Stop Perfecting the Wrong Thing

Being great at something doesn’t make it worth doing.

There’s nothing more wasteful than doing something efficiently that shouldn’t be done at all. Before trying to optimize, decide whether it's worth doing.

You can be the world's most efficient door-to-door encyclopedia salesman, but if no one’s buying encyclopedias, you’re just sprinting in the wrong direction.

Old Advice, Updated for the Real World

Some timeless advice needs an update to stay useful today:

• "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" → Upgrade: Be impeccable with your words. They carry more weight and last longer than broken bones.

• "Look both ways before crossing the street" →

Upgrade: Make eye contact with the driver (who’s probably looking at their phone) before stepping into traffic.

• "Treat others as you want to be treated" →

Upgrade: Treat others the way they want to be treated — their preferences might differ from yours.

• "Knowledge is power" →

Upgrade: Applied knowledge is power — when it benefits you and others.

Small shifts in thinking can make a big difference. Update your operating system accordingly.

Ask These Two Questions Before Making A Major decision

People often ask whether they should pursue more education, like an MBA. My advice? Start by asking two questions:

1) What do I really want to achieve?

2) Are there other ways to get there?

If your goals are knowledge, credibility, and networking, an MBA might help, but so could shadowing and offering free work to business leaders, gaining real-world insight and connections.

Sometimes the smartest path isn’t more schooling, it’s clearer thinking. After running this short test, you may decide that an advanced degree really is the most suitable option for you.

This example can be applied to many aspects of life and decision-making. Wise people don’t just have great answers. They ask better questions.