Find Your Brian
“In any given moment
we have two options:
to step forward into growth
or to step back into safety.”
Abraham Maslow
My Problem
I accidentally stumbled across Brian Johnson a couple of years ago. I found him because I have a serious problem, and I found that he could help. The problem I suffer from is a love of books. I especially love non-fiction, self-development books. There are so many great books on the topic of living life better and therein lies my problem. My ability to consume books lags greatly behind my desire to consume them. I simply cannot read everything I want to read. I found Brian, and more than anyone else, he has helped me cope with my problem.
Brian Can Help
Brian Johnson is a modern day philosopher, “lover of wisdom.” He is a life coach and life optimizer. He ferociously consumes wisdom and shares it in practical, bite-size lessons. Brian writes brief summaries and records short videos that he has dubbed his Philosophers Notes. He also creates brief, daily Plus One lessons and longer Master Class lessons. He is AMAZING and I highly recommend his work. Check him out at Optimize.me.
Finding Brian
Back to my problem, I simply cannot read all of the books that interest me. So as a coping strategy, I read several book summaries and watch several video book summaries. I came across Brian and his Philosophers Notes TV on one summary search and instantly became a fan. The quality of his work is fantastic. I was also excited to find he had quite a library of great books that he’s highlighted. Brian is a terrific teacher and his love of learning is contagious. Through his work, I have been introduced to numerous books and writers that I have come to love and cherish. I can’t read everything, but Brian does a great job of giving me nuggets of wisdom while directing me to the next gem. Although I’ve never met Brian, I am so glad I’ve met his work.
Brian's Brian
I love Brian’s enthusiasm for great thinkers and their wisdom. It’s fun to watch him light up as he talks about these men and women as though they are his dear friends. One writer Brian particularly loves is Abraham Maslow. Maslow is best known for his work with the hierarchy of needs. Brian's work is greatly influenced by Maslow's teaching on self-actualization and the fact that every moment, we have two choices. We can step forward into growth or back into safety. Brian call these the +1 / -1 decisions of our lives. If we step forward into growth, that is a plus one decision. If we step back into safety, that’s a minus one decision. By choosing to step forward into growth moment by moment, we can continually close the gap between who we are now and who we potentially can be. In fact, Maslow is also quoted as saying, “what we can be, we must be. This need is self-actualization.”
Plus One
Imagine stepping forward into growth every day and the impact that would make on your life. Imagine the impact of stepping forward into growth multiple times a day. Now imagine stepping forward into growth moment to moment, day by day, year after year. Those “plus one”s would really start to add up.
Looking back at my problem, I've found a strategy and a coach to help me continue stepping forward. I still read every day, and I still seek my fullest potential. I do this by seeking wisdom and applying practical practices to my life. I’m seeking to live life better by becoming the best version of myself. To do this, I will continue being an avid reader and an avid learner. I will continue being a lover of knowledge. By filling my life with a series of “plus one” moments, I know I am moving forward into growth and into actualizing my full potential. Finding Brian has helped me step forward into the growth I desire. Thank you, Brian.
I Hope You Have a Problem
So what does this mean for you? I hope it means you have a problem. I hope the problem is that you have a need for wisdom, for growth, and for self-actualization. I hope you have the problem that you are consumed with becoming the best version of yourself for yourself and for others. I hope you greet, welcome, and embrace this problem as you step forward into growth moment to moment.
I hope you find your Brian.
I hope you step forward.
I hope you enjoy the day.
