How Being Unsexy Helps

The thing about this post is that it’s just one post.It’s a small piece of a whole commitment to posting everyday.It won’t save the world.It won’t make you (or me) rich.It won’t change anyone’s life.Well, probably not.What’s more likely is that by chipping away slowly, over time, a more clear and overarching message becomes visible.

Big monumental paradigm shifts are sexy.

You know what’s not sexy?Waking up before everyone else so you can read up on your field.

Industry disruptions and rocket-ship startups are sexy.

You know what’s not sexy?Firing a close co-worker who turned out to be the wrong fit in your quickly changing company.

Lots of funding and office massage chairs are sexy.

You know what’s not sexy?Investing 20% of your income every time you get paid.

Don’t be sexy.

Be good.Be good and just a little bit more good every day.Make the commitment to small, daily actions and the momentum will catch up with you laterFor a long time, exponential growth just looks like linear growth on the same chart.Then, suddenly, it’s not even close

2 Minute Action

What’s something unsexy you have to do today?Do it first.Make that a habit and the rest will come.

Is It Really Your Fault For What You Don't Know?

It's not your fault.Well, wait that's not true.It wasn't your fault at first, but it's slowly becoming your fault.

You weren't given the right skill set in school.

You didn't learn how to use a spreadsheet or to balance an operating budget or how to negotiate the scope of a project.It's not your fault that you didn't learn, then.It's just that now, now that you're out there in the real world, it's your fault for not knowing.

Of course, this isn't fair--but it's the way it is.

You have to deal with the pain of not knowing these things and so does your employer.

Here's an example:

Let's just say that by not being good at Excel, you lose 1 hour per week of time.That's not a lot out of a typical 40-hour week. It's 2.5% of your total work week.But now let's just say that the same is true for most people.There are about 3 billion workers in the global workforce.Multiply that times a typical hourly rate like $10/hr.1-hour x 4 weeks x 12 months x $10 rate x 3 billion workers = $1.4 Trillion

Let's look at that with all the zeros.

$1,440,000,000,000Yeah. That's a lot of work waste.

2 Minute Action

You're not responsible for what happened, but you ARE responsible for what happens next.Your expectations and standards are up to you, but consider that you might not be the only one paying for them.

• Take 2 minutes to watch a YouTube video on something that could improve your work.
• Take 2 minutes to read a Harvard Business Review article that could give you a new perspective.
• Take 2 minutes to schedule time with a mentor or expert in your field and present them with the biggest problem you're facing.

It won't take 2 minutes to be a different person so don't expect that.

It takes thousands of minutes, and you can only clock thousands of minutes if you're doing it consistently day after day.Today is no exception.It's another Wednesday.Let's make it a good one.

How To Finally Understand Motivation and Make It Work

There’s something special about the blank page. Pure possibility. And even more important: it’s what’s behind the page.

That’s the promise you made to fill it. 

Whether your blank page is a computer terminal, a squat rack, or a sales call, it’s just as big of a promise.

The only trouble is that it’s never like it is in the movies. 

It’s unsexy. There’s no montage. There’s no theme music. There’s no audience cheering you on. 

It’s just you and your commitment. 

It’s just the raw reality of what it takes. You have to stir up the motivation in yourself. You have to remind yourself why you’re doing it—because no one else is going to do it for you. It’s up to you to evaluate and crush your own excuses. 

Every day. 

Even though you don’t get any credit, today. Even though you don’t get any recognition, today. Even though you don’t get any return on investment, today. That’s the way the path goes. 

Drip. Drip. Drip. 

Every day. No matter what. 

2 Minute Action

What are you avoiding?I’ve said this before and that’s kind of the point. It’s not always going to be a new, shiny task or action item that shows up at your desk. Most of the time, it’s going to be the same, dull, boring task you don’t want to do. So, start with that. De-sensitize yourself to the dullness. Your compounding interest depends on it.