Life Lesson

We can focus on what’s not clear. Struggle with it. Try to figure it out. Spend time evaluating.

Or we can focus on what is clear, no matter how minute.

In doing so, we often find clarity around the edges. Either that or we figure out the right questions to ask, people to ask or next step to take to get the clarity we need to keep on going.

Don’t let the unclear parts distract you from doing the work you know you could be doing.

Stay Positive & Do The Clear Things First

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When a decision has been made, life gets far less stressful.

Until we make a decision, we’re investing emotional labor into evaluating whether or not to commit.

So it begs the question of how do you know once you’ve decided?

Is it written down?

Is it on the calendar?

Have you told your friend what you’ve decided?

Once we know the mark of a decision, we can use that to our advantage and get to decision-making faster, and thus have more time to execute and contribute.

No need to wonder if you’re stalling if you know you’ve already decided.

And no need to keep questioning a decision once it’s decided, too.

Stay Positive & Decide And Onward

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Location doesn’t matter as much as we make it out to matter. That is, if we define location as a physical space on a map.

But if we view location in regard to the people around it, the kind of community, the culture of the area.

Then it certainly does matter.

It’s really “people, people, people” than “location, location, location.”

Stay Positive & Find The Cohorts

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When we sell, make a statement about our brand, include fine print, write a scope of work – essentially, communicate what we’re giving for what – we’re making a promise.

And if that promise isn’t clear, that’s not a reason to make an excuse, under deliver, skirt the lines, change how you share your goods based on how it benefits you.

Nope.

An unclear promise means that you’ve allowed wiggle room to customize, surprise and delight, remain flexible in how you add value to the customer or client’s experience. An unclear promise isn’t a way to hold back; it’s a way to leap forward.

It’s risky and often not always in your favor. But it is worth it if you know what you’re signing up for.

And if that’s not your cup of tea; then make the promise clear in the first place.

Stay Positive & The Root Of Loyalty Is A Promise Made And A Promise Kept (Again And Again)

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First part of the combo is stability. It’s about ensuring you are clear in your goals and intentions. It’s also about understanding who you’re creating for and removing the chance of wasteful thinking by applying constraints to your work.

The second part is a challenge. If there’s no a problem there to solve, then we won’t be very moved to do the work. Of course, we also need to give ourselves permission to suck on solving the problem. That happens through encouragement and inspiration. Without those, a challenge is just a back breaker.

And if you didn’t think of it already – it’s the same combo to helping others create their greatest work, too.

Stay Positive & The Tension Is Real, But It’s Also Productive

HT to Dave

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The good stuff is always easier said than done.

But it’s always more beneficial to do than to say.

Stay Positive & Onward Through The Dip

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You probably could have done the same work. Though, it would have required a few things.

Doing the same would have required you to put everything on the line to make that work your only work. It would have required you to do the work 1,345 times before this particular project. It would have required you to learn negotiation skills and become friends with people who own a studio that are now happy to let you show and sell your work there.

It would have required you to go through the emotional challenge of hearing your family say that it’s no way to make a living. It would have required you to work while you put so much pressure on yourself. It would have required sacrificing time with friends to do the work. It would have required hundreds of hours studying the craft and the path others have taken.

So, sure.

You could have played that song, painted that artwork, wrote that book, signed that deal.

But let’s not forget all that you would have had to go through to get there.

Stay Positive & Maybe It’s More Like “I’d Never Do What It Takes To Get Where You Are Now, This Is Amazing”

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