A Peak Behind the Curtain

Curtains are interesting. We use them to decorate, to block and control sunlight, and to help with privacy and security in our homes. On stage, curtains hide the mess from backstage. In the Wizard of Oz, the curtain helped conceal the man behind the controls. We all have curtains that we use to help us cover, decorate, hide, or display what's really going on. So today, I thought I'd let you take a peak behind the curtain. I maintain a digital document where I keep meaningful thoughts, quotes, book references, bits of wisdom, and what I consider to be my key life guiding principles. This is truly a living document that I refer to often and continually edit. I'm sure it will continue to evolve over time, but I love that I have an active list of important thoughts that are personalized and help guide my mindset and actions. I don't expect you to read this all because the list is messy, long-winded, and a little disorganized. And this is a personalized list so some elements may not make sense to you, but I would definitely encourage you to start building you own personal book of wisdom. And from time to time, open the curtain and let some people in to take a peak.

Live Every Day With Purpose, Direction, and Intention

Practice Love, Joy, Peace, Patience...Compassion, and Thankfulness

Actively Love God and Love Others - Mark 12:30-31

Simple Path: Silence, Prayer, Faith, Love, Service, Peace - Mother Teresa

Be Joyful; Be Intentional; Be Mindful; Be Present; Be Still; Be God’s

I believe what I believe is what makes me what I am - Rich Mullins

Strive to be the best version of me; Look For Ways to Live Life Better

Show Up and Keep Showing Up; Believe in and Commit to the Process

Every Day We Have an Opportunity to Create a Living Masterpiece - Michael Gervais

Practice Excellence in Consistency - Gwen Jorgensen

If You Want to Change the World, Make Your Bed - Admiral William McRaven

It’s Okay To Suck; It’s Not Okay To Skip (especially 2 in a row) - James Clear

You can do ANYTHING want, but you can't do EVERYTHING you want.

Bookend Your Day with awesome a.m. and p.m.

Intentionally Build Awesome Routines, Habits, and Systems

Stay Ultra Tiny in Habits - Think Long-Term Sustainability

Every Habit Needs a Strong Why

Make Identity-Based Goals - “I’m the kind of person who…”

Believe in the Aggregation of Marginal Gains; 1% - Dave Brailsford

Be Grateful Every Day

Notice and note ideas for improvement and optimization.

Don’t Judge Others or Yourself.

Show yourself compassion - Kristin Neff

“I’m alright, nobody worry about me” - Kenny Loggins

Create Focus, Simplicity, and Tranquility - Dan Tricarico

Deep Learning is Profoundly Relational - Lori Desautels

Do Deep Work; Manage Shallow Work - Cal Newport

Make Ridiculously Tiny Habits - Leo Babauta

Celebrate Tiny Victories “I’m Awesome!” - BJ Fogg

Growth Mindset / Process Oriented - Carol Dweck

What You Do Every Day Matter More Than What You Do Once In a While - Jocelyn Glei

Accept responsibility for EVERYTHING in your life and you’ll have the power to change ANYTHING in your life - Hal Elrod

Look For Ways To Optimize and Maximize Daily Potential and Performance

Have an Optimal / Intentional Day - Brian Johnson

You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf - Jon Kabat Zinn

Striving for consistent, balanced, long-term, personal growth.

Live intentionally: examining habits and making daily intentional choices.

Be a Reader, Learner, and Discoverer

Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You - Steve Martin

Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming - John Wooden

Champions Do the Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well - Tony Dungy

Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you were capable of becoming - John Wooden

Talent is a Skill: it can be developed and improved by any person and in any area - Anders Ericsson, Daniel Coyle

Be an Every Day Guy, Not an Everyday Guy. Build Your Cathedral. Today is a great day to get better. Now how are we going to do that? - Rick Weinheimer

Notice, Want, Do, Like - James Clear; Plan Do, Study, Act - Tim Clark

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but every day they were laying bricks - James Clear

Anything less than a conscious commitment to the important is an unconscious commitment to the unimportant - Stephen Covey

Live to a Higher Standard - Allistair McCaw

Be the Change That You Wish To See In the World - Mahatma Gandhi

Be Kind Whenever Possible. It is Always Possible - Dalai Lama

Be Humble in Your Aspirations, Gracious in Your Success, and Resilient in Your Failures - Ryan Holiday

Develop and Nurture the right kinds of habits. The Habit Loop: cue, routine, reward; pay attention to and question the automated routines in life - Charles Duhigg

Control the controllables.

Perfection is the Enemy of the Good

Be Productive, Not Busy

My daily work doesn’t have to be perfect, but it has to be.

Act Your Wage - Dave Ramsey

Live a Daily System By Design - Live the Dream Every Day

Design Your Environment - Make the Best Choices the Easiest Choices

Ready, Fire, Aim - Brian Johnson

Enjoy the day!