Life Lesson

The Choice

Garth Beyer

We all have this same choice: to be who we say we are… or not.

Of course, the first problem is getting people to say they are something: a writer, a photojournalist, a skater, an artist.

But once it’s out in the open, it has to be consistent for it to matter, for it to make a real impact. Consistency is what separates the pianist who plays just to get by and the pianist who can get by while only playing 15 times a year. There’s a significant difference.

For those who “make it,” all it is they are really making is the same decision every day to be who they say they are. No special talents. No pills. No pep talk. Just  a conscious decision made consistently.

 

Stay Positive & It’s Always A Choice, Never A Habit

Garth E. Beyer

Connecting

Garth Beyer

Three is company, four is a party, but 10,000 doesn’t make an organization anymore.

It has flipped. Now there are more organizations than ever before. But more organizations doesn’t mean larger groups. You may recall this idea that what is next for the Internet is whatever will connect compact groups (organizations) with other compact groups, without fusing together.

There’s stranger connections and more gratifications from the tighter organizations. There is also more results form an organization of 20 than an organization of 2,500. More and more people are beginning to see the benefit of being uncomfortable, but connecting.

In a world filled with possibilities to connect, why are we not connecting on all levels?

 

Stay Positive & It’s More Than Just About Organizations

Garth E. Beyer

Payback

Garth Beyer

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.

The only people you should look down at are those you are helping up.

The only people who you should step on are those trying to put you on their shoulders.

The only people you should ever ignore are the imaginary ones in your head saying that you’re not good enough.

The world is full of people. Excluding the ones in your head, everyone is human.

 

Stay Positive & Be Human In Return

Garth E. Beyer

Did Kurt Vonnegut Have It Backward?

Garth Beyer

You tell me.

Kurt Vonnegut says,
1. Find a subject you care about.
2. Do not ramble, though.
3. Keep it simple.
4. Have the guts to cut.
5. Sound like yourself.
6. Say what you mean to say.
7. Pity the readers.

8. Stay Positive & I Think It Works Backward Too

Garth E. Beyer

Why Read A Lot

Garth Beyer

Reading has a lot of benefits: you learn a different way to think, you learn important facts, you learn new things, blah, blah, blah.

Now, the real reason to read, is because reading is the best way to connect with an author. And if you can connect enough with an author, you will eventually come across something that you know that that author will like. Then, if you share it with that author, you will have created a stronger connection. Or you can ask the author a question. Or you may, if participate enough, stand out and the author will contact you.

See, sure reading is good, you get a lot from it, but to get the absolute most out of it, you need to connect with the author. With that there are two simple tactics to use.

1. Read current authors. It’s hard to talk to an author over a cup of coffee who is dead.

2. Only read what you truly enjoy. (This is where the exception of current author comes in.)

 

Stay Positive & If You’re Going To Read, Get The Most Out Of It

Garth E. Beyer

What Learning Is

Garth Beyer

If you read and become aware of your reading, you will notice that after each word you are already thinking of what the next word is. Learning is what happens when we can’t predict the next word, the next idea, the next statement, peanuts.

 

Stay Positive & Don’t Stop Learning

Garth E. Beyer

Freelance Vs. Entrepreneur

Garth Beyer

I just left a freelancing job after six months (technically a  year, I’ll get to that in a moment). It was an exceptional experience, I wrote almost 100 articles on any string of the money management spider web you can imagine.

I got to write and was paid when I delivered. Freelancing at its finest.

After six months, I reached my learning capacity , enjoyment, and acceptably high skill level toward writing to this specific audience. [By “learning capacity,” I mean I got out 90% of what I believed I could from the position] Instead of quitting, I decided to become an entrepreneur.

I remembered the saying that freelancers get paid when they ship, and entrepreneurs get paid when they sleep. (HT Seth Godin)

So I hired some writers to do the work that I once was. I positioned myself as the boss and editor. I made the hiring process as legitimate as possible. Candidates emailed resumes, we met for an interview, I gave them test articles. I pushed them to do their best, get creative, and take the reigns. Being boss – to put a less professional tone to it – was awesome.

I didn’t make much money from being an entrepreneur for six months, but it’s not often I’ve gotten so much experience from something so temporary.

To think, I could have just left my freelancing position and moved on. It’s a decision that many freelancers forget they have.

 

Stay Positive & Maybe It’s Not “Vs.”, It’s An Optional Transition

Garth E. Beyer