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Tom Morris

Great Ideas. With Power. And Fun.
About Tom
Books
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Retreats
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ScrapBook
The 7 Cs of Success
The Four Foundations
Plato's Lemonade Stand
New Book on Steve Jobs
Limits.jpg

Limits

We typically talk about limits as if they're always a bad thing. Because of this, I've seen lots of organizations and even corporate and association meetings given names like "Without Limits" or "Limitless" or "No Limits!" It's the ultimate cheerleading motto. Abundance. Infinity. Ultimate Expansiveness. The World is Yours. No, the Entire Universe - And Infinitely Beyond!

The problem is that we all have limits. And if we don't know them and respect them, we get into deep trouble. The great Anglo Saxon epic Beowulf, one of my favorite books, is about a guy who bought the "no limits" hype in his own time, and thought he was immune to failure. And that, ironically, set him up for his ultimate demise.

In Mary Shelley's classic cautionary tale of success and failure, the novel Frankenstein, Dr. Victor Frankenstein doesn't know his limits, either, and a world-class mess ensues.

Consider the oldest human epic story, from 2,700 BC, Gilgamesh. It's only when King Gilgamesh - handsome, powerful, narcissistic, and insatiably hedonistic - discovers the most basic of his limits that he's transformed into a good leader and king.

The wise thing to do is to live creatively within your limits, and at other times, at your limits, or even on them, in something like a high wire existential balancing act. But to pretend they don't exist is both wrong and dangerous. Our limits give us form, and without form, there is no substance, no distinctive, individual existence. We can rhetorically dismiss limits or deny them, but we're impoverished and even imperilled if we don't know and navigate by them.

How about you? What are your limits? How can you recognize them, respect them, even embrace them, and act with them in mind while you, nonetheless, dream big, aim high, and accomplish the seemingly impossible?

I'm a fan of outrageous greatness. I believe in the extraordinary. We should reject and blast through any unhelpful and artificial limits. But I think that knowing our real limits and wisely working within them can alone get us to where we most need to be.

And any philosophy that doesn't see with this is far too ... limited.

Newer:Half-Hearted Half-LivesOlder:To Sit in a Small Room Well
PostedJanuary 13, 2015
AuthorTom Morris
CategoriesAdvice, Attitude, Life, Leadership, Wisdom
TagsLimits, Greatness, Abundance, Success, Secrets to Success, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Frankenstein, Tom Morris, TomVMorris

Some things that may be of interest. Click the images below for access, or for more! Tom

The New Book, Fall 2018!

The New Book, Fall 2018!

On stage in front of a room full of leaders and high achievers from across the globe.

On stage in front of a room full of leaders and high achievers from across the globe.

Maybe, my favorite book of all time. Published in 1905, it's a charming and compelling tale about the power of the imagination and simple kindness in dealing with great difficulties. You'll love it. Click the cover to find it on Amazon!

Maybe, my favorite book of all time. Published in 1905, it's a charming and compelling tale about the power of the imagination and simple kindness in dealing with great difficulties. You'll love it. Click the cover to find it on Amazon!

My favorite photo and quote from the first week of my new blog:

My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon. -  Mizuta Masahide

My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon. - Mizuta Masahide

I'll Rise Up and Fly.

When I was young I thought I could fly. If I ran just right I'd rise into the sky and go over the yard and the house and the trees until, floating a bit, I'd catch a good breeze and neighbors would see and squint into the sun and say "Come here and look at what this kid has done!" I'd continue to rise, and with such a big smile, my grin could be viewed at least for a mile. And, even today I think, if I try, the time may yet come when I'll rise up and fly. (TM)

When I was young
I thought I could fly.
If I ran just right
I'd rise into the sky
and go over the yard and the house and the trees
until, floating a bit,
I'd catch a good breeze
and neighbors would see
and squint into the sun
and say "Come here and look
at what this kid has done!"
I'd continue to rise,
and with such a big smile,
my grin could be viewed
at least for a mile.
And, even today
I think, if I try,
the time may yet come
when I'll rise up and fly. (TM)

My Favorite Recent Photo: A young lady named Jubilee gets off to a head start in life by diving into some philosophy!

My Favorite Recent Photo: A young lady named Jubilee gets off to a head start in life by diving into some philosophy!

Great new Elizabeth Gilbert book on creative living and the creative experience.

Great new Elizabeth Gilbert book on creative living and the creative experience.

The back flap author photo on the new book  The Oasis Within .

The back flap author photo on the new book The Oasis Within.

A great little adventure novel about risk and loss and love and friendship. And books! And food! And France, from Paris to Provence!  Click here!

A great little adventure novel about risk and loss and love and friendship. And books! And food! And France, from Paris to Provence! Click here!

My favorite book in years. You'll be surprised at how much philosophy you get from this page-turner of a story.  Click it!

My favorite book in years. You'll be surprised at how much philosophy you get from this page-turner of a story. Click it!

Something different. Paola Requena. Classical guitar. Sonata HerĂ³ica.

Two minutes on a perspective that can change a business or a life.

On the beach where we do retreats, February 16, 2018, 77 degrees. Philosophy in shorts and a T shirt done right.

On the beach where we do retreats, February 16, 2018, 77 degrees. Philosophy in shorts and a T shirt done right.

So many people have asked to see one of my old Winnie the Pooh TV commercials and I just found one! Here it is:

Long ago and far away, on a Hollywood sound stage, I appeared in two network ads for the wise Pooh, to promote his adventures on Disney Home Videos. For two years, I was The National Spokesman for that most philosophical bear. This is one of the ads. I had a bad case of the flu but I hope you can't tell. A-Choo!

Now, for something truly unexpected:

Five Years ago, a friend surprised me by creating an online shop of stuff based on my Twitter Feed. I had forgotten all about it, but stumbled across it today. I should get this shirt for when I'm an old man, and have my home address printed on the back, along with, "Return if Found." Click to see the other stuff! I do love the dog sweaters.

Five Years ago, a friend surprised me by creating an online shop of stuff based on my Twitter Feed. I had forgotten all about it, but stumbled across it today. I should get this shirt for when I'm an old man, and have my home address printed on the back, along with, "Return if Found." Click to see the other stuff! I do love the dog sweaters.

Cat videos go philosophical. The now famous Henri Le Chat Noir, existential hero. Click image for the first video I saw and loved.

Cat videos go philosophical. The now famous Henri Le Chat Noir, existential hero. Click image for the first video I saw and loved.

The next business book I'm buying. It's about how ideals power business growth. For a great short video, click  here . For the book,  here .

The next business book I'm buying. It's about how ideals power business growth. For a great short video, click here. For the book, here.

Another Musical Interlude. Two guys with guitars, one an unusual classical seven string, one a bass, but playing chords.

After hearing my talk "True Success," people often ask me how I discovered what I call "The 7 Cs of Success." This new ebook, exclusively available on zolabooks.com, is the answer. In it, I carry on a dialogue with a sample of great thinkers who've understood the keys to life and business success. I go to  The Tao Te Ching, The Analects of Confucius , the letters of Cicero, and through the centuries. Click the cover to go see this book! And thanks for coming to visit!

After hearing my talk "True Success," people often ask me how I discovered what I call "The 7 Cs of Success." This new ebook, exclusively available on zolabooks.com, is the answer. In it, I carry on a dialogue with a sample of great thinkers who've understood the keys to life and business success. I go to The Tao Te Ching, The Analects of Confucius, the letters of Cicero, and through the centuries. Click the cover to go see this book! And thanks for coming to visit!

I memorized the "To be or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet months ago, and recite it nearly daily. It's longer than you think, and is a powerful meditation on life and motivation, fear, and the unknown. To find some good 3 minute videos of actors performing these lines, click  here . Watch Branaugh and Gibson for very different takes.

I memorized the "To be or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet months ago, and recite it nearly daily. It's longer than you think, and is a powerful meditation on life and motivation, fear, and the unknown. To find some good 3 minute videos of actors performing these lines, click here. Watch Branaugh and Gibson for very different takes.

This is a book I read recently, and it's one of the best I've read in years on happiness and success. Shawn helped teach the famous Harvard course on happiness, and brings the best of that research and more into this great book. Click on it. I think you'll like it!

This is a book I read recently, and it's one of the best I've read in years on happiness and success. Shawn helped teach the famous Harvard course on happiness, and brings the best of that research and more into this great book. Click on it. I think you'll like it!

A favorite performance of the great Brazilian bossa nova song Wave, by Tom Jobim. Notice Marjorie Estiano's fun, the older guitarist's passion, the flutist's zen. Marjorie's little laugh at the end says it all. That should be how we all feel about our work. Gladness. Joy.

I happened across this great book on death and life after death. Because of some uncanny experiences surrounding the death of her father and sister, this journalist began to research issues involving death. Her conclusions are careful and well documented. If you're interested in this topic, you'll find this book clear, fascinating, and helpful. A Must Read! For my recent conversation with the author on HuffPo, click  here .

I happened across this great book on death and life after death. Because of some uncanny experiences surrounding the death of her father and sister, this journalist began to research issues involving death. Her conclusions are careful and well documented. If you're interested in this topic, you'll find this book clear, fascinating, and helpful. A Must Read! For my recent conversation with the author on HuffPo, click here.

Henri discovers the first book about his unique philosophical ponderings. Click image for the short video.

Henri discovers the first book about his unique philosophical ponderings. Click image for the short video.

Just read this book, which was recommended by a friend. It's a great step by step account of how to build a public and social media platform for any service or product you have.

Just read this book, which was recommended by a friend. It's a great step by step account of how to build a public and social media platform for any service or product you have.

This is the only ebook version of my first presentation of the 7 Cs of Success, and is another ZolaBooks exclusive. It's now available in ebook form for the first time since its initial publication in 1994. See how all my practical philosophy got started! I still consult this book!

This is the only ebook version of my first presentation of the 7 Cs of Success, and is another ZolaBooks exclusive. It's now available in ebook form for the first time since its initial publication in 1994. See how all my practical philosophy got started! I still consult this book!

My favorite website to visit nearly every day. Maria Popova may read more and write more than any other human being on earth, and her reports are always amazingly interesting. This is really brain candy, but with serious nutritional benefits as well. Visit her often!

My favorite website to visit nearly every day. Maria Popova may read more and write more than any other human being on earth, and her reports are always amazingly interesting. This is really brain candy, but with serious nutritional benefits as well. Visit her often!

One of my newest talk topics is "Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great." Based on the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," this talk is about how to do exactly that. Inquire for my availability through the contact page above! Let's stir something up!

One of my newest talk topics is "Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great." Based on the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," this talk is about how to do exactly that. Inquire for my availability through the contact page above! Let's stir something up!

A frequent inspiration. Monday, 30, April 2012. Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli perform "Time to Say Goodbye." Notice how they indwell the lyrics, and still manage to relate to each other so demonstratively.

My friend Bill Powers writes on how to handle the technology in your life and stay sane. A beautiful meditation on how we've always struggled with the new new thing, and sometimes win. Recommended!

My friend Bill Powers writes on how to handle the technology in your life and stay sane. A beautiful meditation on how we've always struggled with the new new thing, and sometimes win. Recommended!

Above is a short video on finding fulfillment in anything you do, that was taped a few years ago. I hope you enjoy it!

This is a beautiful and difficult book on the odd relationship between repeated failure and eventual success. It's full of great stories and moments of meditation. You will find yourself teasing out the insights, but they're powerful and worth the work.

This is a beautiful and difficult book on the odd relationship between repeated failure and eventual success. It's full of great stories and moments of meditation. You will find yourself teasing out the insights, but they're powerful and worth the work.

One of the best books in the past year or more, G&T is a wonderful look at how givers can rise high. Grant is the youngest tenured professor at Wharton and its most popular teacher. Here, he shows why! A really good book.

One of the best books in the past year or more, G&T is a wonderful look at how givers can rise high. Grant is the youngest tenured professor at Wharton and its most popular teacher. Here, he shows why! A really good book.

The Core of Wisdom. Always. Seek This.