How you'll know if it’s creative work: you can’t do it perfectly. You can’t write the perfect message, play the song exactly right, fully nail the presentation, crush teaching the class, figure out where the blender looks best on the countertop, etc. Maybe you think “they” can. But that’s not how creativity works, it’s how … Continue reading How To Know If It’s “Creative” Work
Sunday Music: Grapefruit Moon
It’s good to have a reason to stop and stare at the sky. The moon has been putting in some serious work this week (at least over me in New England). “Harvest Moon” would be the obvious song to sing, but I’ve been subjecting my dogs on our evening walks to renditions of “Grapefruit Moon” … Continue reading Sunday Music: Grapefruit Moon
Podcast Of The Week: Don’t Bite The Hook
It's a 3-hour long audiobook and not a podcast, but it's my newsletter and I'll cry (or post, or write) what I want to. Pema Chodron's Don't Bite The Hook is a lecture she gave on not getting triggered by the frustrating crap in our lives. At first, it feels like it's about addiction, anger, … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Don’t Bite The Hook
For Feedback To Work, It Must…
For Feedback to work it has to be specific and concrete. That means for feedback to fail, all you have to do is make it overly general and ambiguous. "I love when you send me these instructions in the exact order I need to enter them" is infinitely better than "I hate the way you … Continue reading For Feedback To Work, It Must…
Help (I Need Some Continuum)
There's a continuum to helping. If you want to be helpful, it helps to know where you're coming from. On one end is the bad samaritan. They see and don't help. We'll assume that's not what you're looking to do, but we have to acknowledge it exists. Next is the non-judging-but-passively-listening friend. This is good … Continue reading Help (I Need Some Continuum)
The Modern (Hu)man’s Juggle
Dylan at Growth Currency (@growthcurrency) recently asked a question about juggling a primary job with side gigs... AND family AND everything else BUT without burning out. You should read his notes on the topic here (including a snip from yours truly - thanks Dylan). Dylan's thoughts made me reflect on just how often I've had … Continue reading The Modern (Hu)man’s Juggle
Rabbi Volpe On Apology And Atonement
Rabbi Volpe, in the way only he can, broke down the essence of Yom Kippur to how all people deal with screwing up and asking for forgiveness. Here's the core idea: Life is too short to not fight for what you want today. If you screw up, and you will, there’s no magic fix. Apologize … Continue reading Rabbi Volpe On Apology And Atonement
What’s Worse Is Not To Try At All (Ted Lasso Wisdom)
OK, I'm about to set the stage, spoiler-lessly (?), for a scene from Ted Lasso (Season 2, ep. 9). Sam, our character who learned in Season 1 to "be a goldfish" is evolving. Beautifully. After a humiliating loss, he gives this speech in a post-match interview: It’s tough. I feel sorry that we let the … Continue reading What’s Worse Is Not To Try At All (Ted Lasso Wisdom)
Sunday Music: My Bad Reputation
“I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation.” I used to only hear this song as nihilistic. You know, as in nothing has meaning. Now it kind of feels existential, or maybe even, dare I say, stoic. Where it only has the meaning you ascribe to it, and if "the others" don't like it … Continue reading Sunday Music: My Bad Reputation
Podcast Of The Week: Remembering Williams AND Macdonald
Two podcasts I didn't know I needed this week: Michael K Williams' two Fresh Air interviews (already discussed here). Norm Macdonald on WTF in 2011 talking life, comedy, and more life. Enjoy. Heard anything good? Send it my way.