For a long time I wondered how these people I admired, who did so much, also had time for their health, for their hobbies, and seemingly so much more. Then I figured it out. 

Culture runs deep. The things I struggle to accomplish may be rooted in the culture of my upbringing.

The output goals were confusing. They included things like run a marathon, generate $50k in product sales, max out your Roth IRA, write another book. I accomplished a couple of these, but most of them I didn’t. 

Even though 99% of the people I talked to about my dreams were excited and supportive, all I could think about were the two people who weren’t supportive. 

Trust takes time to build with clients, especially as a freelancer. Early in your career, people hire you as a band-aid; someone to “patch up a hole in the business real quick.” Clients look for someone who seems like they can fix their problem, and who doesn’t cost too much, and they hire them. 

I recently read 1984 by George Orwell. One line in that book just destroyed me. With light spoilers ahead, allow me to share one of those moments that struck me deeply. 

They were both selling their paintings for thousands and thousands of dollars. They both had commissions from wealthy buyers, and were working hard to keep up with demand. Every artist’s dream. So what changed?

To be in business is to take a risk. In a capitalistic society, success is not guaranteed, or even likely. 

The momentum you gain from doing the wrong thing can be easily transferred into the right thing. 

#4. Set up a one-day sprint work session. I’ve seen photographers do this. They’ll rent a studio for the day, and then sell 30-minute portrait sessions to their friends, family, and audience.

Saturation is a budgeting software—specifically for video productions. And it is genuinely...incredible.

"...once you start making things, once you take that leap, you have the same status as any other artist."

When I’m producing two or three projects at once, and when I have content to write and edit and post, and when pitch calls get put on my calendar, and on top of all that, when someone inevitably has a wedding, or when I have houseguests…I start to dread it all.

Little things can add up over the course of a year. Especially if they’re mostly automated. 

“What we know is that if you A-B test a website enough times, it will turn into a porn site."

“Play hard while you play, but do not mistake it for work."

I mean it. 

As a child you may have been way into dinosaurs or ballet or firetrucks or mermaids. You are probably not way into those things anymore. You quit them! You found other hobbies and interests that serve you much better now. Except maybe you haven’t touched those hobbies recently, either.

There are plenty of fitness influencers and intellectual influencers. There are plenty of classes and programs and institutions to help us develop a sound body or a vigorous mind. But what about developing character?

Good news: your mind is a master negotiator. The bad news? It’s only good at negotiating with you. You know what I’m talking about. You know the crafty promises it makes, when it convinces you to stay in bed for “just a few more minutes.”