Lessons from Bluebook Gobbledygook

My Sociology prof gave bluebook essay exams. I was convinced he didn’t read them. To test my theory, I filled two bluebooks with gobbledygook. Most of it wasn’t even real words.

I got an A.

Here’s what I learned…

Break the Habit of Bad Habits

Only fools intentionally destroy their lives. Bad habits are never intentional.

No one gets up saying:

Starting today, I’ll ignore people.
Today feels perfect for defensiveness.
I think I’ll go home defeated.

Bad habits sneak in wearing work boots.

How to break the habit of bad habits.

Small Dreams Are Dangerous

Small dreams require more courage than big. Grand vision is sophisticated procrastination.

Passion you can’t act on today is safe.

Small dreams are dangerous because delay sounds ridiculous.

Don’t worry about Mt. Everest until you climb the hill behind your house.

How to dream small in big ways.

5 Kinds of Complainers

Raising issues isn’t complaining.

Complainers talk about problems while standing aloof. They expect others to change. They seek personal advantage.

Builders point out concerns to understand. They seek improvement. They get dirty making things better.

You’ll always face complaints. Some lift. Others tear down.

Build a culture where forward-facing ownership wins.

Tap The Power of Subtraction

Subtraction is harder than saying no.

Saying no prevents future obligations. Subtraction kills current commitments.

Subtraction creates space.

Stop seeking more time. Eliminate obligations.

Click to learn 7 ways to practice subtraction.

Fuzzy Values Make Exhausted Leaders

Others run your life until you know your values.

Stop wandering in a fog of “shoulds.”

“Our values show us the path and motivate us to pursue it.” Paul Ingram

When values are fuzzy decisions are exhausting.