Category Archives: Life

Your 2014

My best advice for 2014? Don’t listen to people’s advice.

But if you must:

  • Give some advice.
  • Rescue a dog.
  • Go for a run.
  • Give up cable.
  • Give up Facebook.
  • Steam broccoli.
  • Make soup.

Anything less specific, more challenging or takes more time is bad advice.

New year, no fear

Twenty years ago, I had no clue where I’d be today. Today, I have no clue where I’ll be in twenty years.

Did the future scare me? Yes.

Does it still today? Yep.

Should it have? Should it still? No way.

Happy New Year.

By definition

People learn to ignore.

  • Husbands to nagging.
  • Children to preaching.
  • Internet surfers to email subscription requests.

If your mother, an old book or a blog post told you so, it might have worked in the past. And it might work for a bit. But eventually, people learn to ignore.

And if you ignore that, you’re, by definition, insane.

 

Directing effort

So often, there’s a negative correlation between aiming to please and pleasing.

  • Try to go viral and you won’t.
  • Try to get “likes” and you won’t.
  • Try to be funny and you won’t.

Being truthful, though? That’s always a hit.

Yesterday

I asked you to introduce yourself to me and the rest of my readers. Even if you’re one of my good friends, I’d love if you left a note. (All I want for X-mas…)

Also yesterday, I said I was taking a break. But I’m struggling. I can’t step away.

So who benefits when you don’t take a break?

  • Not you. Perhaps there’s immediate, short-term satisfaction in never taking a break. But, long-term results will suffer. Brett Favre, for example.
  • Not your customers, clients, fans. Yes, they all want you all the time. But they also want you at your best. Motivated, energized, inspired.

Moral of the story? Take a break.

The 2014 Blog Plan and Who Are You?

First of all, my web designer and blogger friend, Heather Sanders, inspired this post. Props her inspiring 2014 blog plan post and, more notably, the beautifully designed new lifeisnoyoke.com.

The 2014 Uncle Leo’s Blog plan

In bullets, of course:

  • Daily posts. Had been doing this for a while, but it continues. Monday through Friday, 8am CST. A little something to illicit anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness or surprise.
  • Just words, still. I’ve dabbled in adding images to posts. It’s also tempting to showcase some of my own. Yet, I continue to believe images dilute my words. So, these posts will still be all words. But I will also try…
  • Sunday photo posts. Cause I have several that are share-worthy on space larger than provided by Instagram.
  • Lighten up on loved ones. I rip on buddies for still doing traveling consulting. I criticize the marketing strategy of my mother’s franchise. I deliver commentary on being uncluttered despite my gf having a penchant for stuff. So I will light up on them. Actually, I take that back. I’m going to rip on loved ones harder and more publicly than ever before. Much more interesting.
  • Time off. I think there’s something cool about a daily blog. But I also believe in the power of rest. Blogging, like eating right or creating the world, requires taking breaks. No breaks is for marathon runners — emaciated and tired. Breaks are for sprinters — strong and energized. My first break from this blog starts tomorrow and goes through the New Year. During that time, I’ll focus on playing tennis, getting tan and responding to your comments.
  • Get to know my readers. That’s always been the best part of writing, for me. On this blog, I know many of you from growing up. Some readers are from the blogosphere. Either way, I’d like to engage you all more in discussion. It’s more fun (and beneficial) than just speaking in front of the lecture hall.

So with that, who are you?

I can see stats of how many people visit. And can make a decent guess who reads my stuff. But how about we make it official?

  1. What’s your story?
  2. What’s our story?
  3. What do you want to see more of?

Perhaps you discover another blogger you’re interested in. Or maybe they find you. Even better, you’re not a blogger but can feel like one for five minutes.

CTA: Leave me a short (or long!) note in the comments below.

Happy Holidays and good things,

Lenny

More room to breathe

If the problem is “too much stuff, not enough space,” what do you do? Get more space?

More space fixes the problem for a moment. But that eventually leads to more stuff. And again, not enough space.

That sounds like a vicious cycle.

Getting rid of stuff accomplishes the same goal, right?