Infinite Contribution

We all want to contribute to a level where we can’t really measure our contribution.

But to get there it’s important to decide how we’re measuring…

If I sell ice cream cones and I might believe that the number of cones sold equals my level of contribution…but what about the anticipation in the car on the way to the ice cream shop, what about the smile after the first bite, the conversation at the cafe, the satisfying sugar high on the way home…those things are hard to measure but they’re a real (and easy to overlook) contribution of the ice cream shop…to the point where it’s impossible to know the extent of the contribution.

And obviously with music…it’s easy to measure monthly listeners and streams but what about what those songs mean to those people? Did it lift their spirit when they listened? With their spirt lifted were they more kind and caring to the people around them?

If we only pay attention to the easy to measure things, then we’ll always have a measurement (even if its a false one) of our contribution…and ultimately we don’t want to be able to fully measure.

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Fred Kaps

Maybe we would know who Fred Kaps is if he would have had better songs than All My Loving and She Loves You.

But he didn’t have any songs at all. He was a magician.

The magician who went on right after The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show.

What a slot. More eye balls than anyone in the history of magicians at the time.

But…all the elements of pop culture, luck, plans, politics, access, technology and everything else came together for the band that went on eight minutes before Fred. And now all those elements had left the stage…What was he suppose to do? I think the best thing would have been to call in sick and rebook for the following week.

It would have been hard to turn down seventy three million viewers but it probably would have been more effective.

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Unfinished Houses

It’s hard to sell a house while it’s being built because it’s hard to imagine it completed. The siding is yellow, the brick is red, the floors haven’t been put in. Most brains can’t make the leap.

Then the floors go in and the exterior gets painted to look like the other houses that look cool on Instagram…and now it’s a lot easier to sell. Yeah the light fixtures aren’t in yet but those are easy to imagine. The blue protective layer is still on all the appliances but we know what appliances look like, so the blue isn’t a deterrent.

In truth…we feel good about ourselves for being able to imagine the light fixtures and stainless steel finishes. That we are smart enough and imaginative enough to make that leap.

So whether you’re selling a house or selling the thing you sell, the sweet spot is finding the edge of your audiences imagination and then inspiring them to jump that last little bit…because when they do they feel a heightened sense of connection.

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Lingering and Wasting Time

Most of us aim our lives toward efficient pursuit. How can I best use this minute or moment or month to max out achievement?

But worshipping at the alter of efficiency isn’t great for relationships.

Lingering, wasting time, down time, boredom…yes, these are the great building blocks of relationships.

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Ten Dollar Parking

I worked on a project for several weeks where I had to pay ten dollars every day for parking.

And then, surprisingly, got reimbursed at the end for all of it.

It was a nice little check. Those fees really added up. I didn’t realize. Just ten dollars a day…but the seeing cumulative total was a great surprise.

You probably see the metaphor. Little by little. The seemingly small, consistent deposits we make into our work and relationships add up to more than we often imagine while making them.

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Take Advantage Of Inspired Moments

Yes, they won't last but it doesn't mean they're not real doesn't mean you can't use them to your advantage.

Professionals show up and do the hard work on a regular basis regardless of if the magic shows up…

But sometimes the magic does show up. You can attract it but you can’t control it. So when it enters the room, don’t stop. Don’t be so arrogant as to think you can take a break from the magic and it’ll still be there when you come back tomorrow.

Chances are it won’t be. You will still show up to work, like a pro, but that extra special thing is fickle. Hold on as long as you can.

»» And eventually it always dissipates. It’s ok. Keep working. It’ll come back.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple