The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

May 26To Speak Truth

We shall all do well if we learn so much as to talk,—to speak truth. The only fruit which even much living yields seems to be often only some trivial success,—the ability to do some slight thing better … What immense sacrifices, what hecatombs and holocausts, the gods exact for very slight favors! How much sincere life before we can even utter one sincere word.

Henry David Thoreau—Familiar Letters (1865)

You could read Thoreau's words and conclude that he was just in a bad mood that day, or you could view the tough love as an attempt to push us all.

Entrepreneurs are goal and deadline setters because we thrive on the push—the external stimulation. We check the boxes so we can post an Instagram story that shows we've done “some slight thing better.”

And of course, all the while we're missing the point—the entire point is to learn to speak truth before we run out of game.

Challenge Question

1. What truth are you avoiding speaking?