Purpose

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Locked 101 Classes

Purpose 101

How to discover your purpose and fulfill your destiny

Abraham Maslow tells us that what one can be, one must be. Actualizing our potential is like oxygen for the soul. Helping you discover your purpose and fulfill your destiny is what this class is all about.

Locked 101 Classes

Purpose 102

Bonus Video: 25 Journaling Questions

25 journaling questions on how to discover your purpose and fulfill your destiny.

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell was an American author and teacher best known for his work in the field of comparative mythology. If you’ve ever heard of the “Hero’s Journey,” you have him and his lifelong commitment to studying mythology to thank. This book (written in 1949) is the one that captures the essence of his thoughts on the “monomyth” that shows up across all cultures. One universal hero. A thousand faces. Big Ideas we explore include: a quick look at the hero’s journey, moving past the veil of the unknown (aka romancing your discomfort zone) while creating micro hero journeys (all day every day), your ultimate boon (don’t make King Midas’s mistake), the mistake that the makers of legend made (growth mindset, guys!!), and a portrait of the modern hero (look in the mirror!).

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Power of Myth

Ah, The Power of Myth. This book is based on the amazing PBS interview series Bill Moyers did with Campbell shortly before he passed away and captures some of the 24 hours of filmed wisdom that hit the cutting floor. We'll learn how Campbell came up with the admonition to "follow your bliss!" (hint: it's from the Upanishads), the importance of loving our fate, how we're helped by hidden hands when we really commit to our paths and so much more.

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Locked Philosophers Notes

Pathways to Bliss

Mythology and Personal Transformation

This is one of the three books by Campbell we cover and in this Note, we'll learn why following our bliss is so important (hint: our bliss is the transcendent wisdom within us bubbling up!) and how we can more courageously follow it in our lives (hint: say "Yes!" to life more often!). We'll also look at how we can make the simple things in our life part of our heroic journey and how going for it isn't an ego trip.

Locked Philosophers Notes

A Joseph Campbell Companion

Reflections on the Art of Living

Joseph Campbell occupies the Grandfather slot in my spiritual family tree and this book is an incredible collection of some of his most inspiring wisdom. In the Note, we'll explore a range of Big Ideas from what it means to (and how to!) follow our bliss as we rock our hero's journey to learning that we've gotta be willing to break some eggs if we want to make omelets (aka, we've gotta be willing to make mistakes as we grow!).

Locked Philosophers Notes

Noble Purpose

The Joy of Living a Meaningful Life

William Damon is one of the world’s leading scientists studying human development and the psychology of morality. In this book, he gives us a guide to discovering and creating our noble purpose. Big Ideas we explore include making a distinction between noble and heroic, the ultimate purpose formula, 9 tips on how to cultivate your noble purpose, the one phrase your advisor should whisper in your ears when you’ve achieved ultimate success, and how to create true, sustainable happiness.

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Path to Purpose

How Young People Find Their Calling in Life

This book is a scientific look at Purpose by one of the world’s leading developmental psychologists—a powerful look at how to cultivate purpose in our children (and, for that matter, ourselves) and why it’s so important. Big Ideas we explore include a definition of what it means to be purposeful (and a look at the alternatives), the #1 thing that gets in the way of discovering and creating purpose, 9 key things parents can do to help their kids with purpose, why entrepreneurial spirit is so important and a four-word mantra to reduce timidity and build courage and confidence.

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Locked Philosophers Notes

A Round of Golf with My Father

The New Psychology of Exploring Your Past to Make Peace with Your Present

This is our fourth note on one of William Damon's books. Professor Damon is one of the world’s leading scholars on human development across the lifespan. He’s also an incredibly good human being. In this book, William Damon helps us create a “coherent narrative” for our lives by, as per the sub-title, “Exploring Your Past to Make Peace with Your Present.” It’s FANTASTIC. We'll explore the three primary aspects of a 'life review' and a ton of other Big Ideas. Let’s jump straight in!

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Power of Ideals

The Real Story of Moral Choice

William Damon and Anne Colby are two of the world’s leading researchers in the field of moral psychology. They’re both Professors at Stanford and have been married for 30+ years. This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book that challenges the “new science of morality”’s view that morality is essentially biologically and socially determined. Damon and Colby argue that we all have the power to cultivate our more noble, moral possibilities. Big Ideas we explore include a quick look at our moral exemplars, moral agency, and the three virtues we want to cultivate: Truth + Humility + Faith.

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Road to Character

In today’s world, the road to character has a much less defined map than the road to external success. In this thoughtful, penetrating book, New York Times op-ed columnist and author David Brooks walks us through the evolution of our culture away from a character ethic toward a society all about what he calls the “Big Me.” And, of course, he shows us the way back to character. Big Ideas we explore include résumé virtues vs. eulogy virtues, answering the summons, conquering yourself, living for holiness and becoming strongest at your weakest point.

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Second Mountain

The Quest for a Moral Life

David Brooks is one of the nations’ leading writers and commentators. He is an op-ed columnist for the New York Times and appears regularly on PBS NewsHour and Meet the Press. I loved his book The Road to Character. I loved this one even more. David tells us there are two mountains: The first mountain? That’s what society tells us we should pursue: all the normal trappings of success. The second mountain? That’s where the magic (and joy!) exists: where we move beyond ourselves and COMMIT (important word for this book!) to giving ourselves most fully to something bigger than ourselves. David identifies four potential commitments: to our families, to our vocations, to our faith/philosophy of life and to our communities. Ultimately, the book is intended to be a guide to the ULTIMATE quest in life: “The Quest for a Moral Life.”

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Locked Philosophers Notes

The Great Work of Your Life

A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling

Stephen Cope is the director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living—the largest yoga research institute in the Western world. In this great book, Stephen brings the Bhagavad Gita to life and helps us apply this ancient wisdom to our modern lives. Big Ideas include the four keys to living your dharma, creating the right conditions, dealing with difficulties, training elephants, and reducing yourself to zero!

Locked Philosophers Notes

Mastery

Leonardo da Vinci. Charles Darwin. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Martha Graham. The Wright Brothers. Jane Goodall. Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Edison. Zora Neale Hurston. What do they all have in common? Mastery. In this great book Robert Greene shows us the key components of their mastery and, most importantly, how WE can each attain our mastery in our own lives.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Falling Upward

A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life

Alexandra got this book for me after I told her how much I loved David Brooks’ The Second Mountain. Apparently it is recommended alongside that book on Amazon. With 1,400+ reviews, Alexandra thought I might like it. Not only did I like the book, I loved it. And, I fell in love with Richard Rohr. Father Rohr is a Franciscan priest who beautifully integrates his faith with wisdom from various perspectives. Big Ideas we explore include our main Job in life (remembering that we're light bulbs and staying screwed in!), life's two major tasks, the fact that the way UP is DOWN (hence, the title of the book: Falling Upward), the hero and the heroine and their journeys, the paradox of the ego ("You ironically need a very strong ego structure to let go of your ego"), and how to become a Serene Disciple (let God drive).

Locked Philosophers Notes

Self-Reliance

Ralph Waldo Emerson. He’s the great-great-grandfather in my spiritual family tree. We named our son Emerson after this great 19th century philosopher and when I imagine the heroes whose qualities I want to emulate, he’s on the top of the list. Big Ideas we explore include: Trust thyself (every heart vibrates to that iron string!), nonconformity (and the integrity of your own mind), what must you do? (vs. what will they think?), Hobgoblins (begone), your voyage (of a thousand zigs and zags), and the Royal You (act like that now!).

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Locked Philosophers Notes

Future Visions

The Unpublished Papers of Abraham Maslow

As you know if you’ve been following along, I love Abraham Maslow and feel a deep kinship to him and his work. We have featured two of the books he published during his lifetime: Toward a Psychology of Being and Motivation and Personality. Although this book has only ONE review on Amazon and I could only buy a used copy of it, I knew I’d love it. And, although I had already been deeply influenced by Maslow and his thinking, there was something about reading his unpublished essays and journal thoughts that made me feel that much more connected to this great man. Big Ideas we explore include Maslow’s thoughts on the “eupsychian ideal” (aka: the “eudaemonic ideal”!), the psychology of happiness (eudaimonology!!), Stoic philosophy (Maslow was a fan), vicious cultural influences (Maslow was NOT a fan!), and the Jonah Complex (ANSWER YOUR HEROIC CALL, already!!).

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Everyday Patriot

How to be a Great American Now

This is our sixth (!) Note on one of Tom Morris's books. As you know if you’ve been following, Tom Morris is one of my all-time favorite authors and at least tied for first as my favorite living philosopher. In this book, Professor Morris challenges us to reconsider what it means to be a citizen and an “everyday patriot” in the modern world—committed to upholding the virtues of our highest ideals in our everyday lives. I’m excited to explore a handful of my favorite Big Ideas, so let's jump straight in.

Locked Philosophers Notes

How to Be a Success

The Wisdom of Yogananda

This is our second Note on one of Yogananda’s books. This book is a collection of articles that appeared in Yogananda’s magazines in the 1920s and 1930s. Yogananda reminds me of an Indian, often more spiritual version of old-school Western teachers like Orison Swett Marden, James Allen, Ernest Holmes, Dale Carnegie, and Napoleon Hill. If you’re interested in seeing what a yogi who inspired Steve Jobs has to say about success, I think you might enjoy the book as much as I did.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Life to the Fullest

A Story About Finding Your Purpose and Following Your Heart

This is our fifth Note on Darrin Donnelly and the fifth of six books from his "Sports for the Soul" series. We'll be featuring the entire series. This book is a fable about a high school coach who’s doubting whether he made the right decision to stay in the small town in which he grew up and coach the same football team his father coached for decades. The most important theme: Follow your heart. Trust yourself and your authentic path. Do what YOU are here to do. Do YOUR duty. Play YOUR role as well as you can. THAT is what it means to be truly Heroic. And, that’s what this book is all about. I’m excited to share a few of my favorite Big Ideas so let’s jump straight in!

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Locked Philosophers Notes

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture is an inspiring handbook for life written as a follow-up to a viral talk by Randy Pausch. Randy was a Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. When it became terminal, he gave his “last lecture.” The talk was recorded. It went viral. And this book was written with Jeffrey Zaslow as a follow-up. Over 20 million people have now watched that talk and, if you’re one of them, you know just how magnetically inspiring Randy is. The book features fifty-three micro chapters—each telling a different story from Randy’s life. It’s packed with wisdom and I’m excited to share some of my favorite Big Ideas so let’s jump straight in!

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Awakened Brain

The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life

Did you know that there’s a “Science of Spirituality”? Yep. There is. It’s fascinating. And, Lisa Miller is the pioneering researcher who created the field. This book is the distillation of her decades of work to help us apply her research to our (Heroic!) “Quests for an Inspired Life.” Lisa is also the founder and director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program in spirituality and psychology. And, she is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and a professor in the clinical psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. As you’d expect, the book is packed with Big Ideas. I’m excited to share some of my favorites so let’s jump straight in!

Philosophers Notes

Heroic Coach

Activate Your Heroic Potential and Empower Others to Do the Same

Welcome to the Philosopher’s Note on our Heroic Coach invitation letter. Although people have told me I need to do a Note on my own book when it comes out (planning to!), this is the first Note I’ve done on my own work. (Hah!) We figured it would be fun to QUICKLY capture the power of our Heroic Coach program in the context of a Philosopher’s Note. So... Here we are. The letter is, essentially, an invitation to join our scientifically-validated 300-day program to learn how to activate your Heroic potential WHILE learning how to empower *others* to do the same so we can change the world together—starting with you and me and all of us—TODAY. In the letter, I make the VERY important distinction that, whether or not you *think* you are a “coach” ... you are. I’m excited to share exactly what the 300-day program is all about and WHY it has been so transformative for so many people, so let’s jump straight in!

Locked Philosophers Notes

You Owe You

Ignite Your Power, Your Purpose, and Your Why

I got this book after one of the members of our Heroic community encouraged me to spend more time exploring and sharing wisdom from Black authors.

She recommended some books and told me that I’d LOVE Eric and his wisdom.

Thanks, Miata! You were right! :)

Eric Thomas is a FASCINATING human being.

As per his bio on the back flap, he is “part coach, part preacher, all grind.”

He’s one of the world’s best-known motivational speakers. Better known as ET, he’s inspired millions of people with his creative style and high-energy messages.

His raw authenticity is incredibly compelling and this book is fantastic. (Get a copy here.)

The book is PACKED with Big Ideas and I’m excited to share some of my favorites, so let’s jump straight in!

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Locked Philosophers Notes

Be Useful

Seven Tools for Life

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a FASCINATING human being and this is a fantastic book. I basically read it in one sitting one fine Sunday in between supporting Emerson during one of his recent chess tournaments. I watched Arnold’s inspiring documentary on Netflix so when I saw he released this book, I immediately got it, read it, and here we are. I highly recommend the book. Unless you’ve been in seclusion in the Himalayas for the last fifty years, you know who Arnold Schwarzenegger is. The young Arnold dominated the bodybuilding world then he became a leading man in Hollywood before serving for eight years as California’s 38th governor. In this book, he tells us about the seven tools he encourages us to use to create a life of deep meaning and purpose and to, in short... BE USEFUL. The book is packed with Big Ideas. I’m excited to share some of my favorites so let’s get to work.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Life's Great Question

Discover How You Contribute To The World

I’m a big fan of Tom Rath and his work. And... I’m not alone. His 10 books have sold over 10 million copies. Dan Pink (author of Drive and When) calls him “One of the most successful nonfiction writers of his generation.” We featured two of his earlier books: Eat Move Sleep and Are You Fully Charged? Plus: His children’s book called The Rechargeables remains one of my all-time favorites. “Life’s Great Question” that beckons all of us (“What can I contribute?”) is beautifully framed by the Martin Luther King, Jr. quote that kicks off the book: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” This book is a field manual to help us go about answering that question so we can, as per the subtitle of the book: “Discover How You Contribute to the World.” Big Ideas we explore include creating a sense of urgency in life, Purpose 2.0, connecting what we do to those we serve, undivided attention (our new secret weapon), and creating the energy to be our best.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Die Empty

Unleash Your Best Work Every Day

How do you want to die? With a calm serenity knowing you gave your best or with deep regret that you never took the risks and cultivated the discipline to show up with urgency and diligence each day to create a life of deep meaning? The answer is obvious. Big Ideas we explore on how to die empty include optimism vs. wishing, the root of mediocrity, the 3 S’s of goal setting and dealing with The Lag.

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Four Purposes of Life

Finding Meaning and Direction in a Changing World

Dan Millman is one of my favorite teachers and deepest inspirations. This is a super concise, quick-reading book (150 pages) in which Dan synthesizes wisdom from many of his other books—shining light on how we can engage in the four purposes of life to create meaning in an ever-changing world. Big Ideas we explore include a quick look at the 4 purposes of life, the fact that daily life is your master teacher, the required classes in the school of life (and how you’re graded), the importance of deciding to decide (then going all in), how to live happily ever after, and making every moment extraordinary.

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Locked Philosophers Notes

The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle

Jim Rohn influenced a generation of self-help gurus and this book lays out his "five major keys for the life puzzle." We'll take a quick look at your life philosophy, what you're doing with the 86,400 ticks each day, how to finish before you start as you design your ideal life and other such goodness.

+1s

#1 +1 or -1 = Destiny Math

What Must YOU be?
Abraham Maslow studied the greatest people of his generation. People like Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein. He told us about the
Locked +1s

#89 Ikigai

What's Your Reason for Getting Up in the Morning
Do you know what the word for retirement is in Okinawa? Here’s a hint: There ISN’T a word for retirement in Okinawa. (Hah.) Think about
+1s

#124 Follow Your Bliss

Jump into Enlightenment
The great mythologist Joseph Campbell told us to follow our bliss. Why? And… How’d he come up with that? Well, among many other things,
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#125 Follow Your Grunt

Bliss + Grunt + Grunt = Magic
In our last +1 we had fun exploring the ancient wisdom that led Joseph Campbell to tell us: “Follow your bliss!” Later in his career,
+1s

#131 How's Your Hedgehog?

3 Circles on What You’re Here to Do
Jim Collins is arguably the greatest business thinker alive. He’s written classics like Good to Great, Built to Last and Great by Choice
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#186 100 Questions

An Exercise to Create a Meaningful Life
In our last +1 we met our Angel’s Advocate via Michael Gelb’s great book How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci. Here’s another
Locked +1s

#205 To Thine Own Self Be True

The Very First Quote I Ever Memorized
William Shakespeare once told us (via Polonius in Hamlet): “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night
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#212 Eulogy Virtues

How to Chisel on Your Road to Character
In our last +1, we talked about the fact that the word character comes from the Greek word for “chisel.” David Brooks wrote a book all
Locked +1s

#253 Your Dreamer + Your Doer

How to Build Your Confidence: Have Both in Mind Today
In my interview with Barry Michels about the great book he wrote with Phil Stutz called Coming Alive, we talked about a bunch of things. One
+1s

#285 How Are You Intelligent?

The 2 Steps to Getting in Your Element
In our last +1, we had fun hanging out with your Genius. Recall: EVERYONE in ancient Roman times was said to have their own guiding spirit,
Locked +1s

#309 The Definition of Hell

Meeting the Person You Could Have Become
In Getting Grit, Caroline Adams Miller walks us through the science of grit and then helps us apply it to our lives. One of the main lessons
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Locked +1s

#330 Hit the Rock

A Parable on How to Get Clarity
In our last +1, we took a quick look at Warren Buffett’s three-step goal setting process and then chatted about how it fits into our Big
Locked +1s

#355 The Decade View

What’s YOURS look like?
Matthew Kelly has written a number of great books. We have Notes on three of them: Perfectly Yourself, The Rhythm of Life and Off Balance.
Locked +1s

#368 Zero-Based Thinking

What Goes if You Started at Zero?
Brian Tracy is one of my favorite old-school self-development teachers. I can still remember listening to his CDs back in the day when I was
Locked +1s

#397 Seeds of (Metaphorical) Corn

You Planting Yours?
We’re on a roll with some mindfulness wisdom via Goenka, so here’s one more story. Once upon a time an Indian woman with a large family
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Locked +1s

#398 The Parable of the Talents

Using Yours?
In our last +1, we talked about a wise daughter-in-law who planted her seeds and reaped a bountiful harvest. Another great teacher once told
Locked +1s

#399 Bonzai Trees, Goldfish, and You

How to 100x Your Awesome
Today we’re going to chat about bonzai trees and goldfish and you. Alan Cohen puts it so perfectly (in his epically named book Why Your
Locked +1s

#403 Capacities Clamoring to Be Used

Answering Your Soul’s Cries
As you know (and as we’ve discussed many times), Abraham Maslow once said that “What one can be, one must be.” He described this as
Locked +1s

#404 Caterpillars, Butterflies and You

(And Maslow, Aristotle, Stoics and Others)
In our last +1, we talked about Abraham Maslow’s wisdom and the ancient etymology of the word clamor in the context of your capacities
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Locked +1s

#415 Your Grand Purpose

How to Turn Apparent Misfortune into Great Fortune
One of the themes we come back to again and again is the basic idea of loving what is — whether that’s via Byron Katie’s wisdom or the
Locked +1s

#441 The Two Goddesses of Wealth

Which One Are You Pursuing?
In Creating Affluence, Deepak Chopra tells a great story about two Goddesses involved in creating abundance in our lives. Now, I’m a
Locked +1s

#463 Doing What You Love

How Can You Get Paid to Do It?
In our last +1, we talked about that little thread that runs through your head. (Did you gently pull it up?) I also briefly mentioned the
Locked +1s

#491 Jobs, Careers, Callings

Which Do You Have? (Here’s How to Make It All Three)
In our last +1, we talked about you starting a hypothetical new job. Today I want to talk about the science of jobs, careers, and callings.
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Locked +1s

#492 Sweeping Streets with Martin Luther King

Like Shakespeare, Beethoven and Michelangelo
In our last +1, we talked about Martin Seligman’s ideas on the science of having a Job vs. a Career vs. a Calling. I proposed we aim to
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#498 How to Discover Your Mission

3 Steps to Clarity on Your Life’s Work
While we’re talking about Alex Lickerman and his ideas on how to create an indestructible self while turning poison into medicine and all
Locked +1s

#531 Wisdom from My Mom and Thomas Carlyle

God Gave You Gifts. Give Them to the World!
My mom and her husband Tom recently visited. I was blessed to be the best man in their wedding. I especially enjoyed having the opportunity
Locked +1s

#541 Making (Life) Music with Jerry Garcia

Key Lyrics: Be You
On my sunrise hike/trail run this morning, I saw a guy wearing a sweet Jerry Garcia t-shirt. I waved and smiled and said “Hi!” and we
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Locked +1s

#713 Your Genius Zone - Part 2

What Is It You Can Uniquely Do?
Many moons ago, very early in our +1 journey together, we talked about Gay Hendricks’ wisdom on your Genius Zone. As you may recall, your
Locked +1s

#717 Your Daimon Zone

See You There!!
A few +1s ago, we spent some time in your Genius Zone. Today I want to revisit that wonderful spot and talk a little more about how to spend
Locked +1s

#725 Your Marching Orders

Our Purpose Here on Earth
In our last +1, we had some fun soaking our minds in some epic “To Dare or Not to Dare” wisdom. We kicked that party off with a Søren
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#765 Your Idiosyncratic Dharma

Honoring Our Sacred Duty (Yours?)
In our last couple +1s, we’ve had fun exploring some wisdom gems from my recent PhilosophersNotes binge-athon. Today we’re going to talk
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#766 Your Deep Gladness

And The World’s Hunger (Where Do They Meet?)
In our last +1, we talked about Stephen Cope and his take on dharma. Recall his belief that “every single human being has a unique
Locked +1s

#805 The Alchemist Says

The Universe Is Conspiring to Help You
Have you ever read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho? It’s amazing. I’ve read it a bunch of times. Guess how many copies the book has sold
Locked +1s

#1093 Life’s Great Question

Can You Guess What It Is?
I’m a big fan of Tom Rath and his work. And… I’m not alone. His 10 books have sold over 10 million copies. Dan Pink (author of Drive
Locked +1s

#1094 Purpose 2.0

Time for a Purpose Upgrade?
In his great little book Life’s Great Question, Tom Rath talks about how to create more meaning in our lives by creating more meaning in
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Locked +1s

#1095 How to Meaningify Your Work

In One Simple Step…
In our last +1, we talked about making a Purpose upgrade—going from a grand conception of one “big purpose” for life (Purpose 1.0) to
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#1115 The Path with Heart

Trust Thyself, Every Heart Vibrates to That Iron String
In our last +1, we spent some time with Carlos Castaneda and his Toltec Warrior. Today, we’re going to spend a little more time with this
Locked +1s

#1147 The Three Quests + U

Universal + Unique + Ultimate
In our Mastery Series, we kick off the third session of Module II on Hero-ology with The 3 Quests + U in which I proposed that we all have
Locked +1s

#1157 Moonshots with Kennedy

What Goal Is Organizing and Measuring YOUR Energy and Skills?
In our last +1, we planted some trees with John F. Kennedy. Recall that he told us: “I am reminded of the story of the great French
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Locked +1s

#1192 The Oak Sleeps in the Acorn

Sprouting Genius Work
In our last +1, we talked about doing Genius Work (vs. Mediocre Work) as we reminded ourselves that both the Romans and the Greeks had a
Locked Philosophers Notes

100 Ways to Motivate Yourself

Change Your Life Forever

I’m not sure how I found this book but I’m glad I did! Steve Chandler’s awesome and this book kinda reminds me of my book: One quick, inspiring, Big Idea after another that helps us get our practical wisdom on and go out and rock it. Some of my favorites include the cure for “Intention Deficit Disorder,” Creating vs. Reacting, and the importance of replacing worry with action.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Black Hole Focus

How Intelligent People Can Create a Powerful Purpose for Their Lives

Black holes. Just contemplating the sheer, fierce power of them is awe-inspiring, eh? Isaiah Hankel tells us that although physicists used to think that everything got destroyed in a black hole, now they believe that it’s less about destruction and more about *transformation.* And shines some light on the power of focusing on our purpose with black hole intensity. Big Ideas we explore include sheep vs. strategists, figuring out your ikigai (= why you get up in the morning), the fascinating endurance of rats with hope, the first two steps in greatness and moving from vision to decision.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Courageous Dreaming

How Shamans Dream the World into Being

Alberto Villoldo is a shaman and medical anthropologist who has studied the spiritual practices of the Amazon and the Andes for over 25 years. In this book, we tap into their wisdom on how shamans dream the world into being. Big Ideas include choosing between casting yourself as a victim or a hero, letting go of perfection, cultivating mindfulness and being ready to die at any moment.

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Locked Philosophers Notes

Drive

The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Dan Pink is an incredibly engaging writer and this book is fantastic. In this book, he tackles human motivation and, as the sub-title suggests, tells us “The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.” Here’s his Twitter summary: “Carrots & sticks are so last century. Drive says for 21st century work, we need to upgrade to autonomy, mastery & purpose.” Big Ideas we explore include understanding Motivation 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 along w/ how to upgrade our operating system, why Autonomy is so important, The Three Laws of Mastery and discovering our Purpose via a big question and a small one.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Existentialism Is a Humanism

Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher, novelist, playwright, and critic. He was a leading intellectual of the 20th century and the leading proponent of existentialism. This short book is a transcript of a speech Sartre gave in 1945 to address many of the critics of existentialism. It’s a *remarkably* lucid, concise exposition on the primary tenets of existentialism—even more remarkable given the fact that Sartre gave this lecture without notes. Big Ideas we explore: Anguish + its antidote, passion vs. choice, quietism vs. commitment, the stern optimism of existentialism and moral choices as a work of art.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Welcome to the final installment of the magical Harry Potter series. I can’t believe how quickly Emerson and I tore through all of them—particularly this one. We begin with the seven Potters escaping the Dursley’s home, immediately getting ambushed by awaiting Death Eaters. And the thrills never cease. We lose our heroes Mad Eye Moody and Dobby. Celebrate Lupin and Tonks’ wedding and baby boy, meet the mysterious silver doe Patronus, break into Gringotts and track down the secrets of the Peverall brothers and their Deathly Hallows. Big Ideas we explore include the hero’s gift, follow your instincts, the bodhisattvic hero’s boon, and dedicating our lives to the greater good.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Lead the Field

Do you want to lead the field? Earl Nightingale is our guide in this old-school guide to rockin' it. Big Ideas include seeing the acres of diamonds in our own backyards, being able to immediately articulate our goal in a single sentence, seeing that if we want more we need to serve more and knowing that TODAY is the day to show up and shine!

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Locked Philosophers Notes

Mastery

The Key to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment

Mastery. Are you a dabbler or a hacker or an obsessive or a master? We all have elements of each and we tend to fall into particular patterns in our lives. In this Note, we'll explore George Leonard’s brilliant ideas on how to live a life of mastery, in which every moment becomes an opportunity for growth and self-expression as we embrace the practice of living masterfully.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Maximum Achievement

Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed

As with all of Brian Tracy’s books, this one is ridiculously packed with wisdom. He wrote it 25 years ago (25 years into his journey as a teacher). It’s based on a training program he created called The Psychology of Achievement that he taught to 1 million+ people. It’s a dense, 350-page encyclopedia of Big Ideas to help us jumbo crush it. Big Ideas we explore: the 7 ingredients of success, the Law of Substitution, mining your acres of diamonds, 7 questions that can change your life, moving from positive thinking to positive knowing, treating excusitis, and the secret sauce of achievement (hint: it’s love).

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Off Balance

Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction

Matthew Kelly asks: If you had to choose between balance and satisfaction, which would you choose? Satisfaction, right? 10,000 out of 10,000 people agree. Who wants “balance” anyway? And who came up with the idea of “work-life” balance? Big Ideas we explore include figuring out what you *really* want in life, becoming the best-version-of-yourself, answering the ultimate question, mastering energy management and learning to take the decade view of your life.

Locked Philosophers Notes

Self-Help

Written in 1859, this is one of the classics of self-development. Smiles focuses on character development, hard work and perseverance rather than the get-it-quick-fluff found in so much of modern self-dev. In the Note, we’ll explore a bunch of Big Ideas including the power of diligence and how to make happiness a habit!

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Locked Philosophers Notes

The Art of Possibility

Transforming Professional and Personal Life

The Art of Possibility. This is a great book written by the dynamic duo Rosamund Stone Zander (family therapist and landscape painter) and her husband Benjamin Zander (conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and professor at the New England Conservatory of Music). Big Ideas include the fact that it’s all invented (so we might as well create an empowering story!), having grace as we own the risks we take, and giving yourself an A!

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The Art of Work

A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do

As the sub-title suggests, this book is all about “A proven path to discovering what you were meant to do.” If you’re looking for an inspiring introduction to clarifying and living your purpose, I think you’ll enjoy this book. Big Ideas we explore include a quick peek at the 7 characteristics of a Calling, why Awareness is so important, why Painful Practice is also super important, why we should be thinking “bridges” not “leaps” as we pursue our calling ad other goodness.

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Fountainhead

Ah, The Fountainhead. It's always fun to distill a 752-page magnum opus into a 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3. Ayn Rand is intense and this book is packed with Big Ideas. We'll explore a few of my favorites, including our responsibility to own our greatness, not live as a second-hander (someone who is over-concerned about other people’s opinion of them), love what we do and know what we want.

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Golden Present

Daily Inspirational Readings by Sri Swami Satchidananda

Sri Swami Satchidananda was one of the world’s greatest yoga masters and teachers. This book is organized as a daily inspirational guidebook and it’s packed with 365 wisdom gems. In the Note, we explore Big Ideas ranging from the importance of being bold and strong to the power of making a lot mistakes.

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The Happiness of Pursuit

Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life

Chris Guillebeau is a brilliant guy and brilliant writer. He's also traveled to every.single.country in the world. (That's 193 for those counting.) In this great book we take a look at what it means to create an awesome Quest. The why's and how's and all that. What's your Quest? Ready to rock it?

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The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams & Reaching Your Destiny

Robin Sharma is one of the top leadership coaches in the world and an all-around awesome guy. This book is a fable about a hard-charging attorney who becomes a yogi and shares his wisdom with his former protégé. It's packed with goodness. In the Note, we'll look at the "7 Timeless Virtues of Enlightened Living," the importance of blue printing our ideal lives and expressing the greatness that is all of our birthrights.

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The Road to Sparta

Reliving the Ancient Battle and Epic Run That Inspired the World's Greatest Footrace

Do you know why we call our modern marathon a marathon? You may think you know the real story behind the very first marathon, but in this captivating, inspiring tale, Dean Karnazes (named by Men’s Health as one of the 100 Fittest Men of All Time) gives us a deeper look at the man who, 2,500 years ago, ran the first ULTRAmarathon and, in doing so, effectively saved Western civilization. :) Big Ideas we explore: a history lesson The Battle of Marathon, why balance doesn’t lead to happiness (and what does), a 24 Hour Fitness with Harvard profs, heroes are ready and how to play the pain game.

Locked Philosophers Notes

The Success Principles

How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Jack Canfield, the creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, gives us a book packed with Big Ideas on the fundamentals of success. In the Note, we explore some of my favorites—including an awesome exercise on how to discover our purpose, the importance of taking responsibility in our lives (that's Principle #1!!!), becoming an inverse paranoid (think: “OMG the universe is out to help me!!”), and recognizing that 99% commitment to something is a bitch and 100% is a breeze.

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Personal development made simple, so you can flourish in energy, work, and love. Today.

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Locked Philosophers Notes

The Wheel of Time

The Shamans of Ancient Mexico, Their Thoughts About Life, Death and the Universe

This book is like a greatest hits collection of Castaneda's best passages. In the Note we'll look at the need to transcend our conditioning as we develop our personal power, the importance of choosing a path with heart (aka following your bliss), using death as an advisor and living with impeccability as we achieve no stress success.