If you're familiar with the shows 'Grey's Anatomy' or 'Scandal' or 'How to get away with Murder', you may have heard of Shonda Rhimes. 'Grey's Anatomy', being my personal favorite, when I came to know that the creator of that show has written a book- I was naturally curious.
Shonda's book 'Year of Yes' talks about Shonda's personal journey and challenges and is filled with anecdotes with favorite characters from the sets of those shows. In that course Shonda has a lot to share.
5 major lessons I took away from the book.
1. Dreamers are Losers
Yes. Exactly what you read. If you're sitting and dreaming about it, then in all probabilities you're not doing it.
Don't dream. Do.
This is the single most powerful message that I've ever come across.
In romanticism of words we have always been told to 'dream big', or 'dreams of visionaries'. Well. I don't think so. Visionaries would never sit and dream about getting things done. They would just do.
You think you want something. Go get it. Only really lazy people would sit and dream about getting it done. Instead -
Do it. Now.
Yes. Exactly what you read. If you're sitting and dreaming about it, then in all probabilities you're not doing it.
Don't dream. Do.
This is the single most powerful message that I've ever come across.
In romanticism of words we have always been told to 'dream big', or 'dreams of visionaries'. Well. I don't think so. Visionaries would never sit and dream about getting things done. They would just do.
You think you want something. Go get it. Only really lazy people would sit and dream about getting it done. Instead -
Do it. Now.
2. Find your hum
Hum is the word that Shonda gives to what happens when she does the thing she loves doing most.
Doing what you truly love. That's the thing the whole book is about. True love or true calling could be your work, your true passion for something or someone.
There is no shame in true love.
Some people love their work more than play. No shame in that. Some people find true love in doing humanitarian jobs. That's it. Some people find their truest love in their children or their partners.
The object is to find your true love and keep going back to it as much as you can, because there in lies your happiness.
The point is to be happy and the act of true love is the fountain of happiness.
Once you find that ever flowing fountain of happiness- everything else is a piece of cake.
Hum is the word that Shonda gives to what happens when she does the thing she loves doing most.
Doing what you truly love. That's the thing the whole book is about. True love or true calling could be your work, your true passion for something or someone.
There is no shame in true love.
Some people love their work more than play. No shame in that. Some people find true love in doing humanitarian jobs. That's it. Some people find their truest love in their children or their partners.
The object is to find your true love and keep going back to it as much as you can, because there in lies your happiness.
The point is to be happy and the act of true love is the fountain of happiness.
Once you find that ever flowing fountain of happiness- everything else is a piece of cake.
3. Play sustains work
That's right. As much as the high that good work gives you, it's bound to dry up if you don't refuel it. By doing something else.
To relax and have fun eases the intense concentration that is required for any job done well. It's like exercising your muscles and increasing elasticity and capacity. Play is important. Be it movies it travel or sports or gossip or anything that's play for you.
That's right. As much as the high that good work gives you, it's bound to dry up if you don't refuel it. By doing something else.
To relax and have fun eases the intense concentration that is required for any job done well. It's like exercising your muscles and increasing elasticity and capacity. Play is important. Be it movies it travel or sports or gossip or anything that's play for you.
4. Body is not the container for the Brain.
For people in intellectual jobs or businesses, it's probably easy to think that brain is the important bit, and the body is just the container that carries the Brain. However, I think the concept is catching up that in order to do the work that you do, the body too needs to be the machine that doesn't break down. It too needs to be in the pristine shape that you like to keep your work matters in. It takes major major (yes, twice) commitment in carrying it out- in all sorts of circumstances. That is the toughest bit.
Personally I feel, and this part is not in Shonda's book - that how successful you are can be easily measured with how fit are you keeping yourself. It's the only asset you started your life with, so treat it nice. No need to be skinny or malnutritioned. In realistic terms, it's just a matter of being comfortable in your body. Being able to run a few meters or play some ball without having a heart attack.
For people in intellectual jobs or businesses, it's probably easy to think that brain is the important bit, and the body is just the container that carries the Brain. However, I think the concept is catching up that in order to do the work that you do, the body too needs to be the machine that doesn't break down. It too needs to be in the pristine shape that you like to keep your work matters in. It takes major major (yes, twice) commitment in carrying it out- in all sorts of circumstances. That is the toughest bit.
Personally I feel, and this part is not in Shonda's book - that how successful you are can be easily measured with how fit are you keeping yourself. It's the only asset you started your life with, so treat it nice. No need to be skinny or malnutritioned. In realistic terms, it's just a matter of being comfortable in your body. Being able to run a few meters or play some ball without having a heart attack.
5. Yes ? No?
The book itself starts with a challenge that Shonda takes on herself - to say yes to everything she's scared of. And it ends with know the power of No. These are the 2 most powerful words in any language.
Yes and No. A promise and a statement. A commitment and a choice.
A hugely successful person differs from all the others only because of these 2 words. Knowing when to say Yes or No.
Learn from experience. Use the experience well.
The book itself starts with a challenge that Shonda takes on herself - to say yes to everything she's scared of. And it ends with know the power of No. These are the 2 most powerful words in any language.
Yes and No. A promise and a statement. A commitment and a choice.
A hugely successful person differs from all the others only because of these 2 words. Knowing when to say Yes or No.
Learn from experience. Use the experience well.
The book has a lot more to say but I found these to be powerful enough to be life changing.
Do share your thoughts
No comments:
Post a Comment
I would love you know your thoughts. Leave a comment !