Life Lesson

The best writers read their work out loud before they submit it. Doing so helps them catch phrases that look okay, but sound weird. It helps them catch more proofing mistakes. Doing it also helps them double down on what’s most important. No more and no fewer words than they need.

When a boxer is learning new moves, each move is often numbered to help them coordinate combos. What helps the boxer out most though isn’t thinking about the numbers, it’s saying it out loud as she performs the combo. There’s far less mess up, far less downtime and much more speed and growth of endurance.

When you’re ready to make a commitment; it’s far better to say it out loud, too. It gathers accountability, defines what the ego will work toward and solidifies the commitment in our mind. Anything less is just thinking about it.

Stay Positive & Say It

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The beauty about feedback and reflection is that there’s no reason to wait for it.

No need to wait to hold a reflection session until after the project is complete. No need to wait until tonight to review the day you had. No need to wait for a 1-1 to ask for feedback.

The sooner the reflection, the sooner you can get back on balance, the sooner you can pivot, the sooner you can get ahead. In doing so, there’s less waste; less wasted time and less worry.

It’s not just that you don’t need to wait to reflect, you’ll benefit more by not.

Stay Positive & Quick, Reflect

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A surprise party can be a great event. But is it really a surprise? Doesn’t some part of you always wonder or think that maybe, just maybe, this year the party will be a surprise one?

We like surprises – good and bad – because we think they allow us to react instead of respond. It feels good to let whatever is surfacing to surface.

When a client comes back with direction that sends you down a completely different path you were on. You might act surprised. But are you? Are you really? Or are you just using the surprise as rational to let your negative emotions rise to the surface?

When someone finally purchases your art. You might feel surprised. But are you? Are you really? After all, you worked your butt off to get to this point. Certainly it can’t be a surprise. Or are you just using the surprise as rational not to feel proud and deserving?

Of course, not falling for surprises (real ones or made up ones) doesn’t mean complete apathy or suppression of emotions; it means honoring the real ones. Emotions like preparedness and excitement to work through whatever obstacle (or non-obstacle) lies ahead.

By all means, act surprised, but don’t use it as an excuse to act irrational.

Stay Positive & Boo.

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In the realm of meditation, we work to be present in the moment and let positivity flow. Everything else is bonus.

In the realm of our projects, we work to make change by listening to the target. Everything else is bonus.

In the realm of a shopping experience, we expect to get what we paid for. Everything else is bonus.

In the realm of a book, we plan on the last page being in the end. When it’s not, everything else is bonus.

As a consumer, we can’t guarantee there will be a bonus, but it’s likely.

As a creator, sorta feels like we can’t not provide one, doesn’t it?

Stay Positive & Add An Epilogue Always

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The holidays are better when it’s a combination of giving and getting. Just giving makes us feel left out. Just getting makes us feel selfish.

Work is better when it’s a combination of giving and getting. You give the project your all. You get flexibility to do work your way.

The future is better when it’s a combination of giving and getting. You get to look forward to a package arriving at your door. You get to look forward to sharing it with your significant other once it arrives.

If an event or action doesn’t quite feel right, the give and get ratio might be out of a balance.

And, if anything, gut-checking yourself that there’s both get and give in all you do will make it more likely for you to feel happy, fulfilled and positive.

Stay Positive & Sounds Good, Doesn’t It?

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If I was being authentic right now, I wouldn’t be writing a blog post. I’d be on the couch, enjoying an N/A beverage and watching Big Bang Theory. That’s authentic and real.

But that doesn’t help you. It doesn’t live up to the expectation you have of me (or I have of me). It doesn’t make change happen or serve the purpose of leaving a legacy.

Consistency does that. Consistency of showing up and being intentional about the change I seek to make in you and the world.

Authenticity is great when it aligns with our intentions, but it’s more about us being intentional in our actions than authentic.

You’ll see far greater results from intention than from authenticity.

Stay Positive & Show Up, Even When You’re Not Feeling Like It

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Some performers won’t show up unless the venue is sold out. It’s 2,000 or nothing. These artists want a full house. They don’t bother with anything less than max fan or spectator base. (Personally, I’ve found myself more comfortable speaking in front of 10,000 people than 10.)

Then there are some who show up only if the venue has a couple of people in it. It’s low-key and personal. Informal and layered with emotional connections. A packed house is not their jam.

You might feel strongly that one scenario is better than the other. Maybe more fans is a sign that you can create more value to more people and that makes you feel fulfilled? Or maybe fewer fans means that you can create a deeper connection with them – something you couldn’t do with a thousand at once?

Neither preference is wrong. The only wrong is to think that one is more valuable than the other and to turn away from the one we’re less attracted to.

Why?

Because, as an artist, our goal is to make meaningful change. Period.

Quantity doesn’t matter. Making a difference does.

Stay Positive & And For That, We Thank You

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