Design Your Life's True Success.
How Will You Measure Your Life?
by Clayton M. Christensen
Business
TL;DR
This book is all about applying corporate strategy to your personal life so you don't end up a miserable rich dude. It hammers home that your resources (time, energy, money) are finite, so you gotta allocate 'em wisely to what truly matters, not just what's urgent. It's about figuring out your 'purpose' (your life's mission statement) and then sticking to your values like glue, even when things get tempting. Basically, don't chase the shiny object if it doesn't align with your long-term happiness and integrity. It's a blueprint for not screwing up your life by accident.
Action Items
Spend 15 minutes today writing down what truly makes you feel alive and fulfilled, not what society tells you should. This is your raw material for your North Star.
Look at your calendar for tomorrow. Identify one 'urgent' but low-value task you can ditch or delegate, and replace it with 30 minutes dedicated to something truly important for your long-term well-being.
Think about a recent decision you made that felt 'off.' What core value did it potentially violate? Write down 3 non-negotiable values you want to live by, and stick them somewhere you'll see them daily.
Identify one small area where you've been making 'just this once' compromises (e.g., hitting snooze, scrolling too much). For today, commit to not making that compromise, no matter how small it seems.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - The 'Don't Be a Corporate Sellout' Chapter (aka Resource Allocation)
So, imagine your life is a company, right? And you've got limited cash (time, energy, money). This chapter basically screams, 'Where are you actually putting your damn resources?' It's easy to say you value family or health, but if all your time goes to grinding for that promotion, guess what? Your actions are screaming 'I value work more!' It's a brutal mirror, showing how easy it is to accidentally invest in the wrong things and end up with a life that looks nothing like what you thought you wanted. Your actual investments reveal your true priorities, not your LinkedIn bio. So, stop bullshitting yourself and put your money where your mouth is – literally, with your time and energy.
Key Methods and Approaches
Your Life's North Star
(AKA: Purpose & Strategy)
Description:
Figure out what the hell you're actually trying to achieve with your one wild and precious life, then make a plan to get there.
Explanation:
Think of your life like a drunk frat boy trying to find his way home. Without a 'North Star' (aka a clear purpose), you're just gonna stumble into random bushes and probably end up in a ditch. This method is about getting your shit together and deciding where you actually want to end up, instead of just reacting to whatever shiny object pops up. It's your personal GPS, stopping you from ending up in, like, Nebraska when you wanted to be in Miami.
Examples:
Deciding you want to build a sustainable side hustle instead of just chasing every gig economy trend.
Prioritizing meaningful relationships over endless swiping on dating apps.
Choosing a career path that aligns with your values, even if it pays less initially, instead of just taking the highest offer.
Today's Action:
Spend 15 minutes today writing down what truly makes you feel alive and fulfilled, not what society tells you should. This is your raw material for your North Star.
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