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FOXNews.com - Is the Time Right to Buy an E-Reader?
This is exactly why I am not an early adopter of an E book reader. I think these machines are really cool and I want one some day but I know the value of waiting. I like capitalism but I love competition among electronic retailers.
Knocked off my 4th book this year "Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys to Creativity". I am disappointed with how long it took me to read this one because it is an easy read and I enjoyed it. I will forewarn you that the author Hugh MacLeod does not filter his thoughts. His thoughts are written raw and communicate just what he intends without apology. Hugh is way above average intelligence. He is the world leader in cartoons drawn on the back of business cards.
This book is focused on keys to creativity but it is also packed full of life lessons. I agree with many of them but haven't taken time to articulate most of them. As I did last time, I will share with you some quotes from the book that connected with me in some way. I hope you enjoy and I am interested in your comments. - "The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will."
- Being good at anything is like figure-skating - the definition of being good at it is being able to make it look easy. But it never is easy. Ever."
- ". . . if and when you finally come up with the "Big Idea", . . . how do you know whether or not it is "The One"? "Answer: You don't".
- "Everyone has their own private Mount Everest." "You may never reach the summit; for that you will be forgiven. But if you don't make at least one serious attempt to get above the snowline, years later you will find yourself lying on your deathbed, and all you will feel is emptiness."
- ". . . when you know full well you have had the opportunity [but didn't take it] - that hurts far more than any failure."
- "Don't worry about finding inspiration." "Inspiration precedes the desire to create, not the other way around."
- "A lot of people in business say they have 20 years' experience, when in fact they really have one years' experience, repeated 20 times."
- "If you are successful, it'll never come form the direction you predicted. Same is true if you fail."
In Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" the seventh habit is Sharpen the Saw. This may be one of the most important of all the 7 habits but may be one of the most overlooked. Sure it is the last habit and you just wanted to finish the book. The other habits are so rich and grouped by Private Victories and Public Victories. The seventh habit seems to sit there by itself. Mr. Covey could have left it out but he didn’t because it is so important that it had to be included.
It is easy to go with the flow. Allow yourself to go through your day much like you did yesterday. Mr. Covey's advice is important because if you aren't learning, you aren't growing. It's easy to read a book, or listen to a podcast, or read a magazine, or attend a seminar and believe that applying what you just learned is all you have to do. The reality is if you don't keep reading books, listening to podcasts, etc. you slowly drift away from what you learned. You become less likely to apply what you learned. Your mind gets focused on something else. In order to keep growing you must keep feeding your mind. Whatever you do today, make a point to learn something new and sharpen your saw. If you don't your saw will dull.
