Brady Helps

Interesting thoughts today. Nobody likes melted ice cream.And, everybody loves choice.DoorDash allows you to order food from any vendor you wish and,Dutiful Dashers deliver their orders. Seems simple, right? But, DoorDash doesn’t say - “Hey David, you’re ordering ice cream from a place that’s 20 minutes from your home. It might be melted by the time it reaches you. How about try these options instead?”The problem is, that’s not how the system works. For the system to work, orders are placed based on a customer’s selection and the orders are delivered. The system trusts that a customer has enrolled themselves into the process enough to pay attention to the distance. If you’re building an experience for someone else, a platform, a business, a service, a dinner, a party, or literally anything that involves another human being part of something you’ve orchestrated - consider their experience. Why?Because, nobody likes melted ice cream. Because, nobody likes to do extra work.Because, we want our cake and we want to eat it, too.

My Dad once told me, “You’re not Hispanic, you’re not brown, you’re not an artist. You are my son - you are David. And, I love you.”

Thanks, Dad.

Thanks for showing me that I am so much more than what others might define me as.

I hope this lesson you shared with me so long ago helps others.

I love you.

Your son,

(Just only) David

(Backstory in case we’ve never met: I was born in Costa Rica, I am tanned, and I’m a musician by trade. I’ve also have an awesome Dad.)

Riots, killings, anxiety, anger, resentment, sadness, hurt, resignation… and fear. Emotions that many are feeling at this moment.

Keep your eyes open.

Be aware of what's happening around, within, and through you.

Do more of the things that enable you to serve others.

Do more of the things that enable you to be you.

But, to do that, you need to see what's ahead, and behind.

Keep your eyes open.

Many people in the cruise industry were furloughed in the last month. They've been told they could be brought back in 6 months. As a bonus, they get to keep their benefits.  Many people in situations like these are stuck.  Do they look for an entry-level job so that they can get by?Do they start over?But, if they do, what about their benefits?What about their furloughed job, wouldn't it be there waiting for them?The "safe" mindset is to "wait and see." The "doing" mindset is to focus on you.  You can hope for a job.You can also hope to be the change you want to see, to come alive - a job just happens to be a vehicle to get you to that point.Which path is best for you?

What if we stopped asking ourselves, “what's my dream job?”What if we stopped judging ourselves by what degree we have or don't have?What if the life we’re making now didn't need to look like the our parents think we should have? What if work was about doing something that mattered to us? Do you know what it means to do work that matters?If you don't, then consider the below questions. Who are the people I am meant to help?What’s the problem they need solved? Is the solution something I'm passionate about? Will my work make a difference?Honestly, there are so many more questions… so many. I wish more of us would ask ourselves these questions. Why?Because when we know what matters to us, we know how and where to invest our time. What matters to you?Photo credit: Jen Theodore

When you do work, do you do it with intention?Are you thinking about the long term impact of what you're doing?Is what you're doing aligned with who you believe yourself to be?Do you have an idea of an impact you hope to be achieved?  The work we do in the service of others ought to be done with intention.  We should believe that we're about to do will make an impact that matters to the people who care.I'm writing this because I'm working on some small projects. And, as I sit in meeting after meeting, I find myself reflecting - "Is what I am doing now, this thing, is this what I am supposed to do for the people I am for?"

Today I helped connect a few subscribers, perhaps you, to a few ideas that might help them become profitable. I didn't charge them for the help. But, “then David, why bother?"Because the culture I'm creating is the one where people help people without having to get something for it. Because to serve others is a privilege.Because it feels good to see your friends win. Because right now, we all could use some help. I'm not saying this to boast. I'm saying this because I don't often share the things I do well, and this, today, was something I did well. And, you know what? I'm proud. Help others.

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. On this day, United States citizens remember, celebrate, and mourn those fell while serving their countries. This post is not about war or the United States.In fact, I am using this day to remember you. You, the Artisan Doer, who serves their tribe.You, the servant leader, who sees themselves not as the “boss” but as the #1 Supporter. You, the human, who’s looking for other ways to serve the humans around them.You, the one who struggles in the morning to find hope amidst the chaos.You, the one who won’t stop believing in themselves.You, the one who'‘s cultivating new ways of doing things. You, the one who never stops fighting for the meaningful work they’re trying to do.You, the one who believes anything worth believing in is worth fighting for.We are all called to serve one another. This is a day for you, too.P.S. I chose the image for this headline because musicians are servants. We serve the music we play. We serve the audience we engage. We serve our band mates. Lastly, we serve our art. To all of you out artisan musicians out there who read this blog - I see you, I know it’s tough, I love you, and I’m with you.

Viktor Frankl, the author of "Man's Search for Meaning," writes: "If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffer. Suffering is an ineradictable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death human life cannot be complete." Yesterday I posted about a tough day. But more, I posted about how graduation offered a new perspective. The truth enabled me to see the "something better." A few people reached out to me and asked, "are you okay?" I am. I am because I'm being truthful about life. Because that truth became meaningful to me. Because the meaning it gave me allows me to "do" life better. Because doing life better is coming alive. The most important lesson I've learned this week is to be authentic, even if it doesn't "look" good, because I am living life as it is for me. And, that's beautiful. P.S. to the ones who reached out - thank you for extending care. Yesterday’s entry is more about a way of thinking we can use to transcend the tough days.

Yesterday, hundreds of people graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Many have jobs to go onto, and many do not. But, it's sure that many are taking with them a great deal of experience, hope, stress, knowledge, and debt.  

Graduation is "closure." It's the end of years learning, stressing, fighting, and believing in something much bigger than yourself. It's the realization that the battle is over, you're going somewhere else. It's touching dry land after being isolated on a cruise ship for 80+ days. It's the acceptance that the loved who died is, indeed, gone.  

More than that, closure is closing your eyes at the end of a stressful day only to attend tomorrow's commencement when the sun rises.

Yesterday was tough for a myriad of reasons that only matter to me. I'm sure you've had more than enough tough days recently.  

What helped me today, and what might help you is to realize that we've graduated.

Yesterday we:

• Stressed;
• Laughed;
• Played;
• Cried;
• Worked;
• Fought;
• Learned;
• Questioned;
• Engaged;
• Failed;
• Made ourselves vulnerable;
• Gave too much;
• Gave too little;
• Believed;
• Waited;
• Wished;
• Suffered;
• Prayed; and,
• we hoped.

Good morning, it's 10:02 AM as I write this to you. I am taking the opportunity to decide what to do next - to set an intention. Then, I'll take the step.  

This is my commencement.  

What's yours?

(Side note: congratulation to my baby sister for finishing her Master’s Degree in Public Health. I couldn’t be more proud of her - even when she wanted to give up most, she took a tiny step each day to get her to this goal… check out her work by visiting www.generationstogether.care. I love you, Babes!)