In a blog post adapted from his new book The Earned Life, the renowned leadership expert and bestselling author Marshall Goldsmith talks about why it’s important to ask yourself questions regarding your next steps, to be sure of your motivations.
Goldsmith writes, “The first obstacle to earning your life is deciding what that life should be. If you don’t have your own ideas on the subject, you’re relying on luck or the assistance and insight of others. Ask yourself basic questions. A basic question is any question simply phrased that demands a deep, soulful examination of the facts and your abilities and intentions, one that elicits the deep, solid, hard-core truth.”
One of the biggest ideas of the 20th century was that black holes existed. This evolved from Einstein’s theory of relativity. Later ideas showed that black holes exist at the center of galaxies. Now, astronomers announced on Thursday that they had captured the first picture of a black hole, Sagittarius A*, at the center of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. This is the result of work from the Event Horizon Telescope project, a collaboration of more than 300 scientists from 13 institutions that operates an ever-growing global network of telescopes to compose one large telescope as big as Earth.
This was another big idea: that astronomers around the world could work together to create a virtual powerful telescope that broadens our conception of the universe.
Big ideas can come from a lot of places, but you’ve got to be open to them and ask yourself basic questions about how to proceed.
In The Earned Life Goldsmith uncovers the source of today’s existential crises, including regrets that stem from choices that irrevocably alter our lives, reroute destinies, and haunt our memories. These are particularly timely themes today.
With Goldsmith’s book as a guide, readers can close the gap between what they plan to achieve and what they actually get done—even in a world full of inescapable unfairness and curveballs—and live an earned life that is fulfilling in the long run.
You can read Marshall Goldsmith’s blog here.
About MARSHALL GOLDSMITH
Marshall Goldsmith has been recognized for years as the world’s leading executive coach and the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, Mojo, and Triggers. He received his Ph.D. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. In his coaching practice, Goldsmith has advised more than 200 major CEOs and their management teams. He and his wife live in Nashville, Tennessee.
About THE EARNED LIFE
In THE EARNED LIFE (Currency Books), Marshall Goldsmith uncovers the source of today’s existential crisis: regret, the kind stemming from choices that irrevocably alter our lives, reroutes destinies, and haunts our memories—particularly timely themes as the pandemic and Great Resignation inspire people to seek meaning in their lives, get unstuck and make changes. With this book as their guide, readers can close the gap between what they plan to achieve and what they actually get done—even in a world full of inescapable unfairness and curveballs—and live an earned life too fulfilling to dwell on the “what ifs.”
If you’d like more information on Marshall Goldsmith, The Earned Life, and his work, please get in touch with Lyda Goldsmith.
