the Daily Quote - Positive Daily Inspiration and Motivational Quote of the Day

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from Jacques Lacan.

Jacques Lacan (1901–1981) was a French psychiatrist and psychoanalyst whose work profoundly influenced psychology, philosophy, literary theory, and cultural studies. He is particularly known for his ideas about the mirror stage which is a concept exploring how our sense of identity develops through recognizing ourselves in a reflection and through the perceptions of others. His work was influential, but also complex and sometimes controversial.

Jacques Lacan once said…

“All sorts of things in this world behave like mirrors.”

Source: The Seminar of Jacques Lacan, Book II: The Ego in Freud’s Theory and in the Technique of Psychoanalysis (1954–1955).

This is an interesting idea.

The quote suggests that our identity doesn’t come from our genetics or 100% from within us. But rather we discover who we are based on the reflections we see from the many mirrors in our world.

And we don’t only discover who we are but we also become who we are through the reflections the world returns to us. If a child is told they are “the responsible one” they may internalize that reflected character trait and become the responsible one.

Lacan believed that we develop an “I” partly by seeing ourselves reflected back, first in actual mirror (when we are infants) and then in how our parents, friends, lovers, strangers and society responds to us.

A person’s speech, facial expression, posture, or mood can function as a mirror: it gives us an image of how we appear from another perspective.

Lacan’s mirrors include:

• A literal reflection.
• Another person’s approval, anger, attention, or indifference.
• Social roles, norms, and expectations.
• The words used to describe us.
• Art, media, and cultural ideals.

So the next time someone or something provokes a strong reaction in you, take a moment before responding. Ask yourself… why does this bother me? What does my reaction tell me about myself?

Sometimes the most valuable lessons we learn about ourselves come from looking at the world around us a little differently. If we are conscious of the mirrors maybe we can be more aware of how they are shaping us.

So here’s the question:

As you go about your day today, look out for the reflections of yourself you see or hear. Are they a reflection of who you want to be? If not then maybe looking at the world a little differently may help adjust the mirrors so you can get some more desirable reflections!

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

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Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from an unknown author.

Someone from parts unknown, who lived from sometime to another time once said…

“Hard work is the original software update for success”

We are always looking for a quick fix like a software patch that will fix some kind of bug in the systems we use for work. But what if there isn’t a magical patch that will lead to meaningful success. What if there are no shortcuts that can get things done for us?

Technology can make things faster and easier but it can’t replace the effort required to accomplish something worthwhile.What if instead of trying to succeed with the latest AI tool or a fancy new website theme, you actually rolled up your sleeves and got to work.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use the latest tools. But everyone else has access to the same tools. There will always be competition and they will always be trying to improve too.

It is hard work that actually gives you the real competitive advantage. Because anyone can sign up for the latest tool but not everyone is willing to do the hard work.

Consistent effort is usually what elevates people relative to those that simply dream about it and try and get tech to do the work.

Showing up and putting in the work even when we don’t feel like it is what creates momentum. And sometimes you have to keep working hard even when you don’t see the results right away. Sometimes the seeds you plant today take time to geminate and sprout many months or even years later.

So here’s the question:

What is something you are doing right now that you might be relying too much on technology, AI, or just wishing it would work? Maybe instead the most important upgrade is to you yourself and your work ethic.

Because success doesn’t happen by pressing one of those easy buttons or using some system to get free internet money. If you want a real software update then go with the original… hard work. Nothing works unless you do.

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

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Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today's quote is from Baruch Spinoza.

Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677), also known as Benedict de Spinoza, was a Dutch philosopher of Portuguese-Jewish origin and one of the most important rationalist thinkers of the early modern period. He is best known for Ethics, a rigorous philosophical system that identified God with nature and argued for freedom through understanding.

Baruch Spinoza once said…

"All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare."

Spinoza spent hundreds of pages building an argument about how to live well, and then he ended with this almost gentle warning: if it were easy, everyone would already be doing it.

The difficulty isn't a sign that you're on the wrong track. Often, it's a sign that you're on a track worth being on.

We tend to treat hard as bad. If something is hard, we assume we chose wrong, or we're not good enough, or we should quit and find something easier.

But some of the best things in life... a strong relationship, a skill you're proud of, a life lived with integrity... are hard precisely because they matter. They're rare because they cost something.

So if something you're working on feels difficult today, don't automatically read that as failure.

Ask a different question:

Is this difficult because it's wrong, or difficult because it's excellent?

Sometimes the answer is the first one, and it's wise to let go. But sometimes and more often than we admit, it's the second one. And that's a reason to keep going, not to stop.

So here's the question:

What is something in your life that is difficult that maybe you feel like quitting. Is it difficult because its wrong or is it difficult because its excellent. If what your doing is moving towards excellence than keep going. Because all things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.

That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I'll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today's quote comes from Leo Tolstoy.

Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) was a Russian novelist, moral philosopher, and social reformer, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in world literature. He's best known for his epic novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina. Later in life, he became increasingly interested in spirituality, ethics, and the role individuals play in creating a better society.

Leo Tolstoy once wrote:

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

Ouch! This one stings a little.

For some reason, it's often easier to come up with a plan to change the world than it is to come up with a plan to change ourselves.

We wish the world was different. We wish our friends were different, our family was different, or the people around us would just think and behave differently.

And we convince ourselves that if only everyone else would change, everything would be fine.

Right?

Well, not quite.

The problem is that we have very little control over the world around us. We can't control what other people think, what they say, or how they behave.

But we do have control over ourselves.We can choose how we respond to the people and circumstances we encounter. We can choose what we say, how we act, and the kind of person we want to be.

And yet, how often do we include ourselves in our grand plans to make the world a better place? Think about it.

If we want more kindness in the world, we can start by being a little kinder ourselves. If we want people to be more patient, we can practice being more patient. And if we want others to be honest, we need to make sure we're being honest, too.

It's easy to point out what other people are doing wrong. It's a lot harder to hold up that mirror and ask whether we're doing everything we could be doing ourselves.

And here's the good news: changing ourselves doesn't have to mean making some monumental transformation overnight.

Small changes count.

A change in attitude. A better habit. A little more patience. A conscious effort to listen instead of react. These small changes can have a ripple effect, influencing the people around us in ways we might not even realize.

And perhaps that's how we begin to change the world. Not by trying to change everyone else, but by taking responsibility for the one person we actually can change.

So here's the question:

Before asking what needs to change in the world, ask yourself: What's one thing I could change about myself that would make the world around me a little better?

Because while changing the world can seem like an overwhelming task, changing ourselves is something we can start doing right now.

And when we change ourselves, we change the world we experience, and perhaps even make it a little better for everyone else.

That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I'll be back... tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today's quote comes from Cicero.

Marcus Tullius Cicero lived from 106 to 43 BCE. He was a Roman statesman, lawyer, philosopher, and one of the most celebrated public speakers of the ancient world. He wrote extensively about ethics, friendship, duty, and government, and his work had a lasting influence on Western philosophy and political thought.

Cicero once said:

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others."

Wow. I knew gratitude was important, but the parent of all the others? That's a pretty bold claim!

So, what did Cicero mean by that?

Well, think about what happens when we're genuinely grateful.

When we appreciate the care and sacrifices our parents have made, gratitude can inspire affection, respect, and a desire to care for them in return.

When we recognize what our friends do for us, we're more likely to return the kindness, show up when they need us, and build stronger, more meaningful relationships.

And when someone helps us, we may be inspired to pass that kindness along to someone else. Pay it forward, if you will. Gratitude can create a chain reaction of good deeds.

In other words, gratitude can give rise to generosity, loyalty, compassion, and kindness.

But there's another side to gratitude that I think is worth considering.

When we appreciate what we have, we spend less time focusing exclusively on what we lack.

Now, that doesn't mean we shouldn't want more, set goals, or strive to improve our circumstances. Ambition and gratitude are perfectly compatible.

We can want more in one area of our lives while recognizing that we already have an abundance of good things in another.

We can experience scarcity and abundance at the same time. And where we choose to focus our attention can make a big difference in how we experience life.

It also reminds us that our achievements rarely happen entirely on our own.

Think about the teachers, coaches, family members, colleagues, friends, and even strangers who've helped you along the way.

When we recognize their contributions, we become a little more humble. We realize that we don't have to do everything ourselves, and that other people's kindness and support have helped shape who we are.

And that's really what I think Cicero was getting at.

Gratitude isn't just about saying thank you. Although that's certainly a good place to start!

It's about paying attention. It's recognizing that the good things in our lives didn't all come from us alone, and then allowing that awareness to influence how we treat the people around us.

When you're genuinely grateful, you notice people. You remember who helped you. You want to return the kindness, not just feel good about receiving it.

And from that one feeling, a whole family of virtues can grow: generosity, patience, loyalty, humility, and compassion.

So here's the question:

Before the day gets busy, think of one thing (or one person) you're genuinely grateful for.

And don't just think about it. If it's a person, consider letting them know.

Make gratitude the focus of your day, rather than an afterthought.

Let's see what that does for the rest of your day.

That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I'll be back... tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from Plutarch.

Plutarch was a Greek historian, biographer, and philosopher who lived during the early part of the Roman Empire.

Plutarch once said…

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."

SOURCE: Plutarch, On Listening to Lectures. The Loeb Classical Library translation (1927) reads: "For the mind does not require filling like a bottle, but rather, like wood, it only requires kindling to create in it an impulse to think independently and an ardent desire for the truth."​This is an interesting idea. We can fill our minds with information without really understanding it. And without a genuine interest in it. We can pour more facts, more noise, more data, until the container feels full. Our brain feels strained and tired.

Or we can become curious, ask questions and make connections. When we are passionate and motivated to learn a subject, our a fire is ignited and we have no limitations.

Instead of feeling tired and strained we feel empowered and energized.

Plutarch's point is that a mind isn't really a container at all. You can sit through hours of lectures and end up with nothing but some admiration for someone else’s passion.

Or you can catch a spark of your own. An idea that motivates you toward originality and instils a desire for truth and that fire keeps burning long after the course ends.

A great teacher doesn’t just give you the answers. They help you develop the desire and confidence to find the answer yourself.

If you are curious then you can be a life long learner.

Don't just ask what you can learn. Ask what might light you up.

What idea, what question, what small curiosity is worth kindling? Because a filled vessel stays where it is. Heavy and full. A kindled fire spreads with an unlimited appetite.

If you are open to it, sometimes a single conversation, a book, an experience or even an encouraging word can awaken an interest that changes the direction of our lives.

So here’s the question:

Is there a subject that sparked your curiosity so strongly that you wanted to learn everything you could about it? What would happen if you allowed yourself to follow that curiosity and ignite your passion and desire to learn more.

The goal of learning isn’t simply to know more. It is to become more. More curious. More thoughtful. More valuable. And more willing to discover what is possible.

That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I'll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

The Daily Quote podcast page⁠⁠

The Great News Podcast page⁠⁠

The Great News Letter⁠⁠

CONTACT ME

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today's quote is from Albert Camus.

Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French-Algerian novelist, essayist, playwright, journalist and Nobel laureate, best known for exploring the “absurd” conflict between humanity’s desire for meaning and the universe’s apparent indifference. He is often associated with existentialism even though he rejected the label.

Albert Camus once said…

"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer."

SOURCE: Episode 3: Albert Camus, "Return to Tipasa" (Retour à Tipasa), first published in Summer (L'Été). French: "Au milieu de l'hiver, j'apprenais enfin qu'il y avait en moi un été invincible."

Camus wasn't talking about the weather. He was referring to that feeling of being lost, disheartened, and uninspired and then discovering that something inside of him hadn't been extinguished by it.

We all have to go through a winter seasons where life just isn’t going according to plan. Maybe you lost your job, closed a business, lost a loved one or ended a relationship. All of these things can affect your well being, mindset and physical health. But winter doesn’t last forever and spring could be just around the corner.

But what Camus is saying is that you don’t have to wait.

That's the thing about hard seasons. They can change your circumstances, your mood, even your plans. But they don't automatically get to decide what's still alive inside you. There can be a warmth, a stubbornness, a bit of joy that refuses to go out, even when everything around it feels cold.

Even in the midst of winter there is an invincible summer within you!

You don't have to feel it all the time to know it's there. Sometimes you just notice it in a small moment, a laugh you didn't expect, a bit of courage you didn't know you had, a reason to keep going that shows up quietly.

So if today you are in the middle of winter and you don’t feel like you have an invincible summer inside you, don’t look for the summer. Just look for one warm ember. That one little ember is actually warmer than you think. And more invincible than you think.

So here’s the question:

Can you feel an invincible summer inside of you? If not can you find a little warm ember? I bet you can! Next time you are feeling wintery use that ember to warm yourself up. Winter can get you from the outside but it can’t get you from the inside.

That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I'll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today's quote is from Seneca.Seneca (Lucius Annaeus Seneca, c. 4 BCE–65 CE), often called Seneca the Younger, was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, playwright, and advisor to Emperor Nero. He is one of the most important surviving voices of ancient Stoicism. Seneca remains widely read because his advice is unusually practical: he treats philosophy less as abstract theory than as training for living well under pressure, loss, wealth, power, and mortality.

Seneca once said…

"If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable."

​(from Moral Letters to Lucilius, Letter 71, section 3.)

Wow… this one is soooo true. If you are a drifter, you can’t blame the wind. The wind isn't the problem. The wind is just the wind and it blows where it blows. The problem is not knowing where you're headed, because then every wind feels wrong, and no opportunity quite fits, and you end up busy without ever feeling like you're getting anywhere.

Seneca's point isn't that you need a perfect, detailed plan for your whole life. It's that you need a direction. A port. Even a rough one. Because once you know roughly where you're going, you can tell which winds help and which ones just push you off course.

If you don’t want to be blown around randomly by the wind then pick a port and head there.

If you don’t decide where your going then life will decide for you. And unless you are really lucky you won’t end up where you want to be.

So here's the question:

Think about an area in your life that you’d like to improve. Do you know which port you're sailing for? Not in perfect detail but just enough to recognize a favourable wind when it comes.

If not it might be a good idea to figure that out.You don't need to have every detail of your future figured out. But having a sense of direction helps you recognize which opportunities to pursue, which distractions to ignore, and when it's time to change course.

That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I'll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

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Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today's quote is from Marcus Aurelius:

He once said...

"If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it."

Two questions. ..

Not "will this work out?"

Not "will people like it?"

Just: is it right, and is it true?

Most of our regrets don’t come from the big, dramatic choices. It comes from the small ones, the thing we said when we knew it wasn't quite true, the thing we did when we knew it wasn't quite right.

And then we spent far longer justifying these decisions than it did to commit them.Not every thought needs to be shared, and not every opinion we have is well thought out. Before you speak make sure what you are saying is true. We can ask ourselves whether what we're about to say is true, necessary, and fair.

Is it true? Do you really need to say it? And will it hurt others or your own reputation if you say it?

Choose your words carefully.

If it is not true, don’t say it.

And choose your actions carefully too.

It’s easy to talk about principles but the real test comes when doing the right thing costs us something. Money, popularity, an opportunity or the approval of others. If it is not right, do not do it.

When you go about your day today and you are about to take action; ask if it's right. Before you speak, ask if it's true.

If the answer to either one is no, you already know what to do. And if the answer to both is yes, you can move forward without that nagging feeling in the back of your mind.

So here’s the question:

What difficult decision is in front of you today that might get clearer when you run it through those two questions?

Live your life by this standard and you will probably do well.

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

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Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Support the show ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coffee ⁠Today's quote is from James Allen.

James Allen (1864–1912) was a British philosophical writer and a pioneer of the self-help movement. His best-known work, As a Man Thinketh (1903), argues that our thoughts shape our character and our lives .James Allen once said…

"The body is the servant of the mind."

(from As a Man Thinketh, Chapter 3: "Effect of Thought on Health and the Body")James Allen wrote that in the chapter called "Effect of Thought on Health and the Body," and it fits today's story perfectly because today's story is all about how tangled up the mind and the body can be.I picked this quote because I was inspired by something that happened at work and it really made me think.A customer got on the bus and told me about his back and neck. For sixteen years, he said, he'd lived with extreme neck and back pain. He couldn't renew his driver's license, because he couldn't shoulder-check as he couldn't turn his neck far enough. He couldn't do his old job anymore. He couldn't walk properly.

And then, recently, he slipped in the shower. He caught himself before he fell and that sudden jarring, trying to stop himself caused something to happen. He heard the loudest pop he'd ever heard. It hurt so much that he had to grab the shower bar and just hold on, squeezing it, until the excruciating pain eased.And when it eased, he stepped out of the shower and the pain was gone. The neck pain, the back pain, gone. He could turn his neck again, full range of motion. He could walk with balance again. At least, that's how he told it to me, and I believed him, because I could see it in his face. Now, I'm not a doctor, and this isn't medical advice. Please don't go trying to recreate a slip in the shower. I'm just telling you his story as he told it to me, because it reminded me of my own.I had lower back pain for eight years. And it didn't go away with a treatment or a procedure. And I tried everything. Chiropractors, Massage Therapy, Physio, X-Rays, CT Scans, Neurologists, and more.

But… It went away when I read a book: Healing Back Pain, by Dr. John Sarno.

I didn’t do anything else… I just read the book.Sarno's idea is sometimes pain isn't only about what's wrong in the body.

Dr. Sarno called this Tensio Myoitis Sydrome. The idea is that you had back injury around the same time that you were experiencing some emotional trauma or stress.

The back injury heals but your mind keeps the symptoms like the muscle spasms, pain, weakness, sciatica, etc. because it helped to distract you from the emotional trauma. And after you get over the emotional stress the mechanism holds in a permanent feedback loop. Until you acknowledge that the source could be that trauma and then the mechanism loses its power over you.

I didn’t believe it applied to me because I couldn’t remember any emotional trauma. But then I remembered something that I was dealing with back then. I thought, I wonder if that could be it and I went to sleep.

The next morning the pain was gone. The stiffness, the weakness, the pain. Gone. And it never came back. This was 27 years ago.Two very different stories. His: a slip, a pop, and suddenly he could move again. Mine: a book, an idea, and suddenly I could live without that pain too.So here's the question:

What have you been carrying for a long time that you've started to believe is permanent? Maybe it's not. Maybe it's just waiting for the right moment, the right idea, or the right mind shift to let go.That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I'll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote comes from William Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. He wrote approximately 39 plays, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet, along with numerous sonnets and other poems. His works explore universal themes such as love, ambition, jealousy, power, human nature, and the consequences of our choices.

William Shakespeare once said…

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

This quote comes from Hamlet, Act II, Scene 2.

Prince Hamlet makes this observation while explaining why Denmark feels like a prison to him, even though his friends don’t see it that way.

This line is part of a conversation about how our own minds shape our experience of the world. Two people can experience the exact same situation and come away with completely different impressions. One might see a setback and other sees an opportunity.

Our thoughts and beliefs influence our emotions. The meaning we assign to something does affect how we feel and respond.

When something happens that we feel is bad it could be a good idea to question our first impression. Is this as bad as I’m making it out to be? Is there another way to look at it? What can I learn from this?

Of course, some things are genuinely unfair, harmful or painful. Positive thinking doesn’t make it go away. The point here is recognize where our interpretation adds unnecessary suffering and to choose a more useful response.

You probably know people in your life who hate their job. But there are others who love the exact same job. The same experience, totally different perceptions.

I was burned out in role I had be in for years. And I just didn’t want to do it anymore. But some of my colleagues loved it. And in my current job there are some people that are stressed out and completely hate it, but I don’t feel that way.

Being able to see alternative perspectives takes practice. We don’t have to believe every thought that crosses our minds or accept our initial reaction as the final word.

We can’t always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we interpret it and decide for ourselves what to do next.

So here’s the question:

Think of a time in your life when something happened that you initially thought was a disaster but turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Did the circumstances actually change, or did your understanding, perception, reaction and adaptation do the changing? Changing our perspective is the first step in changing our experience.

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

The Daily Quote podcast page⁠⁠

The Great News Podcast page⁠⁠

The Great News Letter⁠⁠

CONTACT ME

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from Josh Billings.

Josh Billings (1818–1885) was the pen name of Henry Wheeler Shaw, an American humorist and lecturer known for his folksy wit, satirical observations, and memorable one-liners. He became popular in 19th-century America for poking fun at human nature and everyday life, often using deliberately unconventional spelling to give his writing a distinctive comic voice. His sayings were collected in works such as Everybody's Friend (1874) and The Complete Works of Josh Billings (1899).

Josh Billings once said…

“Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.”

This one makes you think.

Silence can be more powerful than an extended argument. In a heated debate, refusing to speak can actually make a stronger statement than trying to have the last word.

Not every argument deserves a response.

It is probably safe to say that all of us has wasted enormous amounts of time trying to convince someone who isn’t interested in being convinced.

Silence has a way of creating an uncomfortable moment where you and your opponent have time to contemplate what was already said instead of responding on autopilot to it.

Next time you are in a heated argument, pause and ask yourself whether responding will improve the situation or will it prolong or escalate the conflict.

So here’s the question:

When was the last time you were in a heated argument with a stranger, friend or family member? Did continuing the argument improve anyone’s day? Or did it make everyone more angry.

Sometimes the smartest thing to say is nothing at all. Not because we have nothing to say, but because we have learned that being right isn’t worth the hassle.

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

The Daily Quote podcast page⁠

⁠The Great News Podcast page⁠⁠

The Great News Letter⁠⁠

CONTACT ME

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from an Unknown Author.

Someone once said…

“When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.”

I like this quote even though sometimes the right thing to do is cry. Crying allows you to let things out and to release some pain. It helps you to deal with hardship and loss.

But to me this quote is referring to being burdened by disappointment, setbacks, frustration, negative news, and the daily grind.

We all have issues we are dealing with everyday. Inflation and affordability, conflict and crises, crime and safety, uncertainty.

And reading, listening and watching mainstream media news can be even more depressing as most of the reported news is doom and gloom.

So that puts you even deeper in despair.

Pretending all those things don’t exist isn’t the answer. It can be easy to give our attention and focus to what is missing, what is broken or what has gone wrong. But there is also a lot of things worth appreciating that we are completely overlooking.

Having a positive attitude doesn’t mean ignoring your problems or trying to force yourself to be happy all the time. It means recognizing that the difficult parts of life aren’t the whole story.

The small pleasures of life can make a big difference. Don’t take for granted the little things like a sunny day, a good cup of coffee, a favourite song, a kind gesture, the wind in your hair, the smell of the ocean or a hug from a friend.

Being grateful for everything we have can completely eliminate the feeling of lack for what we don’t have. Gratitude doesn’t automatically happen. You have to work on it and bring all the good things in your life into conscious focus. What you focus on grows larger.

“When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.”

There are thousands of good things happening every single day. But you don’t hear about them on the mainstream news. Because in journalism if it bleeds it leads.

Negative news, crises and disaster sells newspapers because it puts you in fight or flight mode. It puts you in a hyper aware state and that makes more valuable to advertisers.

So stop doomscrolling and start actively looking for good news. A good place to start is the great news podcast. But also keep listening to the Daily Quote which will kickstart your day in a positive way.

So here’s the question:

What is ONE thing you can think of right now that you are grateful for? One thing that you can smile about. You don’t have to have a thousand reasons to smile today. Just start with one.

The other 999 are at the great news podcast.

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

The Daily Quote podcast page⁠⁠

The Great News Podcast page

⁠⁠The Great News Letter⁠⁠

CONTACT ME

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from Nora Roberts.

Nora Roberts (born 1950) is an American bestselling novelist known for her prolific career writing romance, suspense, and romantic suspense. Her books have sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide, making her one of the most successful and widely read authors in contemporary fiction.

Nora Roberts once said…

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.”

There is a lot going on in this quote.

3 different but related ideas.

• If you don’t go after what you want you’ll never have it.
• If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
• If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.

It is easy to spend your time thinking about what you want but wanting something and going after it are too very different things.

Sometimes we don’t pursue opportunities because we are afraid of rejection, failure, or looking foolish. But avoiding the risk will guarantee the very outcome you are trying to avoid.If you don’t ask the question, whether asking for a job, a promotion, a business pitch or for a date then the answer will automatically be no. If you don’t ask you have zero chance of getting any answer at all which is the same as a no. But if you do ask you may be surprised because sometimes you get a yes.

And if it is a no… sure you might be disappointed but at least you know. And now you can learn from it and move on to the next one with an improved approach.

You can’t control the outcome but you can control whether you are in the game or sitting on the sidelines. So don’t just sit there, get in the game and step forward because if you don’t you will always be in the same place.

So here’s the question…

Is there something that you have wanted but didn’t pursue? Something you might have had but you didn’t ask? Somewhere you could have gone but you didn’t step forward?

What is one thing you can do right now to get you closer to whatever it is you want?

Sometimes our biggest obstacle between us and what we want isn’t a lack of skill or opportunity. It is the hesitation that keeps us taking that first step and asking for it.

Yesterday’s quote was all about feedback and I shared some positive and negative feedback I received about this podcast.

And then I asked for feedback and guess what…

I got some.

Elm said…

“I love this episode. Feedback is extremely important, good or bad.I use your daily quote as a writing prompt in my journal. I especially love the ending where you pose a question.”

Wow… I agree 100% Feedback is extremely important. And thank you for telling me you love the ending with the question. That is good to know.

And I love that you use the Daily Quote as a writing prompt for your journaling. I tried journaling in the past but never cemented the habit. I suppose I create these podcast episodes every day but I think I believe keeping a personal journal and writing daily is beneficial too. I think I’ll give it another go. What a great idea.

If I didn’t step forward and ask for feedback yesterday then I wouldn’t have heard from Elm.

Ask and you shall receive!

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from Steven D. Levitt.

Steven D. Levitt (born 1967) is an American economist and author best known as the co-author, with journalist Stephen J. Dubner, of the bestselling book Freakonomics. He and Dubner also co-authored Think Like a Freak (2014), where this quote is published.

Steven D. Levitt once said…

“The key to learning is feedback. It is nearly impossible to learn anything without it.”

Whether we are learning a new skill, building a business, or improving a relationship, feedback helps us see the difference between what we wanted to happen and what actually happened. Without feedback it is hard to know if we are on the right track.

In competitive sports you get feedback right away. Did you win? Did you contribute to the team? What did the coach say? In other areas you need to look or ask for the feedback.

And sometimes the feedback you get isn’t comfortable. When someone says you are awesome that is welcome feedback but constructive criticism can be hard to take sometimes. And when you get negative feedback it can hurt.

But before you change course or quit, analyze the criticism and ask yourself if they have a point. Is there some truth to this or are they just trolling. If they are just trolling, then just ignore it and move on. But if the feedback has some truth to it, ask yourself if there is anything you can do about it. And if you can fix it then go for it. This is how you learn and improve.

I received some negative feedback from someone regarding this podcast. He said the background music was annoying and overpowered the podcast. He said he couldn’t listen to the show because of it. At first, I was a little defensive but then I thought about it and tried listening objectively and decided he made a valid point. So I changed the music and the number of people listening started to grow again. Feedback can be very important.

But I’ve also had some good feedback too though.

Jootzy commented on Spotify about the Dante Alighieri quote - “A great flame follows a little spark”. She said… “I like that! I’ve always loved quotes, I think because they condense great ideas into tiny sparks. Everyone can make of them what they will.” and she also said “ It’s nice to hear the original ideas behind the quote.”

Jootzy also commented on the Marcus Aurelius quote - “Complaining is the confession that you have given up trying to change things." She said… “Oooooh! This is a good one. Would it be okay if I copied the text and shared it , maybe on facebook? Or Bluesky? with credit to you of course!"

And of course I said feel free to share wherever you want.

And on YouTube Ruth commented on the Lewis Carroll quote - “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” She said… “Brilliant. I love it”

Feedback can help you to improve your work but it can also fill up your emotional gas tank and give you the energy to keep going.

Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming.

If you listen on Spotify you can comment on an episode right in the app. Of course on YouTube you can leave comments too. And on the blog (http://greatnewspodcast.com ), all the Daily Quote episodes are there and you can comment there too. Or you can email me directly at andrew at podcasthero dot com.

I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from Henri Matisse.

Henri Matisse (1869–1954) was a French artist, painter, sculptor, and printmaker, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern art. A leading figure in the Fauvist movement, he became famous for his bold use of colour, expressive forms, and innovative approach to composition. His work helped reshape modern art and continues to influence artists today.

Henri Matisse once said…

“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while one is working.”

I just had a conversation about this topic yesterday. I said that waiting to be inspired isn’t the best option and that you need to get to work and the inspiration comes. Like Steven King says, he gets inspired every day at 8am. She said no, you could have writers block and sit there staring at the screen all day.

And yes, that is true. Some days are more productive than others. But if you get in the habit of getting your creative juices flowing and force yourself to do the work.

Once you get moving the Muse is more likely to visit you and give you some inspiration than if you sit there and watch Netflix or play video games.

For our creative work we often tell ourselves we will do it when we feel motivated, inspired or ready. But that moment may only arrive once in a blue moon. And if you have a deadline or publish date or if you produce a “daily show” than every blue moon isn’t going to cut it.

Once you do the hard part and sit down and try to get something out and focus on doing the work, something starts to happen inside you. If you focus on it and try to push through then you will start gaining momentum. Your output may not be the best at first but as you continue to focus it starts to get better and hopefully as you get deeper into a flow state you will trigger inspiration and start creating something special.

Action creates momentum and momentum brings you the Muse.

Whether your writing, working out, working or pursuing a personal goal, getting started can generate ideas and see possibilities you don’t get when sitting idle.

You don’t have to feel inspired to begin. Sometimes the first five minutes can be the hardest but once you get going, the work becomes easier and your enthusiasm for it grows.

Remember the Zig Ziglar quote we covered in a previous episode? “You don’t have to be great to start. But you do have to start to be great”.

Instead of waiting to be inspired before working on your creative project, just start it anyway. You don’t have to be inspired to start. But you might become inspired because you started.

So here’s the question:

Is there a project you’ve been putting off because you weren’t feeling inspired? What might happen if you simply gave it ten minutes of focused work today.

You don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike. Sometimes, you have to meet it halfway by getting to work.

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

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Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today's quote comes from the legendary country music star Dolly Parton.

Dolly Parton lived from 1946 to 2026 and was an American singer-songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in country music. Known for hits such as “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” she built a remarkable career spanning more than six decades. Through her Imagination Library literacy program and other charitable initiatives, she also made a lasting impact beyond music.

Dolly Parton once said:

“You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try.”

I really like this quote because it gets to the heart of something that holds so many of us back:

fear.

Think about how many things we talk ourselves out of before we even begin. We want to start a business, learn an instrument, apply for a new job, or finally pursue an idea we've been carrying around for years.

But then the doubts creep in.

What if I fail?

What if I'm not good enough?

What if people laugh at me?

And so we wait. We wait until we're more confident, more experienced, or somehow better prepared.

Unfortunately, confidence doesn't come before we take the leap. It usually comes because we take the leap.

You don't have to be an expert to get started. You don't need to have everything figured out. You just need to be willing to take that first step.

And yes, you might fail. You will make mistakes. Things probably won’t work out the way you hoped.But even then, you've gained something. You've learned what works, what doesn't, and what you might do differently next time.

That's how progress happens. That's how we grow. Courage doesn't mean you aren't afraid. It means you don't let that fear make every decision for you.

You can be nervous and still make the phone call.

You can be uncertain and still submit the application.

You can be scared of looking foolish and still give something new a try.

Maybe there's just one small thing you've been putting off. One conversation you've been avoiding. One idea you've been afraid to pursue.

What would happen if you simply gave it a shot? Because you might surprise yourself. And even if things don't work out, you'll be further ahead than if you'd never tried at all.

So here's the question:

What would you attempt if you if you knew you could not fail? If it is something you really want, do it anyway, even though there is a good chance you will fail at least once.

Remember, you don't have to be fearless to move forward.

Sometimes you just have to be brave enough to begin. Brave enough to fail. And brave enough to begin again.

That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I'll be back... tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

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The Great NewsPodcast page⁠⁠The Great News Letter⁠⁠

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Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote comes from Arthur Schopenhauer.

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) was a German philosopher best known for his work The World as Will and Representation. His philosophy explored human desire, suffering, perception, and the nature of reality. Although often pessimistic about human existence, he had a lasting influence on thinkers, writers, and artists, including Friedrich Nietzsche, Richard Wagner, and Albert Einstein.

Arthur Schopenhauer once said:

“Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.”

The idea appears in Schopenhauer’s expanded 1844 edition of The World as Will and Representation, in the chapter “On Genius.” The popular English wording is a translation/paraphrase rather than a literal word-for-word rendering.

This quote is interesting because we all know talented people that have exceptional skills at something. But where is the line between talent and genius?

Schopenhauer is saying that talent allows you to do things others can’t do but genius allows you do things others can’t even see.

One person becomes exceptionally good at playing the game, the other imagines an entirely new game.

The biggest developments in history have become reality because someone imagined a completely new way of doing something.

Before an innovation becomes obvious, someone has to imagine that things could work differently. The Wright brothers saw the possibility of powered flight that nobody else believed was possible. Other inventors and engineers have imagined new ways to communicate, generate energy and treat disease.

A lot of the technology we take for granted today were impossible to imagine before someone made them happen.

But only a small percentage of human beings are actual geniuses. Do you have to be a genius to use your imagination and come up with your own solutions to whatever issues you are facing in your life? Or is this quote only for a select few extraordinary people?

I believe that all of us can practice looking beyond the status quo. We can try to see past the obvious. We can ask ourselves what assumptions we are making? Is there another way to approach this? What opportunity am I overlooking?

Curiosity and open mindedness can allow us to see things that closed box thinking will miss.

Maybe the huge breakthroughs that change the world are the domain of the geniuses who are in a position to use their gifts to make a difference.

But what about the small breakthroughs in your own day to day life. The little shifts in mindset or small innovations that can make your life better.

So here’s the question:

Is it possible that there is an obstacle or problem in your life right now that you could overcome just be looking at it differently?

Maybe you can see something that you couldn’t see before by suspending your disbelief and imagining a completely new way of approaching it.

Unleash your hidden genious.

That would be cool… wouldn’t it?

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

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The Great News Letter⁠⁠

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Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from André Gide He lived from 1869 to 1951 and was a French novelist, essayist, and literary critic who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1947. His writing explored individuality, morality, personal freedom, and the struggle between social expectations and authentic self-expression. His notable works include The Immoralist, The Counterfeiters, and Strait Is the Gate.

André Gide once said…

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.”

The quote is widely attributed to André Gide and is associated with his novel Autumn Leaves (Les Feuillets d'automne, 1949). The English wording varies across sources and translations.

It is a normal human desire to be liked, to fit in and to seek approval. The danger is that sometimes this desire to be accepted can lead to hiding parts of ourselves and adopt beliefs we don’t really believe. Or we may pretend to enjoy something just to go along with the cool crowd.

If you make a habit of pretending to be someone else then when someone likes the pretend version of you it kind of feels inauthentic. Like you tricked them or something.

Sure you might be surrounded by people who like you but if what they like isn’t even you then you end up feeling alone.

Maybe it would be better to be your authentic self and let the world see who you really are. But that doesn’t mean refusing to compromise because sometimes that is the right thing to do. You can be honest and still be kind, respectful and willing to listen.

Genuine relationships are possible when people get to know the real you.We can’t control whether everyone likes us and we shouldn’t expect them to.

Gide says it is better to be hated for for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. That doesn’t mean that the goal is to be hated for being your true self. The goal is to stop sacrificing who you are just to avoid the chance someone won’t like you.

And guess what… you will probably find your people if you are respectfully YOU.

So here’s the question:

Is there an area of your life where you might be pretending to be something your not just to gain someone else’s approval? And would you be better off just letting the real you shine through.

That’s going to do it for today.

I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

The Daily Quote podcast page⁠⁠

The Great News Podcast page⁠⁠

The Great News Letter

⁠⁠CONTACT ME

Welcome to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the Daily Quote⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and this episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Great News podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Because great news should be heard, and the link is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠right here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in the show notes.

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Today’s quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, poet, and philosopher who became one of the leading voices of the transcendentalist movement. His writing emphasized individuality, self-reliance, personal growth, and the importance of learning directly from nature and lived experience. His influential works include Nature, Self-Reliance, and The Conduct of Life.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said…

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.”

(Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Illusions,” The Conduct of Life (1860) )

There are a lot of things we can learn from books, classes and lectures. We can learn from mentors and get advice and learn from other people’s mistakes. I don’t think Emerson was saying education is worthless.

Education is definitely valuable. But there are some things that you can only learn through experience. Experiencing something has a way of making the lesson sink in much more than just reading about it.

As students we think of our education as something that happens in school and has a clear beginning and an end. But then we realize that life never stops presenting us with challenges that stretch our knowledge and capabilities. And then we realize that there is more to learn.

There is a difference between knowing the lesson and understanding it.

You don’t really understand it if you haven’t done it yourself. If you think about the big lessons you’ve learned in your life, a lot of them probably came from things that didn’t go according to plan. Those lessons can be painful but they help us develop better judgment. If we learn from our mistakes we won’t repeat the same destructive pattern.

You can read a sales book but if you never make any sales calls then you can’t possibly really know what it is like. You can read management books but until you have a group of people to manage you won’t really know what actually works. If you read case studies about other peoples mistakes but don’t take any risks yourself then you lose the opportunity to learn from your own mistakes.

Education can prepare you and prime the pump but nothing beats real world experience.

So here’s the question:

What is one lesson you’ve learned that you could not have learned in a book? And what experiences will you pursue next to get even more life lessons.

That’s going to do it for today. I’m Andrew McGivern signing off for now, but I’ll be back… tomorrow! Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.

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