December 29, 2011

Do I Always Need To Be Right?

Our world is full of variety. On any given day we can have both positive and negative experiences. Many of these experiences ultimately influence the way we see the world and the opinions we form about how the world works.

Everyone lives in the context of their own perspective. While one person may look at a snow storm and be excited about the possibilities to get out and have fun, another person might be full of fear because they had previously been involved in a driving accident caused by dangerous winter driving conditions.

The events and circumstances are neutral. Our opinions about them are not!

Since we all have our own way of seeing the world, conflict with family, friends, colleagues, etc… is inevitable. There is absolutely no way that you are going to process every event in the same way as the people in your life. When these conflicts and differences of opinion arise, are you prepared to deal with them?

While I do believe that a good debate can often lead to effective solutions of problems, many debates can turn sour and become more toxic than helpful. When this happens, it is important to recognize that the situation will likely end in a stale mate and that you don’t “need” to be right.

The “need to be right” can be harmful to your health. If you spend all of your focus and energy trying desperately to convince someone else that your perspective is the correct one, you are creating a huge amount of unneeded stress in your life. If you go into this mode of “needing to be right”, you should take a step back and ask yourself why. Why do I need to be right? Why do I need this other person to accept my way of thinking so badly?

This ultimately comes down to self esteem. If you believe in your heart that a certain perspective is 100% true, there is absolutely no need to force anyone else to agree with you. The sooner you can embrace this, the sooner you will reduce stress and create more happiness in your life.

Embrace the idea of not “needing to be right”. If someone is taking an aggressive stance with you and trying to force an opinion on you that you do not agree with, let it go! Let them be right in their head and you can confidently carry your own truth in your heart.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Personal Development

Tagged as ,

December 26, 2011

Finding The Courage Within

The defining moments in life are those that present us with a consequential choice to make.

Sometimes there is an easy way out, but others times, we have to make a decision despite our uncertainty and fear.

We have to be courageous and confront our doubts.

What Is Courage?

Courage is an emotional state defined as overcoming a threat that may be accompanied by fear, sadness, or anger.

In the general sense, courage is often glorified. We might think of having to physically risk our life to save another, or leading an effort of social change to make the world a better place.

Not everyone will be as courageous as Martin Luther King Jr. or Gandhi, but that doesn’t mean we should approach life as a passive victim to our fears and insecurities.

These notions of general courage are incredibly inspiring, but at the same time can give the impression that courage is a romanticized quality.

In a basic sense, courageous people simply finish what they start, are authentic in their values and behavior, and are willing to take on a challenge or threat.

I’m sure there has been a time when you undertook a challenge or overcame an obstacle even though you didn’t feel completely comfortable and confident.

Finding Personal Courage

The truth is we all have to enlist personal courage if we are to grow and persevere in life.

Courage isn’t the same for everyone. One person may need courage to reach out and make new friends. We may need to summon courage to ask our boss for a raise, or to have an important conversation with our spouse.

Courage doesn’t have to mean overcoming incredibly steep odds and stimulating a social revolution. Courage is what you find within as you tackle the ups and downs of daily life.

Stepping outside of our comfort zone isn’t easy. We have to muster up courage to take a risk and move past our personal limits. But, as you begin to do this, you will start to see the courage that resides within.

Be A Warrior And Lead For Change

If you haven’t felt courageous lately, think about all the times you pushed past limits and persevered in the past. We have all had to overcome difficulties.

Life requires we take a warrior mentality at times. When down and out, a warrior doesn’t give in and surrender. They keep fighting the good fight until they overcome the enemy.

Often times, the enemy is our own self-imposed limits.

Every day there are opportunities to expand our potential and grow in our faith, confidence, and resilience if we remember that life requires a warrior mentality.

Start spending time with people whom you admire and who embody courage and honor. You will start to see that courage is a daily part of life.

Little by little, step outside your comfort zone and you will begin to feel more confident and courageous.

You may even start to feel a passion and burning desire to make a change.

Who knows, maybe you will be next in line to lead a revolutionary change in the world and inspire others.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Personal Development

Tagged as , ,

December 25, 2011

Do You Have a Growth Mindset?

I was speaking with a close friend recently who was having difficulty accepting where she was in her career. She didn’t feel things were coming together as quickly as she would’ve liked and started to second guess if she was following the right path.

This was all based on the idea that progress was coming too slowly and not as naturally as she expected.

She started to discount her ability and even view her apparent skills and talents to be nonexistent. Even when receiving complements, she would be unable to accept them internally.

This is a clear example of having a “fixed mindset,” or the belief that personal talents, skills, and characteristics are unchangeable.

When you run into problems do you assume it’s because you don’t have the skill and competence needed?

Or, do you have a “growth mindset,” where you recognize that personal attributes are often changeable, manageable, and can be learned?

Life is a journey of learning, and when we are able to recognize this, resilience and tenacity will become a part of our natural response.

Focusing on growth can be applied to many domains of life. It can be related to education, career, or relationships, and below are just a few ideas to build this capacity.

Embrace Uncertainty

If there is one thing that is for sure, it’s that life and our future is uncertain. Uncertainty is nothing to be feared, but is a constant part of life that offers us a chance to explore our potential.

Think big and bold when it comes to uncertainty. Take action and don’t be afraid to deal with unexpected circumstances. We can learn from mistakes and correct things as we go.

Seek New Experiences

With a growth mindset we are open to new experiences. It is accepted that we aren’t going to always do well the first time around, and that new experiences are harmless in the bigger picture.

Experiencing something new is a major way we can expand our perception of what is possible and recognize the vast possibilities we may disregard without personal experience.

Broaden Skills And Opportunities

As we become more focused on growth we can begin to broaden our skills. We can cease to be scared about trying new things and can develop greater competence because of this.

We will also begin to notice new opportunities that we didn’t recognize prior to our new skills. There is no one I know who didn’t have to learn what they know today. Skills can be improved and learned, so don’t discount yourself before you try to learn.

Learning is a part of life. There is nothing unnatural or inferior about taking time to progress and learn how to do something. We may see people with natural talent, but these skills and abilities were cultivated and developed over time.

Failure should never mean we aren’t supposed to do something. Much of what we aspire for in life will be a growth endeavor, so be prepared to work hard and dedicate time to practice and preparation.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Personal Development

Tagged as , , ,

December 24, 2011

25 Super Inspirational Quotes About Life

1. Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself – George Bernard Shaw.

2. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover – Mark Twain.

3. Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant – Robert Louis Stevenson.

4. We don’t see things the way they are. We see them the way WE are – Talmud.

5. I have found that if you love life, life will love you back – Arthur Rubinstein.

6. The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be – Marcel Pagnol.

7. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – Lao Tzu.

8. Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive – Howard Thurman.

9. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

10. Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like – Will Rogers.

11. I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been – Wayne Gretzky.

12. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional – Anon-mouse.

13. Every man dies. Not every man really lives – William Ross Wallace.

14. Life isn’t a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, latte in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ‘Woohoo WHAT A RIDE’!

15. There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle – Albert Einstein.

16. Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security – John Allen Paulos.

17. You are not in this world to live up to other people’s expectations, nor should you feel the world must live up to yours – F Perl.

18. How you do one thing, is how you do everything. Be aware.

19. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing – Helen Keller.

20. Life is not about kissing a**, it’s about kicking a**!

21. The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it – Henry David Thoreau.

22. Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself – Harvey Fierstein.

23. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are – John Wooden.

24. In the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away – Shing Xiong.

25. Love like you’ve never been unfriended. Sing like nobody’s following. Share like you care. And do it all like it won’t end up on youtube!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Quotes

Tagged as , , , , ,

December 22, 2011

Dr.Phil’s Top 10 Tips For Success

Have a vision.

Champions get what they want because they know what they want. They have a vision that keeps them motivated and efficiently on track. They see it, feel it, and experience it in their minds and hearts. What is success for you? You won’t get there without knowing what it feels and looks like.

Make a strategy.

People who consistently win have a clear and thoughtful strategy. They know what they need to do and when they need to do it. They write it down so they stay on course and avoid any alternative that does not get them closer to the finish line.

Find a passion.

Are you excited to get up in the morning? People with a passion are, and they’re energized about what they are doing. You need to live and breathe what it is that you want, and be passionately invested in both the journey and the goal.

Live the truth.

People who consistently win have no room in their lives for denial, fantasy or fiction. They are self-critical rather than self-deluding, and they hold themselves to high but realistic standards. They deal with the truth, since they recognize that nothing else will make their vision obtainable.

Be flexible.

Life is not a success-only journey. Even the best-laid plans sometimes must be altered and changed. Be open to input and consider any potentially viable alternative. Be willing to be wrong and be willing to start over.

Take risks.

People who consistently win are willing to get out of their comfort zone and try new things. Be willing to plunge into the unknown if necessary, and leave behind the safe, unchallenging, and familiar existence in order to have more.

Create a strong nucleus.

Surround yourself with a group of people who want you to succeed. They will move with you toward your goal. Choose and bond with people who have skills, talents and abilities that you do not. Winners give and receive by being part of other people’s nuclear groups.

Take action.

Do it! People who succeed don’t just sit and think about what they want to do. They take meaningful, purposeful, directional action consistently and persistently. Every step they take puts them toward the outcome they’re looking for.

Set priorities.

People who are consistent winners manage their challenges in hierarchical fashion. They commit to managing their time in such a way that does not allow them to keep grinding along on priority number two or three if priority number one needs their attention.

Take care of yourself.

People who consistently win are consciously committed to self-management. They are the most important resource they have in achieving their goals. They actively manage their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Personal Development

Tagged as , , ,

December 19, 2011

50 Timeless Life Lessons

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s not OK to get angry with God even if He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is —–about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never —–blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

20. It is never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is
special.

22. Over prepare and then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this —–matter?”

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in —–touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or —–didn’t do.

35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours —–back.

41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Quotes

December 17, 2011

10 Amazing Life Lessons You Can Learn From Albert Einstein

1. Follow Your Curiosity
“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”

What piques your curiosity? I am curious as to what causes one person to succeed while another person fails; this is why I’ve spent years studying success. What are you most curious about? The pursuit of your curiosity is the secret to your success.

2. Perseverance is Priceless
“It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

Through perseverance the turtle reached the ark. Are you willing to persevere until you get to your intended destination? They say the entire value of the postage stamp consist in its ability to stick to something until it gets there. Be like the postage stamp; finish the race that you’ve started!

3. Focus on the Present
“Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.”

My father always says you cannot ride two horses at the same time. I like to say, you can do anything, but not everything. Learn to be present where you are; give your all to whatever you’re currently doing.

Focused energy is power, and it’s the difference between success and failure.

4. The Imagination is Powerful
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Are you using your imagination daily? Einstein said the imagination is more important than knowledge! Your imagination pre-plays your future. Einstein went on to say, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.” Are you exercising your “imagination muscles” daily, don’t let something as powerful as your imagination lie dormant.

5. Make Mistakes
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”

Never be afraid of making a mistake. A mistake is not a failure. Mistakes can make you better, smarter and faster, if you utilize them properly. Discover the power of making mistakes. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, if you want to succeed, triple the amount of mistakes that you make.

6. Live in the Moment
“I never think of the future – it comes soon enough.”

The only way to properly address your future is to be as present as possible “in the present.”

You cannot “presently” change yesterday or tomorrow, so it’s of supreme importance that you dedicate all of your efforts to “right now.” It’s the only time that matters, it’s the only time there is.

7. Create Value
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”

Don’t waste your time trying to be successful, spend your time creating value. If you’re valuable, then you will attract success.

Discover the talents and gifts that you possess, learn how to offer those talents and gifts in a way that most benefits others.

Labor to be valuable and success will chase you down.

8. Don’t Expect Different Results
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

You can’t keep doing the same thing everyday and expect different results. In other words, you can’t keep doing the same workout routine and expect to look differently. In order for your life to change, you must change, to the degree that you change your actions and your thinking is to the degree that your life will change.

9. Knowledge Comes From Experience
“Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience.”

Knowledge comes from experience. You can discuss a task, but discussion will only give you a philosophical understanding of it; you must experience the task first hand to “know it.” What’s the lesson? Get experience! Don’t spend your time hiding behind speculative information, go out there and do it, and you will have gained priceless knowledge.

10. Learn the Rules and Then Play Better
“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.”

To put it all in simple terms, there are two things that you must do. The first thing you must do is to learn the rules of the game that you’re playing. It doesn’t sound exciting, but it’s vital. Secondly, you must commit to play the game better than anyone else. If you can do these two things, success will be yours!

Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Personal Development

December 15, 2011

18 Things My Dad Was Right About

1. Your 30’s, 40’s and 50’s won’t feel like your 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. – Adults are just older children. When you get older you won’t feel as old as you imagine you will. For the most part, you still feel exactly the way you feel right now, just a little wiser and more confident. You’ve had time to establish your place in the world and figure out what’s important to you. Don’t fear growing up. Look forward to it. It’s awesome.

2. Bad things will happen to you and your friends. – Part of living and growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles in life. People lose jobs, get in car accidents and sometimes die. When you are younger, and things are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to visualize. The smartest, and oftentimes hardest, thing we can do in these kinds of situations is to be tempered in our reactions. To want to scream obscenities, but to wiser and more disciplined than that. To remember that emotional rage only makes matters worse. And to remember that tragedies are rarely as bad as they seem, and even when they are, they give us an opportunity to grow stronger.

3. Everyone can make a huge difference. – Making one person smile can change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So start small and start now.

4. First impressions aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. – Everyone and everything seems normal from a distance, or at a glance. The 10th, 20th, or even the 50th impression is when you start to truly understand someone else for who they truly are.

5. Big results come when you narrow your focus. – Concentrate your efforts on smaller and smaller areas. When your efforts are diffused over a wide area they won’t have much of an impact. So focus on smaller areas and your efforts will be felt more fully. It could take time for change to happen, but keep that focus narrow.

6. Love yourself. Become your own priority. – Strive to be the ‘you’ you want to be. Nourish your mind and body. Educate yourself every day until you die.

7. Sometimes you just have to go for it. – Put your uncertainty and fears aside for a second and ask yourself this: “If I try and I don’t get it right the first time, what will I have lost and what will I have gained?” The answer is: You will have lost nothing but a little bit of your time while gaining an important lesson that will help you get it right the second or third time. People rarely get it right the first time. In fact, usually the only people who ever get it right are those who continue going for it even when they’ve come up short numerous times before.

8. In order to get, you have to give. – Supporting, guiding and making contributions to other people is one of life’s greatest rewards. Everything you do comes back around.

9. Not much is worth fighting about. – If you can avoid it, don’t fight. Step back from arguments with your spouse, family members or neighbors. When you feel anger surging up and you want to yell that vulgar remark on tip of your tongue, just close your mouth and walk away. Let yourself calm down. You don’t have to be right or win an argument. It just doesn’t matter.

10. Don’t try to impress everyone. – Purposely impressing people is an act that brings nothing but a momentary ego boost. Be real with people instead. Connect with fewer people on a level that is deeper and more profound.

11. Keep having fun. – Fun is way underrated. With all of life’s responsibilities, fun will sometimes seem like an indulgence. It shouldn’t be. It should be a requirement. Make time for fun.

12. Keep it simple. – There is a world of magnificence hidden in simplicity. Pick the five most important things in your life now and focus on those things. Let the other stuff go. Stop the busyness and really enjoy what’s important to you.

13. Little things stick with you. – So pay attention to them. Like watching your child sleep. Preparing a meal with your family. Sharing a great laugh with an old friend. This is the real stuff life is made of.

14. Less advice is often the best advice. – People don’t need lots of advice, they need to live. I’ve seen young, rocky relationships develop into wonderful marriages and fleeting inspirations ignite a lifetime of passion and happiness. Our life stories, like the answers we give to long essay questions, are uniquely ours. What people want to know is already somewhere inside of them. We all just need time to think, be and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help us find our direction.

15. Manage your time. – Your situation and environment is ever changing, so be careful not to confuse things that are urgent with things that are important.

16. Manage your money. – Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. Don’t spend more than you make. Don’t let your money manage you.

17. What you learn in school does matter. – While you may not use the specifics of every classroom lesson, every lesson does expand the core thought process of your mind. Over time you will develop problem solving skills that are universally applicable. No single classroom lesson can teach this, and no single classroom lesson is more important.

18. Dreams will remain dreams forever if you don’t take action. – Don’t dream about it anymore. Start doing it. In 40 years from now what is it that you will regret not having accomplished, appreciated or attempted? Do it, appreciate it and attempt it NOW!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Personal Development

December 12, 2011

Letter From A Child

Imagine you received this letter from a child:

“Hello,

I will become a president.

I know … I know.

You’re thinking I’m a naive kid. You won’t believe in me or in my ability to reach that lofty goal. You’re laughing at me and thinking I’m like all kids who say things they don’t really mean. But I want you to know one little thing. I’m proud of my childish way of thinking. And I mean what I’m saying. I want and will be a president.

You adults spoil your lives with your dull and dumb way of thinking.

You adults spoil your lives when you become afraid of everything and play it safe.

You adults spoil your lives when you worry about everything.

You adults spoil your lives when you take it too seriously.

You adults spoil your lives when you try and be Realistic!

I was born differently.

I was born joyful to enjoy every moment.

I was born courageous to try everything.

I was born persistent to get what I want.

I was born to speak from the heart.

And I’m not shy of telling everyone what I feel is really important to me.

I don’t want to become realistic like you.

I don’t want to give up on my dreams.

I want to play it big, not to play it safe.

I love and believe in the beauty of my dream.

I will become a president.

And the only way I know to achieve my dream is to stop being realistic.
I know that one day I will grow up. But I will work hard to preserve my childish way of thinking and acting.

I don’t want to become realistic, if I have to spend the rest of my life at a job I hate.

I don’t want to become realistic, if I have to care about money more than I care about my family and the people I love.

I don’t want to become realistic, if I have to care about work more than I care about my well-being.

I don’t want to become realistic, if I have to give up on my dreams too early and too easily.

I don’t want to become realistic, if I have to ignore the love and light in my heart.

When I grow up, I will remain as foolish as you think I’m now.

When I grow up, I will remain as hasty as you think I’m now.

When I grow up, I will remain as naive as you think I’m now.

When I grow up, I will become all the bad things you think I’m now, but I will not become realistic.

See this lamp that is lightening my room. It wouldn’t have been there, if Mr. Edison was realistic.

I’m afraid to tell you that if I become as realistic as you are, I will achieve nothing!

Last night before I went to bed, I heard someone say to me, “Son, your heart is your one and only trusted friend and advisor. Listen to it”

I love this advice. It makes a lot of sense to me.

2 Comments

Filed under Personal Development

December 11, 2011

The 12 Most Inspirational Quotes From Steve Jobs

I just finished reading Steve Jobs biography book, story of a man who put a dent in the universe. It is well worth reading. I decided to share the 12 most inspirational quotes from Steve Jobs.

On making a change

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”

On character

“I’m the only person I know that’s lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year…. It’s very character-building.”

On character

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

Have faith in the future

“That’s been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

Best sales line ever

“Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?”

On his outlook

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”

On design

“It’s really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

On your working life

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

He’ll always come back

“I’ll always stay connected with Apple. I hope that throughout my life I’ll sort of have the thread of my life and the thread of Apple weave in and out of each other, like a tapestry. There may be a few years when I’m not there, but I’ll always come back.”

On his role at Apple

“This is not a one-man show. What’s reinvigorating this company is two things: One, there’s a lot of really talented people in this company who listened to the world tell them they were losers for a couple of years, and some of them were on the verge of starting to believe it themselves. But they’re not losers. What they didn’t have was a good set of coaches, a good plan. A good senior management team. But they have that now.”

On the importance of death

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.”

Don’t sit still

“I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.”


 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Quotes