NO GRIT, NO PEARL.

Last post I said I would share about two books that have provided so much wit, wisdom and humour.
Well, they are written by the same person, Paul Arden. Many knew him as an advertising genius. He was no easy person to work with, but those did, and went through his school of hard knocks and true honesty said they got the best education they could ask for.

For all in advertising, those who wanted to be good got him as a grit that would eventually turn into a pearl, if they took in what he said. And his books provided the grit that would help all of us, creatives and non-creatives alike.

I could probably spend many blog posts sharing the gems I found in his books, but today I will simply share the first truth I learned for myself after reading both his books, "It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be" and "Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite".

Be unapologetically passionate.

With great passion comes great intensity. And sometimes, people get offended by your intensity. That's normal, that's life. Being good has got nothing to do with being nice. Although, there is nothing wrong with being nice, except when you compromise with how good you want and need to be.

Also,
No grit, no pearl.

It's a huge investment in life to find friends who don't just say nice things to you, but can be honest and give you material to produce excellence in your life. Last year, I mourned the loss of a few "friends". Well, I thought they were my friends and I knew I could have done better in many ways too. And then I announced that 2012 would be the year I learn to be a better friend. Yes, it would mean to be honest (oh dear), that means at the end of that honesty, probably only one or two people are left standing. But those left standing would probably be the best investment in your life.

Poster from here.