Yesterday’s work could have presented a smorgasbord of challenges and frustration. But it didn’t. Instead of deciding to be frustrated, I choose to remain “curious” and hold space to “learn.” I’m curious about how (not “why”) something did not work out.It’s fascinating that “abc” caused “xyz” not to happen. Huh? What do you know about that? So, instead of going through the day angry and bothered that things didn’t go “my way,” I walked away exponentially smarter about the way the world and the people in it work. Failure is only failure when you choose not to learn.Remember, to learn, you need to remain curious.Try it out today.Oh, I realize that I chose a cat for the headline image. It has dawned on me what curiosity supposedly did to the proverbial cat. However, in that instance, I believe the “failed” to learn. This cat, the cat in the header photo, has decided to learn - this cat is goin’ places!
I decided to start off the day getting bored. No thoughts.No intention.Just sitting, doing nothing, being bored. Honestly, it was the best experience. I walked away with a ton of ideas. Here they are:Thoughts: Go hike.Curiosity: What’s a good source of Vitamin E?Curiosity: Is there a Vitamin B supplement without synthetics? Action: Write about thoughts.Thoughts: It’s interesting how the leaves, and light, reflect through the window screens and blinds.Thought: Check the stopwatch.Action: Decide not to check the clock.Thoughts: Go hike. Thoughts: Go walk outside. Get bored outside.Curiosity: Does the environment change the productivity of boredom?Thoughts: I’m excited about the new yacht rock project. Curiosity: Do I need khaki shorts, a white belt, a navy blue golf shirt, and a baseball/golf cap for a yacht rock band?Curiosity: Was the water temperature I used to feed the starter too hot?Thoughts: Remember that the upcoming mix might be a bit messy.Thoughts: I want to make a podcast with my cousin.Curiosity: I wonder if it’s possible to get bored every day, even with a day job?I committed to myself that the most important thing I do today is “get bored.” I find it interesting that in boredom, your mind and body almost tell you what they need. For me, a hike is in the near future. If prioritizing and taking action on your day is a challenge, consider boredom as an alternative. If your experience is like mine, you’ll end more inspired and energized than when you started.Not bad for 30 minutes.
Last night, before going to bed, I was almost reminded of things I needed to do today. In fact, I set my intention for today to be a blank slate. Well, I lied, I wanted to be lazy. When I woke up, would you believe it, I was lazy! Slow to move. Slow to make coffee. Slow to read. All around slow. And, I didn’t mind. I allowed the day to direct me. Gardening? Check. Bake a bread loaf? Check. Buy a trellis? Check. Think about doing something with my SCOBY? Check. Harvest beans from garden? Check. Today was beyond productive. The world may try to tell you to do things, you may feel you have to write it all down, priorities upon completing priorities… I get it. But, just once, try allowing things just to happen. You might be surprised how much you actually get done. Goodnight. Oh, that pic is not from today. But, it’s a reminder that you never know what’s on the other side. So, stop trying to guess.
… well, sort of. See, sourdough takes time. Depending on how you chose to ferment or proof your loaf, it can take between 13 and 36 hours of waiting, planning, and simple actions. Is it challenging to make? Hardly, you need 3 ingredients: flour, water, and salt. Are there tricky techniques? Sure, but you can do it without. It won’t look the same as the ones you see in the store, but it will be yours. Then what takes so long? It is because a sourdough loaf, up until it’s baked, is a living and breathing organism. Fermentation is happening, yeast are consuming sugar, carbon dioxide is being released, and the flour is creating structure through the development of gluten. Here’s the thing, it’s all happening while your dough is at rest. Then comes the moment you stick your loaf in the oven. How will it turn out? Will it have an open crumb? Will it be dense? Will the inside be soft and custardy? Or, gummy? You’ll never know! You have to wait and see.Life is a lot of wait-and-see. Life is a lot of waiting or delayed gratification. Life is unknown. There’s no guarantee how your bread will turn out until it’s opened up. In the same way, there’s no guarantee tomorrow will be better for today. And just like your bread, what you do in the moment - now - makes all the difference. Try to enjoy the moment a bit more today.
Today, I’m hitting a writer’s block. A term I hate because I don’t think “writer’s block” actually exists. We don’t have “speaker’s block” do we?The challenge is that I’ve been searching for what to write for you. Personally, I’m in a privileged position. I’m engaged in generous work with Colorful Connections, a diversity, equity, and inclusion head-hunting/consulting firm. And I’ve no shortage of things to read and think about. Yet, here I am with a block. At least, that’s how it seems.It’s making me think, “what is a block for?“A block is for care. I am blocked right now because I care. I care deeply about the words I put out to you. Sure, my grammar could use some work from time-to-time, but I am intentional with what I write about. A block is also for stillness.In the United States, culturally, silence is not always a great thing. Whereas other cultures might do well with stillness, we’re not great about here in the USA. That might be to our advantage, as well as our disadvantage. If you want a good scrabble word, you could say that the block is for “equanimity.” So…The next time you’re blocked, think about what that block is trying to show you. Why is it there? What is it for? To the people I know who often say, “I’ve hit a brick wall,” this post is for you.
I’ve been having more headaches lately.
I think that’s because my blood sugar has been lower than usual. I think that’s because I’ve been cutting sugars and carbs out of my life. I do this off and on. It’s a way to combat my bipolar disorder - believe it or not.
This post is not about diets. It’s about self-awareness.
Some people may or may not understand this about bipolar disorder, but it seemingly robs you of your self-awareness. I suppose that makes sense when your mind is the thing that’s running away with you.
Here’s a brief, and not-in-any-way complete history of thought around quality:John D. Rockefeller was born today in 1839. He once said, “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.“In 2001, Jim Collins wrote the hit management book, “Good to Great.” This book would describe “great” companies such as Philip Morris, Kroger, Wells Fargo, and the like. Also, in 2001, a bunch of developers developed the “Agile Manifesto,” where the primary measure of progress is “working software.” In 2017 a boss told me, “Don’t sacrifice the good for the great.” In my mind, there are two competing ideas - do we work in pursuit of greatness? Or do we seek progress? Can’t it be both?I submit that the pursuit of either can become confusing. Is it better to be great? Or good? Am I losing one thing if I give up on the other? Our culture likes to complicate. Humans are well adept, dare I say “great,” at producing layers of complexity over simple issues. I propose a simple way of looking at the work we do:Does the person I seek to serve need what I have created for them?How will my creation change their life for the better?Am I proud of what I’ve done?At the end of the day, our goal is to do be invited to do more of the things that make us come alive. To do that, we need to stop thinking about doing things “great” or “good.” How about we focus on, “Did I make a difference today?” and “Am I proud of the difference I made?” If you can answer yes, then you were productive, and you had a day well spent. Rest and be content.
It’s a bad idea. Don’t do it. Why? Because you don’t know what others need. What if you’re wrong?What if the person burns out?What if this wasn’t the job meant for this person?The list goes on. Today, I didn’t write a letter of recommendation, I wrote a letter of ability. A letter that described the work someone did, the things that motivated them, and how they were courageous in the face of change. I don’t think others want a recommendation, they want to come to their own conclusions. But they would like to know what was it like to be this person’s boss? What made this person come alive? What did you see this person wanting to do more of? To answer those questions for anyone, you need to first see the people you lead for who they are and could become. Many thanks to Chris for today’s inspiration.
Yesterday I played a gig (watch the last two songs here). It was outdoors, physically distanced, yet socially together. Was it fun? Absolutely! I was privileged to have this experience and share it with others.
I consider myself privileged because I do not have the right to play music and get paid for it - especially with many venues closing their doors.
To do what you love, and get paid to do it, is indeed a privilege. I do not feel shame for this privilege. Instead, I use it to give others something they came to experience, my soul.
The hard part of being “stuck” in-between a rock and a hard place is the perception that you can’t move. I submit you can move. You can give way to the rock or the hard place. You might not want to give in, and that’s the problem.Our internal control freak hates it when reality differs from what we expect it to be. It activates the Resistant You, and you’ll start hemming and hawing, trying to negotiate your way out of the circumstance. But, the problem is - you’re stuck. “Unstuck” yourself and move by giving way to the rock or the hard place. Then, be willing to be fascinated, learn, adapt, and find a way to make something beautiful from a sucky situation.