3-2-1: Key questions in life, small improvements, and generalists and specialists
3-2-1: Key questions in life, small improvements, and generalists and specialists
Happy 3-2-1 Thursday!
Here are 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week.
3 Ideas From Me
I.
"Usually, the better someone does their job, the easier it looks. You rarely realize how hard it is until you try it yourself."
II.
"Two of the key questions in life: How do I grow? How do I manage risk?
You need to do both if you wish to survive and excel."
III.
"Speed is important. Work fast and iterate. People rarely remember the first draft, but everyone remembers the final draft.
Speed is unimportant. People rarely remember how long it took you to do the job, but everyone remembers how well you did the job."
2 Quotes From Others
I.
The ancient Greek poet Hesiod on small improvements:
"If you add only a little to a little and do this often, soon that little will become great."
Source: Works and Days
II.
Lillian Moore shares a quick story that reveals what really motivates people:
"A few months after my husband and I moved to a small Massachusetts town I grumbled to a resident about the poor service at the library, hoping she would repeat my complaints to the librarian. The next time I went to the library, the librarian had set aside two bestsellers for me and a new biography for my husband. What's more, she appeared to be genuinely glad to see me.
Later I reported the miraculous change to my friend. "I suppose you told her how poor we thought the service was?" I asked.
"No," she confessed. "In fact—I hope you don't mind—I told her your husband was amazed at the way she had built up this small town library, and that you thought she showed unusually good taste in the new books she ordered."
Source: Reader's Digest
1 Question For You
The generalist becomes more powerful when they develop a specialty where they can apply their broad insight.
The specialist becomes more powerful when they develop a broader surface area of knowledge to connect with their expertise.
Which side are you favoring right now? Would you benefit from a broader area to apply your already honed skills? Or do you need deeper skills to unlock your general knowledge?
If you enjoyed that, please share with others.
Share this newsletter on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, or via email.
Or, copy and paste the link below:
https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/june-9-2022?rh_ref=b6775c9d
Until next week,
James Clear
Author of the #1 worldwide bestseller, Atomic Habits
Creator of the Habit Journal
p.s. What's the first ingredient?
Share 3-2-1 and get something useful.
If you enjoy these messages, please tell a friend about the 3-2-1 Newsletter. And if you do, I'll send you a special bonus.
For years, I have collected a list of insightful speeches that are not widely known. I've discovered many hidden gems. Recently, I created transcripts for 10 of my favorites and compiled them into a single document titled, "Great Talks Most People Have Never Heard." Each one is filled with useful ideas for life and work.
Here's how to get access to it...
You have a custom referral link (see below). Just copy and paste your referral link into an email, on social media, or however else you'd like to share it. If 3 new people sign up through your link, then you'll automatically get an email with the Great Speeches PDF attached. Thanks for spreading the word.
Your referral link:
https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/refer?rh_ref=b6775c9d
Click to Share
About this newsletter: You are receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly 3-2-1 newsletter. Every Thursday, I share 3 ideas from me, 2 quotes from others, and 1 question for you to ponder. Occasionally, I send out longer content on habits and self-improvement.
Update your subscription preferences: Unsubscribe from the 3-2-1 newsletter, unsubscribe from all emails (including future book announcements), or manage your subscriber profile.
Atomic Habits customers: Click here to learn how to redeem your purchase for free bonuses. This will also remove you from any promotional emails for the book.
2935 E Main St. Unit #9361, Columbus, OH 43209
Older messages
Thursday, June 2, 2022
3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week.
Thursday, May 26, 2022
3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week.
Thursday, May 19, 2022
3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week.
Thursday, May 5, 2022
3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week.
How to break down goals into a plan that works
Saturday, June 25, 2022
A handy refresher on a classic goal-setting framework
[Electric Speed] Bias for survival
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Digital tools and resources for creative people
How far is too far?Saturday, June 25, 2022
Find out Google Sheets' limits in this 1 minute video. You might know about the maximum cell limit. But do you know how many cells a sheet must have at minimum? It's an existential quandary!
Friday Finds (Austin, Basketball, Disney, Art History)
Friday, June 24, 2022
Read in your browser here. Hi friends, Greetings from Austin! Speaking of the city, I just published an essay about what it's like to live here. It's one of the most polarizing things I'
🎙️ Find That Pod # 168Friday, June 24, 2022
6 Great New Podcasts ADVERTISEMENT 6 Great New Podcasts Welcome to the 168th edition of Find That Pod. Welcome, as always new subscribers! As a Canadian, it's always dangerous to engage in a
The SEO copycat strikes againFriday, June 24, 2022
The other day I was scrolling though my Twitter feed and came across something absurd. Someone was complaining about another website copying their content. But instead of just copying the words
Now I Know: A Happy Belated Now I Know Anniversary
Friday, June 24, 2022
It's the Now I Know Weekender! View this email in your browser · Missed an issue? Click here! If you're new to Now I Know, you'll notice that today's format is different than the rest
Influence Weekly #238 - TikTok Grabs More Ad Dollars
Friday, June 24, 2022
Wendy's Elevation to Influencer Status Influence Weekly #238 June 24th, 2022 Executive Summary TikTok Grabs More Ad Dollars Instagram Ditching Affiliate Marketing Bonus YouTube Shorts, Has Over 1.5
Friday, June 24, 2022
The STUPID Email (Swipe, Thought, Uplifting, Picture, Interesting, Drawing) This is a fun email for Friday June 24th, 2022. Hope you like it :) 🎤 Listen to this email here: Swipe: In the
Price TagsFriday, June 24, 2022
Perplexed by pricing? Consider these six options for your online courses