Timeless Lessons for a New Year

The Fishbowl

At times I have found it easier to get what I want than to want what I get.? Why is that? Ever heard the saying “the fish can’t see the water?”? When you are immersed inside the fishbowl, the more you feel but the less you see. Once you are outside, the less you feel but the more you see. It is about perspective.

I recently attended a celebration of life for a respected local businessman and friend. This helped me to reflect on why life is not about accomplishments and getting what you want.? Life is about wanting what you get, and this always comes back to values and relationships.? If you have the right values and relationships, the right accomplishments will follow.

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Your Values

There are lots of worthy values and principles to pursue.? It can be exhausting to narrow them down to a short list of the most important.? Core values shouldn’t change much, but during times of transition, it is good to think about which values to prioritize. At this time, here is my list:?

·??????? Clarity

·??????? Growth

·??????? Service toward others

What are your values, and which are most important to you in this season of your life?

These Are Not New Ideas

In Stephen Covey’s classic The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the concept of moving from a dependent to independent to interdependent life is built on the idea that public victories must be built on a foundation of "principle-centered" private victories within yourself.

Another great read is Clayton Christensen’s How Will You Measure Your Life?.? A long-time friend gave me a copy of the book many years ago.? Christensen is best known for his theories on disruptive innovation in his classic, The Innovator’s Dilemma.? The most recent part of my career was spent swimming in a real-world fishbowl of his innovation ideas.

Below are two links to speeches where he talks about applying his theories more broadly to your life. ?While I was fortunate to meet my “nerdfather” not long before he passed away, rewatching these videos reminded me that his most enduring impact on me may have little to do with innovation. It is worth mentioning that Clayton suffered a heart attack, cancer, and stroke in his later years.? In these videos, I find these ideas as clear, timeless, and impactful as ever even as his speech slowed.

How Will You Measure Your Life? Clay Christensen at TEDxBoston (youtube.com)

Clayton Christensen - Choosing the strategies to live your life - Startup Grind Global (youtube.com)

I hope you find these ideas helpful and wish you all the best for the new year!