Richmond Dinh argues our brains are wired for safety, not success, which makes us settle for comfort over growth. Real progress requires deliberately choosing actions that make you nervous. He says remembering past moments of brilliance and excellence propels you toward greater success.
Chapters
Why do people settle for mediocrity? You see, this is the thing about success. Our brains are not wired to make us successful. Our brains are not wired to make us loads of money. Our brains are not even wired to make us happy. Our brains only wired for one thing and one thing only. And that is to keep us safe. To look for what's wrong. To protect us from the angry, hungry sabertooth tiger that's about to eat and kill us. So why do people settle for mediocrity? Well, because being mediocre is comfortable. Being mediocre is safe. It's what we know. It's what we're used to. Because anything outside that tells your brain that your life is at risk. And that means you've got to stop. And to be great, to be amazing, to be outstanding, to be successful, you need to do the thing that makes you just that little bit nervous. You need to do the thing that makes you a little bit uncomfortable and do the thing that makes you just that little bit fearful. Because that's where your growth lies. That's where your greatness lies. And I'm not saying not to feel any fear or worry or doubt, anxiety or stress or anything like that. Heck, I still feel fear when I speak in front of 70, 80, 90 people. But here's the thing. Anytime you feel fear or stress or worry or doubt, you're forgetting the most important truth of all. And that is how amazing you really are. How incredible you really are. How outstanding you really are. How brilliant you really are. You see, I can guarantee that if you think back hard enough, you'll be able to remember some times in the past, multiple times in the past, where you've displayed brilliance and greatness and outstanding amazing qualities. Heck, you may even remember that from last week. Now, I can guarantee if you remember that more often, then your life will be richer and deeper and more amazing, more meaningful and more great than you've ever imagined before. And that will make all the difference.
