#10: don’t take it personally
What’s on my mind
Taking things personally is no different than being selfish!
When you take things personally, you’re making the assumption that everything is about you.
That’s not entirely true.
In fact, how others think and act has little to do with you.
People have their own definition of truth, which might be different from yours.
So, let neither praise nor criticism distract you from living your reality.
Keep working towards your goals.
And in the process, “Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
This week’s stories
💯 How to get an enthusiastic yes
Too often I see companies or individuals failing to put themselves in other people’s shoes when asking for what they want.
Instead, help people understand what’s in it for them early in the conversation.
Let your email opener read, “I’m reaching out because I noticed your company is killing it on social media”, instead of “my company helps you do even better on social media.”
People say no because they don’t see why a situation is beneficial to them.
To get to a yes, do your best to position why an idea is good for the other person.
That person can be a potential mentor, a romantic partner, or a customer.
{2-min read}
🤔 The modern-day thinker
There’s no shortage of information in this day and age. This is exciting, but also dangerous, because it’s so easy to take everything others say at face value.
It’s essential to be thinking independently in all life areas.
The aim is not to oppose the crowd, but to avoid believing something simply because the crowd tells you to.
The world needs more people with a new way of doing things, a new way of looking at things. People with a vision.
{3-min read}
💡 Where did my ambition go?
What’s the extent of your ambition?
Where does ambition go when jobs disappear and the things you’ve been striving for barely exist?
This is a reminder to think outside the box, beyond just our careers, for what we give our time and energy to.
{7-min read}
👓 On self-respect
Know your worth. Don’t seek external validation. Embrace your individuality.
Save this Didion’s essay. And keep going back to it for constant reminders.
People with self-respect exhibit a certain toughness, a kind of moral nerve; they display what was once called character, a quality which, although approved in the abstract, sometimes loses ground to other, more instantly negotiable virtues.
{9-min read}
⏰ Don’t kill time
It’s not always about accomplishments.
Sometimes, the question to ask is how meaningfully we spend our time.
We need to strike a balance between the discipline of work, and the fullness of leisure.
And in the process, never forgetting that time is scarce.
Now more than ever.
{8-min read}
