Lessons learned: 'Start With Why', 'Lessons In Stoicism' and 'Shoe Dog'.
In this second post on applying the lessons I have learned through reading
This book taught me that I need to think about the purpose of what I am trying to achieve through The Golden Circle. My Why is to show that anyone regardless of age, economic status or background, can make small steps to improve their everyday life and develop themselves personally and financially.
How is the process to achieve the Why looking at specific actions to accomplish the goals. I plan to review and summarise books and apply what I learn daily. This could include saving and investing in layman's terms, building new habits, starting meditation or learning to control my 'inner chimp'.
What is the result, for me it includes this blog and the YouTube channel. I will continue to try and publish an article a week and if possible a video each week as well though my initial target is once a fortnight.
I have also learnt that rather than compete with others I should compete more with myself and I therefore plan to make changes to my career moving forwards by taking on a new fire-related course and to try and make smaller improvements each week (more on this to follow from 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear).
The approach I took to applying the stoic principles from this book can be highlighted in a few of the bullet points from the review/summary as follows.
• Wealth is neither good nor bad itself, but it can be used for good or bad ends: I plan to build wealth long term so that I can provide the best life I can for my daughter, set myself up for retirement and hopefully help other people along the way.
• Don't worry about what other people think and don't let anger and impulsiveness control your actions: I used to struggle with this but as I have got older I don't care as much about what others think outside of my family. Where I do care I have learnt to control my 'inner chimp' and not let emotions run with negative thoughts but instead allow my 'human' to understand why people are thinking a certain way and whether I need to take constructive criticism on board in order to improve myself (more on the chimp and the human to follow from 'The Chimp Paradox').
• If you postpone your plans and dreams until retirement, it may be too late: My plan is to create a list of things to do whilst I still feel young and fit enough to do so that can be achieved with my family, especially my wife and daughter. Rather than buy 'stuff' it will be better to buy experiences. Buying items may give an initial dopamine hit but it will wear off quicker than the pleasure obtained from learning new skills or having trips and adventures together.
Although this was a great read it is harder to apply the lessons learned about starting and running a business to my everyday life. However, if I am to manage a team again in the future I will look to let them be themselves and play to their own strengths. I will also continue to keep learning so that I can push myself forward in the development of my overall career.
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