Accuracy, not approval

Aim for accuracy, not approval. Nobody wants a doctor who never gives them bad news, but that's effectively what we do in life when we optimize for people liking us. It's better to have the sting of honesty than the blindness of flattery.

“Important” always requires a modifier

The stars shine in the sky, regardless of the drama here on Earth. Perspective fools us into believing that our point of view is primary, but it’s not difficult to imagine a more distant (or closer) one that would change everything. The service at table 7 might not matter much to the waiter, but it matters a great deal to the elderly couple celebrating a positive medical diagnosis. The greeting you offer to a stranger might seem trivial to you, but it could change the arc of that stranger’s day. And the drama that consumes us in this moment might be forgotten in just a few days. “Important” always requires a modifier. Important to whom? Compared to what? In what time frame? It’s all important. And none of it is.

Be forgiving with your past self

Be forgiving with your past self. What's done is done. No sense in beating yourself up about it. Be strict with your present self. Win the moment in front of you right now. Be flexible with your future self. There are many paths to success. You don't need life to be a certain way to live well.

Already enough

Show up every day. Work hard. Do it with joy. Care more about others than we do ourselves. A lovely blend: Always reaching. Already enough.

Compete against yourself

Compete against yourself. When you look outside your rivals, your industry, and your luck, there is always something to blame. When you look inside your process, your effort, your rate of learning, there is always something to improve. Average looks out. Elite looks in.

Art is a verb

If a machine makes a painting that no one ever sees, it might be well-crafted or match some objective form of beauty, but it’s not art. Decoration is important. Beauty matters. But decoration and beauty are insufficient to create art. Music, images, tastes, and words become art when a transformation happens. No change, no art. Art changes the creator and the viewer. Art requires participation. Art is a verb.

What if everything goes wrong

If we’re starting with what if everything goes wrong, you’re playing defense and you’ve lost before you’re even out of the gates.