Phillips Brooks Quotes

You cannot be anything if you want to be everything.

I have a thousands wants; it's hard to really hone in on just a few.

Sometimes expanding your game isn't better. Sometimes shrinking your game is a little bit better and really get to the things you do well.

One must say no to some opportunities to open the possibilities of others.

To Stay Focused in Life: You can't know everyone You can't do everything You can't go everywhere We have to pick and choose between good and a little bit better.

It's easy to decide what you're going to do. The hard thing is deciding what you're not going to do.

Most people get overwhelmed by the insignificant decisions of their lives. I'm urging people to minimize the time spent on these when they're not critical to their most important goals.

Balancing hopes, desires and an appreciating of the possibilities with a clear-eyed assessment of the limitations: that is the art of choosing.

When I meet with the founders of a new company, my advice is almost always, 'Do fewer things.' It's true of partnerships, marketing opportunities, anything that's taking up your time. The vast majority of things are distractions, and very few really matter to your success.

I don't want the bottom, so I have to sacrifice the top.

I think it's just as important what you say no to as what you say yes to.

Even when I was starting out, I knew there were certain things that I didn't want to do or wanted to do.

You've got to make sure you're listening to the people that are important to listen to. And then everything else, you kind of have to tune out and do your thing.

Focus on what needs to be done that day. Don't think too far ahead. Once you start thinking too far ahead, you get distracted by things that don't matter on that day.

I make a habit of asking myself, 'Is there purpose to this meeting or conversation? Do I want to build a relationship with this person or company? Is there purpose behind this meeting that aligns with my life and business strategy?' If the answer is 'No,' then I pass every time.

Saying no frees you up to say yes when it matters most.

Now, I don't sweat the small stuff, just the things that really matter.

That's a big part of the process: making the right choice from the beginning. Not getting distracted by shiny things.

When you make something you are always offering some choices and denying others.

You have to ruthlessly prioritize.

Once you accept anything as tacked down, then you begin to build a structure, to accept limits. Then you have to make a choice as to whether or not you're going to accept that structure. If you do, you give up the notion of total freedom.

I can DO ANYTHING I want, but I can't DO EVERYTHING I want.

What you decide not to do is probably more important that what you decide to do.

When making a decision, focus on what feels "shackles off" versus "shackles on".

It is one thing to make a choice and it is another thing to never have the chance.