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Personal Mantras: Got one?
Merlin Mann | Jun 6 2005
Personal Mantras - 43FoldersWiki I’ve been digging the personal mantras that people have been adding to the wiki. It’s interesting to see the different approaches and interests people have been taking; for some it’s an affirmation, for others it’s a motto or creed, and for many it appears to be a persistent reminder about the right thing to do. My mantra—if you can call it that—is “Smaller, smaller.” It’s a principle more practical than spiritual, I suppose. I say it to myself several times a day to try and always remember that small things are easier to do than big things, and that most big things are really just a pile of small things if you break them up right. In real-world terms, “Smaller, smaller” means:
There’s been very few times that “Smaller, smaller” has done me wrong. No matter how ambitious a project, idea, or problem is, there’s usually a way to break into very small pieces. Anyhow, that’s mine. Got a personal mantra or motto of your own? Why’d you choose the one you did? (And, no, “I believe I’ll have another beer” probably doesn’t count.) 98 Comments
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 "Tough and competent". After the launchpad...Submitted by Kyle (not verified) on June 9, 2005 - 5:57am.
"Tough and competent". After the launchpad fire that killed the Apollo 1 crew during a training run, Gene Kranz (maybe most well-known for Ed Harris' portrayal in Apollo 13 and the just-as-great line "Failure is not an option!") made every mission control engineer write those two words on his blackboard. He gave a little speech, and maybe the best part of that speech: 'From now on the people of Mission Control will be known by many words, but the two words that will be dominant in our language is [sic] "tough" and "competent." "Tough" meaning we will never again shirk from our responsibilities. We are forever accountable for what we do or what we fail to do. "Competent"--we'll never again take anything for granted. We'll never stop learning. From now on, this team will be perfect.' I wasn't around then :) but I like to think of 'us' (however you might define that) as carrying on the legacy of those post-WWII engineers typified by the NASA stereotypes with the crewcuts, shortsleeve dress shirts, and (yes) the slide rules and pocket protectors (at least in spirit if not in fashion). I still keep those two words on my dry-erase board at all times. From time to time, I glance at them, stop, and think about what it means for me and what I need to get done and what I am getting done. » POSTED IN:
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