This one’s simple: we’re afraid. We buy stuff to feel less afraid. It works. We buy more stuff.
Advertising has been cleverly exploiting this dynamic for decades. But the problem isn’t so much advertising. It’s that we internalize this message.
Here’s another thought: give love. Give experience, give inspiration. Give memories. Not stuff.
We’re fond of saying “culture is what happens in between the rules”.
What this means is, culture isn’t policy. Policy isn’t culture. They can inform each other, but ultimately, culture decides how people act when there is no one telling them what to do.
It’s a bit like that Bruce Lee quote about water: pour it into a cup, it takes the shape of a cup. Pour it into a bowl, it takes the shape of a bowl, etc.
Culture’s like that. We can guide and shape it a little, but can’t control how it moves. Merely measure the gaps, and fill them in.
What do people wish for on their deathbed?
The number one regret: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
Far too easy to forget how much power we have over our own lives.
Often, we remember when it’s too late.
We shouldn’t wait. We can remember now.
Are you an expert in your field? Entrepreneurs are rarely experts, but they pick up what they need to know along the way.
It’s a quicker way to get things done. And it seems the more you know about a topic, the easier it is to see the downsides. Sometimes a little knowledge is a wonderful thing.
Great entrepreneurs balance learning as much as they can about a topic with acting at the exact right moment. They don’t let fear stick them in the learning phase of a new idea. They learn as much as they can, then act as soon as possible.
Change exhaustion kills projects before they even begin.
Some businesses have trouble picking up their feet, others are constantly running from new thing to new thing. Ideas start at the top with enthusiasm, yet fade away before execution.
This is what change exhaustion does: people will wait to see if you actually mean it this time before putting in the effort. Work gets left on the table.
Chaos is a delicate balance: enough for innovation, not too much for growth.
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