What is a Paradox?
A paradox is two seemingly opposite things that seem impossible but are actually both true.
I’ve been interested in paradoxes for the last decade. In 2008 things fell apart for me and I needed to change my mental approach to life. Not everything is in my control. Paradoxes have something of the zen koan idea to them. The harder you think about them the more lost you get – you can only approach these ideas through intuition or acceptance. Part of a mature, wise approach to life is acceptance that I control very little in life, but I that cannot let that sense of powerlessness lead me to apathy.
1. The Growth Paradoxes
Growth takes a much longer time coming than
you think, and then it happens much faster than
you ever would have thought.
Growth happens gradually, then suddenly.
When you realize this, you start to do things
differently.( Paradoxes )
2. The Persuasion Paradox
The most persuasive people don’t argue — they
observe, listen, and ask questions.
Argue less, persuade more.( Paradoxes )
3. The Effort Paradoxes
You have to put in more effort to make
something appears effortless.
Effortless, elegant performances are often the
result of a large volume of effortful, gritty
practice. Small things become big things.
Simple is not simple.( Paradox )
4. The Wisdom Paradoxes
“The more I learn, the more I realize how much
I don ‘t know.” — Albert Einstein
The more you learn, the more you are exposed to
the immense unknown.
This should be empowering, not frightening.
Embrace your own ignorance. Embrace lifelong
learning.( Paradox )
5. The Productivity Paradoxes
Work longer, get less done.
Parkinson’s Law says that work expands to fill
the time available for its completion. When you
establish fixed hours for your work, you find
unproductive ways to fill it.
Work like a lion instead-sprint, rest, repeat.(Paradox)
6. The Speed Paradoxes
You have to slow down to speed up.
Slowing down gives you the time to be deliberate
with your actions.
You can focus, gather energy, and deploy your
resources more efficiently. It allows you to focus
on leverage and ROI, not effort.
7. The Money Paradoxes
You have to lose money in order to make money.
Every successful investor & builder has stories of
the invaluable lessons learned from a terrible
loss in their career. Sometimes you have to pay
to learn.
Put skin in the game. Scared money doesn’t make
Money!
8. The News Paradoxes
The more news you consume, the less well
informed you are.
The Nassim Taleb noise bottleneck: More data
leads to a higher noise-to-signal ratio, so you
end up knowing less about what is actually
going on.
9. The Icarus Paradoxes
Icarus crafted wings but flew too close to the
sun, so they melted and he fell to his death.
What makes you successful can lead to your
downfall.
An incumbent achieves success with one thing,
but overconfidence blinds them to coming
Disruption.
10. The Failure Paradoxes
You have to fail more to succeed more.
Our greatest moments of growth often stem
directly from our greatest failures.
Don’t fear failure, just learn to fail smart and fast.
Getting punched in the face builds a strong jaw.
11. The Shrinking Paradoxes
In order to grow, sometimes you need to shrink.
Growth is never linear.
Shedding deadweight may feel like a step back,
but it is a necessity for long-term growth.
One step back, two steps forward is a recipe for
consistent, long-term success.
12. The Tony Robbins Paradoxes
In investing, the willingness to admit you have
no competitive advantage can be the ultimate
competitive advantage.
Strong self-awareness breeds high-quality
decision-making. Foolish self-confidence breeds
nothing of use.
Be self-aware and act accordingly.
13. The Death Paradoxes
Know your death in order to truly live your life.
Memento Mori is a Stoic reminder of the certainty
and inescapability of death.
It is not intended to be morbid; rather, to clarify,
illuminate, and inspire.
Death is inevitable. Live while you’re alive.
14. The Say No Paradoxes
Take on less, accomplish more. Success doesn’t
come from taking on everything that comes your
way.
It comes from focus-deep focus on the tasks that
really matter. Say yes to what matters, say no to
what doesn’t.
Protect your time as a gift to be cherished.
15. The Talking Paradoxes
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can
listen twice as much as we speak.” — Epictetus
If you want your words and ideas to be heard,
start by talking less and listening more.
You’ll find more power in your words.
Talk less to be heard more.
16. The Connectedness Paradoxes
More connectedness, less connected.
We’re constantly connected, bombarded by
notifications and dopamine hits.
But while we have more connectedness, we feel
less connected. Put down the phone. Look
someone in the eye. Have a conversation.
Breathe.
17. The Taleb Surgeon Paradoxes
Looking the part is sometimes the worst indicator
of competency.
The one who doesn’t look the part has had to
overcome much more to achieve its status than
the one from central casting.
If forced to choose, choose the one that doesn’t
look the part.
18. The Looking Paradoxes
You may have to stop looking in order to find
what you are looking for.
Have you noticed that when you are looking for
something, you rarely find it?
Stop looking-what you’re looking for may just
find you. Applies to love, business, investing, or
life…
19. The Fear Paradoxes
The thing we fear the most is often the thing we
most need to do.
Fears-when avoided-become limiters on our
growth and life.
Make a habit of getting closer to your fears.
Then take the leap (metaphorically!) — you may
just find growth on the other side.
20. The Constant Change Paradoxes
“When you are finished changing, you are
finished. Benjamin Franklin
The only constant in life is change.
It’s the one thing you can always count on — the
only constant. Embrace it — be dynamic, be
adaptable.
I HOPE YOU LIKE IT THANKYOU FOLLOW READING
