Looking at opposites and asking contrary questions

Hello from southeastern Pennsylvania, where it’s high spring and absolutely gorgeous. This part of the world looks like a storybook in the springtime — narrow roads, woods, fields, an abundance of wildflowers, and a sudden explosion of green when the leaves finally burst. I’ve never seen a place with so many different verdant hues.

I’ve been doing a lot of writing for work this week, and I confess, I’m feeling shorter than usual on words — so instead of an essay, I’m going to share a couple quotes from this week’s reading.

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“We are often aided in the solution of a problem by asking its opposite. If we ask ourselves, ‘what constitutes gracefulness?’ we may find ourselves at a loss for suggestions, because gracefulness always seems ‘so natural.’ But if we ask its opposite, ‘what constitutes awkwardness?’ suggestions are more apt to occur. If we find, for instance, that awkwardness consists of undue bodily effort in making a movement, we may assume that gracefulness consists of ease of movement. In the same way the question of what makes us forget may be helped by asking ourselves what makes us remember, and light may be thrown on the causes of success in business and in life by a study of the causes of failure.” — Henry Hazlitt, The Science of Thinking

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“For many of us, one of the easiest mistakes to make is to focus on trying to over-satisfy the tangible trapping of professional success in the mistaken belief that those things will make us happy. Better salaries. A more prestigious title. A nicer office. They are, after all, what our friends and family see as signs that we have ‘made it’ professionally. But as soon as you find yourself focusing on the tangible aspects of your job, you are at risk of becoming like some of my classmates, chasing a mirage. The next pay raise, you think, will be the one that finally makes you happy. It’s a hopeless quest.

The theory of motivation suggests you need to ask yourself a different set of questions than most of us are used to asking. i this work meaningful to me? Is this job going to give me a chance to develop? Am I going to learn new things? Will I have an opportunity for recognition and achievement? Am I going to be given responsibility? These are the things that will truly motivate you. Once you get this right, the more measurable aspects of your job will fade in importance.” — Clayton Christensen, How Will You Measure Your Life?

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What good things are you reading this week? Hit reply and let me know — I’m moving through books pretty quickly lately, so I’m always looking for more suggestions. ;)

Until next week,

Hannah