Paul Graham on the one top idea in mind

vutran | Nov. 28, 2020, 8:20 a.m.

“I think most people have one top idea in their mind at any given time. That’s the idea their thoughts will drift toward when they’re allowed to drift freely. And this idea will thus tend to get all the benefit of that type of thinking, while others are starved of it. Which means it’s a disaster to let the wrong idea become the top one in your mind” 

— Paul Graham

Sandro Mancuso on professionals vs factory workers

vutran | Nov. 22, 2020, 2:52 p.m.

"Developers who rely only on their companies to provide them knowledge are not professional software developers. They are just factory workers in disguise." 

— Sandro Mancuso in The Software Craftsman

Mattie Stepanek on keep thoughts and memories to inspire hope and build from the past

vutran | Nov. 16, 2020, 8:19 a.m.

“Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future.”

— Mattie Stepanek

Diane Setterfield on trusting the writing process

vutran | Nov. 14, 2020, 10:02 a.m.

“You have to relax, write what you write. It sounds easy but it's really, really hard. One of the things it took me longest to learn was to trust the writing process.”

— Diane Setterfield

Jodi Picoult on editing a bad page is better than editing a blank page

vutran | Nov. 13, 2020, 7:56 p.m.

“You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page.”

— Jodi Picoult

Nike 10 principles

vutran | Nov. 11, 2020, 1:57 p.m.

"1. Our business is change.

2. We're on offense. All the time.

3. Perfect results count — not a perfect process. Break the rules: fight the law.

4. This is as much about battle as about business.

5. Assume nothing. Make sure people keep their promises. Push yourselves push others. Stretch the possible.

6. Live off the land.

7. Your job isn't done until the job is done.

8. Dangers:

- Bureaucracy

- Personal ambition

- Energy takers vs. energy givers

- Knowing our weaknesses

- Don't get too many things on the platter

9. It won't be pretty.

10. If we do the right things we'll make money damn near automatic."

— Rob Strasser

Vernon Jordan on the collaborative nature of life

vutran | Nov. 11, 2020, 1:55 p.m.

"You are where you are today because you stand on somebody’s shoulders. And wherever you are heading, you cannot get there by yourself. If you stand on the shoulders of others, you have a reciprocal responsibility to live your life so that others may stand on your shoulders. It’s the quid pro quo of life. We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give."

— Vernon Jordan