“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.”
Although the concepts in this book are backed by solid science, it is written in a conversational manner without being bogged down by too many details, and it’s hard to put down. One of the core concepts in Atomic Habits is to focus on the small improvement. The impact a 1% improvement per day can make may appear negligible at first, but the author makes a compelling argument that in the case of habits, thinking small produces the biggest results over time. It reminds me of playing golf. If the club face is just a little off direction when you hit a shot, the ball will end up far away from where you want it to go.
James Clear highlights the importance of stacking habits – “the process of mastery requires that you progressively layer improvements on top of one another, each habit building upon the last until a new level of performance has been reached and a higher range of skills has been internalized.”
‘Don’t fake it till you make it. Fake it till you become it.’
How often have you felt powerless in a situation – be it a personal matter, a work challenge, or even a situation that simply demands your attention? According to Amy Cuddy, the answer is the Power Pose.
In her book, Cuddy explains how behaviour can be altered subconsciously by tweaking the mind and nudging your body language. She takes you through a step-by-step process of making easy and simple changes to your routine; how power posing and believing in your story can help create a more honest and meaningful impact, or presence, on your audience. She backs up her ideas with solid research and science.
You’ll see it doesn’t take much to feel strong and confident. Just pretend you’re wonder woman and watch the magic happen.
“Two core abilities for thriving in the new economy: 1. The ability to quickly master hard things; 2. The ability to produce at an elite level, in terms of both quality and speed.”
The above two abilities require deep work and focus. Newport provides scientific backing for the link between deep focus and and effective results. He then provides four “rules” to train your mind to cultivate the necessary skills:
1. Work Deeply
2. Embrace Boredom
3. Quit Social Media
4. Drain the Shallows
Ted Talks
- Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are
- Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen
- The 7 TED Talks every leader should watch
- Dan Pink: the puzzle of motivation
- Dan Ariely: What makes us feel good about our work?
- Jim Hemerling: 5 ways to lead in an era of constant change
- Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: The power of passion and perseverance
- Adam Grant: are you a giver or a taker?
- Rachel Botsman: the currency of the new economy is trust
- Carol Dweck: The power of believing you can improve