And so, the great game of life keeps playing out. Here’s some of what I’m enthusiastic about this week. Let me know what you think via twitter at @jamiesmartcom, on my Facebook page here, or in the comments section.
1. A quotation I’m reflecting on this week
The late, great Stephen Covey wrote one of the bestselling “personal development / effectiveness” books of all time: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. One of the things that was interesting about Covey was his focus on developing the qualities of “high character”. While it looks to me like these qualities are uncovered rather than developed, I’ve still learned a lot from him and his work. Here’s a quote I just heard yesterday that massively squares with my experience.
“We are more in need of a vision and a compass and less in need of a road map. We often don’t know what the terrain ahead will be like or what we will need to go through it; much will depend on our judgment at the time. But an inner compass will always give us direction.”
2. A cute and thought-provoking video
I’m not usually a fan of “cute” videos, but this one’s pretty thought-provoking. Watch as little kids try and figure out the hidden purposes of “everyday” household objects that everyone knew the purpose of a few decades ago. It raises the question: what are the things that look normal and ubiquitous today that the children of 10 years from now will be baffled by? You can watch the video here.
3. A book I re-read every couple of years
Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind by Al Ries and Jack Trout is one of the most fascinating, penetrating and insightful “business books” I’ve ever read. Ostensibly, it’s about marketing, but it’s as much about how we think and make decisions (all too often, unconsciously). While it was written in 1980, years before the internet-age Positioning is still one of my favourite business books.
4. A group of people I love
This week, five members of #TeamClarity got together to deepen our connections and find the way forward. I feel very blessed to have such amazing people working with me, both those who were in the room with us, and those who were lending their support elsewhere. I love you guys!
5. This week’s 3-minute miracle
I used to use this track as the opener for the “big events” I did for a couple of years in London. I can still feel the sense of excitement that would course through my veins as I waited for the horn section to kick in. I used the version with the long (20 second intro), but here’s the version that cuts to the chase.
Enjoy!
That’s it for this week.
Big love
Jamie