January 29Your Granitie Truth
To speak impartially, the best that I know are not serene, a world in themselves. For the most part, they dwell in forms, and flatter and study effect only more finely than the rest. We select granite for the underpinning of our houses and barns; we build fences of stone; but we do not ourselves rest on an underpinning of granitie truth, the lowest primitive rock. Our sills are rotten. What stuff is the person made of who is not coexistent in our thought with the purest and subtilest truth?
Henry David Thoreau—Life Without Principle (1854)
Do we demand enough of ourselves—of others?
Ironically, the best way to demand more from others is to trust them to be self-reliant. To recognize only they know what best serves their true nature.
And the best way to embrace our granitie truth is to admit there are many things we don't know, many positions about which we may discover we are wrong.
This is the only honest point of view and allows us to stay open to the perspective of others. It also allows us to change our mind. Both are important tools for the self-reliant entrepreneur.
Today, find a piece of raw granite and hold it in your hand.
You're using a fraction of the limitless power you possess—go get the rest; this is your ticket.
Challenge Question
- Who will you trust to be self-reliant today?
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access