GarthBox

I fully agree with Seth Godin that, as a freelancer, it’s on us to choose better clients.

But it doesn’t stop with clients. Not really.

As workers making meaningful work, it’s on us to choose better colleagues and bosses.

As contributors to society, it’s on us to choose better nonprofits and associations to be part of.

As people with full hearts, it’s on us to choose better partners to go through life with.

It’s on us in all aspects. Groups. Associations. Clients. Colleagues. Friends.

And, as always, if we can’t choose one that’s better because it doesn’t exist – then it’s on us to create it.

Stay Positive & Grasp Better

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If we’re going to default to doing the easy tasks on our list first, we might as well lean into making it a game.

A game that we can win big at by always adding something more challenging onto the list.

Here’s what happens:

We’re stressing about a speaking engagement we have set up for a week from now. It’s a small engagement, but it’s the biggest thing we need to prepare for. We can keep stressing about it OR we can add a bigger speaking engagement to our list. The work for the small engagement gets far easier to do and we worry less about it because there’s something bigger at stake.

Personally, since opening a craft beer bar, I’ve looked back and laughed at some of the conversations, transactions and events that I would have otherwise stressed to no end about. But it was all made minuscule by my commitment to even tougher conversations, transactions and events.

We can strategically use the expression “That’s the least of my worries” to our advantage.

Stay Positive & All It Requires Is Continuous Leaping

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A waitress was working a grind and, amid the afternoon rush, she spilled a beverage at a customer’s table. The liquid rushed across the table and onto a customer’s purse.

So many situations could have gone down. The waitress could have shrugged and apologized. She could have gotten a manager. She could have quit on the spot – fed up with the work and the pressure on her.

Instead she got the customer’s name, address and type of purse. She let the customer know that she was sorry and would happily be buying and sending her a replacement purse of the same.

Not every employee can be this waitress. At least not if left to their own accord.

But any brand can give an employee a budget per customer to use when needed. Can encourage their team to do what’s right in the moment. Can remind them that permission isn’t needed to follow one’s gut when it comes to caring for a guest.

The reality is every business owner is already trusting the employee with the brand in their day-to-day work. There shouldn’t be concern in extending the responsibility of financial support to make things right for a customer.

Stay Positive & A Little Can Go A Long Way

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In some instances, patterns are great.

A pacemaker. Winning a game of chess. Public transportation routes.

But the other good stuff comes from breaking habits.

Trying a new menu item. Exploring a new park. Giving that beer recipe that sounds weird a go.

Broken patterns lead to new experiences and new experiences lead to both a feeling of fulfillment and exhilaration as well as a new ability to connect with others on a whole new level.

We do ourselves and others a huge favor when we break away from the children’s menu.

Stay Positive & Toss Those Chicken Fingers Away

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Uncaring people are all around.

You’ve probably interacted with one today.

Uncaring people can certainly tear us down. They can create hiccups in our work. They can also hurt the people we care about.

But at some point we realize that it’s a choice of ours to let them ruin our mood or work.

Their lack of empathy can’t stop us from feeling good about ourselves or the work we’re doing.

We were never meant to spend more time on uncaring people than on ourselves.

If you find yourself doing so, it’s time to turn the dial.

Stay Positive & Be Your Own Cheerleader

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Your problem might not be so difficult that general knowledge can’t solve it.

It’s likely that there’s a simple solution.

Likely that it only takes some common sense matched with consistency and time.

Our problems aren’t as unique as we deem them. Doing so gives us an excuse to mull them over far longer than necessary.

Why? Because we know once one problem is solved another will take its place.

Lest we forget, a working knowledge, some peer feedback and listening to who you’re trying to serve can solve that problem, too.

And likely the next. And the next. And the next.

Stay Positive & No Need For Fancy Widgets And Specialized Advice

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Can you be it?

The first to fill the void. First to ask a question. First to try to understand.

First to suggest an answer to a problem. First to show love. First to connect on a feeling.

How about the first to take an action rather than waiting to be told what to do.

Empathy is a skill.

Stay Positive & Exercise It Often

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