Eric Barker Quotes

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place

We spend so much time chasing the shallow things in life. But when tragedy strikes, or late at night when your brain asks too many questions, we know it’s the relationships that matter most. Whom can I trust? Does anyone really know me? Does anyone really care? If you think of your happiest moments, they will be about people. The most painful moments will too. Our relationships to others make or break our lives.

The second reason is that schools reward being a generalist. There is little recognition of student passion or expertise. The real world, however, does the reverse.

it’s by dreaming and then doing something about those dreams that we can achieve success. In fact, it’s the only way we can.

The truth is, we often underestimate by as much as 50 percent how much others are willing to help us when asked. As we talked about in chapter 2, being mistrustful or assuming others are selfish can be self-fulfilling prophecies.

We always think we need more: more help, more motivation, more energy. But in our current world the answer is often the exact opposite: we need less. Fewer distractions, fewer goals, fewer responsibilities. Is that so we can watch more TV? No. We need less of those things so we can go all in on our priorities. The question is what are you going to do less of? What are you going to quit or say no to in order to make time for what matters most?

Empathy is when the line between you and another blurs. Closeness is when your vision of your “self” makes room for someone else to be in there too. And a true friend is “another self.” A part of you.

As the old saying goes, “You can do anything once you stop trying to do everything.

Research has shown flattery is so powerful that it works even when the boss knows it’s insincere.

Kristin Neff explains, “Who is the only person in your life who is available 24/7 to provide you with care and kindness? You.

BELIEVING IN YOURSELF IS NICE. FORGIVING YOURSELF IS BETTER.

When we make it win-or-lose, everyone loses.

Fifty-eight members of the Forbes 400 either avoided college or ditched it partway through. These fifty-eight — almost 15 percent of the total — have an average net worth of $4.8 billion. This is 167 percent greater than the average net worth of the four hundred, which is $1.8 billion. It’s more than twice the average net worth of those four hundred members who attended Ivy League colleges.

You’ve got to pick the environments that work for you . . . context is so important. The unfiltered leader who is an amazing success in one situation will be a catastrophic failure in the other, in almost all cases.

School has clear rules. Life often doesn’t. When there’s no clear path to follow, academic high achievers break down.