Spring Reflections
Focus on one thing and do it right is advice I’ve both received and given to others when it comes to starting a project or a company. There is evidence that this approach leads to progress over time and, eventually, success in different forms. As Steve Jobs famously said, “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are.” This doesn’t mean that Apple only focuses on computers, portable music, or phones; instead, it focuses on the mission: “to bring the best user experience to customers through innovative hardware, software, and services.”
It made me reflect on my mission — what I want to offer to the people around me — and how the three things I work on are all connected in that pursuit. Writing and working with my family provide consistency without an expiration date, allowing for slow but constant progress. These align with two disciplines I deeply value: writing and crafting one-of-a-kind glasses from buffalo horn—both slow, meticulous processes that require patience, determination, and time. These qualities are not just embedded in my work but in how I communicate and live.
At the same time, they serve as a reference for my consulting work. There are stigmas around consultants, and I sometimes encounter them. But when people realize that I work in a business myself — perhaps one of the most complex kinds, a family business — it shifts their perspective. My writing has become a reference point, allowing people to connect with me beyond my CV and accomplishments. It fosters meaningful relationships. While the value I provide in each area of work differs, the underlying values remain the same.
Working on three things simultaneously aligns under one overarching mission that enables both personal and professional growth. I needed to zoom out and take the time to see it from a higher perspective. Articulating that mission will take time, but my intuition and the tangible progress I see reassure me that I can trust my process. I think about the cross-fertilization in nature and how growth is intertwined with time — something I’ll share more thoughts on one day.
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