Bruce Kasanoff* absorbs the lesson that there can be no let-up in the pursuit of excellence — it must be lived constantly, every day.
“I came to Buddhism when I was 19 years old,” writes author and leadership coach, Marshall Goldsmith (pictured).
“Not because I was looking to be converted to a new theology, but because it articulated ideas that were forming fuzzily in my curious teenage brain.
“The Every Breath Paradigm (my name for it, not Buddha’s) took hold after years of study.
“Buddha was teaching that life is a progression of discrete moments of constant reincarnation from a previous you to a present you.”
In other words, with every breath you take, you are a new person.
You are not bound by your previous mistakes.
In a similar manner, you do not get to think you are a good person just because you did something good three months ago.
You are a good person if you act like a good person — today.
To paraphrase Marshall, every day you have to earn the fulfilment you seek.
For those who seek to lead extraordinary lives, there is no coasting.
I found the words that open this newsletter in a footnote on the very first page of The Earned Life, the new book from Marshall and Mark Reiter.
I’m not going to tell you to buy this book.
I’m not even going to share here any of the other numerous lessons contained in this remarkably readable and insightful work.
I’ve already told you enough for you to make a fundamental decision: Does the idea of an earned life resonate with you?
If so, there is much of value here.
If not, no worries.
Marshall has incredible wisdom to share, but you have to be ready to absorb it.
I hope you are.
*Bruce Kasanoff is the founder of The Journey, a newsletter for positive, uplifting and accomplished professionals. He can be contacted at kasanoff.com.
This article first appeared at kasanoff.com.
