Pursuit Of...
Whatever it is we’re pursuing, what we really want is control of the timeline of the pursuit.
We, appropriately, don’t think we’ll achieve the big thing all at once or in the next day or week. But frustration mounts when the timeline isn’t what we hoped for. When the plan isn’t going as planned. When the incremental achievements are taking years instead of months.
We want results but even more than that we’re in the pursuit of controlling when and how we get the results.
Affirm and Reward
Your fans think they’re really smart for liking what you do.
They believe they have good taste and have discovered an oasis in the crowded streets of content.
They know it’s unlikely you’ll hit a home run every time but they also like being the kind of people who are along for the ride, the kind of people who give another chance, the kind of people who are curious and loyal and gracious enough to give you the benefit of the doubt.
Keep finding ways to affirm and reward these people.
Asking and Action
‘What can I do for you?’ is often met with, ‘nothing’.
And because you know this, instead of asking the question you go ahead make an educated guess and take action without asking…
‘Here, I did this for you.’ is often met with, ‘thank you’.
You might not have done the exact right thing that was needed but it’s probably a lot better than nothing.
Beach Response
Would you rather get bad news while sitting on a beach in Hawaii or while on a rainy drive home from work?
The correct answer is the beach in Hawaii.
At the beach it’s easier to focus on the facts of the bad news and not the emotion of it. Because your emotions are being ‘distracted’ by the beautiful water and waves and sun and pina coladas.
On the rainy drive home it’s easier to blow it all out of proportion.
The trick is to develop a beach response while on a rainy drive home.
Home Life
If you home life isn’t in order, the road is sure to tear you apart.
The road is hard enough on its own but if that’s all you have then you end up leaning into something that was never meant to handle the weight.
A solid home life is the only sustaining foundation and fuel that keeps you from going completely crazy out there.
And everyone will go a little crazy no matter what…but just before the road completely destroys you, you’ll remember that you have a home life worth keeping your sanity for. You can touch home base. Recalibrate. Whether it’s a phone call, facetime, or a few days or weeks at home. That anchor is everything.
Home life doesn’t have cheering fans, autograph lines and catering…it’s deeper than that.