Give people what they want.

Then remove distractions.

Repeat.

That’s how you start a blog.

Or a services organization.

Or a bakery.

It’s pretty easy, actually.

Toughest part is getting started. Making and keeping promises are a close second.

[See: How people (surprisingly) use this site.  How tough it is publish every day no matter what.]

“What do you do?”

I hear it a lot.

The answer is complicated.

So…

To respond, I’ve used a few tactics:

1. One word. “Writer.”
2. Many words. “I run a health and wellness blog.”
3. Joke. “I drive the Red Line for the CTA.”

The results are usually the same. Several followups with little or no long-term benefit to anyone.

Time for a new method.

That’s What I Do Method

Respond with a question. That question should get an answer where you can respond with, “That’s what I do.”

For example:

Partygoer: “What do you do?”

Me: “How do you find inspiration and advice on staying healthy and well?”

Partygoer: “Well, I listen to speakers, read blogs, and talk to my friends.”

Me: “That’s what I do.”

Partygoer: “Really?”

Me: “Yup.”

Conversation over.

And, they ACTUALLY understand what I do.

AND, there might be some mutual benefit afterwards.

Can’t wait to use it.

[HT to Kiko Doran for this idea]

It’s a day to be with family and friends, relax and express gratitude.

If only you could do that every day.

Oh yeah.

You can.

And should.

Freedom of speech.

What a beautiful thing?

But there’s a caveat.

It’s three things your words ought to be:

• True.
• Necessary.
• Kind.

Individually, they’re not sufficient.

Getting all three is.

Bonus points if your words are also inspiring.

[HT to Socrates, Buddhist teachings and The Girl’s little siblings.]

Don’t worry about what you should be doing

Or what you could have done.

Just do what you do.

And enjoy.

You’re doing great.

You can compare yourself to:

• Other guys like you.
• Other guys unlike you.
• The guy you thought you’d be.

But isn’t that a waste of time?

Compare yourself to yesterday’s you.

You’ll see you’re doing just fine.

Many of the best had a big supporting team:

• Steve Jobs.
• Benjiman Franklin.
• Thomas Edison.

But some of the best had a tiny team (or none at all).

• Albert Einstein.
• Charles Darwin.
• Maya Angelou.

It’s whatever worked best for them.

Things will need your attention.

• An interpersonal conflict.
• An issue at home that you can’t fix on your own.
• A boat-load of work that needs to get done before the holidays.

Give these things the attention they need.

But once you have a game plan, they don’t need your attention anymore.

Decide.

Then, let it go.

There’s never a good time to make a move.

• Upcoming plans.
• Old job.
• New job.

But as the sun rises, it always comes with new uncertainties.

Embrace THAT as a certainty.

Then make the damn move.