Why do we need to be good at things in order to try? Why do we need to be good at things to enjoy them?

Every time I start cleaning, ever since I was 15 years old, I start humming a funny song called One Little Corner. It’s ostensibly a cleaning song for grown-ups. The accidental genius? It’s spot-on with habit research. 

I didn’t want to use pre-recorded loops for any of my songs. I wanted to create and record everything myself. If a machine did it, or if someone else did it, I wasn’t interested. 

Do you ever wonder how photographers and videographers with half your talent are booking jobs twice as big as yours? Hint: It’s because they know how to pitch. 

“We expend effort. We create value. It’s easy to get confused about which one we’re going to ultimately be compensated for.”

Just now, I took a walk around the block to clear my head. On my walk, I witnessed two men in an argument about the ethics of their businesses.

If it seems like someone has everything figured out, go look under their bed. If it looks like someone has their life all together, look at their inbox

There’s one downside about the idea of consistency that isn’t talked about enough. 

 Leads can be anyone who can “hook you up with an opportunity that might lead to a paycheck” according to Jane Friedman in her book The Business of Being a Writer.

“The people with the best self-control are typically the ones who need to use it the least.”

Selling consulting is hard. Selling strategy and knowledge and soft skills is not as easy as selling products or services. 

“One of the privileges given to those who've avoided dying young is the blessed right to grow old.”

The old saying goes, “Don’t believe everything you read.” This saying evolved to become “don’t believe everything you see on TikTok.” Now, we need to change it again: “don’t believe everything you see on AI.”

Is work-life balance the antithesis of greatness? Doesn’t it take a singular focus on one discipline to become world-class? 

Writing really isn’t about word-count or typing speed though, is it?

This is what I learned growing up just a chainlink fence away from a vicious Rottweiler named Rufus. 

Sometimes I catch myself daydreaming about the perfect career. I imagine a time in my life when I’m only doing exactly what I want to be doing; a time when projects filter in for just the right rates at precisely the ideal times.

“You don't ‘own’ or control a community, and you don't necessarily build one. You participate or engage with one.”

Behind every “how do I” question is a deeper question. Anytime someone asks “how do I…” and then follows it with something practical, like “find more clients?” or “grow my audience?” or “generate more profit?” there is one deeper question behind all of that. 

Writing a good book isn’t just about writing the best possible sentence at every given moment.