3-2-1: Thoughts on greatness, enjoying the journey, and raising the aspirations of others

Happy 3-2-1 Thursday!

Before we begin... Overstock sale! We are currently overstocked on premium Atomic Habits engraved pens, so we are running an "overstock sale" with huge discounts. Click here to learn more.

And now, here are 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week...

I.

"Plant the seeds of greatness in your mind."

(Share this on Twitter)

​II.

"The strategy required to find a great opportunity (lots of saying yes and exploring widely) is different from the strategy required to make the most of a great opportunity (lots of saying no and remaining focused)."

(Share this on Twitter)

III.

"I have had periods in my career when I have been sprinting full speed and accomplished a great deal and I have had seasons when I have been fairly lazy and coasted on my previous effort.

What I have learned is that I am the major obstruction to getting results. Whether external conditions are favorable or unfavorable makes less difference than whether I am fully engaged and consistent. Even in competitive fields, the competition is primarily within yourself."

​

I.

Writer and philosopher Robert Pirsig on enjoying the journey:

"Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow."

Source: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Hat tip to Dylan O'Sullivan)​
​​

​II.

Economics professor Tyler Cowen on raising the aspirations of others:

"Yesterday I had lunch with a former Ph.D student of mine, who is now highly successful and tenured at a very good school. I was reminded that, over twenty years ago, I was Graduate Director of Admissions. One of my favorite strategies was to take strong candidates who applied for Masters and also offer them Ph.D admissions, suggesting they might to do the latter. My lunch partner was a beneficiary of this de facto policy.

At least two of our very best students went down this route... neither realized that it was common simply to apply straight to a Ph.D program, skipping over the Masters. I believe this is now better known, but the point is this.

At critical moments in time, you can raise the aspirations of other people significantly, especially when they are relatively young, simply by suggesting they do something better or more ambitious than what they might have in mind. It costs you relatively little to do this, but the benefit to them, and to the broader world, may be enormous. This is in fact one of the most valuable things you can do with your time and with your life."

Source: The high-return activity of raising others’ aspirations (Hat tip to Anna Gát)

​

What can I do today to practice five minutes of self-care?

(Share this on Twitter)

​

Want to share this issue of 3-2-1 via text, social media, or email? Just copy and paste this link:

https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/august-22-2024

​

​

Until next week,

James Clear
​Atomic Habits, the #1 best-selling book
​Atoms, the official Atomic Habits app
​3-2-1 newsletter with 3 million subscribers

​

p.s. The value of siblings.

​