Grateful or Polite?
Greetings,
I received a card through postal mail for the first time in 5 years. I guess this is a direct indication of my popularity. Most of the cards I have received previously were from my grandma. That underlines the level my popularity even more so.
My grandma has passed almost 5 years ago. So I wondered who is this kind soul sending me a New Year greeting card?
It turns out after all, it wasn't a New Year card. It was a ‘Thank You’ card from Alan, for apparently something that I did in 2013. Ermmm, not only do I not remember what I did in 2013, I can't even recall who Alan is.
If someone forwarded you this newsletter, please thank them on my behalf! Welcome to Newsletter # 27.
Thoughts that crossed my mind, while I was reading…
We're All Innocently Out of Touch by Morgan Housel
A cat whose tongue has been scalded by boiling milk, will fear even cold milk - An old Indian folk tale.
There is no need to fear cold milk, but you can see why the cat is afraid. You would be too. Our opinions and behaviour vary based on our past experience.
Each individual is exactly that. A unique individual. We are not clones. We are not machines. Hence, no two brains think alike. Neither of them is wrong. They just think differently. We are individuals in different circumstances, different backgrounds, different cultures and in different stages of our life. We look at things with varied lenses.
The Objet d'Art remains the same but opinions will vary depending on how someone looks at it. How they look at it depends on their past experience.
Rather than disagreeing and trying to force your opinion, try to understand why others believe their views.
You can read and study about things all you want. If you haven't been in the hot seat you really don't understand the gravity of the situation that existed for those who lived the experience.
No Meetings, No Deadlines, No Full-Time Employees by Sahil Lavingia
Whether it is life or work, things almost never go as per plan. Sometimes that's a good thing, but only if you are prepared. You have to be ready for re-routes.
Don't pave a concrete path based on your assumptions. None of the assumptions might materialize. Defining a definitive path in advance will cause you to commit to something which may end up being sub-optimal. Flexibility is key.
Being hyper efficient or hyper productive isn't the only path to success.
If everyone is made aware of where the pole star lies, there doesn't need to be much more said. People will find their own best way to the destination.
True freedom means having time to do what you really want. Reclaim your time and then do what you would really want to do with it.
There isn't just one way to work. Different strokes for different folks. Find what works for you to get to your pole star.
Hiroyuki says the weather in Japan is cold, windy and overcast. Lots of snow recently has kept him stuck indoors. Here in Dubai, however, this is the time of the year when the weather is most amazing.
This is one of the first few sunsets of 2021 seen from my window. There is still a big dark cloud hanging ominously. But the silver lining is clear.
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Stay well and see you next week.
Evian
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