Have you read or heard these comments from your friends?“I’m over it, I’m leaving Facebook. It’s too dark here. Peace out, y’all.““I’ll fight anybody that disagrees with me. All cops are bad.““The virus scares me, I can’t see you.““There’s no point in trying to get ahead, so why bother?““Black lives matter. And, if you disagree with me, we can’t be friends.”  I have, and I see them every day. I find them interesting. Why?Because they are the work of the “doing mode.”  David, what’s the “doing mode,” and why do I care about it? Your brain’s “doing mode” creates a picture of how the world “should” look, and then it works to make that picture a reality. It’s the mindset that enables us to invent things, finish a task, and “do” life. But, like most things we do, we sit in this mode too much. Here’s an example of what I mean.When things aren’t becoming a reality quickly or smoothly, the “doing mode” goes into “overdrive.” It will cause you to stress, obsess, and feel things are “unfair” or “unjust.” You’ll frustrate.When you begin to frustrate, you’ll be experiencing unpleasant emotions. “Doing mode” doesn’t want to deal with your feelings, and it will work to get rid of them.When you are getting rid of emotions, you’re seeking closure. Even if that means changing the subject, lashing out, distancing yourself, or doing anything that creates a closure, be it healthy or not - it’s Machiavellian this way.  When you are creating unhealthy closure, your ability to “do” the real things that matter, and serve your tribe, is compromised.  When you’re compromised, you’ll feel shame.  When you feel shame, you give up.When you give up…The “doing mode” is balanced by the “being mode.” A mindset that enables you, no, “allows” you to exist. To take things in, to learn, to question, to make a decision, and to move on. The “being mode” is about “experiencing” life. It’s also about growth.We need both modes of thought to exist.  “Experiencing” life gives us the ability to “do” living better.But, it only works if you can do both in balance.The balance will enable you to keep going.We need you to keep going.  Oh…A more detailed and scientific article on these two modes can be found here.Also, I chose the header image for this entry because it epitomizes how your “doing” mode operates. In kind of a funny way, I see that sign in my head all the time. Sometimes, I need to erase it and write, “Stop. Listen. See. Question. Reflect. Act.”If you’re interested in reading about what I’ve been reading in the last 6 months, let me know and I’ll share.

Have you really stopped to deeply think about this question - what is it for? This meeting, what is it for? Will this meeting help me understand what our work is for? Culture, what is culture for? Will creating a diversity committee help me understand what culture is for? School, what is school for? Will writing this essay help me understand what school is for? Protests, will attending a protest help me understand what a diverse and inclusive culture is for? People are staking out their tribes now. People are angry. People are frustrated. People are sick and tired of being “sick and tired." Extend empathy. Get involved. Be an ally. Create a culture. Just understand what it’s for. HT to Seth Godin for the “What is school for?" question.

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.