Men imagine that they communicate their virtue or vice only by overt actions, and do not see that virtue or vice emit a breath every moment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Who is one person that you’ve been dying to connect with, but just haven’t had the courage to reach out to? First, reflect on why you want to get in touch with them. Then, reach out and set up a meeting.
Mark Cuban. It’s not that I don’t have the courage. It’s that I know I’m not prepared. There’s a difference.
Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” is a great line from Emerson. If there’s no enthusiasm in what you do, it won’t be remarkable and certainly won’t connect with people on an emotional basis. But, if you put that magic energy into all of your work, you can create something that touches people on a deeper level. How can you bring MORE enthusiasm into your work? What do you have to think or believe about your work to be totally excited about it? Answer it now.
If we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing at any given time (call it our “purpose”), then enthusiasm is an inevitable consequence of such action. Enthusiasm isn’t something we can fake. Not the true, genuine type that connects with people.
I cannot “bring more enthusiasm” to my work other than that which is already there. The question for all of us is whether we are fulfilling our life’s purpose, or not.
(I note that there are days when all of us would rather stay in bed. On these days we need to bring determination and focus to our work. We need to be mindful that in our interactions we act with kindness and compassion. But that’s not enthusiasm. Survival maybe, but not enthusiasm.)
Yeah, yeah. It’s college humour. And I’m 40. But so what. It’s still darn funny.
“They’ve been to every party they can’t get into.”
This is an old clip but a really good one about the importance of leading a design centric company. And about focusing on what we’re good at.
Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should.
Digital Music News, one of my fave music biz news sites, posted a clip to the tragic Amy Winehouse performance in Belgrade. Their post is aptly titled This Is Painful to Watch.
This is how YouTube responded:
Spam, scams and commercially deceptive content. Seriously?
There’s nothing funny about watching a young person, with incredible talent, deteriorate on the world stage. I’m posting this because it’s important to understand that in life we have choices. And because Amy needs help.
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We live in a society of advice columns, experts and make-over shows. Without even knowing it, you can begin to believe someone knows better than you how to live your life. Someone might know a particular something better – like how to bake a three-layer molten coconut chocolate cake or how to build a website – but nobody else on the planet knows how to live your life better than you. (Although one or two people may think they do.) For today, trying asking yourself often, especially before you make a choice, “What do I know about this?”
OK, will do.
As an aside, it’s the kind of question I should always ask, but don’t. Sadly I’ve known that for a long time. Thanks Jen Louden.
What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know I. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I once received a fortune cookie that read: “Speak less of your plans, you’ll get more done.” What’s one project that you’ve been sitting on and thinking about but haven’t made progress on? What’s stopping you? What would happen if you actually went for it and did it?
There’s two. Both tech. One fun. The other a game changer. What would happen? How the internet is monetized would change forever. I shit you not.
Greatness appeals to the future. If I can be firm enough to-day to do right, and scorn eyes, I must have done so much right before as to defend me now. Be it how it will, do right now. Always scorn appearances, and you always may. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Trusting intuition and making decisions based on it is the most important activity of the creative artist and entrepreneur. If you are facing (and fearing) a difficult life decision, ask yourself these three questions:
1) “What are the costs of inaction?” I find it can be helpful to fight fear with fear. Fears of acting are easily and immediately articulated by our “lizard brains” (thanks Seth) e.g. what if I fail? what if I look stupid? If you systematically and clearly list the main costs of inaction, they will generally overshadow your immediate fears.
2) “What kind of person do I want to be?” I’ve found this question to be extremely useful. I admire people who act bravely and decisively. I know the only way to join their ranks is to face decisions that scare me. By seeing my actions as a path to becoming something I admire, I am more likely to act and make the tough calls.
3) “In the event of failure, could I generate an alterative positive outcome?” Imagine yourself failing to an extreme. What could you learn or do in that situation to make it a positive experience? We are generally so committed to the results we seek at the outset of a task or project that we forget about all the incredible value and experience that comes from engaging the world proactively, learning, and improving our circumstances as we go along.
Dan Andrews speaks the truth.
Abide in the simple and noble regions of thy life, obey thy heart. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Write down your top three dreams. Now write down what’s holding you back from them.
My dreams are mine, and mine along.
Fear. Read this: fear.less.