Question of the week: Extra time?
There are so many ways we save time. What are you going to do with that time?
Would love your thoughts below.
(more…)The new Star Wars movie is horrible (no spoilers)
That’s what many of the professional reviewers have said. Almost half actually.
The problem with those reviewers is that they didn’t have a 11 year old son who they wanted to see a fun movie with. I did. They didn’t have a day where they really needed an escape for a few hours. I did.
They aren’t you or me.
The days of someone telling you what movie is good our bad are over. I can make my own decision, thanks.
Where else in your life do you need to decide on your own what is good or bad?
The masses can be wrong, very wrong.
It was awesome by the way. Video proof below.
What you control
If all you did today was to focus on the things you can actually control you’d keep yourself busy.
It turns out focusing on things you can’t control is not only fruitless, but it can also make you miserable.
It’s your choice.
There are rules! (but not really)
We sat in the school library waiting for the ceremony to start. 80 adults and 20 middle schoolers sitting in silence because we were in a library.
If we were in the gym we’d be talking to each other but we were in the library and in the library you don’t talk.
There are rules
The first reason we don’t speak up, write, make a video, or put our work into the world is we are afraid of being corrected.
The second reason we don’t speak up is there are rules. Rules like “no talking in the library”.
But that’s not always a rule.
Ignore the rules
Here’s a rule about rules and creating.
If the rule is holding you back, ignore it for a while.
You can go back and follow the rule later but for now, ignore it.
- Don’t optimize your headline
- Don’t optimize your SEO
- Don’t worry about your word count
- Don’t add a cute picture
- Don’t create a lead magnet
- Don’t install 12 recommended plugins
You will never get better until you start.
You will never be known until you put your work into the world.
You will never be satisfied until you know you’ve done something brave.
What rules do you need to ignore so that you can create? Here’s the secret. They’re not really rules. If they were then I’d be in jail. They’re made up. They’re helpful sometimes but there’s no police force for creators.
Ignore the rules you are using as excuses to not create.
Make something, now.
(more…)What you need to write
- A small idea (It’ll grow if you let it out).
- A headline (Be clever or use one of those headline formulas you see so many people use).
- Small paragraphs (People are busy so it’s easier to skim your short paragraphs).
- Someone you care about (Write for someone you think needs to hear your words, it’ll inspire you to keep going).
- No one (Don’t think of the critics or the people who will unsubscribe because you’ll soften your words or worse yet not write them at all).
- A device (Literally any device will do. I’m writing this entire post on my iPhone in the WordPress app).
- A click (You have to hit publish).
I was wrong. I need to rest.
Never trust anyone who can’t admit they made a mistake.
I’m going to admit a mistake. I thought I should write on this site every day. I was wrong. Then I realized that in my life I’ve created a rhythm. Really I’m obeying a natural rhythm. It’s called resting.
Every natural thing requires rest in order to grow. It’s a law of nature. So in order to stay healthy and keep growing, I need to rest.
If you’re looking for a great book on this topic check out Wayne Muller’s book called Sabbath. He includes a wide range of religious traditions, practical thought and scientific evidence on why rest isn’t just a commandment, it’s also a great thing for anyone who wants to have a great life.
So I won’t be writing on this site on Sundays. Yes, I could schedule a post in advance but I like to write them each day. So this will be my last Sunday post.
I hope you liked it and I hope you had a restful Sunday. If you didn’t get Wayne’s book. It’s worth your time and money.
(more…)Blink hard
As we approached the auditorium where she would perform for hundreds of people I stopped her. I pointed to the building and said to my 10 year old daughter, “Caroline, remember what you are doing here tonight. Remember as much as you can. Blink hard.”
The clichés are true. Minutes become hours, hours become days, days add up into the years that become a life. But it all begins with moments.
To remember those moments I’ve taught myself and my family to blink hard. Choose the moments you want to remember.
Choose to remember moments. Blink hard.
Question of the week: Struggling financially
Why are we afraid to tell others that we are struggling financially?
Comment below.
Why You Haven’t Done That Yet
NOTE: I have not figured this out. I am figuring this out.
How much do you have left to do? What incomplete or yet to be started tasks are nagging at you?
If you don’t possess a God-given productivity gift then do yourself a favor. Never write down a task to be done without a time to do the task.
Tasks without times (deadlines) are regrets waiting to happen.
Tasks without deadlines are regrets waiting to happen.
Do you start each day by writing down your future regrets? That’s what most to-do lists become. They’re seedlings of regret that are nurtured by our inability to say when we’re going to do the task.
So when you write down a task put it on your calendar.
If It’s Not On Your Calendar Let It Go
If it’s not on your calendar release yourself from the expectation that it’s going to be done anytime soon because it isn’t.
We make time for the things that matter so if a task matters give it a time.
This works for lazy, undisciplined people and hyper-focused diligent people. That’s what some disciplined people told me.
Websites Are Optional
You don’t have to have a blogger, podcaster, YouTuber, or influencer. You can be an employee, run a company, be a stay at home parent, or a student.
You don’t have to have an online platform to matter in this world.
Why would a teacher feel pressure to be an online influencer? They’re LITERALLY influencing lives every day.
Why would a mom feel like she’s not doing enough so she starts a blog or starts posting to Instagram, hoping her follower count goes up?
You don’t have to have an online platform to matter in this world.
When did we decide that our off-line life wasn’t enough?
Who told you that your life, the one that doesn’t require a keyboard or a camera, wasn’t enough?
Platforms are a lot of things, but they’re not required.
What’s required of all of us
What’s required is for you to love well, yourself and those closest to you. You need to do your job with integrity. Serve your community. Care about people who need caring for.
The most influence I’ll ever have is on the four people who live in my home. My kids don’t care if I blog and if I stopped writing my life would still have a tremendous impact.
Wherever you are, be an influencer.
Websites are optional.