It takes guts to:
- Have no TV in the bedroom.
- Have no sidebar on your homepage.
- Have no visible cash register in your store.
But with fewer distractions, you do more of the stuff you want to be done.
Get the guts.
Watching the Film
After NFL Sunday, the most important work happens.
Watching the film:
- What worked.
- What didn’t work.
- Action items for next week.
It’s best done on Monday. Fine if it’s done another.
But it must get done.
You gotta get a little bit better.
The Price is Not For You. It’s For Them.
Pricing is not a way to make money.
It’s a way to assign value.
To get people to help themselves.
A motivator.
Sure, pricing determines profit.
But that only happens when you help people get what they want.
Price it for them.
NOTE: This really only applies to non-commodities
A New Responsibility
As you get older, you get more responsibilities.
A break from the responsibilities is nice. It’s needed.
Losing the responsibilities forever can be devastating.
Make sure they get replaced.
It’s Pretty Easy, Actually
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.]
No Wonder Dogs are the Best
What do dogs think about?
Probably not about the future.
Definitely not about the past.
Dogs think about what’s going on right now.
And they’re usually damn excited about it.
No wonder dogs are the best.
Presence.
New Response When People Ask What You Do
“What do you do?”
I hear it a lot.
The answer is complicated.
So…
To respond, I’ve used a few tactics:
- One word. “Writer.”
- Many words. “I run a health and wellness blog.”
- 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]
Thanksgiving is Coming Up
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.
Three Things Your Words Ought to Be
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.]
You’re Doing Great
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.