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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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I used to work in... by Griff (not verified)
You Must be the Change... by Justin August (not verified)
I stick with "Courage!"
It helps... by sarah (not verified)
"I am a f**king god!"
Overly-confident... by Matthew Pennell (not verified)
Whenever I see myself slipping... by David Barrett (not verified)
I've always liked the cosmetic... by Josie Fraser (not verified)
"Constant incremental improvement"... by Kevin Kennedy-Spaien (not verified)
My two favorites:
"Never give... by Tricia (not verified)
The old Roman maxim sticks... by grubi (not verified)
"You're capable of handling this."
For... by Wade Rockett (not verified)
About MerlinBio Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who created the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today, Back to Work, and Kung Fu Grippe. Also? He’s writing this book, he lives with this face, he suffers from this hair, he answers these questions, and he’s had this life. So far. Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written in the past few years is an essay entitled, “Cranking.” |
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