Everything I Know

1. Choose Your Own Adventure: Forge Your Unique Path

"I've always approached my work as if it were a Choose Your Own Adventure book."

Embrace uncertainty and choice. Your career and life are not predetermined; they're a series of choices you make. Like in a Choose Your Own Adventure book, each decision leads to different outcomes, and there's no single "right" path.

Challenge conventional wisdom. Don't blindly follow industry norms or others' advice. Question everything and experiment to find what works best for you. This approach allows you to:

• Align your work with your values
• Discover innovative solutions
• Create a unique brand and voice in your field

Start small and iterate. Begin with small experiments and choices, then build on what works. This iterative process helps you navigate uncertainty and find your unique path without being paralyzed by fear of failure.

2. Overcome Fear and Embrace Vulnerability

"Courage doesn't come from an absence of fear; it comes from being afraid and moving forward anyway."

Acknowledge fear, then act. Fear is a natural part of the creative process and entrepreneurship. Instead of trying to eliminate fear, recognize it and push forward despite its presence. This approach builds resilience and confidence over time.

Vulnerability as strength. Being open about your struggles, doubts, and failures can actually make you more relatable and authentic to your audience. It demonstrates:

• Honesty and transparency
• Willingness to learn and grow
• Courage to face challenges head-on

Start with small pushes. Gradually expose yourself to what scares you. Begin with low-stakes situations and progressively tackle bigger challenges. This incremental approach helps build confidence and makes seemingly insurmountable fears more manageable.

3. Focus on Meaningful Work, Not Just Money

"What if we hit the upper end? Do we really need more? Does the upper end need to be so far into the sky or can it be enough to live a simple life?"

Define "enough" for yourself. Instead of chasing endless growth or arbitrary financial goals, determine what level of income allows you to live comfortably and pursue meaningful work. This approach can lead to:

• Greater freedom and flexibility
• Reduced stress and burnout
• More time for creativity and innovation

Align work with values. Focus on projects and goals that resonate with your core beliefs and desired impact. This alignment often leads to:

• Increased job satisfaction
• Higher quality work
• Stronger connections with your audience

Measure success beyond money. Consider factors such as:

• Personal growth and learning
• Positive impact on others
• Work-life balance
• Creative fulfillment

4. Experiment, Fail Fast, and Iterate

"If you frame ideas as experiments, you can't technically fail at anything. You're just going to prove or disprove a theory you've arrived at through experimenting."

Embrace a scientific mindset. Approach your work as a series of experiments rather than high-stakes gambles. This perspective reduces fear of failure and encourages innovation.

Learn from results. Whether an experiment succeeds or fails, there's always valuable information to gather. Use these insights to:

• Refine your approach
• Identify new opportunities
• Improve your product or service

Rapid prototyping. Start with the simplest version of your idea and get it in front of your audience quickly. This allows you to:

• Gather real-world feedback
• Avoid wasting resources on unproven concepts
• Adapt and improve based on user needs

5. Find Your Intersection of Passion and Skill

"Find the intersection where your interests meet your skills and reach an audience that'll pay for your time, work, products or services."

Identify your sweet spot. Success often lies at the intersection of:

• What you're passionate about
• What you're skilled at
• What others are willing to pay for

Develop your craft. Passion alone isn't enough; you need to be highly skilled in your chosen field. Commit to continuous improvement and learning.

Validate market demand. Ensure there's an audience willing to pay for your work. This might involve:

• Market research
• Small-scale testing
• Gathering feedback from potential customers

6. Connect with Your Audience Authentically

"Individuals, not the anonymous 'masses,' make connections with you. So don't bother trying to make everyone happy, or convince everyone to want what you make."

Find your "small army." Focus on connecting deeply with a core group of supporters who truly resonate with your work and values. These loyal fans will:

• Provide valuable feedback
• Spread the word about your work
• Support you through ups and downs

Be transparent about your intentions. People can sense when you're being genuine or just trying to make a sale. Build trust by:

• Sharing your process and struggles
• Being clear about your values and mission
• Avoiding manipulative marketing tactics

Create rallying points. Develop clear, bold statements about what you stand for. This helps attract like-minded individuals and repel those who aren't a good fit, leading to stronger connections with your true audience.

7. Embrace Imperfection and Keep Creating

"Perfection is the biggest excuse for not launching. If only a few more things were perfect, we say, then it would be ready for other people to consume."

Aim for "great enough." Instead of pursuing an impossible standard of perfection, focus on creating work that's valuable and ready to share. This approach allows you to:

• Launch faster
• Gather real-world feedback
• Iterate and improve based on actual use

Show up consistently. Creativity isn't about waiting for inspiration; it's about showing up and doing the work regularly. Set a routine and stick to it, even when you don't feel motivated.

Break big tasks into small pieces. When faced with daunting projects:

• Divide them into manageable chunks
• Focus on one small task at a time
• Celebrate small wins along the way

8. Learn Through Theft and Iteration

"Creation doesn't exist in a vacuum."

Start with inspiration. It's okay to begin by studying and emulating others' work. This process helps you:

• Learn techniques and best practices
• Understand what works in your field
• Develop your own style over time

Iterate and make it your own. As you practice and experiment:

• Combine elements from different sources
• Add your unique perspective and experiences
• Refine and adapt until the work becomes distinctly yours

Understand the difference between theft and mimicry. Stealing ideas means using them as a starting point for your own creative process. Mimicry, on the other hand, involves passing off others' work as your own without adding value or personal interpretation.

9. Finish What You Start and Know When to Quit

"Sometimes our work doesn't work. Einstein said that trying the same experiment with the same variables and expecting different results is the definition of insanity."

Commit to completion. Develop strategies to push through the middle stages of projects when motivation wanes:

• Break tasks into small, manageable steps
• Set clear deadlines and accountability measures
• Reward yourself for progress

Recognize when to pivot or quit. Not every project is worth finishing. Be willing to abandon ideas that:

• No longer align with your values or goals
• Consistently fail to resonate with your audience
• Drain your resources without providing value

Learn from abandoned projects. Even if you decide to quit, extract valuable lessons:

• Analyze what went wrong
• Identify skills or knowledge gaps
• Apply insights to future endeavors

10. Be a Maker, Not Just a Promoter

"Doing well at something comes from iteration and innovation, not constantly promoting what you've already made."

Prioritize creation over promotion. While marketing is important, it shouldn't overshadow the act of making. Focus on:

• Continuously improving your craft
• Developing new ideas and products
• Solving problems for your audience

Let your work speak for itself. The best promotion often comes from creating exceptional work that naturally spreads through word-of-mouth and user enthusiasm.

Balance making and sharing. Find a rhythm that allows you to:

• Create consistently
• Share your work strategically
• Engage with your audience authentically

By focusing on being a maker first, you'll have a steady stream of valuable content and products to share, rather than constantly promoting the same offerings.

Last updated: July 31, 2024