Continuous improvement is always the way

Just because something isn't broken, doesn't mean it can't be improved. Continuous improvement is always the way. No matter how good you are, focus on small, incremental improvements—day in, day out.

When we open up to those around us

When we open up to those around us, we stimulate, learn, and grow. Knowledge and wisdom know no bounds. Open up to everyone and you'll be shocked at the light and luck you let into your life. As William Butler Yeats stated- 

"There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met." 

It's difficult to achieve anything worthwhile with a pessimistic view

Thinking about the worst possible outcomes when making decisions or taking no risks is no way to live. It's difficult to achieve anything worthwhile with a pessimistic view of life. Everything begins in the mind and then manifests itself outside.

Don't Be Risk Aversive

It can be easy to avoid risks and fall into your comfort zone. The biggest risk in life is not to take one. Don’t let life pass you by and regret that you didn’t do something later in life. Take a leap of faith and enjoy the highs and lows of life.

The moment in front of you right now is a good one

Today is a great opportunity, no matter your age. Looking back in a few years, today will seem like the time when you were young and full of potential or the moment when you could have started early, or the turning point when you made a choice that benefited your future.

The moment in front of you right now is a good one. Make the most of it.

The question is which one is the right answer for right now

Many times in life the question is not whether to do one thing or another, but when to emphasize one aspect or another. Rest or train? Research or write? Diversify or concentrate? Opposite answers can both be right. The question is which one is the right answer for right now.

Lucky opportunities tend to be stumbled upon, not handed out.

If you're waiting for someone to hand deliver an excellent opportunity to you, it's unlikely to happen. But if you are exploring and moving—if you're in the mix and engaged—then you'll stumble upon many opportunities. The active mind comes across a lot. Keep tilling the soil and you will occasionally unearth something wonderful.

Solve the most important problem you can personally impact

Picking problems to solve is a function of attention. Wherever and whatever you’re paying attention to is going to reveal problems in that domain to you. You only have one life; mindfully choose to work on the most important problems that you can solve.

If I can sign up with a few clicks

The law is simple to describe, fair and useful: It should be as easy to unsubscribe from an online service as it is to sign up. If I can sign up with a few clicks, I should be able to unsign up with a few clicks. Should work in other areas of life too.

Think twice before you interrupt time.

Thinking in decades avoids a lot of bad behavior. If you think about relationships lasting decades, you'll often handle the current moment differently. This works for co-workers, partners, suppliers, customers, friends, etc. Think twice before you interrupt time.

When you see someone doing something

When you see someone doing something that doesn’t make sense to you, ask yourself what the world would have to look like to you for those actions to make sense.

There have to be rules to enable a lot of people

There have to be rules to enable a lot of people to function together in a community or a company. But the more complicated the rules are, the harder they are to comply with. Complicated rules paralyze!

The effort is important

The effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference!

Power and authority aren’t often in the same place

Starting at the top seems like great advice. Deal with the people with power and authority. Except… Power and authority aren’t often in the same place. The real power is usually foundational. What happens when humans interact. The way things are around here. Often, the people who are ostensibly in charge are simply choosing from a few culturally acceptable choices, and those choices are dictated by the foundation. It might seem like a detour, but it’s actually the cause of change.

There’s no difference

There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,’ and an optimist who says, ‘Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine anyway.’ Either way, nothing happens.

How you react to feedback is a choice

Remember, how you react to feedback is a choice, and the power is in your hands. You can make small changes and then ask for additional feedback. You might also approach the person and share your intent. When you react, you’re making a proactive choice. By problem-solving your behavior, you can shift someone’s perception while staying true to your original intention.

Who cares?

No one cares - That happens rarely.

Someone cares - That happens all the time, and it’s at the heart of our work.

Everyone cares - Almost never.

Someone is enough. In fact, someone is the entire point.

Trust yourself to trust others

The less you trust others, the less you can be trusted. We often reflect outward, when we need to reflect inward. Build trust in yourself to learn to trust others.

The most direct way forward is to default to more respect

Who gets the benefit of the doubt? Who is treated with dignity?

You would think that this shouldn’t be scarce. When the pool of respect is widened, no one is harmed. And yet, cultural status roles have ingrained biases all around us. We’re now seeing a long overdue evaluation of unexamined norms, which aren’t, and shouldn’t be treated as “normal.” The most direct way forward is to default to more respect, simply because that’s what people deserve.

Each day is a lifetime

Each day is a lifetime. Live a good life today. There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.

Learn to get in touch with silence within yourself

Learn to get in touch with silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences; all events are blessings given to us to learn from. There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden, or even your shower.

All friendships are built on the same foundations

All friendships are built on the same foundations of camaraderie, trust, and mutual respect. However, some friendships are meant to be deeper and more intricate and need more care. The best friendships are based on trust, reciprocity and fun.

The problem isn't that you're too busy

You are too busy, but that's not the problem. If you view being busy as the problem, there is no solution. You will always be too busy, and that will never change. Your work is never done. There is always more to be done, more that should be done, always more than can be done. The problem is that you're acting like a firefighter instead of a fire marshal.

Everything you do is done with the best of intentions

Give yourself some slack and remind yourself that everything you do is done with the best of intentions. You didn’t wake up this morning seeking to hurt another, did you? No. Even that edgy thing you shared online that may have hurt some feelings was done because you want to help. You know this. So stop giving yourself crap for something you said or did that was done out of love.

We’re all doing the best we can

We’re just humans following what our chaotic thoughts are telling us at any given moment. We need not make things personal. We don’t need to take everything so seriously. Instead, see through the personal thinking bullshit and you will find compassion. Both for yourself and others. We’re all doing the best we can given the thinking we have moment by moment.

Humans crave connection and appreciation

There have been a lot of studies about how praise affects children, but we give it less importance when we reach adulthood. We assume that once we grow up, it no longer matters. But humans crave connection and appreciation. We want recognition for our efforts. We want to hear others say, "I see you. I see the work you're doing, the impact you’re having, and I value it." 

If you do anything at the last minute

If you do anything at the last minute that takes more than a minute, you’re not organizing your project properly. The last minute is not a buffer zone, nor is it the moment to double-check your work. The last minute is simply sixty seconds to enjoy and to remind yourself that you successfully planned ahead. And, this is not about the minutes.

Be great in small ways

People are so busy wishing for more time and better resources that they fail to make the most of the time and resources they have. Be great in small ways and you may be surprised by what you've achieved within a year or two.

Know your alternatives.

Don’t risk ruin. Not even a small chance. You always have a choice. Remain aware of your alternatives. Has your current path become too expensive? Has a better option emerged?