Most of us don't work out what we want. And most of us end up with lopsided lives as a result.

There is no rush. If we think intelligently about what we can achieve with our time, we can be relaxed, even lazy. In fact, being lazy - having plenty of time to think - may actually be a precondition for achieving a great deal.

The few things that work fantastically well should be identified, cultivated, nurtured, and multiplied.

Celebrate exceptional productivity, rather than raise average efforts.

What could you achieve that would make you proud, that no one else could do with the same ease?

It may be that you will be happiest in the rat race; perhaps, like me, you are basically a rat.

Instead of expending time to train yourself not to be afraid of snakes, avoid them altogether.