Things that surprised me today

1. Reading War & Peace

Reading the section where Napoleon gets to Smolenska and how the villagers burned it down rather than let him enjoy it.

2. Insight about history being a result of the interaction of multiple personalities and quirks

In War & Peace, Tolstoy commented that history is believed to be understood in hindsight as events caused by Great Men, when events are really caused by multiples of people, personalities and interactions that cause a result. He spends several chapters showing how Napoleon’s Napoleon ending up trying to get to Moscow in Winter instead of trying to force an engagement as he had been doing in earlier battles. Politics and people hating on a specific General resulted in the Russians retreating rather than fighting. It will be interesting to learn more about the Wagner revolt after the Ukraine war is over.

3. A question asked in a class on creating / refining your Leadership Brand

In the Linked In learning class, the teacher asked us: Why do you enjoy leading? And how can you enhance that thing you enjoy? I have never thought about this question.

4. A Buddhist class called “Medicine for Fear”. Today’s lecture was on Knowing How to be Satisfied

He surprised me by asking questions about why we can’t be satisfied. With our senses, with everything we take for granted.