Jason Brown used to be the highest-paid center in the NFL after he got a five-year, $37.5 million contract. But he left all that behind so he could help feed the hungry. He now runs a 1,000-acre farm and donates his harvest to food pantries.
Do you remember when you joined Twitter? I do! #MyTwitterAnniversary
It is a #bittersweet forum to be in.
A lot of that bitterness or sweetness depends on your Twitter crowd (following and followers)
The Growth Paradox
Growth takes a much longer time coming than you think, but then happens much faster than you ever would have thought.
Growth happens gradually, then suddenly.
The best things in life come from allowing compounding to work its magic.
Let it work for you.
The Death Paradox
Know your death to truly live your life.
Memento Mori is a Stoic reminder of the certainty and inescapability of death.
It is not intended to be morbid—but to clarify, illuminate, and inspire.
By accepting our time as finite, we are able to live.
The Intelligence Paradox
Intelligence leads to stupidity.
Intelligent people are more likely to fall victim to stupidity by convincing themselves they are smarter than the system.
They create complexity vs. doing the boring, easy thing that works.
Don't outsmart yourself.
The News Paradox
The more news you consume, the less well-informed you are.
The @nntaleb noise bottleneck says more data leads to a higher noise-to-signal ratio, so you end up knowing less about what is actually going on.
Want to know more about the world? Turn off the news.
The Money Paradox
You have to lose money to make money.
Every successful investor and builder has stories of the invaluable lessons learned from a terrible loss in their career.
Sometimes you have to pay to learn.
Put skin in the game. Scared money don't make money.
The Shrinking Paradox
Sometimes you need to shrink before you can grow.
Growth is never linear.
Shedding deadweight may feel like a step back, but it is a necessity for long-term growth.
One step back, two steps forward is a recipe for consistent, long-term success.
The Fear Paradox
The thing we fear the most is often the thing we most need to do.
Fears—when avoided—become limiters on our growth and progress.
Make a habit of getting closer to your fears. Treat them as magnets for your energy.
You'll find growth on the other side.
The Effort Paradox
You have to put in more effort to make something appear effortless.
Effortless, elegant performances are simply the result of a large volume of effortful, gritty practice.
Small things become big things. Simple is not simple.
The Persuasion Paradox
Argue less, persuade more.
Ever notice that the most argumentative people rarely persuade anyone of anything?
Persuasive people don’t argue—they observe, listen, and ask questions.
Persuasion is an art that requires a paintbrush, not a sledgehammer.
The Control Paradox
More controlling, less control.
We have all seen or experienced this as children, partners, or parents.
The most controlling often end up with the least control.
Humans are wired for independence—any attempts to counter this will be met with resistance.
The Looking Paradox
Stop looking in order to find what you're looking for.
Ever notice that when you're looking for something, you rarely find it?
Stop looking—what you’re looking for may just find you.
Applies to love, business, happiness, & life.
The Speed Paradox
Strong, reliable brakes allow you to go fast.
What unlocks a Formula 1 driver to fly around the track?
It's not the engine, the tires, or the suspension. It's the brakes.
Build brakes into your life that allow you to accelerate and hit turns without fear.
The Boredom Paradox
The most creative, captivating ideas stem directly from periods of intense boredom.
You’re bored, your mind wanders, your thoughts mingle—creative insight strikes.
Boredom sparks creativity.
Schedule boredom into your weeks.
The Talking Paradox
Talk less, say more.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” — Epictetus
If you want your words and ideas to be heard, start by talking less and listening more.
You’ll find more power in your words.
The Failure Paradox
You have to fail more to succeed more.
Our transformative moments of growth often stem directly from our toughest moments of failure.
Don’t fear failure.
Learn to fail smart and fast—never fail the same way twice.
Always put yourself in the arena.