Published: Mar 2022
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"Most people live in a box. Every day they go about their professional and personal lives in ways that have already been chosen for them by external ideas and dictates from those still alive, barely alive, or long dead." - Chapter 4
Co-authored with the 2016 Olympics bronze medalist in the pentathlon (Ismael Hernandez) and former consultants from McKinsey and Deloitte plus a Morgan Stanley executive. My chapter, Freedom From the Crowd, is a framework for professional and personal development aimed at entrepreneurs, senior executives, and professionals.
Drawn from my experience in journalism, law, and tech, it offers strategies for independent thinking and decision-making away from the confines of "the box" (i.e. the dictates of society, schooling, family, colleagues, etc) to produce outcomes you truly desire - rather than what you have been told you should want.
The chapter covers six main concepts:
Recognize ingrained thought patterns by actively questioning assumptions and beliefs, especially those unconsciously adopted from society or upbringing
Unlock previously inaccessible opportunities by directly (and assertively) asking for what you want and proposing mutually beneficial arrangements, rather than waiting passively
Increase your pain threshold and resilience by deliberately seeking challenges beyond your current skillsets and persisting through discomfort to foster real growth
Reduce reliance on external sources and increase your personal options by cultivating diverse professional networks and skills across industries and geographies to create multiple paths to success
Proactively pre-plan life stages by breaking life into chronological stages and allocating resources to different life segments (career, family, health) based on personal priorities
Define principles, purpose, and values by identifying deeply motivating factors and establishing personal guidelines for decision-making
The chapter aims to help readers more precisely align their personal and professional lives with their true individual values and goals - and not the ones dictated by external sources
By consistently applying these concepts, readers can achieve greater inner and outer achievement (as well as satisfaction) in their businesses, careers and personal lives.