Notes & Quotes: HumanKind by Brad Aronson

The following are my favorite quotes from Brad Aronson's HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time.

1. The heroes in HumanKind don't command an army of helpers or have an abundance of free time. They're everyday people who focus on what they can do to make a difference. Their acts of kindness change lives and even save them. These everyday heroes don't just hope the world will get better--they make it better.
2. Yes, it can be paralyzing to thing about the level of need out there, but if we do what we can, that will be enough. No expression of love is wasted, and even the smallest gestures tend to go much further than we think they will.
3. You never know which "drop in the bucket" will spark a movement, and you don't want to cheat the world out of that. But it's important to act regardless of the scope of the outcome. Even if an act of kindness helps just a single person for a single day, that's a gift.
4. Life is a series of single days. If we make up our minds to help each other through these days, before we know it we'll be getting by. Of the many forms that love takes, maybe the most obvious one is a simple decision: a decision to put in the effort to make someone's life easier or more rewarding, even if just for a day. A commitment to doing more than hoping for the best for each other.
5. Here are a few takeaway ideas that have helped me to become a better person and made me more likely to make a difference through my daily interactions:
1. Be aware.
2. Make better decisions.
3. Make people believe you can levitate a table.
4. Tell the truth.
5. Wave.
6. Be sensitive to limitations.
6. People talk about big birthday surprises and breathtaking holiday gifts, but give me the little things in life. To me, it's the everyday details that matter. The little things are the big things. When we realize this, we also realize that there are infinite ways to help others.
7. If something doesn't sound like a big deal, think again. Take a moment to consider that it might be a big deal after all--and to remember that we need to get past drop-in-the-bucket thinking if we're going to see all the opportunities out there for what they are.
8. Everyone wants to be heard, but it's rare that we're fully heard. Here's a way to truly listen: Wait three to five seconds to see if someone is finished speaking before you respond. Waiting those few seconds is hard, but it will completely change how you listen and eliminate unintentional interruptions. It's a gift you can give to anyone, and it literally only costs seconds.
9. In most cases, it's good to avoid giving advice unless you're asked. When you're giving advise, you're not spending that time listening to how the other person feels.
10. Instead of saying, "Can I visit an see if I can help with anything?" I can say, "Can I come see you?" Instead of "Do you need me to come to the hospital with you?" I can say, "Can I come to the hospital with you?" Sometimes it's hard to accept help, but we can make it easier by not calling it that.
11. There's no lack of opportunity for any of us to do good in the world. And there's no lack of incentive. When we improve others' lives, we raise the quality of life for the whole community.
12. Why not think bigger than our daily routines and crossing items off our to-do lists? Each of us has the power to "be awesome" every day. If you say to yourself, "I'm going to make someone's world better today," it will happen. All it takes is looking for opportunity, following through and that resource we all have within us: love.

Notes & Quotes: Nobody Is Coming to Save You by Lt. Col. Scott Mann

The following are my favorite quotes from Lt. Col. Scott Mann's Nobody Is Coming to Save You: A Green Beret's Guide to Getting Big Sh*t Done.

1. Ultimately, this is how we get big shit done: by being able to relate to the pain of others, and by being more relevant to their goals.
2. Humans are ancient creatures who seek Meaning, are primarily Emotional, are definitely Social, and are all Storytellers who constantly Struggle.
3. True leaders serve not only the people around them, but also the people who come long after they're gone.
4. If you're already working on a legacy, then you'll know. But if you aren't, as is more likely the case, don't fret. Grab a pen and some paper, find a quiet place, and write for seven minutes about the legacy you'd like to leave. A hidden gem will reveal itself, even if it's barely twinkling.
5. Clean your side of the street. In all likelihood, and I mean nobody, is going to make you get clear. That's your personal responsibility.
6. My dad always said, "If you want to get back to human nature, get back to nature."
7. There is a spiritual component to getting outside. The natural world has the power to shatter our fear-based, trance state and restore our sense of meaning and our connections, not just between ourselves and our environment, but between one another. We must give these actions the intentional respect they deserve.
8. According to the psychiatrist and educator Ivan Tyrrell, "Movement and meaning are inextricably linked." In fact, he says, "A truly spiritual person is not a hermit sitting on a mountain contemplating his navel, but someone involved in the world, working, serving others and opposing tyranny of all kinds."
9. Making a human connection and gaining initial rapport is essential before commencing with your agenda. Asking thoughtful, open-ended questions that allow the other party to respond in narrative. Striving to see the pictures in their head that drive their goals and illuminate their pain. Engaging with an intention of pure curiosity and discovery. Preparing your body through breathwork for being relatable and relevant before the next tense presentation to your boss begins. These simple moves exponentially reduce the emotional temperature in the room.
10. Logic doesn't move people. Emotions do.
11. The secret to a successful interaction, no matter if it's with a total stranger or the president of the United States, is to show up with an intention 100 percent built around discovery.
12. Stories provide meaning, context, emotional connection, and are remembered for a long time.
13. Beware of the desire to prejudge of self-edit your story when bringing it into the world. Stay the course. Fight for it. It literally has the potential to change someone's life--including your own.
14. There is another universal lesson for storytelling that you can take from these rough places: It's not always the stories we tell that change hearts and minds...It's the stories we ask to hear.
15. "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." Joseph Campbell
16. The leaders I found to be the most authentic and worthy of personal sacrifice were those who were willing to admit when they had gaps in knowledge or needed advice.

Notes & Quotes: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann

The following are my favorite quotes from Bob Burg and John David Mann's The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea.

1. Ultimately, the world treats you more or less the way you expect to be treated.
2. Appearances can be deceiving. Truth is, they nearly always are.
3. The Golden Rule of Business. All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like and trust.
4. Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
5. You give, give, give. Why? Because you love to. It's not a strategy, it's a way of life. And when you do, then very, very profitable things begin to happen.
6. Your compensation is directly proportional to how many lives you touch.
7. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Everybody can be great because anybody can serve."
8. Sometimes you feel foolish, even look foolish, but you do the thing anyway.
9. Survive, save, and serve. They are the three universal reasons for working. Survive--to meet your basic living needs. Save--to go beyond your basic needs and expand your life. And serve--to make a contribution to the world around you.
10. Always look for the solution where you both come out ahead.
11. When you base your relationships--in business or anywhere else in your life--on who owes you what, that's not being a friend. That's being a creditor.
12. If you place the other person's interests first, your interests will always be taken care of. Always. Some people call it enlightened self-interest. Watch out for what other people need, with the faith that when you do, you'll get what you need.
13. Givers attract.
14. Remember this: no matter what your training, no matter what your skills, no matter what area you're in, you are your most important commodity. The most valuable gift you have to offer is you.
15. The Five Laws:
1. The Law of Value. Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
2. The Law of Compensation. Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
3. The Law of Influence. Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first.
4. The Law of Authenticity. The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
5. The Law of Receptivity. The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.