It pays to be uncomfortable. Outside your zone. Playing in another territory. Learning from others smarter than you. Leaping.
But on one condition.
It’s only worth it if you’re also passionate.
Passionate about the subject, the learning, the community. Passionate about growing, altering status quo, and using curiosity to fuel that passion more.
Discomfort without passion is merely a means to a very very short end.
Stay Positive & Choose To Be Uncomfortable, But When You Will Also Be Passionate
Gifts are a sign of generosity, but a gift with a bow and ribbon is a sign that you care deeper – not about your status, but about the experience another will have.
There’s something different about opening a wrapped box than opening a wrapped box with a bow and ribbon.
There’s something different about pouring 8 ounces of wine into a stemware tulip glass than a mini paper dixie cup.
There’s something different about trying to sell a Ford that’s got rain marks on it than one that’s shiny from all angles.
Packaging matters. By the design, by the wrapping, by the words we use alongside the gift.
One might say everything surrounding the gift matters as much as the gift itself.
Stay Positive & How We Act On That Knowledge Makes All The Difference
Putting ourselves in other’s shoes isn’t quite right. There’s still too much of us involved.
Often when we think of what we would do in another’s position, we’re not being empathetic, we’re being guided by status – we’d obviously make the right decision, wouldn’t we? Not to mention we can blow up the idea of “easier said than done” because we’d have the chance to just do it for them.
It’s misguided, really.
Perhaps it’s better to ask what would they do in our position. That forces us to empathize and understand where another is coming from. It allows for a connection of trust and listening.
People are far more likely to listen to the voice in their head than they are ours. The closer we can match it and entwine notes of encouragement, the more likely we’ll make a positive influence.
There’s no shortage of ideas you can come up with. The problem is in the idea squashing.
Once we have an idea, we’re quick to think of reasons not to execute on it. It takes too much time. We don’t have permission. The resources aren’t available. It’s hard work.
There’s no shortage of reasons not to execute an idea the same as there’s no shortage of ideas.
Which means the best move we can make is to act on an idea when we have it. If anything, to test the waters.
I woke up today and had the idea to email businesses about purchasing six-packs of beer for their employees for the holidays.
I could have thought: they can’t invest in that, they won’t care, isn’t it obnoxious, they don’t have the time, I have bigger initiatives to work on, I’d rather go eat breakfast, is email the right path?
Or, you know, I could just have sent 10 emails and we’ll see what happens – which is what I actually did.
If any of them work, I’ll send 10 more.
And if they don’t, I’m sure I’ll have another idea by lunch and a hundred excuses not to act on it then, too.
Stay Positive & Willpower Is There, We Just Need To Choose To Use It
