Question to avoid self-rejection:

Are you allowing self-protection to become self-rejection?

Here's a tough truth to face:

Sometimes the reason you didn't give your best effort is because you're afraid of what will happen if you give it your all and still fail.

Your self-protection can quickly become self-rejection.

I've been there. I've avoided giving 100% effort to something because I wanted an out in case it didn't work. I wanted to be able to say, "Well, I didn't really try that hard" if I failed.

It's a flimsy self-protection mechanism: To protect your ego, you sacrifice your growth and progress. You self-reject as you self-protect.

So, this weekend, take a close look at the challenges you are taking on:

Where are you allowing your self-protection to become self rejection?

Quote on slowing down:

“The secret joys of living are not found by rushing from point A to point B, but by slowing down and inventing some imaginary letters along the way.” – Douglas Patels

The good old days are happening right now.

Slow down, look around, embrace the present.

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Framework for navigating life:

Hedgehogs vs. Foxes

In the 8th century B.C., a Greek poet named Archilochus wrote a parable that has stood the test of time:

"The fox knows many things; the hedgehog knows one big thing."

The idea gained prominence in the modern world when philosopher Isaiah Berlin wrote his 1953 essay, ​​The Hedgehog and the Fox​​, which explored the topic in greater depth.

In Berlin's framework, you could categorize thinkers and writers into two distinct groups:

• Hedgehogs: Relate everything to a single, central vision; see the world through the lens of this one overarching principle.
• Foxes: Embrace multiple, sometimes conflicting visions or perspectives; see the world as too complex to reduce to a single principle.

In the context of deep thought, philosophy, and writing, Berlin offered a favorable view of the Fox: The ability to navigate complexity, avoid oversimplification, and maintain mental agility are all pro-Fox.

But when author Jim Collins expanded on the idea to apply it to the business world in his best-selling book, ​​Good to Great​​, he leaned into the metaphor of the Hedgehog as a powerful business framework.

His so-called Hedgehog Concept is based on three central principles:

1. Focus: The best companies have a singular focus and simplify complex markets down into this unifying idea.
2. Discipline: The best companies have radical self-awareness and honesty about competencies and limitations.
3. Economic Clarity: The best companies know the single metric that best captures their economic performance.

I love this framework from Berlin and Collins, but I don't think it's as simple as taking a pro-Fox or pro-Hedgehog view...

To me, the real gold in life is found in balancing the Hedgehog and the Fox that exist within you:

• Your inner Hedgehog maintains a grounding focus and clarity on your True North, your vision for the future.
• Your inner Fox remains adaptable, capable of navigating the chaos that inevitably enters your world.

It's not about being a Hedgehog or a Fox. You need both in order to build a thriving life.

P.S. This topic probably deserves a deeper dive, specifically on how to develop these characteristics and implement them in your life. If you're interested, reply YES to this email.

Study that I found fascinating:

There's a common saying that you become the average of the five people you spend the most time with. This ​study​ may beg to differ...

Researchers gave treadmill desks to a group of employees and then provided them with data on their and their coworkers' activity levels on the treadmills over a six month period.

They found that there was a tendency to converge to the lowest common denominator—meaning participants slowly aligned their walking behavior with their least active coworker.

While I hesitate to apply the insights of a single study too broadly, it should serve as a reminder to pay close attention to the people you surround yourself with.

You may be getting dragged down without knowing it...

The greatest gift I ever received:

This week was my Dad's 69th birthday.

The older I get, the more I appreciate that the greatest gifts my Dad gave me were completely unspoken...

I saw him:

• Treat my Mom with admiration and respect
• Work hard and delay gratification on things he cared about
• Prioritize love and family above all else

The most powerful lessons for life. The greatest gifts I ever received.

Happy Birthday, Dad. I love you!