Avoiding Misery

"Good artists borrow; great artists steal." - Picasso

As one great author said, "there is no idea food truck." But many know that reading widely is the next best thing. And "Poor Charlie's Almanack" by Charlie Munger, is one such source. 

In a commencement address, Munger expanded on Johnny Carson's graduation address, noting Carson's prescription for sure misery included: 

l. Ingesting chemicals in an effort to alter mood or perception 

2. Envy 

3. Resentment 

Munger expands on resentment, "Disraeli, as he rose to become one of the greatest prime ministers, learned to give up vengeance as a motivation for action, but he did retain some outlet for resentment by putting the names of people who wronged him on pieces of paper in a drawer. Then, from time to time, he reviewed these names and took pleasure in noting the way the world had taken his enemies down without his assistance."

This is a poor substitute for the Jar of Awesome, but I digress.

Avoid misery:

• Outwork the competition. 
• Control what you can control - attitude, choices, effort. 
• Develop better habits. Invest time, don't spend it. 
• Focus on process over results. 
• Think in terms of probability/ranges of outcomes.

"Premortems – When you do a premortem, you imagine a world in which you don’t achieve your goal – your plan failed. You then think about all of the reasons the plan might fail, and this helps you create a plan that reduces the probability of these things from happening."

When we think in terms of "The Four Agreements," the fourth is, "Always do your best." It won't be perfect but helps to limit regret. 

Lagniappe. Competitive 'serving' versus 'passing drill'. 0-10-20