In our world, we have this huge focus on vicarious living - politicians, movie stars, athletes, coaches, all these people. What our research has shown very clearly is that people who are really happier and have more meaningful lives are people that focus on living their own lives.
Interpretation
True happiness comes from living authentically rather than through the experiences of others.
This quote by Marshall Goldsmith emphasizes the importance of living one's own life fully, rather than seeking fulfillment through the accomplishments or lifestyles of others. It suggests that genuine happiness and meaning in life are found when individuals focus on their personal journeys and self-fulfillment, rather than being influenced by the successes or failures of others, particularly public figures.
In practice
During a personal development seminar, to inspire attendees to focus on their own goals.
Active questions are the alternative to passive questions. There is a huge difference between, 'Do you have clear goals?' and 'Did you do your best to set clear goals for yourself?' The former is trying to determine the employee's state of mind; the latter challenges the employee to describe or defend a course of action.
Treat every piece of advice as a gift or a compliment and simply say, “Thank you.
The only thing I don't think people don't understand about good leaders is that they're both good and lucky. A lot of it is timing.
Life is short. Do whatever you can to help people - not for status, but because the 95-year-old you will be proud if you did help people and disappointed if you didn't.
If we become aware of what's happening before we act, behaviour becomes a function of choice rather than a result of an impulse or trigger. You begin to control your world more as opposed to the outside world controlling you.
A leader who is self-aware enough to know that he or she is not adept at everything is one who has taken the first step toward being a great leader.
The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.
Evil can be opposed without being mirrored. Oppressors can be resisted without being emulated. Enemies can be neutralized without being destroyed.
The principal point of cleverness is to know how to value things just as they deserve.
We are all of us obliged, if we are to make reality endurable, to nurse a few little follies in ourselves.
Passion lends them power, time means to meet, tempering extremities with extremes sweet.
You take the lies out of him, and he'll shrink to the size of your hat; you take the malice out of him, and he'll disappear.
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