The Epoch Times: What inspired you to write “Choosing Greatness”?
Christina Curtis: Many of us feel like we are missing out on the level of happiness and success we know we’re capable of achieving. We have more value to bring, more joy to experience, more growth to achieve. This book finally unlocks those few critical daily choices that can help people simplify success and not only dream a little bigger but get there in short order by pulling greatness from their future into the present, once choice at a time.
The Epoch Times: Many people dream of greatness but few seem to make their vision reality. Why do you believe this is?
Ms. Curtis: We wake up playing whac-a-mole with our emails and calendar invites, running in a hectic world of “busy.” To deal with a barrage of tasks and demands, the human brain goes to previously made decisions—or habits—to get through things quickly, leaving us running on autopilot. But if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get the same results! That’s why we end up having the same family arguments, the same relationship challenges—heck, even the same levels of success year after year.
Driving exceptional outcomes requires elbowing our way into that space between an event and our reaction to it, and consciously choosing the action or thought that will have the highest impact—then doubling our efforts there!
Just think of the sun. It doesn’t burn the leaves on the ground until you hold a magnifying glass at just the right angle. The glass then concentrates the heat, and, within seconds, you have a flame. Saying yes to too many things diffuses our effectiveness. Instead, sharpen your choices through the lens of value so you can light your own goals on fire.
The Epoch Times: Some people actually fear greatness, preferring to avoid risk or discomfort. How can someone like this move past their fear and toward their highest potential?
Ms. Curtis: Our brains are hardwired to avoid risk and discomfort. This can be an obstacle when it comes to personal and professional growth.
I find it very helpful to recognize that hard is nothing more than a sensation and a mindset. After all, getting physically fit is hard, but so is being unhappy with our physical well-being. Speaking up in a meeting is hard, but so is being overlooked and unappreciated. As a working parent, creating time for self-care is hard, but so is suffering from stress and worry. When we line what we are doing up with what we want in life, hard and happiness can happen simultaneously.
The Epoch Times: Greatness, of course, means different things to different people. How can an individual define their personal vision of greatness?
Ms. Curtis: Greatness is not defined by financial achievements, a job title, or the size of our home. It’s a mindset centered on growth—with growth, you are perpetually advancing. Even when you fail, you can recognize that the brain is now better informed than it was before.
Clarify what a great day, month, year, even decade would look like, and bring that into focus so you can align your choices accordingly, linking the day-to-day to your bigger picture. That way, you are choosing your version of greatness today and pulling it from the future right into this very moment.
The Epoch Times: Once a person has a defined vision, it can be tricky knowing how to strategically take action toward it. What strategies do you recommend when it comes to breaking down the big picture into small details?
Ms. Curtis: Leverage our need for immediate rewards by lining up efforts in 30-day sprints. Define one area you can drive toward in a shorter time frame and get hyper focused on mapping that out for near-term wins. What would move you forward toward your goals the fastest?
A simple phrase to remember throughout this process and throughout your day is value over volume. Where will you get the greatest return on your effort, energy, and intellect today? Start with your goals in mind and the type of value you are seeking to generate, using that as a lens through which to identify which activities will have the greatest likelihood of getting you to where you want to go.
The Epoch Times: You’ve worked with many high achievers. What common qualities or behaviors have you noticed separate them from everybody else?
Ms. Curtis: Their ability to hold that discomfort that comes with change, and still choose change anyway. They seem to build up this ability over time as the intensity in their lives escalates.
The Epoch Times: How can parents encourage their children to choose greatness?
Ms. Curtis: The most significant barrier to achieving our own version of greatness is often confidence and self-acceptance. And as a parent, I need to keep this in mind. I find myself correcting my kids more often than reinforcing their efforts—don’t forget your lunch bag, hand in that assignment, clean your dishes, fix this or that.
John Gottman’s research around marital stability often comes to mind—how can we increase the number of positive versus negative interactions when we’re parenting? Reminding them that they are capable human beings who can choose how they want to show up and engage with each moment, living their own version of greatness, one choice at a time.
