Pondering...
Are you the same person you were 12 months ago?
think of all the things that you would have said yes to or tolerated 12 months ago and what your response and reaction to those would be today!
You are not the same person today as you were in the past and you will not be the person you are today in the future
Imagine your future self, actually take the time to visualize what you will be like in the future, what you will be doing, what you will like and what your attributes are going to be.
We are all driven by the future, although we don’t spend enough time focusing on the outcome. Will we be entirely satisfied with whom we become in the future?
Thought-provoking...
How to juggle mounting work responsibilities
Don’t retreat into frustration and despair. Write down everything that’s demanded of you, even if you can’t possibly satisfy all of the obligations. Then make the best plan you can given the difficult circumstances. The comfort comes from the plan, not the achievable outcomes.
This is exactly what Winston Churchill did before D Day in WWII
You can’t possibly attempt to conquer any task without visualizing what needs to be done. The more detailed the plan the easier the execution.
Winston Churchill Biography
Winston Churchill was a famous British politician who was born on November 30th 1874 in Woodstock, England. His early life was spent in Dublin but he returned to England to attend school.
Even though he didn’t excel in school, Churchill enrolled in the Royal Military College. After graduating, he joined the British Cavalry. During his time in the military, he traveled extensively and wrote about his experiences. In 1908, he married Clementine Hozier, and the couple went on to have five children together. It was during this time that Churchill began his illustrious political career.
He became a member of Parliament in 1900, and when Neville Chamberlain resigned in 1940 during the second World War, Churchill took his place as Prime Minister of England. It was thought that his leadership was the reason for the defeat of Hitler. Churchill lost the 1945 election, but regained his position as Prime Minister in 1951.
In January 1965, Churchill died at the age of 90. His speeches during the war conveyed strength and courage to the population of Great Britain in the face of adversity, and with his candor and wit, he gained much favor among the British people.
Wisdom/ What I'm Reading...
“Turning Pro” is not a magic wand which will help you become a professional in the blink of an eye.
In fact, it’s anything but: it’s a book which elucidates that becoming a professional is actually a messy process, which has nothing to do with buying products or taking courses – but everything with changing the state of your mind and embracing your shadows.
The book is divided into three big parts. The first describes the addictive nature of the amateur, who’s lost in his bad habits. The second paints a vision of what it's like to be a pro, and where the amateur falls short. The third is about cultivating professionalism.
Consider it more of a psychological preparatory class in professionalism than a how-to manual.
TURNING PRO IS FREE, BUT IT DEMANDS SACRIFICE.
When we turn pro, we give up a life that we may have become extremely comfortable with. We give up a self that we have come to identify with and to call our own.
None of us are born as pros. We all start as amateurs, addicted to ‘shadow careers,’ as Steve calls them, which we pursue in lack of the guts to chase our real calling.
In the first part of the book, the author distinguishes between amateur and professional succinctly, he states that the amateur is more concerned with fitting in and being part of a “tribe” than living his/ her true dream.
The professional is an eternal student, always ready to learn, always willing to show up, regardless of the weather. This is what allows him to practice his craft as long as he needs to until his craft begins to work for him in return.
The part that got me was:
“The difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits. A professional has professional habits.”
Pressfield’s debut nonfiction book, “The War of Art” was also a huge hit.
One of the most valuable parts of this book and “The war of Art” is the list of the qualities of a professional. Among these are:
The professional shows up every day.
The professional stays on the job all day.
The professional is committed over the long haul.
For the professional, the stakes are high and real.
The professional is patient.
The professional seeks order.
The professional demystifies.
The professional acts in the face of fear.
The professional accepts no excuses.
The professional plays it as it lays.
The professional is prepared.
The “war of art” is not about genius, it’s about work.
We can’t control the level of talent we’ve been given. We have no control over the nature of our gift. What we can control is our self-motivation, our self-discipline, our self-validation, and our self-reinforcement.
About the Author:
Steven Pressfield is the author of the hugely successful historical novels Gates of Fire, Tides of War, and Last of the Amazons. His debut novel, The Legend of Bagger Vance, was made into a movie starring Matt Damon and Will Smith in 2000. He lives in California.
Find the books here:
Turning Pro - click here
War of Art - click here
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