“You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do.” — Jerry Garcia

It’s a Darwin world. If you want to survive, or thrive, in a Darwin world, you have to play to your strengths. More than that though, you need to differentiate and specialize. Specialization is nature’s strategy for winning.

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus

Sources of Insight is really driven by one thing – to help you make the most of work and life. One of the things that surprised me about Sources of Insight is how many people have asked me about the design of it. It’s a work in progress, but there is certainly an element of design about it.

“It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.” — Johann Schiller

For this Father’s Day, I thought one of the best things I could do is distill some of the lessons I’ve learned from my Dad.

“Peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you’re capable.” – John Wooden

John Wooden was a living legend. He was also one of the most successful basketball coaches of all time and he lived a simple life focusing on personal excellence, personal integrity, love, and balance.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here’s another lens to use when you think about the role your peers played in shaping your personality. When we think of “peer pressure,” it’s easy to think of the negative. Obviously, this depends on who you hang with and their habits and practices whether the peer pressure is negative or not.

I saw The Karate Kid (2010) this past weekend. It’s not Daniel-san or Mr. Miyagi or the Crane technique, like the original The Karate Kid. Instead, it takes place in China, it’s got Jackie Chan, and they do Kung Fu. In fact, I wish the title was The Kung Fu Kid.

“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.” – Oscar Wilde

A few years back I went on a tour around Microsoft, asking various executives a brief set of questions. I wanted to know what what their day is like, what drives them, and what holds them back. I wanted to know what do they know now that they wish they knew back then, when they first started. Mostly I wanted the benefit of their hind-sight and school of hard-knocks.

I find that when we name or label something, we can store it in our mind easier and use it to draw from when we need it. It gives us a simple way to refer to something and make sense of it. I have a new word now to make sense of flaws and appreciate them … Wabi-sabi.

“Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing.” — Oscar Wilde

Simplicity is sometimes elusive, but almost always present. Sometimes you just need to know where to look for it, or how to look for it. Luckily, the sages of the ages have shared lots of thoughts on simplicity in the form of quotes that we can borrow and build on.

“Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” — Howard Thurman

There are simple ways to spice up your day. This is a simple, but powerful loop that you can practice everyday as part of what you already do. It will add zest and light your fire while you make things happen as you go about your day.

“Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching.” – Satchel Paige

Chances are you have tasks each day, that you just don’t want to do. Talk about un motivation.

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” — Maria Robinson

He’s big. He’s green. He tries to do the right thing. His name is Shrek.