Don’t fret while the story’s being written
My mother took me to watch Harry Potter at the cinema for the first time. Though I enjoyed the film, I already knew what happened, having previously enjoyed the books. When Harry and his friends are confronted by devil's snare, a three-headed dog, or a double-headed murderous villain, I don't despair or worry for them. I know how the story goes. Though there are dips along the way, the story is just being written. The same is true in life. The story is just being written. That's not to say that there is not stress — as Sir Winston Churchill once said, 'you can't
Are we there yet?
Are we there yet? pesters the young child from the back seat. Are. We. There. Yet? But zoom out and we're all that young child, looking to arrive, looking to get somewhere. You can look through the telescope for the fine details but you'll miss the grander view if you do. If you look too hard, you'll see only a fraction of the total picture. If you ask the wrong question, you will never find the right answer. You will always be looking somewhere where the answer is not. Scrutinising things too closely under the microscope. As Alan Watts told us
The book — the ultimate symbol of how our times have changed
Books carry a special place in our world — they move the culture forward. There was a time when you needed permission and approval to write a book. It was not so long ago in fact. A publisher needed to agree to bring your idea into the world and stock it on shelves. There were gatekeepers. There were people who got to decide. People other than you. As Seth Godin says, that barrier has now disappeared. In 2021, you can write a book and put it online any time you like. Did you know that? You can put it on Amazon right now,
Don’t lack clarity on your lack of clarity
When I'm in the groove, ideas flow out of me faster than I can catch them and put them into print. Things feel clear and I can do most anything. I feel indestructible. Every so often, the waters get murky. That's when the tap slows to a drip. Things feel less clear. But worry not. Never lack clarity on your lack of clarity. It is nature's way of telling you that you have something to learn. Something important. Sit with it patiently. If you are willing to see a wide range of possibilities, eventually this lesson will open up and reveal itself to you. But you have to be
The Glory Story — do you want MVP, or the championship?
There is no such thing as a truly independent individual achievement. At the Academy Awards, an individual wins Best Actor or Actress — whether it's Leonardo Di Caprio, Matthew McConaughey or Meryl Streep, they always thank the people that helped get them there (and they always run out of time). Then the music starts, trying to drown them out — symbolic of a culture where want one champion. It's our own version of the hunger games — 'there can only be one victor'. Only one name goes on the history books for Best Actor, Best Actress. The other names, the ones that got
The Two Year Rule
The two year rule, stated simply, is that if you want your money back in two years, don't invest. It was stated by legendary investor Peter Lynch. We, of course, take a broader view of investing. In addition to money, we also invest time, effort and energy. If you want your returns in less than two years, you have too much short-term thinking. You lack the persistence required to succeed. The same can be said of entrepreneurship, because every entrepreneurial or creative endeavour is an investment. If you're not willing to stick with the drop-shipping store, Instagram page, podcast or blog for two years,
You’ll try following the map until you realise it’s a compass you need.
Most of us look for a map to follow. I suspect we have all been guilty of wanting to see the path laid out before us, with no hidden bends or unfinished roads. But as it is with real-world expeditions, you need to go off road. No great learning or solution can be laid out step-by-step-by-step. The Thousand Doors is the truth that your real future lies hidden, out of sight, and requires you to Open Doors. There is no fool-proof process, no journey free from obstacles. If you're being creative and daring, there are very few relevant best practices. Nothing worthwhile is straightforward. Stop
Build your career like the Harbour Bridge
Wondering what the heck you're meant to be doing in the world? Wondering whether you're in the right place? Well, you shouldn't be. Not because you're failing, not because there's something wrong with you. Just because you're still building your Harbour Bridge. What the heck is your Harbour Bridge? Well, let's stop first and look around. Look around. Your friends might be starting things like little businesses, Instagram pages, blogs, personal websites and Youtube channels. They might write about their day, or they might share travel videos. These things are actually pretty typical. Pretty normal. But how do you make money doing them? How are they going
What they found when they stole & dissected Einstein’s brain
Short answer — nothing. A guy called Thomas Harvey stole Einstein's brain when he died — Harvey did the autopsy and took the brain thinking he might find some answers. They cut it up, dissected it, studied it
I have bad news… the excuses are gone
I have bad news. The excuses are gone. It used to be