November is almost here, which means we're about to hit the deep end of the busiest time of year. Nerves get shredded, blood pressure shoots up, and at least once day you consider mainlining coffee grounds so it'll hit your blood faster.
It's not the best, but it doesn't last forever. All we have to do is make to February, and we'll be back in the world of warmer temperatures, normal deadlines and no Christmas music for at least eight months.
Looking for a little extra motivation to get you through the rough months? Check out these six stress-killing, perfect-for-the-holiday-crunch quotes:
1. "Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless." —Thomas A. Edison
Mike's interpretation: Failure is occasionally to your benefit, so don't stress over it too much.
2. "Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content." —Helen Keller
Mike's interpretation: The blackout work grinds of the fourth quarter might be mostly torture, but the silver linings are there if you look. Good coffee, good music to listen to you while you work, whatever, there's probably something small and soul-enriching happening to enjoy despite the overall bleakness of your toils.
3. "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." —Buddha
Mike's interpretation: Despite the temptation to let your hands burn for the chance to bean someone with a hot coal, the anger's not worth it. You need your hands, healthy and unburned, to get your work done. Focus on that.
4. "I turned down a scholarship to Yale. The problem with college is that there's a tendency to mistake preparation for productivity. You can prepare all you want, but if you never roll the dice you'll never be successful." —Shia LaBeouf





