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Category: Thinking Clearly

Playing To Win

Published on April 14, 2022

Nobody sets out to lose.

Winning is—in some way/shape/or form—the goal for all of us.

Ironically enough, not winning is often the best means to winning.

It challenges us, humbles us, evokes curiosity, and introduces us to grit—if we channel it.

If we don’t, not winning can lead to discouragement, self-doubt, and result in surrender.

And what most people will say with this insight is: never surrender; persevere; don’t give up; channel losses into fuel; ignore self-doubt etc.

Worth considering, however: if you want to start winning more, maybe the trick isn’t to force yourself to ignore feelings of discouragement, self-doubt, and surrender.

Maybe the trick to winning more is to define for yourself a game where the natural byproduct of “not winning” is humility, curiosity, and grit.

Because what you need to always consider is that you may be playing the wrong game.

When you align your aptitudes, abilities, and interests with the right type of challenge/ game, the question of “how can I motivate myself to keep going” dissolves.

And the question that quickly appears in its place is “how can I stop myself from playing this game so much so that I can eat food, interact with humans, and get more sleep.”

Becoming An Influencer

Published on April 13, 2022

Leadership is not something that’s reserved for certain people with certain titles in certain positions.

Leadership is influence. Period.

And we aren’t capable of interacting with people without influencing them in some way, shape, or form (for better and for worse).

Which means, if you interact with people, you’re a leader (yes, you).

If you don’t see yourself as a leader, maybe now is a good time to start.

Because maybe it’s this limiting belief that you’re not a leader that’s precisely what’s holding you back from leveling up in your life.

Because higher positions of leadership (influence) aren’t reserved for those who shrink to the roles they’re currently in.

Higher positions of leadership are reserved for those who outgrow their smaller roles.

The Expert Line-Cutter

Published on April 8, 2022

The Urgent is an expert line-cutter.

Each day, as The Important graciously lines itself up to be prioritized, The Urgent cuts right in front and boots it to the back of the line.

It does this over and over again, day-in and day-out.

Don’t allow this type of behavior in your house.

For what you have to realize about The Important is that it’s patient—it thinks there will always be time. It assumes that if The Urgent needs to go through all of that trouble to plot, plan, fuss, and meander its way to the front of the line, it might as well get the priority.

But, the reality is, there won’t always be time. And The Urgent will always think it’s more important than The Important. That’s its nature.

As the authority of your life, it’s your responsibility to recognize this and put clear boundaries up around prioritization.

Sometimes an urgent cut in line may be justified. But, there should rarely ever be a day when you don’t—in some way, shape, or form—work on what’s important.

Cap Your News

Published on April 4, 2022

We could easily consume news from the second we wake up until the second we go to bed and STILL not be completely filled in.

What’s worse is that most of that info we consume will be outdated by the very next day.

That’s why I consume less than 10 minutes of news per day and focus the rest of my time on building/ bettering myself and the world around me.

If you don’t put a cap on your news, the influx of information will slowly drown out every precious minute of your day it can.

Give your minutes space to breathe. Air them out from the influx. Put up some damns and focus more of your time on doing work that’s important to you.

Heck—create your own damn news.

Realize This

Published on April 2, 2022

Something you should know about fear:

The bigger it is, the more ignorant it is to your strength.

Fear subsides in proportion to the size of your *known* inner strength.

Something you should know about inner strength:

You have way more of it than you realize.

The Imposter Syndrome Antidote

Published on March 27, 2022

Imposter syndrome is the byproduct of being hyper comparative.

For you can only feel like an imposter if you have other non-imposters to compare yourself against.

The antidote then is to become non-comparative and hyper focused on building up the skills within the identity you want to not feel like an imposter in.

So, rather than compare yourself to the most skilled in your field, focus exclusively on developing the skills of the craft.

Because the cure for what feels like a lack of identity is the accumulation of more actions of someone who would hold that identity. Until eventually, you do it so much that you (finally) become a non-imposter.

This is all to say, if you want to embody the identity of a writer (and not feel like an imposter when you write) just freaking write more—and stop comparing your writing to the greats.

Early Rising

Published on March 26, 2022

How important is it to wake up early in the morning?

…Not that important.

What time you wake up is arbitrary.

What matters is what you do during your waking hours and how you prioritize your time.

Some get to bed by 9pm—others can’t go to bed until 12am.

Expecting both to wake up at 5am is silly.

Some people work better and are more efficient at night. Others in the morning. And others still, midday.

What’s important isn’t a specific time (because a successful person said that’s what they do).

What’s important is self-awareness.