1. Build Networks
Nobody at the top of the heap goes it alone. And those at the center of networks benefit the most.
Paul Erdos is the undeniable center of the mathematics world. Ever heard of “six degrees of Kevin Bacon”? Paul Erdos is the Kevin Bacon of math.
This is no exaggeration. In fact, it’s barely a metaphor — it’s just fact.
How did he become the center of the math world?
He was a giver.
I’ve posted a lot about networking and as great networkers like Adam Rifkin advise, Paul Erdos gave to others. He made those around him better.
Via The Man Who Loved Only Numbers - The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth: He knew better than you yourself knew what you were capable of…He gave the confidence that many of us needed to embark on mathematical research.
2. Create Luck
Luck isn’t magical - there’s a science to it.
Richard Wiseman studied lucky people for his book Luck Factor, and broke down what they do right.
Certain personality types are luckier because they behave in a way that maximizes the chance for good opportunities.
By being more outgoing, open to new ideas, following hunches, and being optimistic, lucky people create possibilities.
Does applying these principles to your life actually work? Wiseman created a “luck school” to test the ideas - and it was a success.
Via Luck Factor: In total, 80 percent of people who attended Luck School said that their luck had increased. On average, these people estimated that their luck had increased by more than 40 percent.
3. Busy
Via Daily Rituals - How Artists Work: “Sooner or later,” Pritchett writes, “the great men turn out to be all alike. They never stop working. They never lose a minute. It is very depressing.”
What did Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer find when he looked at high achievers like LBJ and Robert Moses? 60-65 hour work weeks were not uncommon.
Via Managing With Power - Politics and Influence in Organizations: In a study of general managers in industry, John Kotter reported that many of them worked 60 to 65 hours per week–which translates into at least six 10-hour days. The ability and willingness to work grueling hours has characterized many powerful figures… Energy and strength provide many advantages to those seeking to build power.
When Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi studied geniuses for his book Creativity, he realized something fascinating about IQ.
No one who changed the world had an IQ under 130 - but the difference between 130 and 170 was negligible. As long as you were past the 130 IQ threshold, it was all about how hard you worked.
4. Know What You Are
In his classic essay Managing Oneself, Pete Drucker is very clear - ignore your weaknesses and keep improving your strengths: "In identifying opportunities for improvement, don’t waste time cultivating skill areas where you have little competence. Instead, concentrate on - and build on - your strengths."
This means knowing who you are, what you are and what you are good at.
Harvard professor Gautam Mukunda, author of Indispensable - When Leaders Really Matter, says this is key for leaders: "More than anything else, “Know thyself.” Know what your type is. …Think about your own personality… For instance, if you are a classic entrepreneur, you can’t work in an organization. Know that."
5. Just Say No
Warren Buffett once said: "The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say “no” to almost everything."
And that’s what gives them the time to accomplish so much.
In Creativity, Csikszentmihalyi makes note of the number of high achievers who declined his request to be in the book. Why did they say no? They were too busy with their own projects to help him with his. Achievement requires focus. And focus means saying “no” to a lot of distractions
-----------------------
>>> Updating manpower news at Vietnam Manpower Blog
http://vietnam-manpower.blogspot.com
>>> Find out Vietnam manpower services supply
http://vnmanpower.com
Nobody at the top of the heap goes it alone. And those at the center of networks benefit the most.
Paul Erdos is the undeniable center of the mathematics world. Ever heard of “six degrees of Kevin Bacon”? Paul Erdos is the Kevin Bacon of math.
This is no exaggeration. In fact, it’s barely a metaphor — it’s just fact.
How did he become the center of the math world?
He was a giver.
I’ve posted a lot about networking and as great networkers like Adam Rifkin advise, Paul Erdos gave to others. He made those around him better.
Via The Man Who Loved Only Numbers - The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth: He knew better than you yourself knew what you were capable of…He gave the confidence that many of us needed to embark on mathematical research.
2. Create Luck
Luck isn’t magical - there’s a science to it.
Richard Wiseman studied lucky people for his book Luck Factor, and broke down what they do right.
Certain personality types are luckier because they behave in a way that maximizes the chance for good opportunities.
By being more outgoing, open to new ideas, following hunches, and being optimistic, lucky people create possibilities.
Does applying these principles to your life actually work? Wiseman created a “luck school” to test the ideas - and it was a success.
Via Luck Factor: In total, 80 percent of people who attended Luck School said that their luck had increased. On average, these people estimated that their luck had increased by more than 40 percent.
3. Busy
What did Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer find when he looked at high achievers like LBJ and Robert Moses? 60-65 hour work weeks were not uncommon.
Via Managing With Power - Politics and Influence in Organizations: In a study of general managers in industry, John Kotter reported that many of them worked 60 to 65 hours per week–which translates into at least six 10-hour days. The ability and willingness to work grueling hours has characterized many powerful figures… Energy and strength provide many advantages to those seeking to build power.
When Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi studied geniuses for his book Creativity, he realized something fascinating about IQ.
No one who changed the world had an IQ under 130 - but the difference between 130 and 170 was negligible. As long as you were past the 130 IQ threshold, it was all about how hard you worked.
4. Know What You Are
In his classic essay Managing Oneself, Pete Drucker is very clear - ignore your weaknesses and keep improving your strengths: "In identifying opportunities for improvement, don’t waste time cultivating skill areas where you have little competence. Instead, concentrate on - and build on - your strengths."
This means knowing who you are, what you are and what you are good at.
Harvard professor Gautam Mukunda, author of Indispensable - When Leaders Really Matter, says this is key for leaders: "More than anything else, “Know thyself.” Know what your type is. …Think about your own personality… For instance, if you are a classic entrepreneur, you can’t work in an organization. Know that."
5. Just Say No
Warren Buffett once said: "The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say “no” to almost everything."
And that’s what gives them the time to accomplish so much.
In Creativity, Csikszentmihalyi makes note of the number of high achievers who declined his request to be in the book. Why did they say no? They were too busy with their own projects to help him with his. Achievement requires focus. And focus means saying “no” to a lot of distractions
-----------------------
>>> Updating manpower news at Vietnam Manpower Blog
http://vietnam-manpower.blogspot.com
>>> Find out Vietnam manpower services supply
http://vnmanpower.com
