Author: Garth Beyer

Reaching out to someone can be a miracle in disguise.

It could also get them to think you’re up to something. It could backfire and put more work on your plate. It could take more time than you thought it would.

But, again, it could lead to a new idea, a fresh connection, a conversation that makes your life, work, relationship smoother.

There’s always a risk in reaching out.

But there’s always reward, too.

Stay Positive & After All, This Is The Connection Economy

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Do you love him?

Tell me a thought that’s been stunk in your head these days?

What’s been the biggest challenge this week?

For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

Tell me about an experience that completely changed you?

Is there anything that is too serious to joke about?

How long will you accept the reasoning “we’ve always done it this way”?

So many tough questions. Meaningful questions. Important questions.

Just as important are the answers we give or listening to the answers of others.

Q&A isn’t just the most important part of a webinar, it’s the most important part of the work environment, family, relationships and everything else that involves us interacting with others.

Stay Positive & Ask More

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Checking if we’ve crossed the line is simply good standards.

Is the social post we’re about to publish crossing the line?

Is the work we’re giving away for free too much?

Are we over charging? Undercharging?

The beauty is that in most cases we’re drawing the line for ourselves based on the information and world views we have.

But there’s always a line.

Stay Positive & Consider Dancing By It Rather Than Crossing It

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When there’s no deadline, the space of almost done can be deadly.

Almost done is very rarely about the work itself; it’s about the mental state of the creator.

We’re not ready to share this with the world yet. We’re not ready to hear if people hate it. We’re not ready to be judged, assessed and given candor that may create even more work for us.

Alas, being almost done prevents others from getting value out of the work we should be shipping. And that’s just rude, right?

Stay Positive & Sign And Deliver

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There’s very little that got me as much experience, connections and knowledge than playing my student card when I was in college. It got me into talking to CEOs, reporters, owners and dozens of people who would have otherwise said “no.”

When big shifts happen in the world, it puts a card in our hand. It’s a card we can use when we pivot and change our work, or process or culture (for the better, of course!).

We’ve had a few cards put in our hand over the last few months. Cards we may not have asked for or wanted, but cards that offer us the chance to play up or double down; a chance to lean into progress we hadn’t been able to; an opportunity to change things for the better.

Stay Positive & Cards Are Only Effective When Played

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It can also be a journey or a challenge or a dance.

It can be whatever we label it.

But one thing is for certain: It’s not going to be easy.

The moment there is contentedness, the next moment will be upheaval. The moment there is momentum, the next moment there is a bump in the road.

The trick then–since there’s always going to be a hiccup or change of tune–is to work toward controlling it.

If provided a void, the universe will work to fill it.

But when you make your next challenge yourself; to expand into outdoor seating, to pursue online ordering, to surprise and delight 10 people per week, to bring in a new vendor, to coordinate a digital festival … that’s when progress is made with intention rather than reaction.

And more often than not, the growth you produce from the changes and challenges you make often puts you at an advantage against the external forces you don’t have control over.

Think of it like getting ahead of the universal and competitive curve.

All for trying something new, crafting with intention and caring more than you did yesterday but not nearly as much as tomorrow.

Stay Positive & It’s Hard, But It’s Also Simple

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Double down.

Double check.

Double tap.

Double play.

Double edge.

Double click.

Double team.

Double duty.

Two is better than one, and providing someone reassurance at the end of an exchange by double checking the work is the best gift you could give.

Stay Positive & Double Clap

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