We often hear that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard, but hard work is not just about toiling away at your job. The effort we pour into our lives outside of work—be it leisure, relationships, or personal goals—shapes the value, meaning, and energy we bring to all of our daily experiences. Energy is not a zero sum game and ignoring parts of our personal lives that give us energy will only reduce the focus we can bring to our work.

Terrible leaders inadvertently teach us about excellent leadership by demonstrating what not to do. Observing their poor leadership skills has been as instructive, if not more so, than seeing great leadership in action. After all, learning from painful experiences can be a powerful teacher….

TLDR: There is a lot of stuff that has helped me sleep. Everyone's journey to good sleep is different and complicated, but if you create a good sleep environment, commit to waking up, let go, and exert yourself more during the day you can get the sleep pattern you want.

"Immodest words admit but this defense, That want of modesty is want of sense." - Benjamin Franklin: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

I've made conscious effort to sound sure of my opinions. I think confidence in conversation is looked at as a valuable.  I thought that confidence gives greater persuasive power in conversation, sales, leadership, and relationships.  Confidence and certainty might play a positive role in these things, but it has a negative side.

The one strategy worth spending a lifetime mastering is recognizing how to win... There is nothing that can’t be turned into an advantage. A broken sword, an enemy, an angry co-worker, or a dismissive loved one. All have a use. It is our duty to find that use and capitalize on it.  Complaints serve no use and no time should be spent on things that have no use....

...At all decision points what should matter most is not just the result of an action, but that right action was taken.  Good results can be received without good intentions and bad intentions can lead to good results.  In fact, results in themselves are neither good nor bad. The quality of a result is a matter of perception.  We don't need well intentioned action, but simply constant intentional right action is what is required.