Back in the 1950s, Lila Wallace, a co-founder of Reader's Digest magazine, used to walk from office to office and tell the journalists:
"It's a beautiful day. Turn off the lights and go home."
It was four o'clock.
PM!!!
What happens if you leave your office tomorrow at 4 pm?
Hm?
Maybe, the decision you'll make the next day will be much better.
Maybe the example you set will have more of an impact than the opinion you give.
Or maybe, you'll become more productive and spend less time procrastinating, drinking coffee and chatting with others.
Since you were in school, you have been fed a simple mantra, “Hard work is the key to success” but what if they were wrong?
Busy is overrated.
"Honey, how was your day?"
"Oh, I was busy, incredibly busy."
"I get that you were busy. But did you do anything important?"
Everyone who wants to be busy is busy.
Busy does not equal important.
Or productive.
Every time people contact me, they say ‘Look, I know you must be incredibly busy…’ and I always think, ‘No, I’m not.’
Because I’m in control of my time.
I’m on top of it.
I'm "selectively ignorant."
I ignore topics that drain my attention.
I unfollow people that drain my energy.
I pass on projects that drain my time.
"No" is sometimes the hardest word to say.
It’s also the most necessary.
"No" gets you time.
Don’t be like the wave on the ocean getting tossed around.
Stand firm.
Say “No” more often.
As Jocko Willink says: “Discipline is freedom“.
Discipline is the most important factor in becoming a more successful antelope hunter.
Blocking time off on your calendar for your highest priority tasks is meaningless if you don't have the discipline to honour your calendar.
It's better to be alone than to spend time with toxic people.
It's better to do nothing than to work on something that doesn't matter.
It's better to rest than to climb the wrong mountain.
Why are you so damn busy?
Take a little time off.
You only get today once.
Go home.
Money can’t be the north star.
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