GarthBox

There’s no data revolution because we’ve been into data since the beginning.

Think about the track meet numbers: who placed, what time they had. Or, if you’re me, how far did I make it on the long jump compared to others.

Everyone likes numbers. But not every number is liked.

The problem isn’t the data or lack thereof; it’s the connection to the data.

Our job is to leverage the data in a way that is attractive to others; resonates with them; tells a story they actually care about.

Anyone can be a data guru if they care about the data enough.

Stay Positive & Getting Them To Care Is On Us

HT to Malcolm Gladwell’s masterclass for the idea of this post

The first hard part is starting.

It’s easier to keep it going once it’s started.

Easier to feel fulfilled; like you’ve made progress.

Starting, often times, is all it takes to get to finished quickly, too.

After you’ve started, though, the next hard part is finishing.

You’re putting on the polish. You care. You want to knock it out of the park – rightfully so.

And all of that is stressful and time-consuming; emotional labor.

Then the next hard part is shipping it. Sending it. Sharing it. Making it public.

There are alot of stories we tell ourselves about what others will think once it’s out there. Those narratives are hard to dance with and work through, but we must.

Turns out it’s all hard.

From inception to completion. Should that really be a reason to not?

Stay Positive & Nowhere To Hide

The tech industry is so small. So is the community of ship captains.

Same with hammock enthusiasts, mommy blogs, and Bernese mountain dog owners.

It’s easy to fall into the perspective of it being vast, but once you’re in it – no matter what it is – you discover that you’re in the long tail.

Which is a gentle reminder to not burn a bridge, don’t pee in the pool, or smack talk your competition.

Stay Positive & What Goes Around Barely Comes Around (And You Can Watch It The Entire Time)

If you have a cake, it’s kinda dumb if you can’t eat it, too. You should.

If you’re having a meaningful moment and great experience with someone, it’s kinda dumb if you don’t lose yourself in the moment with them. You should.

If you’re going to do something, it’s kinda dumb not to do it well and completely. You should.

Of course, these aren’t shoulds I’m telling you. They’re shoulds you’re thinking.

I’m just here to tell you to listen to the thought telling you to go ahead and eat the cake, too.

Stay Positive & You Should

There’s no shortage of ways that one can learn well alone.

But learning better will always be the result of learning together.

The push, pull, retention, empathy, ownership, credibility, trust and so much more is simply more powerful in a group setting than a solo one.

Stay Positive & Same Goes For Doing, Trailblazing, Innovating, Feeling Fulfilled….

Feeling good and confident about the hard work you’re doing is like winning a jackpot lottery ticket.

I’d never say it doesn’t happen, but it’s rare and chances are likelier that you won’t feel that way than you will with your work.

The little voice inside your head that is making you uncomfortable about an idea you’re sharing or frustrated with the progress you’re making or worried about the impact it will have – all those are signals. That’s all. They’re not tangible and they won’t hold up in court (they probably won’t even hold up to your colleagues if you shared it with them).

All to say the job is on us to dance with them and understand that those signals are important to view as you being on the right path (as long as you view the right path as doing meaningful work).

Dance with them and you’re bound to win the lottery. Not the jackpot. But you’ll be with the millions that won because they played.

Stay Positive & Embrace The Emotions

Shitty first drafts are rarely ever shitty. That word is just there to give permission to suck in order to ship.

It’s still a first draft, no matter the quality, though.

There’s nothing you can’t do if you focus on doing shitty first drafts.

No shortage of people to assist you in creating better editions with candor and a helping hand.

Drip by drip by drip.

Stay Positive & Start With The Shitty First Draft