Mishaps, the listener, trust and education

sent by Nick Grantham | 5th April 2022

"One person's mishap becomes everyone's roadmap."

Steven Kotler

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The Rise of Superman provides a fascinating insight into the world of the action athlete, particularly the trailblazers that push the boundaries of their chosen activity. When you're operating at the outer limits of human performance, things often go a bit pear-shaped, often with catastrophic consequences. These 'mishaps' prove to be fertile ground for everyone else, the ideal opportunity to learn from the mistakes. Thankfully, mainstream sport and day-to-day life don't have the same life or death consequences. We do, however, often mess things up. Messing up isn't the problem, so long as you examine what led to failure and create a new roadmap to success.

Source: The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler


"Communication happens on the listener's terms."

Thomas Erikson

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I picked up a copy of Surrounded by Idiots today, and as I flicked through the first few pages, this statement caught my eye. Remember that whatever we are trying to say in a meeting, during a keynote presentation or a thirty-second corridor conversation, will be filtered through the listeners' frame of reference, filters, preconceptions, and biases. If you've not thought about the listener, you may as well be talking to a brick wall.

Source: Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson


"When it comes to earning trust, consistency matters way more than intensity."

Rachel Botsman

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Trust isn't about the grand gesture, and it has little to do with keeping a huge secret or delivering on a promise once or twice in a blue moon. Instead, developing trust has everything to do with your ability to deliver day after day. Do you consistently deliver what you promise? Are you always on time? Do you always tidy up? Do you always work out? If you want people to trust you, show them why every single day.

Source: Rachel Botsman


"Education isn't something you can finish."

Isaac Asimov

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Education isn't a Netflix boxset that's there to be completed. So the minute you think that you know it all, well, you should have a word with yourself because that is probably just the jumping-off point for your real education.

Source: Isaac Asimov


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