Improve relationships using inversion
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Hi Reader, (Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here.) What I'm writingImprove relationships using inversion — Relationship challenges are often easier to solve when viewed backward. Instead of focusing on what makes relationships better, focus on avoiding what makes them worse.
What I'm learningMastery can’t bought, inherited, or stolen. It can only be earned through hard work. Source: Morgan Housel [Tweet] Marcus Aurelius wrote to reflect on his thoughts, improve his character, and reinforce core principles in his daily life. His writings, compiled into what we now call Meditations, were not written to make money. They were investments in self-mastery. Source: Wikipedia [Article] The stories we tell ourselves are powerful in our lives. For example, Anorexics tell themselves a story: “I’m fat”. There’s a study called Too Fat to Fit through the Door by Utrecht University in the Netherlands. They asked people who had anorexia and people who did not a question while they were walking through a doorway. While one person asked the question, someone else distracted them from paying attention to the doorway. The anorexics shifted their bodies much more than the non-anorexics They believed they were too fat to fit through the doorway. Source: Neil Pasricha [Podcast] Building a business plan when starting a new venture is common sense. But most people don’t bother creating a life plan. A good life plan begins with a vision of the person you want to be and how you want to spend your time. From there, you can set meaningful goals on various time horizons: decades, years, months, weeks, and days. Like business planning, proper life planning gives you the confidence to say no to distractions. Source: Michael Girdley [Newsletter] What I'm thinking about“Newt Gingrich is one of the most successful political leaders of our time… Newt uses a brilliant illustration to explain the need to focus on the big things and let the little stuff slide: the analogy of the field mice and the antelope. A lion is fully capable of capturing, killing, and eating a field mouse. But it turns out that the energy required to do so exceeds the caloric content of the mouse itself. So a lion that spent its day hunting and eating field mice would slowly starve to death. A lion can’t live on field mice. A lion needs antelope. Antelopes are big animals. They take more speed and strength to capture and kill, and once killed, they provide a feast for the lion and her pride. A lion can live a long and happy life on a diet of antelope. The distinction is important. Are you spending all your time and exhausting all your energy catching field mice? In the short term it might give you a nice, rewarding feeling. But in the long run you’re going to die. So ask yourself at the end of the day, “Did I spend today chasing mice or hunting antelope?” —Timothy Ferris in Tools of Titans
Prioritize the big stuff or risk weakening yourself. Connect with me on X or LinkedIn. -Rick Lindquist P.S. One of the best parts of this newsletter is discussing ideas with readers. Let me know what you think. I read every reply. |
Rick Lindquist
Hi Reader, (Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here.) What I'm writing Saying no — The ability to say no is a superpower. It gives you the power to choose how to spend your time. What I'm learning Some of the calmest, most likable people I know maintain a deep sense of gratitude. They feel lucky to be alive. Their primary worry is not self-doubt. It’s about whether they might fail to maximize this privilege (of being alive). Inspiration: Kevin Kelly The only thing you can control...
Hi Reader, (Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here.) What I'm writing Getting back to basics — After a tough year, it’s tempting to reinvent everything. But recovering from a rough patch starts with getting back to basics. 2025 annual reflection and my plans for 2026 — I took some time to polish and publish notes from my annual reflection and planning. Notes on Neil Pasricha: Happy Habits — I updated my notes from this great podcast. What I'm learning Complaining and pushing back...
Hi Reader, This week, I share an article on first team principles, along with some notes and quotes on the importance of paying attention to where you invest your attention. (Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here.) What I'm writing First team principles — Management is not just about managing direct reports or driving your own department’s outcomes—it’s about aligning with peers to move the entire business forward. This is the essence of first team principles. What I'm learning...