Interesting enough. Got just over half way through and sort of became uninterested, or perhaps I felt like I had a sense of what it was saying/about.
Core things that stood out:
- Being prolific is a major part of being original. Produce a lot to sharpen your own understanding and produce good work.
- Significant figures often get a “late” start, at least to what we might expect.
- e.g., Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa over 15 years.
- It’s difficult to have power without status.
- And status is given not earned.
- Risk is all about framing.
- How you frame an idea is more powerful than what you say.
- The bits about parenting and speaking to kids was very useful here.
- e.g., praising a child by characterizing them as being something rather than doing something is super powerful.
- You are a good lister vs. you listened well.
- This was the most useful stretch of the book for me.
- Helping kids see themselves by showing them what good character is much better than labeling actions only.
- And effort is more important to praise than praising ability.