The Vine

When a remarkable group of thinkers collaborates to create a book of inspiration and provocation, you pay attention. Better yet, when they give it away for free as a downloadable ebook, you pay nothing.

What Matters Now is a collection of short pieces—things to think about and do—contributed by business leaders, bestselling authors, philanthropists, activists and academics. (Among them Seth Godin, Tom Peters, Guy Kawasaki, Dan Pink, Elizabeth Gilbert and Jacqueline Novogratz.) And its creators actively want you to take it, quote from it, and share it with others.

Arianna Huffington extols the virtues of sleep and encourages us to trade multi-tasking for uni-tasking (and sometimes even no-tasking). Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh reveals how everything he knows about running a business was learned from playing poker. Penelope Trunk offers a thoughtful perspective on being comfortable where you are and making the people around you feel comfortable too—all the more poignant considering she has Asperger Syndrome.

Tim Sanders reflects on the origins of confidence. Mitch Joel urges businesses to behave more like communities. And Jason Fried and Gary Vaynerchuk simply want us to get better at saying “I’m sorry” and “Thank you.” 

This entry from Gina Trapani might be my favorite.

Getting things done is not the same as making things happen.

You can…
…reply to email.
…pay the bills.
…cross off to-do’s.
…fulfill your obligation.
…repeat what you heard.
…go with the flow.
…anticipate roadblocks.
…aim for “good enough.”

Or you can…
…organize a community.
…take a risk.
…set ambitious goals.
…give more than you take.
…change perceptions.
…forge a new path.
…create possibility.
…demand excellence.

Don’t worry too much about getting things done.

Make things happen.

Sounds like a great resolution to me. New Year’s or any time.