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The Obstacle Is the Way Summary What stands in the way becomes the way. Focus on the things you can control, let go of everything else and turn every new obstacle into an opportunity to get better, stronger, and tougher. It’s three interdependent, interconnected, and fluidly contingent disciplines:  Perception ,  Action , and the  Will . Ideas “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way”. “Overcoming obstacles is a discipline of three critical steps. It begins with how we look at our specific problems, our attitude or approach; then the energy and creativity with which we actively break them down and turn them into opportunities; finally, the cultivation and maintenance of an inner will that allows us to handle defeat and difficulty”. “There are a few things to keep in mind when faced with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. We must try: To be objective. To control emotions and keep an even keel. To choose ...

Deep Work Summary Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. Shallow work is non-cognitively demanding, logistical-style work, often performed while distracted. Deep work is like a superpower in our increasingly competitive twenty-first-century economy. Ideas In order to produce the absolute best stuff you’re capable of, you need to commit to deep work. The ability to quickly master hard things and the ability to produce at an elite level, in terms of both quality and speed, are two core abilities for thriving in today’s economy. “To learn hard things quickly, you must focus intensely without distraction.” “Your work is craft, and if you hone your ability and apply it with respect and care, then like the skilled wheelwright you can generate meaning in the daily efforts of your professional life.” “The key to developing a deep work habit is to move beyond good intentions and add routines and rituals to your working life designe...

Getting Things Done Summary If we don’t appropriately manage the ‘open loops’ in our life, our attention will get pulled. Overwhelm comes from not clarifying what your intended outcome is, not deciding what the very next action is, and not reminding yourself of your intended outcome and action. You need to transform all the ‘stuff’ you attract and accumulate into a clear inventory of meaningful actions, projects, and usable information. Ideas Getting things done requires defining what “done” means and what “doing” looks like. Mastering your workflow involves capturing what has your attention, clarifying what it means, putting it where it belongs, reviewing it frequently and engaging with it. If an action will take less than two minutes, it should be done at the moment it is defined. Anxiety and guilt don’t come from having too much to do; it comes from breaking agreements with yourself. Your mind is for having ideas, not for holding th...