The Secret To Building Amazing Self-Control And Getting Things Done
The right way to set yourself up for success
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus, a respected warrior and his crew prepared to sail past the island of the Sirens. The Sirens were dangerous creatures, who lured nearby sailors to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island with their enchanting music and singing voices.
Intensely curious to hear the bewitching singing of the Sirens but fully aware of the grave consequences, Odyssey made the decision to plug his men’s ears with beeswax and tie himself to the ship’s mast. As they approached, the Sirens began to sing and Odysseus, predictably, screamed to be untied, but the sailors couldn’t hear him and their ship made safe passage.
Odysseus and his men escaped shipwreck and what was a certain death that has claimed many a sailor because he refused to leave his fate to the strength of his will, or his men’s when temptation struck, but instead, took simple precautions that made capitulation impossible.
As a result, they didn’t have to use much willpower at all.
The question is:
If Odyssey were to give self-control advice today, what do you think he would say? My guess is something along the lines of:
