The Invisible Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘Analects of Confucius’

Each year, the Samsung Economic Research Institute (SERI) in Korea conducts a survey of CEOs on their reading habits and recommendable books. The results of the latest survey are now available, and 392 CEOs responded. For this year, the most sought-after reading topics include: coexistence with nature, humans and society, and tips on new businesses and business expansion; finding peace of mind and achieving your hopes.

For the six years that SERI has conducted the survey, an increasing number of CEOs are reading more than three books each month. Here are the 14 books that the CEOs and SERI researchers recommend:

1. What Would Google Do?, Jeff Jarvis,
2. Marketing 3.0, Philip Kotler
3. China’s Megatrend, by John Naisbitt
4. Rediscovery of Japan, Lee Woo-gwang
5. Kings of the Joseon Dynasty, Lee Deok-il
6. The Analects of Confucius and the Abacus, Shibusawa Eiichi
7. The Analects of Confucius on One Hand with an Abacus in the Other
8. Hon Chang Tong, Lee Ji-hoon
9. Gan-song Jeon Hyeong-pil
10. Justice, Michael J. Sandel
11. Aging Well, George E. Vaillant
12. The Five Forces Running World History: Desire, Modernism, Imperialism, Monsters and Religions, Takashi Saito
13. SuperFreakonomics, Steven D. Levitt
14. Sway, Ori Brafman

I have not read any of these books (I have read the Analects of Confucius and Freakonomics), how about you? What are you reading these days? Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.

I did a guest for Josh Hanagarne at The World’s Strongest Librarian, Heavy Hitting Ideas From Heavy Hitting Books, and one of the commenters, Carlon suggested Enchiridion by Epictetus so I decided to read and review it. You can get a free copy of Enchiridion on the internet and it’s a very short book so it’s easy to read. Enchiridion is simple wisdom about life.

One of the things I wanted to do on this blog is to review books off the beaten path that contains ancient wisdom, books that make you think. But, I have been reading a lot of more contemporary works. It struck me to do both so that I could compare and contrast the contents of books from yesterday with those of today to enhance the learning and user experience.

Epictetus, a Greek Philosopher was born AD 55. In Enchiridion, there are 52 ideas that we can apply to life. Epictetus advocates self-responsibility and self-discipline and he explains the difference between the things that are within our control, and those outside our control, the uncontrollable.  “The things in our control are by nature free, unrestrained, unhindered; but those not in our control are weak, slavish, restrained, belonging to others. Remember, then, that if you suppose that things which are slavish by nature are also free, and that what belongs to others is your own, then you will be hindered.” Knowing that distinction, allows us to stop trying to control the uncontrollable. I liked the idea of “Don’t be prideful with any excellence that is not your own” because so many people brag about the accomplishments of others, as if they had a hand in it.

As I am reading Epictetus, I am being reminded of books such as the Analects of Confucius and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, which are filled with laws and ideas to live by. Please read the posts A Review of The Analects of Confucius and Review of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Here are 10 ideas that I extracted from the book.

10 Great Ideas

1. Do not be averse to things not in your control because you will surely be disappointed
2. If you are going to perform a task, first think about the nature of the task and how you are going to perform it
3. People are disturbed by things because of the principle and ideas they have about those things. For example, some people are disturbed by death because of their ideas and beliefs about death.
4. “Sickness is a hindrance to the body, but not to your ability to choose, unless that is your choice. Lameness is a hindrance to the leg, but not to your ability to choose. Say this to yourself with regard to everything that happens, then you will see such obstacles.” This is important today in the way we often view people with disabilities, they have a disability, they are not a disability
5. “Don’t demand that things happen as you wish, but wish that they happen as they do happen, and you will go on well” is a good one for me because I have a tendency to want to control things.
6. View your possessions as things you have been given to take care of for a time. Never say of anything, “I have lost it”; but, “I have returned it.”
7. “For another will not hurt you unless you please. You will then be hurt when you think you are hurt.”
8. Don’t tell, demonstrate
9. It’s none of your business what others say or think about you.
10. “Don’t wish to be thought to know anything; and even if you appear to be somebody important to others, distrust yourself”

I would like to further explore the idea of viewing your possessions as if they were on loan to you. One example he gives is people losing their estates should view the situation as “I have returned my estate.” This is a tough one, but would viewing the loss of of a home, your shelter, be easier if you decided that it was time to return it? Would it hurt less? What are your thoughts? There is much wisdom within the pages of Enchiridion, and though I understand many of his ideas, some of them are difficult to take even though it would make life easier. Many of the ideas go against the grain, including viewing the loss of a house as it being returned.

I recommend Enchiridion because it is not only filled with wisdom, but it goes against the grain so it takes us out of our comfort zone which can lead to innovative thinking. What ideas can you use from Enchiridion?

Keep the conversation flowing please comment. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

For your research and writing needs, consider my firm Ambeck Enterprise for white papers, articles, fact sheets, anniversary booklets, you name it. Since I am the best kept secret you may not know this, but I have over 15 years research and writing experience. I KNOW content. And if you cannot figure out which books to read for professional development, I am your WOMAN. I can assist you with that too. Visit my sales page for resources such as The Invisible Mentor Toolkit to assist you in acquiring wisdom from a distance.

Links to books are affiliate links

References: Compliments of Apture

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

By Benjamin Franklin

A few days ago I posted a blog titled “Benjamin Franklin in 10 Tweets,” and thought it would be a great follow-up to have today’s post. I reviewed The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin for Ambeck Edge in November 2004 and recommended it with reservation because it was so difficult to read. Four years later, in 2008, I read The Autobiography and Other Writings (Penguin Classics), and found it was easier to read the second time around. Here is the original book review, and the sections highlighted in red are new information that I have added to the review.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is an excellent book, but very difficult to read. It is written in old English and not structured in a way that you would expect. It took three attempts for me to finally read it through. To read this book and get the most from it, you need to set aside at least two hours. This is not a book to read in 15-minute time slots, and you’ll need an open mind when reading it.

The effort you make in reading this book is well worth it. Even though the information in this book was originally recorded in a manuscript in the 1700s, it’s timeless, and reaffirms that there are no new ideas. You will come away feeling richer. There are many lessons you can learn from reading this book. I am amazed at the way he used information to educate the masses.

Franklin wanted to introduce what he called a public subscription library, but when he tried to get the subscriptions, people objected and were reluctant to participate because it was “Franklin’s project”. He immediately learned that it was often more important to relinquish control of a project to benefit humanity if doing so would make it be accepted.

In the book, Franklin talks about his 13 virtues, which he tried to integrate into his life – temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility. He chose a virtue and focused on it for the entire week. Benjamin Franklin wanted to be morally perfect, but found perfection to be elusive. He realized that being perfect wasn’t possible, but he was glad he tried because he was a happier and better man after trying. Some of the virtues may not make sense in today’s world, but it is still worth thinking about. In May 2009 while I was reading The Analects of Confucius, Confucius outlined precepts to live by which reminded me of Franklin’s 13 virtues.

Franklin was also an excellent time manager, accounting for every minute in the day and would never go to bed without first examining his day. As I am revisiting this book review, I am reminded of Socrates‘ famous quote “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Benjamin Franklin, inventor, printer, publisher, business owner, franchiser, master of strategic alliances, fundraiser and so much more, gives new meaning to the terms “Jack of all Trades” and workaholic.

Five Great Ideas

1. Develop a Code of  Conduct for the way you live and work, so that when situations arise you know how to respond
2. Provide useful information to your clients
3. After making the first $1 million, it is easier to make the second
4. Before going into partnerships, develop contracts with clearly defined expectations and exit clauses to protect all involved parties
5. History is filled with mistakes, learn from them

I recommend this book with reservation because even though it’s so difficult to read.

Related Posts

Benjamin Franklin in 10 Tweets
What Does This Benjamin Franklin Quote Mean to You?
The Analects of Confucius

Excerpt from  Ambeck Edge, November 2004