Life Lesson

It’s easier to gain adoption of a new idea when it’s framed to someone in a way that makes it seem familiar.

Uber but for food is a simple explanation that feels familiar.

Leaning into familiarity helps in a lot of ways, but there’s also one way that hurts reputation.

Thinking you can convince someone of an idea because it’s familiar to you, is a recipe for disaster.

“I’ve run agile pods like these before so we should do it” is completely convincing to the person who is stating it, but all but loses its energy when it’s told to people who are not familiar with running agile pods.

All to say that the reminder here is that there is power in familiarity, but the important piece is that it’s familiar to the target, not to you.

Stay Positive & Start With The Target

The thing about jokes is that when they hit, it’s such a powerful connector between people.

The thing about jokes that I love most, though, is that when they don’t hit, no one remembers.

There’s so many other happenings in daily life that the brain will want to latch onto then a poorly told joke.

There’s not many risks one can take in life that has such a great reward and such a small consequence to failure than making a joke.

To the bartender who, when I asked him if he minded getting me a water, said “I do mind. In fact, can you go outside and hold your mouth open instead? It’s raining. Thanks.”

To me? It gave me a chuckle.

To someone who wouldn’t find it humorous? They won’t even remember the experience by the time they’re done with their sandwich.

Stay Positive & Shoot Your Shot

Artists have freedom… to a degree.

Mainly when it comes to creative freedom or the ability to select the clients/customers or the freedom to decide when they wake up.

But they exchange this freedom for something incredibly difficult: the accountability of showing up.

Artists have to ship. An artist that doesn’t deliver isn’t much of an artist at all.

Will you be an artist today?

Stay Positive & The Freedom Is Yours For The Trading

The hard part is the connection to the people that will be the ones that enable you to do more of what you love.

The hard part of Amazon isn’t sourcing products; it’s maintaining a connection with the consumer.

The hard part of a bar isn’t selecting the faucet style; it’s establishing a lasting connection with a new guest.

The hard part of a marketing gig isn’t coming up with ideas; it’s bringing the ideas to life in a way that increases attraction and retention of the customer base.

Of course, it’s easy to be fooled into believing the other stuff is hard because it allows us to forgo the truly hard work.

The brands that win, however, are the ones who lean into the hard part: people connecting with people.

Stay Positive & Where Are You Investing Your Time?

You’re worse off if you wait until you make it to take it all in.

Truth is that there’s nothing stopping you right now from it.

Smell. Touch. Look around. Listen.

Stay Positive & No Need To Wait Until You’re At The Top

Drip by drip.

Step by step.

Piece by piece.

Little by little.

Inch by inch.

Whatever expression you need to latch onto, do it.

Stay Positive & Bit By Bit

The views at the top of Mount Elbert were incredible. The air was special. The sounds were unique. The satisfaction of the energy exerted to get there was fulfilling.

Then again, I could say the same about three quarters of the way up when we stopped to drink some water and borrow some sunblock from another climber.

Then again, I could say the same about half way up when we paused to look around and decide if we wanted to go the other half or just turn around.

Then again, I could say the same about a quarter of the way up when we talked through some water streams and had a beer on a small bridge.

Then again, I could say the same about driving into the parking lot of the park when we could look up and only see part of the mountain.

…. You see where I’m going with this. We don’t need to be at the top of the mountain to have a top of the mountain moment.

Stay Positive & The Top Can Be Right Here, Right Now