Do the right thing

It’s often difficult to assess what is “right”.  Other times, it’s obvious. The difficulty in doing what we know to be right is that we may feel like we’re losing something, or perhaps won’t be rewarded.  You might get away with not reimbursing someone for the loan they forgot about.  You get no praise for averting catastrophe because there’s no catastrophe to show that your actions were warranted.

But YOU will know.  And every little decision and action solidifies the person you are.  Of course we won’t always know what’s right.  The question is: are you the kind of person who does the right thing when the answer is clear?

You don’t always have to be productive

Productivity means making every minute count, which implies that every minute not spent in active pursuit of a goal is wasted.

Getting sleep, socializing at work, and geeking out over sports or hobbies can be seen as lazy or unproductive.  Yet science tells us that sleep enhances cognitive abilities and compounds our ability to focus.  Despite technological innovations, 80% of jobs are still acquired via connections to friends and colleagues and not online applications.

It’s difficult to quantify productivity here, but it’s worth noting that being attentive to our own mental and physical health and our relationships are effective in producing outcomes that we care about the most.  Don’t fall into the trap of feeling like you have to produce something every moment.

Fulfillment 101

The silver bullet message in my keynote speech on rapid learning and goal-setting is that nothing is more empowering, motivating, or sustainable than your belief in what’s possible.   And nothing makes you believe in possibility more than progress.

This doesn’t just apply to chasing a huge dream or a new skill.  You can shift your perspective and see every little thing you do as progress.

Even something like texting a friend jokes is an investment in the relationship.  Getting a great night of sleep is an investment in your physical and mental health.  Progress – no matter how small the steps.  The fastest path to a more fulfilling life is feeling that overall, you are a better version of yourself today than yesterday.