Life Lesson

Taking action now for now is easy, but it’s effects are also often temporary.

It’s not that a hundred and two pivots can’t get us to meaningful long-term impact; it’s that it’s more simple to do things now with later in mind.

What’s the long term action rather than the instant gratification?

What’s the change we’re seeking to make to the culture?

What’s the legacy we want to leave?

Big questions with big answers and big actions that might not flip the switch today, but guarantees it will get flipped down the road.

Stay Positive & It’s About Us In Twenty Years From Now As Much As It Is “The Next Generation”

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There’s nothing like a quick pow wow to get the team, your partner, family, friends, coworkers on the same page.

Most of the time all parties leave it feeling better than when they arrived.

And when there wasn’t value added from the pow wow (yea, it happens no matter how hard you may try for it not to), people connect over commiseration.

After all, it’s really greater connection that needs to happen as a result of timeout anyway, so it’s a win-win.

When things get wacky. Throw the flag. Call a timeout and bring people together again.

Stay Positive & Rally Your Tribe

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But someone else might pick up where you left off.

But someone might be inspired by the work you did create.

But you might end up surprising yourself by finishing.

But you might end up taking a detour, anyway.

But you might care more about the journey than finishing it.

Thinking you might not finish is no reason to not start.

Stay Positive & Don’t Make Us Wait Longer Than We Already Have (Your Work Matters)

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An email is easily read as rude.

A gift is received with the person wondering what the real reason behind it is.

A meeting invite is certainly laced with another’s agenda.

A project KO is more about another task on the to-do list than an inspirational opportunity to create something meaningful.

Of course, none of this is true when we’re face to face.

Phone is better than an email. A Teams call is better than the phone. And hand-delivering a gift even with some distance between you and the door is better than having the internet take care of the delivery.

When possible, make the work feel as in person as possible. It’ll resonate more.

Stay Positive & Virtual High-Five

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The bird seed will run out.

Your gas will run out.

Creative flow will run out.

Your inbox space will run out.

Help from another will run out.

Then what? Are you ready to refill or pivot?

It’s always better to have what you know you’ll need before you need it or at least the mental preparedness to pivot when something runs out.

No better time than now to check that you do.

Stay Positive & Backup

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A little set back isn’t much of a problem on it’s own. It’s little. It’s a small hump. You’ll drive over it and onward.

It’s the series of little set backs that become the problem.

When you cut a corner or skip getting confirmation or go with an old and used – I don’t know – lawn mower, you’re not just signing up for an impending little set back; you’re signing up for that set back to join the others.

There’s no preventing little set backs altogether, but there is the option to manage the quantity of them.

Stay Positive & Tread Carefully

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Before you’re about to lean into a meaty project or tough conversation, take a deep full breath.

Before any panick or worry takes over, take a deep full breath.

Before you’re about to get news you’re unsure about, take a deep full breath.

Before you hit submit on your social post, take a deep full breath.

A deep full breath is the pause we all need; it’s the action that centers us and either adds energy to move forward or offers us the second to pull back before a mistake is made.

No need for an app or a friend to always be by your side (though they are both helpful).

Stay Positive & Start With The Breath

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