RE: What is is all about, really? #113
Newsletter #113: to new beginnings
It’s funny how we humans think about a new year. We suddenly get this flow of energy, and willingness to set some new goals. These goals can be anything from being more active at the gym, reading more, spending more time with family, eating more healthily or whatnot. And then January passes and we are back at the same routines we were the past year, and nothing has really changed. In addition, suddenly all these things don’t matter when a world crisis comes to play and puts everything on hold. It really makes us reflect on what is important. What I see, and what I am scared of, is the fact that we all fall into this state of numbness, we self-quarantine, we come up with all these activities to makes us busy, and all we think about is our nearest and dearest, loved ones, friends and people we care about. The focus is that we all stay healthy and safe. But what happens after all this is over? What about businesses, entrepreneurs and startups, that now is just placed in a state of limbo, not being able to move forward?
I think this is the perfect time to truly reflect upon our situation and figure out where our passion lies, and how we can make it blossom, or revitalized when all this has blown over, because it will. I saw a video with Chase Jarvis, a fellow creative, author, and photographer this morning. He said we all - myself included - spend too much time on 'planning' and not enough time 'doing'. That we spend a lot of energy thinking about what to do, how to do it and then become our own biggest critic wallowing around the topics and details without getting shit done. Now - I am all about having a strategy, after all, I am a creative strategist, and I think far too many don’t plan “correctly” and go straight to tactics, but that’s another rant for another day… haha, my thought this morning is that we should allocate 20% time on planning what to do, and 80% time on actually doing, and as it is an iteration process, its something you repeat and optimize as you go. Get insight, experience, knowledge and then fix and move forward. So the question then becomes; How to minimize the gap between intent and action.
I decided to take these first months to reflect, and truly define where I am and where I want to be in the next 12-24 months, redefine my passions and figuring out my purpose and how I can be of service. The coronavirus gave an extra bump in that roadmap as well. Suddenly my mind was drifting to my mother, who now is recovering from 5 months of cancer treatment; chemotherapy and radiation. Her immune system is shut, so she is definitely in the risk group, and that has been a worry. Plus a whole bunch of other things. But it also made me reflect more deeply. What is important, and how can I be of value.
I boiled it down to the following sentence;
“Use my curiosity, passion, and knowledge to make a positive impact on people around me”
I have set some ambitious goals for 2020, and 2021, and I have broken them down to some tangible objectives to make them become a reality. But again, these goals and objectives are my intent - and now I need to make them into action.
I have been researching and looking at different people's ways of doing this, and it all comes down to establishing habits and stick to them. Not overdo or be too ambitious, so that it becomes overwhelming, but more take on a few at the time, and once they stick, move to the next one if that’s needed.
One thing - well - a rule I learned from a guy I find inspiring is Matt D’Avella, which has what he calls the 2-day rule. As an example - he never skips going to the gym for more than 2 days. He has a simple calendar on the wall for each of his habits where he crosses off the days he did or did not complete. This makes it very visual to see if you’ve skipped the days, and it pushes you to never skip more than two days if that is the promise you made yourself. Have a look and tell me what you think. How do you create and stick to new habits? Do you have any?
There are plenty of new things coming for me personally, but also a lot that I will share with you here in the newsletter. I am a creator at heart, so the topics I’ll be covering is these 3:
Marketing (duh) – actionable value content
Photography (a true passion of mine)
Lifehacks,
I’d love to hear from you, so please write to me by hitting the reply button, I will answer each and every one of you. But now, let's crack on with the golden nuggets, shall we:
Short-Termism Can Do Great Damage During A Pandemic
How to Write an Incredible Startup Marketing Budget for 2020
7 Leadership Principles for Managing in the Time of Coronavirus
Is everything going to be okay?
As a final self-serving plug, if you are interested in photography, I have just launched a presell of my photo book; Decisive Moments 2019, which is a book containing 100 of my best street photographies from last year: It is a book that has taken me a long time to assemble (ref the intro of this email) but I am very pleased with the end result. Its a special offer, with a signed book, 2 postcards, and a surprise gift as well. Please check it out, and order your copy, if you’d like. It’s a limited edition, so the first 100 that buys the book, is getting this offer.