No. 667 – February 8, 2026
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Tiny Thoughts
Nobody’s success story sounded calm while they were creating it.
Focus means choosing what doesn’t matter.
What you refuse to do determines what you can do.
How you talk about people when they’re not around tells everyone what you’ll say about them when they’re not around.
But here’s the thing: you are unusual. Most people aren’t like you. That’s not a flaw in them. It’s what makes you different.
Once you stop expecting others to be you, the frustration disappears.
Insights
Philosopher Lao Tzu on real power:
“Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.”
Nike founder Phil Knight on balance:
“My life was out of balance, sure, but I didn’t care. In fact, I wanted even more imbalance. … If my life was to be all work and no play, I wanted my work to be play.”
Therapist Dr. Albert Ellis on how make yourself miserable:
“When you rigidly hold certain irrational beliefs—when you dogmatically command that you must do well, have to be approved by others, have got to have people treat you fairly, and always ought to live with easy and enjoyable conditions—when you stoutly hold these irrational beliefs, you will tend to make yourself needlessly miserable and will probably defeat some of your most cherished goals.”
The Knowledge Project
Michael Ovitz co-founded CAA and helped reshape Hollywood, then took the same playbook into tech investing and advising founders.
This conversation explores the timeless principles that have made him successful.
Enjoy!
Some Tiny Lessons from this episode:
- “Mediocrity to me is a disease that you have to get rid of at all costs.”
- “Power is fleeting and it doesn’t last. And if you don’t believe that, take a look at anyone that’s had it.”
- Don’t fight your job.
- “Mediocrity is invisible until passion shines a light on it.”
- “The most important people on the planet are journalists and editors.”
+ Listen on Apple | Spotify | YouTube | X | Web/Transcript
Still curious?
+ All 27 Tiny Lessons I learned researching and creating this episode
+ Members have access to all 67 of my highlights from his autobiography, as well as to the repository, which offers all of my highlights
+ This story changed how I think; it’s so counterintuitive and correct
Thanks for reading,
— Shane Parrish