Art is lone, life short;
judgment difficult, opportunity transient.
--Goethe (adapting the words of Hippocrates)
In September 1995, I made the most important (and perhaps the only important) speech of my career when I introduced the 400 Year Project (a program to help everyone learn how to accomplish 20 times as much with the same time, money, and effort). Since I didn\'t know how my...
There are fifty ways to leave your lover,
But only six exits from this airplane.
--Southwest Airlines announcement
When I started the 400 Year Project (a program to identify ways that everyone can improve performance 20 times faster), I had no idea of how that fine purpose would be accomplished. I also knew that I needed a lot of help.
What to do? I decided to be candid in speaking...
Just do it.
--Nike advertisement
Many times we are asked to express ideas that no one has thought about before. What\'s a good way to do this?
Story tellers rely on letting people use their imagination. To do that, they often start with phrases like \"Once upon a time . . .\" that empower us to sit back and dream a bit.
For a nonfiction subject, it\'s good to bring forth people who...
No man would listen to you talk
if he didn\'t know it was his turn next.
--Edgar Watson Howe
Speaking is an art. But when we think like the audience, it becomes a conversation. Let me share an example to show what I mean.
I was about to announce the beginning of a 20 year project to find ways to speed the rate of individual improvements by 20 times. But no one new it.
How would I...
Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
--Mark Twain
The moment of truth, the sudden emergence of an insight, is an act of intuition. Such intuitions give the appearance of miraculous flashes, or short-circuits of reasoning.
--Arthur Koestler
Many people look into learning to meditate so they can enjoy more peace. Others hope for greater clarity of...
In 1995, I started a project to help the whole world make improvements at 20 times the usual rate. I knew it was a good idea, but I wasn\'t so sure that anyone else would think so.
How would I pursue this project to engage the interest of great leaders? I had no idea, not even a clue. All I knew was that I was supposed to make this announcement at the autumnal equinox.
I quickly...
Do you already enjoy an ideal, secure lifestyle?
Here are a few questions to help you check on whether you do:
Think back to 6:30 p.m. on your last day of work. Were you at home? If not, why weren't you at home with your loved ones? What could possibly have been so important at work that it took you away from your family?
How do the hours you spend commuting each week compare to the...
My first business school course was in marketing management. The professor told us that most marketing problems occurred because those in charge of marketing failed to do their homework about what customers wanted and needed.
We were curious about that observation and asked him why this was the case, and the professor said he had no certain answer. His best guess was that people became...
One of my college roommates often invited girl friends to visit for the weekend. It was challenge for him to make a good impression during those visits because my roommate's clothes, snacks, cigarettes, ash trays, books, and papers were strewn everywhere.
He also wasn't very energetic: After arising late, he was normally sprawled on our broken-down couch smoking while he watching bowling...
The contribution I make to a client is basically to be very stupid and very dense; ask simple, fundamental questions; demand that he be thoughtful with the answers; and demand that he make decisions on what is important.
--Peter F. Drucker
Establishing a group of executives to study stock-price improvement through my consulting practice had another helpful impact on me. The members asked...
