“Have you ever been bitten by an elephant? How about a mosquito? It’s the little things in life that will bite you. For most of us, it’s the frequent, small, and seemingly inconsequential choices that are of grave concern. I’m talking about the decisions you think don’t make any difference at all. It’s the little things that inevitably and predictably derail your success. Whether they’re bone-headed maneuvers, no-biggie behaviors, or are disguised as positive choices (those are especially insidious), these seemingly insignificant decisions can completely throw you off course because you’re not mindful of them. You get overwhelmed, space out, and are unaware of the little actions that take you way off course. The Compound Effect works, all right. It always works, remember? But in this case it works against you because you’re doing… you’re sleepwalking.”

Excerpt From: Darren Hardy. “The Compound Effect.”

“Dream a little. If you have time left, spend some time dreaming a bit about what you’d like to see happen. In an ideal world, how would you spend your days, what kinds of opportunities would you have, and who would you interact with? Are there latent dreams or ambitions that you’ve allowed to fall to the side that you need to pick up, dust off, and begin acting on? Are there any items that you would add to the “before I die” wall that you’ve been neglecting because you simply didn’t know where to begin? If something comes to mind every day as you engage in this exercise, then it’s something to pay attention to.”

Excerpt From: Todd Henry. “Die Empty.”