A short podcast episode by Brian Johnson (Optimize +1 #650) reflecting on the power of compounding tiny daily gains (the '1% better' idea) and linking that idea to Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance passage that describes great character as a cumulative force—an "escort of angels." The episode offers a brief inspirational framing and closes with a standard outro.
You're listening to Optimize with Brian Johnson. More wisdom in less time.
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one. In our last plus one, we talked about how to make yourself a quadrillion times better. The recap there. Just let the magic of compounding 1% gains work for you. And every day, 10 years, boom. Quadrillion times better. Of course, the fine print includes the fact that although inspiring, that's obviously pretty much impossible, as no one, not even the best among us, are perfect. Thank you, Abraham Maslow, and we won't be the first. But contemplating the sheer potential force of compounding tiny gains is pretty inspiring. Now, as I wrapped my brain around that power and imagined each of us stepping into that next best version of ourselves, then repeating the spiraling up again and again and again, Ralph Waldo Emerson came to mind in Self Reliance. He has a great line about the fact that great human beings have an aura about them. He says that it's almost as if they have a bunch of angels escorting them. As he puts it, the force of character is cumulative. All the foregone days of virtue work their health into this. What makes the majesty of the heroes of the Senate and the field which so fills the imagination the consciousness of a train of great days and victories behind they shed an united light on the advancing actor. He is attended as by a visible escort of angels. That sounds about right. And you know what angel is leading the rest of the angels? Our proud daimons. High fives to you and yours.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Optimize with Brian Johnson. To find out more, go to Optimize Me. Sa.
