You’re gonna go gray. And slow down. And find things aren’t as easy as they used to be.
That stuff is out of your control.
But you can be grateful. And laugh. And radiate positivity.
That stuff can never be taken away.
Ever.
Author Archives: ljgale
Paid and exclusive
It’s so true.
- Free copies of software.
- Backstage passes.
- Comp’d tickets.
The second that happens, everything changes.
The software is just meh. The show loses its magic. The performance isn’t as good.
It’s so tempting to give your stuff away for free (or provide free special access).
But just know that the excitement, rave reviews, and value derived is immediately all but gone.
Probably better to keep things paid and exclusive.
[Lesson learned from building my course Vitamix 101.]
Advice
A smart man has good advice.
A wise man has good advice, too.
Only one of them knows how to make you take it.
What’s the goal?
I ask others this question all the time.
- Okay, but what’s the goal?
- Right, so what’s the objective?
- Yeah, and let’s be sure we’re clear on the “why” first.
Simple question. Simple answer.
Just be sure you can articulate it, if you’re doing both the asking and the answering.
[Thanks, Sherps]
Stop
Stop.
Stop trying to be the Uber of this. Or the Facebook of that.
Do you. Do your job.
Go!
16 of my favorite non-things from 2015
I could spend the next two hours putting together a best of ULB in 2015.
But instead, I’m going to do this: Here’s a list of my favorite non-things from the past year.
Note: This is an unfiltered, unedited brain-dump.
- Lunches with friends.
- Lunches with family.
- Visiting family (hi, Nana!)
- Getting emails from strangers.
- Getting emails from friends.
- Seeing my sister become a mom.
- Spending time with people I work with.
- Presenting to people I work with.
- Waking up with my lovely fiancee.
- Waking up with my loving dog.
- Stuffing my face with vegan comfort food.
- Riding my scooter in the summer.
- Playing basketball on Saturdays.
- Playing softball on Mondays.
- Taking pictures with my camera (not phone).
- Making silly signs.
- Going to the dog beach.
Not surprisingly, only two of those things are work-related. And both of them are like being in school: learning, teaching, and goofing around.
Other themes: food, family, exercise.
Seems like the goal for 2016 is more of that stuff.
Good morning, good day
Good morning.
Don’t forget we’re merely mortal. The more your embrace it, the more simple life becomes.
Good day.
Sure thing, Boss
Chances are, your bosses job is to make more money.
Not for investors or partners or bidders.
It’s for him.
So anytime you’re asked to create something, remember it’s not for creation’s sake.
It’s to make your boss more money.
Two minutes, three sentences, one bill
I read it in a book a while back.
Made sense, but didn’t click.
I saw it in a blog post the other day. Reminded me of reading it in a book, but nothing more.
I opened up a bathroom book, and there it was again.
This time, it stuck.
If it takes two minutes to do, do it immediately. Otherwise, schedule a time to do it.
How long is two minutes?
Three or fewer sentences in an email. Paying a bill. Little else.
Anything else should be scheduled. That’s a two-minute task.
If it doesn’t deserve scheduling, delegate. That’s a two-minute task, too.
If it doesn’t deserve delegating, don’t do it.
Two minutes, three sentences, one bill.
Good day.
[Here’s the book and one that’s similar, here’s the blog post, and here’s the bathroom book.]
FCS!
You might not be working today. On the couch, with your family. Good for you.
But why, then, are you on your phone?
Go play Scrabble or fetch or peek-a-boo.
It’s Christmas for Christ’s sake!
Go be.