How to be ruthless — 6 smart ways
There are 6 smart ways to be ruthless. (On Medium, Twitter & in real life.)
You’re already ruthless.
Here’s how I know: There are 7,000,000,000+ people on the planet. Most of their names, you haven’t even bothered to learn. How rude.
You’ll deign to cross paths with (maybe) a few hundred today. Most of those, you’ll ignore. Ruder still.
Maybe 3 dozen will have the benefit of a short conversation with you. “Latte, please …. Thanks.” Perhaps one dozen, a lengthy conversation. At most, a half dozen will have multiple conversations with you.
Wow. You are just …. so unfair.
Of course you are.
You just haven’t been honest with yourself about it.
Maybe you even feel guilty about it because …. there’s so much inequality in the world, after all ….
You can’t avoid being ruthless. You just need to be smart about it.
Here’s how to be Smart AND Ruthless:
1. Unfollow Fools
Sad fact: Fools exist. And they seem to seek me (and you) out.
2. Really Unfollow the Wicked
2. One Nuclear Wicked can ruin your whole life.
3. My wife and kids, get as much of me as they want.
Because they ARE most of me. Crazy to pretend otherwise.
4. Treasure old friends.
What they say about wine? It’s true.
5. Cultivate relationships with the Wisest I Can Find
They go into a Twitter (and mental) list labelled The Wise, and get 80% of my attention.
6. Keep the door open for other Wisdom-Seekers to find me.
Some people see wisdom in me. Crazy, I know. So I am generous with them, as The Wise have been generous with me.
Apply these 6 rules of thumb, and you’ll be as smartly ruthless as Genghis Khan.
