[October 21, 2022] A week ago, I published my book “55 Rules for a Good Life.” I’m upbeat about it because the message is so positive. And for that reason and because of my readership here at www.theleadermaker.com, I’m quoting from the last chapter. Call this a teaser. Or, call it just a way to continue philosophizing (I dislike that word) on how to make ourselves better (right!). Today is part 1, and I call it “a few things to think about.”
This book will not tell you how to live. But it will tell you about what you can do to live properly. By bearing the greatest burden, by looking at what you most fear, and by holding your head up and looking people in the eye, you can live a good life.
So, don’t overestimate yourself, but don’t underestimate who you could be. That is a far better way of thinking about your life. We have heard a message from social scientists and philosophers – at least since the 1960s – that we should be content with ourselves and be happy the way we are. We can feel better, they say, by building up our self-esteem. These scientists have it wrong. You are nowhere near what you could be, not even close.
I have a far more optimistic message.
“You ain’t seen nuttin’ yet.” … now, that’s the right message. You have so much influence as an individual if only you can get your act together. It is unbelievable what you can do. You have so much influence as a person. You have all the power, where you are right now, to put things right around you. You may not believe it, but it is true.
Start now, develop a noble vision of who you could be and put that into practice; develop some discipline, study the great works of the past, learn to read, write, speak, and think and do them all with seriousness in your heart. You will be unbeatable. The way to do this is to do something not often done. Put your emphasis on individual responsibility. The right way to do this is to start with yourself. Develop a worthwhile vision for your life. Start thinking about what that would look like if you could be who you could be. If you could be the person that you would admire, who would that person be? That is maturity, that is being a grown-up, and that is being a person anyone can admire.
Tomorrow, part 2. I think you will like my message that anyone can be successful and there is nothing holding us back except ourselves.
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Please read my books:
Loved this whole series.
Gen. Satterfield tells it straight, pulls no punches, makes the point that if you are a victim (self-described or not) than you are keeping yourself down and you can pull yourself up out of it regardless of your circumstances.
—— and congratulations to GEN. Satterfield for finally getting his latest book out. –
—— if you don’t have a copy of ’55 Rules for a Good Life,” then order it today from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737915529/
Thanks Gen. Satterfield for making this chapter in your new book available for us. It allows us some time to think about how you think in your book. So far, so good.
Hi, new to this site. Just to say I like what I read. Impressed by what I see.
Welcome Julia. 🥸
Welcome Julia and I hope you are a regular here.
Excellent article. Very informative. 🇮🇹
Hogwash (to use one of Gen. Satterfield’s favorite putdowns), the state matters most. The individual is there to serve the state and that is why everyone in communist nations are exactly equal.
Yep, everyone in communist nations are exactly equal, exactly poor and tyrannized.
Good answer Frankie Boy. Come on Commie Red, you should know by now that the world figured out long ago that the individual is sovereign, not the state.
😀😀😀😀😀
Good points.
Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility. —– Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Gen. Satterfield wrote “Start now, develop a noble vision of who you could be and put that into practice; develop some discipline, study the great works of the past, learn to read, write, speak, and think and do them all with seriousness in your heart. You will be unbeatable. ” POW! Now that says something.
Exactly Fred and to the point. Saying a lot in few words. Classic Gen. Satterfield.
Thanks for another spot on article, Gen. Satterfield and congratulations on ur new book.
Great job and I ordered your book a couple of days ago and also got another copy of “Our Longest Year in Iraq.” I love what you write and have been a huge fan on your blog now for many months.
Me too, thanks Liz. We are both huge fans and I the more I read this leadership forum, the more I see others who have a lot of great things to say. I hope that I can contribute too. I know that I’m not an expert by any stretch of the imagination but I’ll do my best to contribute to the discussion at hand, whatever that may be. I’d like to ask GEN Satterfield to write about our young generation just graduating from High School and what he thinks about their future. Just asking. Thanks.
Great, thank you Gen. Satterfield and I look forward to Part 2. 😉💕👌✔😊
Nice, I’m ordering your new book 55 Rules for a Good Life today. Gen. Satterfield, what will your next book be?
I think it should be on the state of the Millenials and their fall from grace and worth.
Yeah, now that will really be something to read about and how they are basement dwellers and playing video games all day. Or are they the savior of our nation? What will it be?
I think he should write a book on the state of today’s US military and the problems incurred thru wokeism.