Here are my takeaways from the book “The Life Lessons Of Kamala Harris: How to use your voice, be assertive and own your story by Hitha Palepu” – Part 2
If you are a master avoider and procrastinate, then remember to start with starting and develop a trigger for each start. E.g., every day after washing dishes, I will do yoga (assuming there is a fixed time for doing dishes) or after brushing my teeth in the morning, I will read my book. Remember, starting is great, but it is also not enough to get across the finish line. To get to the finish line, consistency and discipline are needed.
Know the why of what you are doing or want to do, because what and how do not help when you go through a hard time. In hard times, when family and friends leave your side, “why” is the only thing that can help you stay determined and keep you moving forward.
A tireless work ethic and hard work are the secrets behind every successful person. To work in the right direction, start with clarity of what needs to be done and plan for it.
Sometimes our feelings come in the way of the tireless work needed to succeed. In those situations, instead of focusing on how you feel right now, focus on your future self. When you find yourself making excuses to procrastinate, check in with your future self. That will keep you motivated and help you continue moving forward.
Everyone gets the same 24 hours in a day. Spend more of those hours doing the things you want to do rather than the things you feel obligated to do.
Find “your people” actively and surround yourself with them. Your people are the ones who inspire you, make you feel that anything is possible, validate your dreams, and make you want to be bigger and better.
Listen to that nagging voice you hear in your head. Is that the thing you want to do but are not sure you can? Know that you can and just do it.
Don’t wait to know everything before you start anything you want to do, as that time never comes for anyone. You will never be fully prepared. Just start and you will learn along the way.
Curiosity guides your creativity to new paths. Always be curious.
If something is not working, do not continue to try to make it work for an extended period of time, instead, fail fast. Pivot and find a better way.
If anyone tells you to stay in your lane and tries to get in your way of what you want to achieve, make sure to tell them to f* off.
If you want to make your goal a reality, you need to play so that you can win. If you don’t play, that means you have already lost your chance to win. Don’t do that. Without listening to anyone, not even the voice in your head that you can’t do it, focus on your why, focus on the future winner you and continue marching forward and continuing to try. There will be failures along the way that will be nothing but learning opportunities. Learn and move on. Have clarity of why; that’s the only thing that can help you continue when everyone has left you.
