There are always lessons to be found in the darkest moments. It's a moral obligation to dig deep and find that little glimmer of hope or pearl of wisdom. Andrea Pirlo
As we all know, a Pearl of wisdom is a piece of wise advice, that is metaphorically as precious as pearls. The phrase has been about for centuries and came about I believe as pearls themselves take a long time to form, just like the wise words of knowledge that they are compared to.
This is another short episode, but it’s packed full of invaluable advice. Three pearls of productivity wisdom. Without further ado please settle down and listen up to what I have to say.
Don’t go fishing where there ain’t no fish
This metaphorical expression advises against wasting your time, efforts, or resources on endeavours that are unlikely to yield any desired results or benefits. Instead, you should focus on opportunities or situations where there is a higher likelihood of success or fulfillment.
In a literal sense, when you go fishing, the primary goal is to catch fish. If you choose a location where there are no fish, you will likely spend a lot of time and effort without achieving your desired outcome. Similarly, in various aspects of life, whether it's pursuing a career, searching for opportunities, or investing resources, it's crucial to direct your efforts toward the things that offer a higher probability of success.
If you want to be successful then you need to be strategic and selective in choosing where to invest your time, energy, and resources. You absolutely must identify and target opportunities or situations where there is a greater chance of achieving your goals or finding whatever else you are seeking. Stop wasting your time and efforts in areas where you have no chance of success and focus instead on areas with potential Only by doing this will you increase your chances of success and maximize the effectiveness of your efforts.
Perfection is not possible nor is it productive.
As I’ve side on this show many times before, striving for absolute perfection is both unattainable and counterproductive. Simply put, absolute perfection is an unrealistic and impractical goal.
When you pursue perfection, you set unattainable standards for yourself or others, which will lead to frustration, stress, and disappointment. Perfectionism hinders progress and productivity because the quest for flawlessness will always consume excessive time, energy, and resources.
Recognizing that absolute perfection is not possible means accepting of our inherent imperfections as human beings. It encourages us to shift our focus from an unattainable ideal to a more realistic approach that values progress, growth, and learning from our mistakes.
Instead of striving for unattainable perfection, it is far more productive to pursue excellence, continuous improvement, and the achievement of meaningful goals. By embracing imperfection and focusing on your progress, you will maintain a healthier mindset, make practical decisions, and channel your efforts into areas that yield tangible results. Always remember the adage that very often, Done is better than perfect.
What’s for you will not go by you.
This is a Scottish proverb and one that my mum said many times as I struggled through my acting career. That was another life ago, but it is still an adage that I live by. It’s the belief that if something is meant to be yours or if there is an opportunity or outcome that is truly meant for you, it will ultimately be within your reach. This is more perhaps about headspace than anything else as it implies that there is a greater force or plan at play in our lives, which guides us towards what is meant to be.
What’s important for me in this is that when you face a disappointment – and let's face it, in the freelance creative world we do all the time - this mindset provides comfort and reassurance. In situations where we feel disappointed or are discouraged by missed opportunities or setbacks, it helps us to heal and move on to the next potential opportunity. It also teaches us that if we have missed out on something or if a particular outcome did not go our way, it simply was not meant to be, and something else, perhaps even better, awaits us in the future.
We should never overly fret or worry about things that are beyond our control because, ultimately, what is truly meant will find its way to us. It builds faith in the timing and direction of our lives and allows us to navigate through uncertainty with patience.
In essence, "What's for you will not go by you" is a reminder to have faith in the greater plan of destiny, to let go of what is not meant for us, and to embrace the opportunities that are genuinely aligned with our path and purpose.
I buy into this by the way not because I really believe in the “secret” which I did a show on last season, but because I do believe in the Stoic concept of control; It teaches that we can’t always control what happens to us, but we can always decide how we react to it. Our response is our responsibility, it’s a choice.
Let me recap what we’ve been thinking about today. There’s value in this. I hope you can find the time to consider it.
1. Don’t go fishing where there ain’t no fish
2. Perfection is not possible nor is it productive
3. What’s for you will not go by you.
I’m enjoying these mini-shows and I’m also enjoying not giving too much away on what will be on the next show. Simply put, if you are liking what you hear, please subscribe on the podcast app of your choice and tune in next week to find out more.
Let’s end today though with some stoic words about wisdom from Epictetus, who said It is impossible to begin to learn that which one thinks one already knows.
Now take control of your own destiny, keep on shootin’ and join me next season on FILM PRO PRODUCTIVITY AND SUCCESS!
The music you can hear right now is Adventures by A Himitsu
You can view the show notes for this episode on the official website filmproproductivity.com
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References:
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Thanks: A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu
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Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE
Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 –––
Contact the artist: x.jonaz@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsuhttps://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A
Great episode and clearly explained! lesson 1 being my favourite. Quality over quantity 🤜🏻