You need focus to become exceptional at anything. Massive amounts of time and energy are wasted optimizing things that should be left undone. You h… - James Clear

The normal behavior of the tribe often overpowers the desired behavior of the individual. Most days, we’d rather be wrong with the crowd than be right by ourselves.

Books are more likely to change minds than conversations.

There is too much happening internally during conversation:

Did that sound stupid?<br/>What do they think of me?<br/>Will I lose the friendship over this opinion?

Books can let you chew on an idea without social risk.

A valuable skill in life is to be larger than the situation.

When you're feeling stressed or rattled, the situation is consuming you. It feels bigger and more important than it needs to be. This is when your emotions are likely to get the best of you.

But when you are larger than the situation, you can mentally "step outside and above it." Yes, there are problems to be solved. Yes, you need to take action. But the chaos is happening externally and you are still in the driver's seat internally. You're in control of the moment, the moment is not in control of you.