GarthBox

Momentum is quite possibly one of the harshest realities one has to face.

The fact is momentum is never truly achieved; it’s only perceived.

When you look at this graph, it appears whatever it is measuring has gained momentum.

The reality is whatever is causing the increase is causing it because it’s showing up, working, producing, giving, sharing, caring, doing.

Those who strive for momentum head down a tragic path because they assume that momentum will make things easier for them, that they can glide or build off the energy behind them, but the reality is they must keep showing up, keep being vulnerable, keep shipping their work if they want to succeed.

Momentum won’t make things easier, it only makes things look like they’re easier.

But I suppose there is something comforting in that.

 

Stay Positive & It’ll Never Be Easier, But It Will Always Be Worth It

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You can read as much material as you want, watch as many how-to videos as you want and analyze the result as much as you want, but you will feel severely let down when you try the project yourself and fail.

Research builds confidence and confidence creates an expectation of knowing how, but then the struggle sets in of actually doing.

It’s worth accepting that failure (or practice, if you will) is the essential piece to knowing how.

Experience is what sets an expectation on the path toward reality.

Knowledge sets an expectation on the path toward disappointment.

Yes, do the reading. It will help. But don’t let a first, second or third fall make you stop.

 

Stay Positive & Dust Yourself Off And Get More Experience

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Many may tell you to leave your ego outside.

Others say to prepare for the worst.

Truthfully, the smartest action you can take when you walk in the door is to read the room.

Who is in it? What motivations do they have for being there? What do they need to leave the room with a positive attitude? What is the minimum you need to communicate?

No one likes wasting time.

And sometimes you need your ego in the room.

Sometimes you need to be prepared for the best.

Other times you ought to walk right back out.

 

Stay Positive & Read The Room Everytime

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Brand recognition requires you to make decisions on purpose.

A story that resonates is a story that is told on purpose.

A strategy that strikes the right chord is designed that way on purpose.

Rarely does anything above happen by accident.

 

Stay Positive & Are You Doing What You’re Doing On Purpose?

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Regularly checking up on your task when you’re shifting from this to that is beneficial to your mental clarity, focus and passion.

We inherently feel bad when performing one task when we know we should be working on another, more important one.

While this is usually the case (think of being on Facebook when you ought to be writing that news release), it’s worth acknowledging when you’ve upgraded your task.

Consider one who forgoes writing a blog post to help someone write copy for their own project. It feels good.

I recall when I was the manager of a magazine and didn’t get a spit of my own work complete during work time. I was always jumping from department to department, writer to writer to help them create remarkable work.

To me, anytime I’m performing a task, it’s worth asking: Is this the most important work I should be doing? If not, is it at least helping someone else create important work?

The answer needs to be yes to one of them.

 

 

Stay Positive & If It’s Not, Change The Task

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It’s a real thing. People can see the lens in which you view your world.

When you see each opportunity and obstacle in front of you as a means to your greater end, other people notice.

When you remain positive through an experience, spotlighting the lesson to learn and not the setback, people recognize it.

While the opinions of others (especially the naysayers) shouldn’t deter you from following your heart, I find it beneficial to ask questions like:

If I were on the outside looking in, would I see that determination in my eyes?

If I were that 10-year-old boy watching me work, would I be inspired?

Am I charting my path in a way that would allow the next person to follow my footsteps and build off what I’ve created or, better yet, push me to be better?

There’s always someone watching. Do you know what they see?

 

Stay Positive & Let Objectivity Drive You Further

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Often times the most remarkable of businesses are tight on money. It works to their advantage because they can’t buy their way out of problems, and they’re better because of it.

If you find yourself in a position of grand profit, consider using it to make the experience with your business more remarkable instead of less problematic. They’re not always the same.

 

Stay Positive & Big Ideas Often Don’t Cost A lot Of Money

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