Ben Wilson

And I look at you guys and it feels meaningful and I can't explain it. But even when we're just sitting around the pool talking about whatever, it still feels very deep. I'm just happy to be at the table. Okay, so stripping away all those layers of fake friendship and fake connection, you know, that we're such happy friends and we have so much in common, everything is great.

And I look at you guys and it feels meaningful and I can't explain it. But even when we're just sitting around the pool talking about whatever, it still feels very deep. I'm just happy to be at the table. Okay, so stripping away all those layers of fake friendship and fake connection, you know, that we're such happy friends and we have so much in common, everything is great.

By doing that, she's able to get to the bottom of what really makes their friendship. And that allows them to connect more deeply. I also think that that sort of deep self-aware honesty allows you to discover the truth about yourself, right? One of the first maxims that Rochefoucauld gives that influences everything else he writes about is our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised.

By doing that, she's able to get to the bottom of what really makes their friendship. And that allows them to connect more deeply. I also think that that sort of deep self-aware honesty allows you to discover the truth about yourself, right? One of the first maxims that Rochefoucauld gives that influences everything else he writes about is our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised.

And on the one hand, again, this could be interpreted very cynically. Oh, you know, you're acting like you have this great virtue, but it's just a disguised vice. You're not really so virtuous after all. But I would also submit that this is just true. I mean, let's look at this in a different context, okay?

And on the one hand, again, this could be interpreted very cynically. Oh, you know, you're acting like you have this great virtue, but it's just a disguised vice. You're not really so virtuous after all. But I would also submit that this is just true. I mean, let's look at this in a different context, okay?

The book Make Something Wonderful has a great quote from Steve Jobs about something very similar. An interviewer asks him, what do you think your weaknesses are when it comes to management? And Steve responds, Okay. So first of all, let's just take a moment to recognize how great this is. An interviewer asks Steve Jobs what his greatest weaknesses are. And he says, you know, I don't know.

The book Make Something Wonderful has a great quote from Steve Jobs about something very similar. An interviewer asks him, what do you think your weaknesses are when it comes to management? And Steve responds, Okay. So first of all, let's just take a moment to recognize how great this is. An interviewer asks Steve Jobs what his greatest weaknesses are. And he says, you know, I don't know.

Strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin, but here are my strengths. So I think you should try this in your next interview. When someone asks you your biggest weakness says, well, you know, actually strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin. So here's why I'm great even more. But I think he's making the exact same point as Rochefoucault.

Strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin, but here are my strengths. So I think you should try this in your next interview. When someone asks you your biggest weakness says, well, you know, actually strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin. So here's why I'm great even more. But I think he's making the exact same point as Rochefoucault.

Your strengths and your weaknesses are two sides of the same coin. Your virtues are really just your vices in disguise. And I think this has two major implications. One, you need to be careful about addressing your weaknesses because you just might be risking the same thing that makes you great. If you eliminate this vice where the flip side is your great virtue...

Your strengths and your weaknesses are two sides of the same coin. Your virtues are really just your vices in disguise. And I think this has two major implications. One, you need to be careful about addressing your weaknesses because you just might be risking the same thing that makes you great. If you eliminate this vice where the flip side is your great virtue...

then that might not be a worthwhile trade-off to eliminate that vice. Now, of course, that doesn't mean you never address your weaknesses, but you do need to be very careful when you're doing so. You know, Napoleon had this swashbuckling cavalryman, Murat, but he had a great line about him. Napoleon says, every army needs one Murat, but if it has two, one of them will need to be shot.

then that might not be a worthwhile trade-off to eliminate that vice. Now, of course, that doesn't mean you never address your weaknesses, but you do need to be very careful when you're doing so. You know, Napoleon had this swashbuckling cavalryman, Murat, but he had a great line about him. Napoleon says, every army needs one Murat, but if it has two, one of them will need to be shot.

Okay, so in other words, every army needs one crazy guy who will just charge into the enemy and attack no matter what. And this will inspire other men, but he's also somewhat chaotic. And if you have two of those guys, then that's too much chaos and you have to execute one of them. So obviously you can see that there, for this guy Murat, his strength and his weakness are the same thing.

Okay, so in other words, every army needs one crazy guy who will just charge into the enemy and attack no matter what. And this will inspire other men, but he's also somewhat chaotic. And if you have two of those guys, then that's too much chaos and you have to execute one of them. So obviously you can see that there, for this guy Murat, his strength and his weakness are the same thing.

And so if you try to tell him, hey, rein it in, calm down, try being a little more obedient and level-headed, then what would be the point of having a Murat in your army? His virtue is his vice disguised. The other big implication is that finding your weaknesses can help you find your strengths. Let your shadow guide you.

And so if you try to tell him, hey, rein it in, calm down, try being a little more obedient and level-headed, then what would be the point of having a Murat in your army? His virtue is his vice disguised. The other big implication is that finding your weaknesses can help you find your strengths. Let your shadow guide you.

So many people are afraid of their vices, their foibles, the bad elements of their nature. But maybe, just maybe, you can let that guide you to success. For example, if you're ever with me at a dinner party,

So many people are afraid of their vices, their foibles, the bad elements of their nature. But maybe, just maybe, you can let that guide you to success. For example, if you're ever with me at a dinner party,