Timely Advice from Douglas Adams, Tim Sanders and Arthur C. Clarke
"Don't Panic."
It's the popular catch phrase from sci-fi classic The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. It was good advice for intergalactic travelers then. It's great advice for business professionals now.
Tim Sanders, the author of one of my favorite books - Love is the Killer App, shared this thought on his blog today:
Today, and likely this week, you have a choice: Obsess on the Wall Street crisis or focus on a project that will make a difference over the long haul.
He's right. You can't control the market, the congress or weather. What you can control is where you invest your attention. Turn off the TV. Put down the paper. Close the Drudge Report.
Build something.
Write a new business plan. Research a new prospect. Develop a new idea. Write a book. Take a new risk. Start a new project. Hone your craft. Try something your competitors are afraid to try. Need a little more inspiration? Pick up Tim's new book - Saving the World at Work.
Legends aren't created in good markets. The time is now.
The great Arthur C. Clarke once said that Douglas Adams' use of "don't panic" was perhaps the best advice that could be given to humanity. I couldn't agree more.
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Great Post! I agree Turn off the TV and only read the paper on Sunday. There are many postive things happening here in Michigan. Anyone who attended the Celebrate Michigan expo saw that as well.
Thank you for this I am choosing to invest my attention on helping companies save time and money and Helping sales people achieve their goals.
Dear Charlie,
I've only known you a short time, but these are more sound words of advice from you! In my down-time, I like to watch some classic TV from my childhood and teens. Sometimes I find "adult" nuggets that I never got as a younger person. Time to dig out my copy of the BBC TV version of Hitchhiker's, and follow the advice! "Don't Panic!"
Have a great day in the GREAT Great Lakes State!
David.
Good advice Charlie. My solution to down time is to stop whinning and work harder. I don't know about anyone else, but that strategy has always helped me fill the gaps. Work does not have to be the enemy fo fun if you enjoy what you are doing. I enjoy creating opportunities where other fail to realize they exist.
Thanks, Charlie. I am jumping on your bandwagon!
BTW, one of my favorite lines -- "Don't Panic."
This is a mantra useful for every situation.
To paraphrase Henry Ford, "Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right."
It's all good . . . . . .
Thank you Charlie...you said it so perfectly! In our office, I have a rule that we do not talk about negative things. I just know that everywhere that we go we see it all over: on TV, in the newspaper and people talking all around.
Today while I was at another health center, there was a paper weight that said, "What would you do if you knew you would not fail?"
Do whatever that is and keep doing it until you complete it!