No. 661 – December 28, 2025
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Here is my annual reflection guide. It contains a few simple questions you can ask yourself to unlock your potential in 2026.
Tiny Thoughts
Short-term results come from intensity. Long-term results come from consistency.
Ninety percent of success can be boiled down to consistently doing the obvious thing for an uncommonly long period of time without convincing yourself that you’re smarter than you are.
Working smart isn’t the opposite of working hard. It’s the result of working hard.
You have to put in the hours before you can see the shortcuts. You have to learn the details before you can know which ones matter.
You have to do the work wrong many times before you discover how to do it right.
Insights
Kevin Kelly on patience:
“The patience you need for big things, is developed by your patience with the little things.”
Former Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi:
“Sometimes people say, “Oh, you flip-flop.” No, the environment changed. … You cannot be dogmatic about your strategic direction. When the environment changes around you, you’ve got to zag a little bit.“
Author Jim Murphy on presence:
“Passion is found in the present, while desire is focused on the future. When you desire a certain outcome, you are constantly judging whether that outcome will materialize or not. When you’re present, your focus is absolute in the moment.”
The Knowledge Project
We also released a special episode of TKP this week with Pierre Poilievre.
While we don’t often tackle politics on the show, we are trying to improve political discourse by offering a platform for both sides to speak with depth and nuance.
This episode covers the economy, media, free speech, immigration, corporate subsidies, and more. (And before you ask, the same invite was extended to both Pierre and Prime Minister Mark Carney).
+ Listen now Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Web/Transcript
Thanks for reading,
— Shane Parrish
Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year. Looking forward to learning with you in 2026!