Allnighter

Back in college pulling an allnighter was a badge of honor. Staying up all night studying meant you were pretty serious about getting a good grade.

But if pulling an allnighter is a badge of honor why was it only done the night before the exam? I never knew anyone who studied all night during the first week of the semester in hopes of getting the badge.

The truth is you stayed up all night studying at the end of the semester because you didn’t study at all during the first week. Or the second. Or the third…

So maybe pulling an allnighter is a sign of something else?

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Favorite

In order to give people their favorite moment or part of what you do, there are almost certainly going to be other moments or parts that you offer up that aren’t their favorite.

To have a favorite there must be non-favorites. That’s the deal. So it’s important to remember that the non-favorites have a very important place.

They are the backdrop that the favorite sticks out from.

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Setbacks

It’s no surprise to encounter setbacks along the way. So when they arise we have an observation to make…

Are they temporary setbacks or permanent setbacks?

A broken guitar string is a temporary setback. A sound system lighting on fire is a permanent one.

The lawyer wanting to take one more week with the contract is a temporary setback. Storming into the lawyers office screaming your grievances and shutting down the deal, that’s a permanent one.

Temporary setbacks are uncomfortable and annoying but if we’re patient and diligent we don’t have to adjust course very much.

Permanent setbacks are painful and have fallout and often redirect the path.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Dip Central

If you bring a great dip to a party but secretly hope no one eats so that you get to take it all home…how do you ensure your dip goes mostly undipped?

All you need to do is set it a few feet away from the other dips.

When people get a chip they go where the dips are. They go to dip central. Once they arrive at dip central that is where they’re going to spend their time. No need to venture out into the fruits, past the meats, over the vegetables and expect there’s going to be more dips (but that’s where you’ve sneakily placed yours). No. Dip central is where the dips are. If it’s not there it’s not getting much action.

And just like that, you get to go home with your pan of beloved bean dip.

Conversely…

The best way to get dipped, to get discovered, to make a big impression, to be a hit dip might be to be around the other dips but just be a better dip.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

First Time Buyers

There’s certain language you use to sell your wares to someone who has never bought.

And there’s different language used to sell your wares to someone who has bought before.

Similarly…

There’s a difference between getting asked and getting asked back.

You might get in the door the first time by promising the moon and getting someone to believe you. But unless you actually come through with the moon, the next time around is going to be an entirely different, difficult conversation.

On the other hand…

If you find a way to get that first chance and you deliver on all fronts…the second time around is a lot easier.

We find a great amount of security when someone approaches us with ‘look what I did’ as oppose to ‘give me a chance’.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

When To Push

Push when you need to push.

Push when the urgent and important get combined and get cranked up because you need to come through on your promise.

But what’s more important than the push is the vision. The vision is why everyone on the team is willing to push with a good attitude…and happy to push again next time.

Paying people time and a half isn’t vision. Working overtime doesn’t necessarily mean pushing.

And when there’s a shared vision, the need to push is often not a surprise. Everyone can see it coming. Everyone knows the plan, the promises made, the deadline dates, the expected quality…so there’s no surprise announcement, ‘we need everyone to stay late tonight’.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple