On the podcast—and here a little bit in the emails—we’ve received a lot of feedback for what I call “The Daily 3.” Simply, three things that I have read about or thought about over the last few days … and have something to say about.

Today, I just have one thing.

I read a lot for what I do. As a rule of thumb, I dedicate two hours a day to serious reading, whether that is books, newsletters, or stuff I find on the internet. I am also on a lot of different email lists, so I pick through a lot of great stuff each day.

And I make notes. Something I recommend for everyone—and do it in your own way. I have many methods that all work concurrently.

Not the most organized, but that is, ironically, one of the "creative" sparks that gets me thinking about “The Daily 3.”

In one of my sessions today, I came across something I wrote down several weeks back.

Sounds great. Get in touch with your “inner self.”

Except, do I really believe it?

Sure, vulnerability has its place. Yet, I’m not sure most people understand what this person was trying to say.

I’m not even sure the “maxim-generator” even knows what he or she was talking about either. Some may say that they were “signaling virtue.” But even then, one must consider if “vulnerability” is even virtuous.

It takes some time and effort to ponder. The jury is still out for me.

Don’t let the world harden you…

Again, sounds fine. But we often need armor to protect us against the foolishness that surrounds us in this world every day.

Take the crusading knight—the mascot, if you will, of The Brian D. O’Leary Show. The historical Crusader wore armor and chainmail to protect himself from the savagery of the infidel warlords in the Holy Land.

The Crusader wasn’t about to let himself be “vulnerable” when a mission as important as the fate of the Western world was at hand.

In today’s world, we’re dealing with a different enemy, but that enemy nevertheless takes advantage of the “vulnerable” in society. We need some sort of armor—physical or otherwise—to protect us from these forces.

Doing the podcast several times per week and “coaching” people in sports, “life,” and business has given me time to think about all this. There may be a time and place for vulnerability, but certainly not in your entrepreneurial journey.

We certainly recognize the need for vulnerability here—say, personal relationships, for instance—but we need to harden ourselves against those vultures who seek to peck away at us daily.

Ideas like this are just some of the things we talk about with our people.

As always,

Brian

P.S. — as I wrote this, the 1980 single by Portland band Seafood Mama—later known as Quarterflash—called “Harden My Heart” came to mind. The songstress hardened her heart and swallowed her tears.

Not vulnerable, but tough.

Maybe she was on to something. https://youtu.be/83Feo8XDMDQ