocks at their enemies. I’ll reformat this, because it’s a useful framework before you ask someone to do something (and an extremely useful framework before you … Continue reading People Will Do Anything For Those Who…
So Lonely (Murthy And Galloway)
Hurt people hurt people. And, speaking from experience, a lot of hurt people are lonely. If we don’t know how to maintain, invest, and reinvest in relationships - and hello, I’ve SUCKED at this quite a bit in my life, so I’m speaking with first-hand knowledge - we all get lonely from time to time … Continue reading So Lonely (Murthy And Galloway)
Imposter Syndrome Vs. I’m The Poster Boy Syndrome
On one hand, sometimes you feel like you’re an imposter and have no right to even attempt what you’re doing (or scared to start doing). On the other, you feel like “I’ve soooo got this. I’m the champ - look at my crown, everybody gather round and listen up.” It’s useful to know the term … Continue reading Imposter Syndrome Vs. I’m The Poster Boy Syndrome
There Is No Normal, Normal is ALWAYS Subjective (Haig)
A quote from Matt Haig’s Reasons To Stay Alive, There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion version of normal on this planet. Haig’s book is intensely personal. But this quote works on an intrapersonal level too. If we accept there is no standard normal, we can approach each person’s journey … Continue reading There Is No Normal, Normal is ALWAYS Subjective (Haig)
It’s Not What You See, It’s What You Make Others See
Edgar Degas said this about making art: Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. The same goes for how we talk about our businesses. It’s not what we see, it’s what we make others see (and feel, and think, and question, and respond to, and…) h/t Jim O’Shaughnessy
The Peter Principle Is Funny, But Also A Key Insight Into Our Professional Identity
The Peter Principle states a person will be promoted, at work, until they are one level beyond their maximum skill level. This explains how a star salesman can be promoted up to a less-than-mediocre manager, and a million other Michael Scott quality examples. If you’ve ever said, “how did this loser get this job,” you've … Continue reading The Peter Principle Is Funny, But Also A Key Insight Into Our Professional Identity
How To Use Status To Create (Or Destroy!) Value
First, as a rule, if you tell people “look how organized I am,” the universe will then throw a proverbial wrench into your gearbox and howl with a laughter only the cruelest of taskmasters can howl. Last night, after a marathon of calls and busyness, I was making dinner and remembering I still didn’t write … Continue reading How To Use Status To Create (Or Destroy!) Value
Dostoyevsky On The Habits We Accumulate
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (h/t James Clear) said, “It seems, in fact, as though the second half of a person’s life is made up of nothing but the habits they accumulated during the first half.” This is only partly true. I know for me, and I’m sure for many of you reading this note, you figured out … Continue reading Dostoyevsky On The Habits We Accumulate
Khe Hy: There’s No Playbook For Grief
Khe Hy shared a personal story about losing a friend in a tragic hit-and-run incident. As only he can do, he deconstructs the grief and how it hit him. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one. You or someone you love (and honestly, all of us) will deal with loss. It’ll be … Continue reading Khe Hy: There’s No Playbook For Grief