ChrisNotes

Mastery

No Success Library is complete without Mastery by George Leonard. [Wikipedia Entry] How does one get better at something?  You study, you practice, you work at it, you copy others, you get feedback, you make corrections, you learn from your mistakes, you constantly make small, incremental improvements.

In this book, Leonard teaches us how to systematically approach Mastery in anything.  It may be a sport, in music, in writing, in a subject, in becoming an expert- the process is the same.  You work and nothing happens.  You work, nothing happens.  You work at it longer, nothing.  Then one day: Boom.  You make an incremental jump in effectiveness, understanding, skill, whatever. 

When you understand this, it is so much easier to deal with your negative thoughts that creep in to your brain, "I'm not getting any better."  Yes you are.  Just stay at it.  Get started, don't quit. 

Another gem I take from this book:  The world is so big and fast moving it is impossible to keep up with everything.  So, pick your field.  Keep learning.  Specialize and narrow your focus even more.  Put in the time.  Pretty soon, you will be a genius.  And the World will notice.

The Greatest Salesman in the World

ChrisNotes was conceived as the idea that I would read books and write brief articles laying out what is of interest to Private Client Advisors.  Well, there is One Book that you must read.  The wisdom in this book cannot be distilled down any further than contained on its 111 pages.

The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino © 1968 Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc. / Bantam Books

My favorite quotes:

"Which two, among a thousand wise men, will define success in the same words; yet failure is always described but one way.  Failure is man's inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they may be."

and

"The only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference in their habits.  Good habits are the key to all success.  Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure.  Thus, the first law I will obey:  I will form good habits and become their slave."