Foreword

by Stephen M. R. Covey

One of the great lessons I remember my dad constantly emphasizing in our family while I was growing up was “Use your R&I.” That is, use your resourcefulness and initiative. He taught us that we were not victims of the circumstances surrounding us, but rather masters of our own destiny. This mindset became the powerful beginning habit of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People—“Be Proactive.” The Power of Starting Something Stupid beautifully captures the spirit of that energizing principle. We are not merely scripted by our circumstances; we can become the creative forces of our lives, capable of optimizing sometimes even unseen possibilities.

I absolutely love this book. I love how it makes me feel. It energizes me, inspires me, and gives me confidence. It reminds each of us that all things are possible, that life is short, and to take action now. Simultaneously, Richie Norton rightly cautions us that our actions must be tempered by our integrity to our values, and that in order to harness the full power of our personal authenticity, we must first check our motives. He teaches that our motives should be driven by our intent to benefit others.

That is why I so resonate with Richie. From the first time I heard him speak, I sensed his sincere and passionate desire to bless others. I’ve watched him rise to life’s challenges and develop both the character and the competency necessary to earn the credibility needed to significantly influence others in meaningful ways. He has become a bold and courageous leader—and I believe you’ll see that through his work.

You likely picked up this book because you are seeking encouragement to seize life’s challenges and more courageously chase your dreams. Perhaps a trusted friend recommended this book to you. Perhaps you were simply intrigued by the title. However you found this book, I encourage you to read it immediately. There is no perfect time to start the next level of your life. This inspiring book will teach you—whether you’re starting your career, in mid-career, or ending your career—that the smartest thing you can do is to live life as if your best days are always ahead of you and then act on your inspiration—to start something “stupid.”

There are many reasons why I like this book but let me highlight three:

First, this book disrupts conventional thinking—in a smart way. It’s fresh, relevant, and cuts through the noise of detractors and competing voices. The world-stage is changing around us like waves in the ocean at an unprecedented speed. To aid you in navigating the changing seas of life, The Power of Starting Something Stupid stands as a beacon of light that helps bring clarity, focus, and drive to your everyday life with a paradoxical combination of unconventional yet timeless principles that bring lasting success. This book teaches you how to identify what is most important to you, innovate incrementally, and overcome fear, pride, and procrastination so you can reach your highest aspirations.

Second, it’s no surprise that I particularly liked the principles of service and trust in the section called START—a term Richie coined—that identifies how successful people Serve, Thank, Ask, Receive, and Trust. These principles, when put into practice upon initiating a “stupid idea,” are imperative to all people and organizations that want to inspire a revolution of creativity, innovation, and influence. START is a brilliant and effective principle-centered approach to help jump-start any project, increase engagement, and reach big-picture goals.

Third, Richie Norton is that rare individual who successfully combines both character and competence, courage and consideration, humility and professional will. The net result is that Richie gives his readers an author they can trust.

The Power of Starting Something Stupid has made me reflect back on my own life and work. In doing so, it dawned on me that my most meaningful success, in both my business and personal life, started with something stupid. As the book teaches, “Stupid is the New Smart,” and the “New Smart” decisions I made were defining moments in my life.

This book has rekindled my spirit and given me a renewed outlook on life and business—and I’m confident it will do the same for you.

As Richie says, “Life’s too short not to start something stupid.” I’m already getting started on my next stupid idea. Read and apply this book and make your own stupid idea your New Smart reality.

Stephen M. R. Covey
New York Times and the #1 Wall Street Journal
bestselling author of The Speed of Trust
and coauthor of the #1 Amazon bestseller Smart Trust