i-TFTD #207

#207-1. You can always tell who is an expert by how they talk about their field. The people who love what they do, can just talk without needing notes or props or anything. Successful people are their work.
-Nadia Ballas-Ruta

#207-2. Trying to "fix" the people in your life that cause you pain is like massaging your shoes because your feet ache.
-Guy Finley

#207-3. The price of being a sheep is boredom. The price of being a wolf is loneliness. Choose one or the other with great care.
-Hugh McLeod

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We have discussed here (and online here) earlier about the danger of trying to rigidly compartmentalize our professional and personal lives. Modern career gurus (including yours truly, I daresay) point out at the blurring of this boundary in today’s always-connected, internetworked society. Passion speaks and passion makes us fluent. My favorite advice to the young is: "Even if you are arguing or complaining, do it with gusto. Not half-heartedly. Whatever you choose to do, do it with life."

The only person we can hope to change is ourselves. Even that is difficult. But we try to delude ourselves that the problem lies outside, with other people or "in the system". And keep massaging the shoes. Sometimes you throw away and buy new shoes but can you always do that with people in your life? Analogies should not be stretched beyond their utility!

This is a profound bit of advice for anyone in the context of career, leadership, promotion and creativity. But this was topped by the comment from my 13-year-old nephew, who heard this and said: "I am like a dog. I like to be friendly with people but also know how to manage the sheep!"

i-TFTD #206: Back After a Break

#206-1. Every decision you make—every decision—is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes.
-Neale Donald Walsch

#206-2. If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.
-Anita Roddick

#206-3. Once failure leads to change... Change will then lead toward success.
-Stefan Rudolph

#206-4. If your life has become root-bound and you have stopped growing, it is time to re-pot.
-Lucy MacDonald

#206-5. Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
-Oprah Winfrey

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Profound advice. Periodically thinking about who I am as a person improves my decision making ability in future situations because I begin accepting myself, my limitations. That makes it easier to seek help. With this self-understanding, every situation becomes an opportunity to change, learn and grow or to re-affirm who I am.

Funny remark from a great lady entrepreneur (founder of The Body Shop), but a reminder that each of us is significant and can initiate change.

We know change is necessary but we seem to need setbacks to highlight it sometimes.

Changing our environment could be the remedy for enabling inner changes.

True friends can be identified by their presence and support during adverse times. Success and power attract a lot of companions that one should be wary of.