Internally or externally.

There are two ways to measure how you are doing: internally or externally. Most of our growth comes from internal measurement, while most problems stem from external comparison.

All the best ideas come out of the process

All the best ideas come out of the process and out of the work itself. Things occur to you. If you’re sitting around trying to dream up a great idea, you can sit there long before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and something else that you reject will push you in another direction.

The rise or fall happens daily

The rise or fall happens daily, not all at once, and normal interventions rarely make a difference. Instead, it’s the apparently irrational overinvestment in the moment that can change the dynamic going forward.

Unintended consequences are still consequences

Unintended consequences are still consequences. We’re all participants in the systems around us, and complicit in their consequences even if we didn’t intend them. First, we need to see the systems, and then we can work to change them.

The ultimate outcome in any situation

The ultimate outcome in any situation is governed far more by the actions that follow a decision than the decision itself. Stop placing so much emphasis on the decision itself and losing sight of your control over the actions that follow it. Make a decision, then make it right through your actions.

The voice of the emptiness

Anyone whose goal is ‘something higher’ must expect someday to suffer vertigo. What is vertigo? Fear of falling? No, Vertigo is something other than fear of falling. It is the voice of the emptiness below us which tempts and lures us, it is the desire to fall, against which, terrified, we defend ourselves.

Putting it on paper

Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.

You cannot define a person

You cannot define a person on just one thing. You can’t just forget all these wonderful and good things a person has done because one thing didn’t come off as you thought it should.

Compatibility is a myth

You don't have better relationships when you're more compatible. Thinking you need to be compatible creates tension because your relationship is based on conditions. Welcome difference. Be open to new ideas. Allow others to be a source of growth for you.

Overanalysing your thoughts

Continually reflecting on your thoughts or digging deep into your past can lead to forced mental looping, which will make you feel more anxious. Instead of trying to exert control over your thoughts, practice living a life that prioritizes presence over thought-obsession.

Nice is often forced.

Be kind, but don’t be nice. Nice is often forced. The world and your tribe need you to be authentic and honest. This doesn’t always mean being ‘nice.’

As long as there is love, there will be grief

As long as there is love, there will be grief—the grief of time passing, of life moving on half-finished, of empty spaces that were once bursting with the laughter and energy of people we loved. Grief is love's natural continuation. 

Act like your voice matters

Act like your voice matters, even if you’ve always been told it doesn’t. Do the most good, even if it means being the most irritating.

Scarcity can work to your advantage

Scarcity can work to your advantage. Imagine you’ve got a rare combination of qualities: honest, hardworking, and smart. People like that are scarce, and the world disproportionately rewards them. It’s not just about being good at one thing; it’s about having a mix of traits.

Scarcity shapes our choices and drives our actions

Scarcity shapes our choices and drives our actions. When something is scarce, it suddenly becomes valuable. We want it more because there is less. This principle underlies everything from the price of gold to the thrill of the hunt. Scarcity isn’t just about material things. It applies to time, opportunities, and ideas. We’re drawn to the exclusive, the ­ limited-­edition, the one-of-a-kind.

Do not lose your desire to walk

Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. Even if one were to walk for one's health and it were constantly one station ahead—I would still say: Walk!

Dreams are fun when they are distant

Dreams are fun when they are distant. The imagination loves to play with possibilities when there is no risk of failure. But when you find yourself on the verge of action, you pause. You can feel the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Thoughts swirl. Maybe this isn't the right time? Failure is possible now.

When you're on the field

When you're on the field, play as if nothing else matters. When you're off the field, remember that the game doesn't matter at all.

Clarity is freedom

Clarity is freedom. Know what is important to you and it will grant you the freedom to ignore everything else.

At critical moments in time

At critical moments in time, you can raise the aspirations of other people significantly, especially when they are relatively young, simply by suggesting they do something better or more ambitious than what they might have in mind. It costs you relatively little to do this, but the benefit to them, and to the broader world, may be enormous. This is, in fact, one of the most valuable things you can do with your time and with your life.

Nobody owes you anything

Entitlement is a disease and the Internet makes it seem ok. It’s not. You’re as good as a cripple wearing a half-ton backpack when you believe you’re entitled to happiness and success. The world doesn’t owe you success, recognition, or basic respect. Earn all of it.

There are two times to admit mistakes

There are two times to admit mistakes: early and late. Early admissions solve problems. Late admissions create them. A person who proactively tells another they made a mistake gains trust and respect for their honesty. In contrast, one who tries to hide errors quickly loses trust. Swift admissions build bridges. Slow ones burn them.

Empathy is complicated

The person right next to you, the one you’re sure you know so well–they are also dealing with a story and a situation that you can only guess at. Empathy is complicated. It’s generally worth it. Because empathy is the key to connection, trust and community.

Perfect is useful

Perfect is useful. It’s an absolute measure, a north star, a chance to improve our work. But it’s also a shortcut to persistent dissatisfaction. Compared to perfect, it is helpful when we’re creating something. But it’s also worth noting that perfect is unattainable.

Let them run their own race

If someone hands you the whole thing on a silver platter, they gift you the result but rob you of the accomplishment. Remember this not only when chasing your dreams, but also when supporting others. Help along the way, but let them run their own race. Your job is to live life with them, not live their life for them.

Keep the goal

Keep the goal. Change your mind about how to reach it. One sign you're getting in your own way, is not changing your tactics when you're not getting the result you want.

Courage is knowing it might hurt,

Courage is knowing it might hurt, and doing it anyway. Stupidity is the same. And that's why life is hard.

If you play where you have an advantage

The first rule of competition is, that you are more likely to win if you play where you have an advantage. Doing so requires a firm understanding of what you know and what you don’t know. Your circle of competence is your personal sphere of expertise, the area where your knowledge and skills are concentrated. It’s the domain where you have a deep understanding, where your judgments are reliable, and your decisions are sound.

I don’t want a world in which we all agree

I’m very pleased to think that there are people with whom I agree on some issues and not others. I don’t want a world in which we all agree. I want a world in which people feel that they have the standing and confidence to feel that they can disagree. I’m interested in why people think as they do.

The emotions and desires behind the words

If the argument you’re hearing isn’t based on what we know to be true and doesn’t lead to a logical conclusion, it could be because it’s not actually seeking to be a productive discussion. When in doubt, look for the emotions and desires behind the words. People often don’t want their arguments to be heard as much as they’re hoping their emotions will be.