Humility over Hubris

I've been on the lookout for underrated qualities that can speed up our journey to success.

For example, what everyday habits are we overlooking that could lead to better outcomes?Everyone emphasizes leadership. That's a well-worn path.

But here's one trait that's often underestimated: humility.In a world obsessed with self-promotion, genuine humility can set you apart.

Quick story: Last year, I attended a networking event for entrepreneurs.

(Nothing extravagant, just a local meetup at a co-working space.)

I struck up a conversation with a young man who seemed a bit out of place—dressed modestly, quietly observing from the corner.Instead of scanning the room for "big names," I decided to engage with him.We talked, and I learned he's been developing an innovative industrial automation tool that would change shop floor dynamics for small manufacturing companies.

But here's the kicker: he wasn't there to pitch or boast. He was there to learn.He asked insightful questions and listened intently.By the end of the evening, I realized I'd met someone with incredible potential.A few days later, we met for coffee to explore how we could collaborate.

That connection opened doors I hadn't expected—new ideas, partnerships, and perspectives.All because I took the time to notice someone who wasn't demanding attention.As entrepreneurs, we're often taught to "fake it till you make it," to project confidence bordering on arrogance.

But why? Why not let our work speak for itself?

Everyone appreciates authenticity. Yet, we often act like humility is a weakness.But that's a misconception! Today, consider embracing humility.Engage with someone without an agenda. Be open to learning from anyone.You never know where it might lead—a faster path to better outcomes, perhaps.

“What the smartest people do on the weekends is what everyone else will do during the week in ten years”

Best thing I read in a while. Almost the same as Google chief economists view that I’ve written about in the past but with a different edge.

Have you ever noticed how the richest folks seem to start all the trends? It's like they’re the ones lighting the path to the future. So here's a thought: What are they doing today that could become common for the rest of us tomorrow? Could their habits help us see what's coming next?

Hal Varian, the chief economist at Google, asked this very question. And I think it's a powerful lens to look through if we want to understand not just what might happen, but what's already unfolding around us.

Let's take a stroll back in time.

Over a hundred years ago, only the wealthy had cars. Then along came Henry Ford with the Model T. He drove down costs through mass production, and suddenly, cars were for everyone, not just the elite.Think about Tesla cars today. Right now, they're a luxury. But apply the same logic, and it's easy to see a future where electric cars are as common as smartphones.

Speaking of smartphones, remember when only the rich had mobile phones? Those brick-sized devices were status symbols. Now, even kids have phones that are more powerful than the computers we had just a decade ago.When I was growing up, eating out was a rare treat. I can count on one hand how many times we went to a restaurant. My kids , on the other hand, eats out multiple times a week if they so choose. They can even have gourmet meals delivered right to her door with a few taps on her phone.

Travel tells the same story. A couple of centuries ago, the 'Grand Tour' of Europe was a rite of passage for the rich. In the '60s and '70s, flying was a luxury. Now, budget airlines let us fly across the country—or even the world—for the price of a nice dinner.

Fashion? Same deal. High-end styles from Paris and Milan hit stores like Zara and H&M within weeks, affordable to the masses.

Health and beauty used to be the domain of the wealthy, too. Personal trainers, cosmetic treatments, spa days—once exclusive, now accessible.

See the pattern? Rich people's habits gradually become affordable for everyone.

But here's where it gets interesting.The rich are shifting from flaunting material goods to valuing intangible assets. They're not just buying stuff; they're buying time.

Thorstein Veblen, back in 1899, coined the term "conspicuous consumption" to describe how the wealthy showcased their status through possessions. Fancy clothes, expensive gadgets, you name it.

But today, Professor Elizabeth Currid-Halkett points out that the rich focus on "inconspicuous consumption." They invest in education, health, exclusive experiences, and most importantly, they buy back their time.

Think about it.

They hire gardeners, nannies, personal assistants—all to free up their own time. Time has become the new luxury.

So what does this mean for you and me?

It means opportunities.

Look at how technology is evolving. Our smartphones are like personal assistants. Siri, Alexa—they're just the beginning. Imagine when AI becomes even more integrated into our lives, handling tasks we don't want to spend time on.

Ask yourself:

• What are the rich doing today that others will want tomorrow?

• How can I bring those services or experiences to a wider audience?

• Where can I create value by saving people time?

The future favors those who see it before others do.

So start looking. Pay attention to the subtle shifts. The next big thing might already be here, just waiting for someone like you to make it accessible to everyone.

Levi Hutchins created America's first mechanical alarm clock in 1787 because he wanted to get up at 4am every day. So his device was only set to that desired time and it was another 60 years before Antoine Redier made one that was able to be adjusted to a time other than 4am.

Now, before these alarm clocks came along, there was a whole profession dedicated to waking people up. They were called "knocker-uppers." Imagine that. People would roam the streets with long sticks, tapping on bedroom windows, or even using pea shooters to ping pellets at the glass. Their job was to make sure others started their day on time.

Think about how wild that is. We often hail technology as the ultimate time-saver, the great simplifier of our lives. But sometimes, it does the opposite. Levi's clock was innovative, sure, but it only solved his specific problem. Everyone else either had to find their own Levi or rely on the knocker-uppers.

So what's the lesson here?

As entrepreneurs, we're all about creating solutions. But are we making things genuinely easier, or are we just adding complexity?

Levi thought he was making his life easier, and he was—for himself. But his invention didn't consider the bigger picture. It wasn't adaptable or user-friendly for anyone else.

Before we dive headfirst into building the next big thing, let's take a step back. Let's ask ourselves:

• Is this solving a real problem for many, or just a convenient fix for a few?

• Are we adding layers of complexity when simplicity would do?

• How can we make our solutions flexible to meet the varied needs of others?

Sometimes, the simplest, most straightforward approach serves people best. Technology should be a tool that empowers, not a gadget that complicates.

So next time you're brewing up that genius idea, remember the tale of Levi Hutchins and his 4 a.m. alarm clock. Aim to create something adjustable, something that fits into people's lives seamlessly—not something that makes them adjust to it.

Keep it simple, keep it effective, and keep pushing forward.

An idea so common, no one thought about it. Most fast food apps have existed for years. But today a single innovation that seems like a simple feature, boring at its core, broke the internet. Taco Bell added a feature, you define your meal budget, it picks things on the menu within that budget. You hit refresh if you don’t like the combo presented. I always thought why no app has this, yet, never acted on it. But today some one did. Next should be finding meals based on calories and macros. Tech should simplify not complicate life, do the boring stuff, it scales to no end.

Friend or foe? In a fraction of a second, our brain forms an impression of a person based on their facial expressions and voice. And artificial intelligence is getting better and better at interpreting human emotions. Faces and voices are the first impressions we get of people we don’t know. In less than half a second, we decide whether we like or trust a person, and how intelligent we think they are. That’s thanks to the astonishing processing power of our brains. We learn to read facial expressions as babies, and as we grow older we continue to interpret emotions according to facial expressions.

The voice also plays a crucial role: speed, syntax, tone, and phonetics all provide information about what a person is feeling. But we are not the only ones who can decipher human emotions. Artificial intelligence technology is also learning to read faces and voices. A photo or a spoken sentence is usually enough to get information about identity, health, emotions and even personality. And the internet has become a vast and ever-growing database of faces and voices. Based on the sound of a voice, artificial intelligence can now detect whether a person suffers from Parkinson's, depression or even Covid-19. In this documentary, international experts offer insight into the latest science, illuminating how our brains work -- and the potential of artificial intelligence.

Break the Rules, Own Your Life

History has a way of offering lessons, even from the most polarizing figures. Winston Churchill—brilliant, controversial, and relentless—left behind more than just wartime speeches. His unapologetic approach to life and leadership holds powerful insights for entrepreneurs who want to take control of their time and their future. If you’re ready to stop playing by society’s rules and start truly monetizing your time, Churchill’s no-nonsense lessons are a good place to start.

"Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness."

Society trains you to stay inside the lines. The education system, job market, and even your social circles all push you toward “security”—a secure job, a secure life. But that’s just another cage, keeping you from reaching your full potential. Job security is an illusion. The real security comes from taking control of your path and breaking out of the conventions that hold you back.

Stop Letting Society Control You

Think about it: the world doesn’t want you to be disruptive. Leaders want conformity because it's easier to manage. That’s why we see things like trigger warnings, cancel culture, and endless distractions. Society encourages you to fit in, to follow, and to not make waves. But those cages keep you stuck. If you really want to understand how these societal controls work, check out The Coddling of the American Mind. It’s an eye-opener about how people are being trained to stay in line. Don’t let it happen to you.

"You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life."

Trying to please everyone? Stop. It’s not your job to make the world happy. If you’re taking risks, pushing boundaries, and speaking your truth, you’re going to piss some people off. Good. Innovation comes from friction. Progress comes from challenge. If no one’s pushing back against you, you’re not trying hard enough. Speak up, take your stand, and let the opposition be a sign that you’re on the right path.

"Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result."

There’s a certain thrill in risk—especially when you come out the other side. Taking risks, facing challenges head-on, and surviving them builds confidence like nothing else. That’s how businesses grow, how leaders are made, and how you create a life worth living. Play it safe, and you’ll end up stagnant. Take a few calculated risks, and you’ll see how much you’re truly capable of.

"I am easily satisfied with the very best."

Look around, and you’ll see society glorifying mediocrity. We’ve embraced the lazy rebellion against hard work. It’s cool now to slack off, to drift. But if you’re serious about success, you can’t settle for “good enough.” The pursuit of excellence isn’t just a goal—it’s a mindset. Push yourself to aim for the best in everything you do. You’ll find that this relentless pursuit of greatness is what keeps humanity progressing.

"The empires of the future are the empires of the mind."

We may not be fighting world wars, but make no mistake—there’s a battle happening. It’s psychological warfare, and your attention is the target. Social media, 24/7 news, mindless entertainment—they’re all designed to distract you, to pull you away from what matters. Protect your mind. Guard your focus. If you want to build something meaningful, you can’t let the noise take over.

"I never worry about action, but only inaction."

Words without action are just noise. Whether it’s a leader offering empty promises or you telling yourself “one day, I’ll start,” it’s all meaningless without action. Stop talking, stop planning, and start doing. The only thing that leads to real progress is consistent, focused action. Everything else is just a distraction.

Churchill didn’t live by the rules, and neither should you. If you want to truly monetize your time and live life on your terms, you need to break free from society’s expectations. Take risks, demand the best from yourself, and take action. Your time is valuable. Make sure you’re using it to build something extraordinary.

I have a map framed and hanging in my study. I look at it nearly every day. It amazes me every day. Walt Disney’s strategy map, created in 1957, is an excellent exemplar of how visual thinking can create and inform strategic thinking.

Disneyland had just opened in 1955.

This visual is not only a strategy map, it is a tool for strategy activation and organizational alignment.

Note how it clearly shows the unique blend of complementary assets and the activities that connect and combine to create a networked whole that is cohesive, coherent, and far greater than the sum of its parts.

Note also how clear and easy to understand it is. Strategy is only useful if the people who are responsible for making it happen understand it.

Note that the central core of the entire system is creative talent.

Bonus! Thought of the week

Epic framing!