"Everything changes when we give ourselves permission to be more selective in what we choose to do. At once, we hold the key to unlock the next level of achievement in our lives. There is tremendous freedom in learning that we can eliminate the nonessentials, that we are no longer controlled by other people’s agendas, and that we get to choose. With that invincible power we can discover our highest point of contribution, not just to our lives or careers, but to the world."
-- Greg McKeown
"Too many of us are stuck in that “work” mindset, trying all the time to be serious, grounded, and intensely focused on delivering what’s expected of us. “Play” doesn’t come into it. I see it with students taking standardized tests and with executives presenting in the board room. Many approach big performances with stress and tension, which can hinder them. In reality, we need to bring our playful selves to work, especially in times of performance."
-- Brian Levenson
"If you could go anywhere, where would you like to go? Not in terms of vacations, but in your life. Your answer to that question does a lot to determine whether or not you're successful. You see, we're all on a journey, whether we know it or not. we are traveling inevitably toward the ends of our lives. So the real question for us is whether we're going to select a destination and steer a course for it, or allow ourselves to be swept along with the tide, letting others determine where we'11 end up. The choice is entirely up to us."
-- John C. Maxwell
"How do you change your thinking? You change what you put in your mind. Your mind is the gateway to the heart. You’re what you are and where you are because of what’s gone into your mind. You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind."
-- Zig Ziglar
"Most people are sitting on their own diamond mines. The surest ways to lose your diamond mine are to get bored, become overambitious, or start thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. Find your core focus, stick to it, and devote your time and resources to excelling at it."
-- Gino Wickman
"Perfect and bulletproof are seductive, but they don’t exist in the human experience. We must walk into the arena, whatever it may be—a new relationship, an important meeting, our creative process, or a difficult family conversation—with courage and the willingness to engage. Rather than sitting on the sidelines and hurling judgment and advice, we must dare to show up and let ourselves be seen. This is vulnerability. This is daring greatly."
-- Brene Brown
"Intellectual humility, just one more aspect of this concept, is an acknowledgement that you might be wrong. (Yes, you.) When we have intellectual humility, we create a space for possibility and an openness to others’ ideas—about how to train, how to improve, how to shift our next performance based on changes in our environment. After all, the best idea today won’t be the best idea a year from now."
-- Brian Levenson
"When you dream, don't let practical considerations limit you: the bigger the better. Big dreams inspire you to action. They grab your imagination and fill your mind, consume your thoughts and lead you to act. Because they are hard to achieve, they provide you with a great sense of satisfaction once you have accomplished them. Remember that you will accomplish only as much as you dream you can—so if you want to accomplish big things, you'd better dream big."
-- Newt Gingrich
"The quality of your life and the duration of your success depend on your attitude and you are the only person in this world with the power to make it better. Dr William Glasser maintained, If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior. In other words, begin to act the part, as well as you can, of the person you would rather be, the person you most want to become. Gradually, the old, fearful person will fade away."
-- John C. Maxwell
"The way we think about this realm of life can actually diminish or enlarge the control we have over it. Our thoughts are not merely reactions to events; they change what ensues. For example, if we think we are helpless to make a difference in what our children become, we will be paralyzed when dealing with this facet of our lives. The very thought “Nothing I do matters” prevents us from acting. And so we cede control to our children’s peers and teachers, and to circumstance. When we overestimate our helplessness, other forces will take control and shape our children’s future."
-- Martin Seligman
