Gene Gu

If I could sit down with my teenage self, I would tell him that there are three lessons he will not learn that will cost him years of confusion and missed opportunities. They weren’t in any textbook. No teacher ever brought them up. And yet, they have shaped my life more than anything I was formally taught. 1. School Trains You To Be An Employee, Not For Success What we learn in school contributes very little to how well we do later in life. The system is set up to prepare students to become another cog in the existing societal system—and most of us don’t realize this until we’re already out of school, struggling to make a living, manage our lives, and build a future. “The skills that actually determine success in life are rarely found in a school curriculum.” Things like how to learn independently, communicate clearly, network with confidence, build and manage relationships, resolve conflict, sell ideas, invest money, and manage your finances are just some of the ingredients for a suc...

1. As a Man Thinketh This book explores the incredible power that thoughts possess. And it taught me to be aware and careful about what I think about, as the thoughts you and I consistently think about eventually expresses itself in our actions, which then translate into our character, circumstances, and our eventual life outcome. 2. Atomic Habits The core idea of this book is how small, consistent changes compound into incredible results over the long term. And how you and I don’t rise to the level of the goals we’ve set for ourselves, but fall to the level of the systems we have in our lives. This book helped me view habits with a much greater appreciation and as an area of focus in my life. The practical insights and tips in this book on how to develop the habits I want and eliminate the habits I don’t want have really encouraged me and helped me in my personal development. It taught me that "Success is the product of daily habits — not once-in-a-lifetime transformation." ...