What does it mean to be consistent?
For a number of weeks, I was able to publish this newsletter every Tuesday at 8:42AM Eastern time.
And then I got sick and missed a week.
And then there was a holiday, and as I thought about missing that week and what I wanted to say, I missed another week.
I’ve started writing a couple of things, but in the end, just couldn’t quite figure out what I wanted to say. The more time that went by, the harder it was to find the right words.
Then I saw this tweet today.
Just knowing that you aren’t alone in your struggles can make a huge difference. Sometimes, we struggle. That’s part of the human experience. I’m in a bit of a weird place right now. On one hand, I see some things working at least as well as I expected, and honestly, better in a few cases.
But in others, I’m feeling stuck. It’s probably at least partially related to the fact that I’m doing a lot of different things. That’s part of a strategy, and I’m aware that most people don’t recommend doing that. “You’ve got to focus on one thing. Do it well before moving on to the next thing”
Well, I can’t do that. Instead, I’ve got a master plan in my head that consists of approximately 50 moving parts at any given point in time. I have no idea how long it will take for most of them to pan out, but it’s a roadmap that will likely span at least the next decade.
But that’s kinda a funny thing, it turns out. When you start looking at things like consistency at a zoomed-out level, spanning 10 years, 1 or 2 weeks missed doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.
I’m going to be the bigger man and apologize to myself for kicking myself over being inconsistent in the short term.
But again, I’m not the only one.
It’s so important to realize that we aren’t alone in our struggles. When I see people I admire admitting that they are struggling, I realize that it’s not easy, no matter what level of the game you are playing.
The better you get, the further you advance, the harder the game gets.
In video games, that’s called good design.
Why don’t we admire that in life as well?
It’s really easy to look at some people and think they are just coasting along, winning every game they play, and looking super cool doing it.
That’s one of the biggest problems I have with social media as it exists right now. It’s too easy to make it look like you are winning all the time. So now, when I’m looking for role models, for influences, for permissionless apprenticeships, I’m looking at the people who admit that things get hard, that they don’t always feel like they’re winning.
Because those are the ones I know who are real.
Real is going to matter more than anything else in the coming years.
So I’ll leave you with a final piece of advice:
Just make sure that when people have to deal with you, they wouldn’t have an AI take their place if they could.
Content Corner
Couple of things for you this week. First of all, I’m going to recommend Jay Acunzo’s newsletter. Not because he featured a quote of mine in the issue (although he did, and that’s pretty cool), but because he really got me thinking about the idea of “taste”.
Really important for you to read, especially if you are early on in your creative career.
When You Want to Make "Breaking Bad," But Your Work Is Just Breaking. Badly.
Next up, the Danny Miranda interview of Alex Hormozi. Made my brain work overtime.
Here’s the episode:
And here’s my reaction (you’ll have to click to read it all, because of the whole not embedding tweets thing..)
And finally, I went on a slight rant on my YouTube channel last week. And I have a new favorite thumbnail.
Stay real, friends.
I’ll see you again next week. (Probably.)
~Leo
Spot on Leo. More credit to you.
Authenticity, accountability, and simplicity are key in our interactions with others. It's important to remember that we all have ongoing struggles and that we are all fallible. Kindness, both towards ourselves and others, is crucial.
Recently, I had a discussion with some people about a member of the medical staff who caused harm to me due to a misunderstanding. While holding her accountable, I also acknowledged that she may be dealing with her own personal issues and stress. I suggested that she may need some time off to recover, rather than seeking to destroy her career over a single incident.
I understand the pressures and challenges that healthcare professionals face, especially in the UK. Many of them are overworked, underpaid, and dealing with an immense amount of stress. It's important to treat them with kindness and empathy, rather than adding to their burden. They deserve our support and assistance.
In today's digital age, it's easy to detach ourselves from the human toll and become consumed by our own self-interests. This toxic culture, where wealth and a good credit rating are valued over health and well-being, needs to stop. We need to prioritize human kindness and recognize that we are all vulnerable and in need of compassion.
Gratitude, empathy, and kindness are essential qualities that can help us evolve and grow as individuals and as a society. We should reward acts of kindness and humanity, rather than bad behavior and judgmental attitudes. By promoting positivity and highlighting acts of kindness, we can create a more compassionate and connected world.
It's also important to note that online interactions should be approached with the same level of kindness and empathy as face-to-face interactions. We should strive to bring the same level of humanity to the digital world and not let ourselves become detached from the needs and emotions of others.
Overall, we need to remember that we are all human and that kindness and empathy can go a long way in making the world a better place. Dare to be human- dare to admit vulnerability and dare to extend a hand in kindness instead of a clenched fist. Drama belongs on stage, in the theatre and in music art and expressions- I firmly believe more spaces to act out and experiment with the shadow side we all have is essential.
Furthermore, when people do go on the attack we should examine why, and consider the notion that it’s easier to diffuse them with kindness and compassion. Bottom line look at what you do have, what you do achieve and what you can do- and do not dwell on what you can not do. Take each action you complete and each time you are decent over destructive and don’t fear issuing yourself a congratulations. If you accomplish one such decent thing today you are a successful human, if you do not do so you are not a failure- try again.
I’m no saint by any stretch and have all the defects and floors of any human out there- I’ve been a piece of work in my own past and saw where that landed me- nowhere good. It’s never too late to drop a me against the World attitude and realise we are unified, like it or no, on this planet we are interconnected and our own damage becomes collective- our own gratitude and kindness can also become a collective benefit to all. We just need the courage to do as Leo and so many others are doing right now, at this moment in time and in history- just yesterday I have seen so much of this sharing of kindness and compassion it’s beginning to tip the balance. Those who only self serve may scream right now and demand you take their hand- and fall with them in to their personal abyss- know when to be vulnerable and know when to say No Thank You. They will rescue themselves when they hit bottom. Most who speak as I do have been the lowest or been to rock bottom- that’s how we understand the essentials. It’s kinder not to try to rescue them- instead be a solid person in yourself.
A wise friend and true supporter of mine has shown me this by example- he can not help when I fall over or need something or land in hospital, he is across the globe, old and very wise. What he can do is listen, be a solid human being, cope completely with the powerlessness and being wholly unable to change my circumstances- yet simply be. That kindness in and of itself- my gratitude is immeasurable and it shows me so much about what truly being of help to other humans can be- it does not involve sacrifice of self. Just time, attention, inhabiting reality of the limitations we all face and not reacting to them negatively at all- that compounds problems. So if someone is falling and reaching for you hand. Stand solid and true. It is kind to remain kind, have gratitude and learn lessons. And the person may get back up without shame or other, because they were not permitted to damage others as they fell- you didn’t self sacrifice for them- you remained solid. That is the essence of being a truly supportive human being.
Stay true. Stay kind, and authentic.
- In gratitude
Krys.