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The Other 90%
1. "A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world." - John Le Carre, spy novelist Whenever we gaze down at our experiences through narrow mindsets or fixed perspectives, it's all too easy to make snap judgments and sweeping assumptions. We think we're applying our inherent smarts or saving time but usually we're doing neither. Few things shut down initiative or relationships faster than assuming we know what's going on. Without asking, we generalize. We categorize. We make one-sided conclusions. Instead of learning, we defend our positions and act all-knowing. We are not. (page 228) 2. If you look back across your life, you may have already realized that your most meaningful relationships and experiences arise when you dig in for what's real instead of settling for what's easy. (page 229)
3. Competition inhibits learning and creativity because people in conditions of competition focus solely on the task at hand, paying too much attention to what competitors are doing, comparing themselves to others but not to greater possibilities, and trying to win the favor of those who are judging the contest. (page 29) 4. It's a paradox to modern life: To get ahead, we have to know when -- and precisely when -- to pull back. When you learn to take strategic pauses, you experience natural, powerful rises in your biological energy. This energy influences thoughts, feelings, attentiveness, and actions -- giving you a clear boost. But if you skip the next break, your energy level will fall unavoidably. (page 73) 5. One of the unwritten codes I cam to believe in was, "If everyone else is doing it, don't." ...The greatest learning and achievements come not from standardized group work but from the unique efforts of the individuals. In this regard, the human spirit has its own set of rules. In many ways, it is rebellious. (page 5) 6. ...the amygdala relentlessly urges us to favor the familiar and routine. It craves control and safety, which at times can be vital. ...Your amygdala wants you to be what you have been and stay just the way you are. Unless you consciously override this brain tendency,. you're consigned to repeating the past. One of the most effective ways to get past this limitation is to devise simple mechanisms that help you stand apart from the crowd and reach for what you can yet become. (page 8) For example, ask yourself these 2 questions regularly: 1. What's the most exceptional thing you've done this week? 2. What's the most exceptional thing you will do next week?
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