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The Tour Bus

Imagine you’re on a tour bus driving through a beautiful countryside. The bus is packed full of travelers all onboard for the scenic view. However the bus has its window shades drawn down and the passengers are all arguing. They debate who should be sitting where, and who should be listening to who. 

Many times we embody this bus. Instead of enjoying the world around us, we get caught up on inner-chatter and zero-sum games. What’s that person think of me? Who is going to get that promotion? How could I have done that differently?

By getting stuck on these questions and thoughts we are no different than arguing passengers; focused on the wrong thing(s) we miss out on the present around us. It quite literally passes us by. 

Next time you find yourself chattering, think of the tour bus. 

You only have one life; that’s one metaphorical ride.

Will you argue or open the blinds?

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Find your voice

“You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin the less likely you are to find it at all.”

Robin Williams

Finding your voice isn’t easy. It takes many iterations and a lot of time to discover what is meaningful to you. It’s a never ending process that contains bumps, turns, and unplanned pit stops. In fact, developing a unique perspective can often take decades.

But every adventure needs to start somewhere. 

Robin is right, the longer you wait, the more likely you’ll never begin at all. What a pity it would be to go through life choosing to sit idle, preferring comfort over something more meaningful. 

This reminds me a bit of Lord of the Rings (LOTR). Bilbo is asked at dinner about going on adventures and he responds, “Nasty, disturbing, and uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner!” This isn’t shocking because that opinion is actually shared by all hobbits, not just Bilbo.

But another hobbit named Froto decides to overcome this criticism and go on a journey anyway. Throughout the series we’re constantly reminded of his choice as others attempt to dissuade him. Luckily he keeps going, and because of that, we get to enjoy Frodo’s travels and experience his transformation as a character.

A key point is that without Froto’s choice there is no story to write. From Tolkien’s own description,

“This is the story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected.”

JRR Tolkien

Go on an adventure. Do something unexpected.

Start to find your voice. 

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Same situation, different story

I absolutely love this picture because it exemplifies an important concept, which I call “Same situation, different story.” 

Here we see a man trying to catch a ride home. Like any good hitchhiker, he’s written out a sign for passing cars. The picture shows two sign options (A) To Jacksonville and (B) To Mom’s For Christmas.

In both cases his situation is the same – he’s trying to get home to see his family. But the key difference is the narrative that he’s chosen to focus on. On the left, he’s letting cars know the destination, and on the right, he’s connecting the purpose.

Both are trying to achieve the same goal, which is to get a ride. Both are also legitimate facts. However each option will likely lead to a significantly different outcome. Perhaps he eventually gets picked up based on (A), but he’s more likely to be relatable with (B).

Same reality, but different story; therefore, different outcome. 

Much of our life and human potential comes down to the narrative we decide to focus on.

> Are you an overweight person or isn’t it also true that you lost a few pounds this month? 

> Did you miss that promotion because you’re not good enough or are you already in a respectable job (one that others would give up a promotion to have)? 

> Did you fail or are you stronger because of a setback? 

Are you choosing the right facts? Focus on the narrative that is conducive to success… the rest will follow. 

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Sing your own chorus

Biz Markie is famous for the hit song, Just a Friend.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the artist you will immediately recognize his song once it’s played. Specifically the big chorus, “OH BABY YOU…”

Here’s the kicker, Biz was not meant to sing the chorus himself. Unfortunately, when recording, none of his backup singers showed up to the studio. Running on limited time, he had two options; drop the song or sing it himself. 

What happened next surprised everyone. Biz’s off-key chorus went on to propel the song to become a classic. It makes your wonder, even if he were able to re-record it with the right vocalists, would it even be as good? My guess is no. There’s something about the raw individualism that makes Biz’s rendition feel so pure. It’s almost impossible to even think about it any other way. 

For fun, here’s the original the song is based on. 

There’s a neat lesson in Biz’s story – sometimes the wrench thrown in our plans actually makes our plans. Seems really bizarre, but perhaps it’s less about following through and more about adjusting. 

Next time a curveball comes your way, slow down, adjust your swing and make contact with the ball anyway. Who knows, your hit may become a classic. 

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Everything’s a Flywheel

The Amazon Flywheel

…is the strategy that underpins Amazon’s business plan. Following the graphic below, you’ll be able to see it more easily in action. In summary, each portion of the business (ie: customer experience) feeds into and supports the next part.

For example, by having great customer experience, Amazon is able to drive more traffic to their website (because customers want to shop there). This generates more website visits, which increases the demand for third-party sellers (those who want to sell where the shoppers visit). Having greater traffic leads to better selection, which improves customer experience again… and the flywheel rotates faster. 

Flywheels and Life

Everything in life is a flywheel, which is another way of saying, most relationships are non-linear.

I’ve blogged about this before: the most important payoffs in life are exponential (they involve compounding over long periods of time). But said another way, nearly all of your actions will assemble a circle of actions that link together. We assume the connection is linear, however when the flywheel is fed, the payoff much greater than 1:1. 

The Health Flywheel: 

  • Workout at the gym
  • Eat healthier 
  • Have more energy
  • Live more in the moment (at work and home)

The Relationship Flywheel: You call or check-in with a friend on a weekly basis. That allows more information to flow between both people. Suddenly your daily activities become more relevant to each other and you speak more often. This higher-quality relationship gives each of you motivation to reach out to other friends, and the flywheel continues.   

Now imagine these flywheels running a two different speeds for two different people: (1) slow, just starting and (2) fast, full speed. Compare those and you’ll get two vastly different people. This isn’t a surprise – we all have that one friend who works out everyday and eats like a GQ model. Their flywheel is rotating at top speed.

Finally, did I mention that negative flywheels work the same way? Get stuck feeding the wrong actions, and suddenly you haven’t left the house or accomplished anything substantial for weeks at a time.

Feed Your Wheel

Which flywheel have you been feeding? 

We rarely think about the repercussions of each choice we make. Next time you think about going to the gym, don’t think about the muscle you’ll build, but instead think of the next connection on the flywheel – (ie: your better eating habits, and your elevated energy).

When we recognize the many to one payoffs in our lives, we prioritize the actions that yield the greatest rewards.

It’s never too late to pick up the right habit, or focus on the right goals.

Pick your flywheel, feed it, and become your best self. 

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Night Shifts

The best kind of investments are ones that can work while you sleep.

I was recently reminded of this. Over the past few months, I’ve been on a bit of a roadshow giving my happiness lecture at Google. One of my favorite things about giving this talk is the people I meet who show up. We have really great conversations, and I have the opportunity to hear someone else’s perspective.

Well, it turns out those folks who attend may bring up what they learned to co-workers, family, and friends.

I’ve met with hundreds of people in LA, Boulder, Atlanta and New York. After the first talk, I didn’t get much in my inbox afterwards. After the second, there were a few people who reached out. Now after visiting four offices, I’m overjoyed by the reactions and notes that show up. Not just from those who attended, but folks who heard about the talk through a friend, who heard through a friend. It’s unbelievable.

Plant Foundations

We spend time reflecting on how hard we work, but we rarely consider how much impact each area can have.

What should you prioritize this week to have the greatest payoff, at your job, with your family, or for the world?

Grow Overnight

What are you working on?

Perhaps you’re also fooled by the magic of compounding.

You wake up each day and think it’s time to get back to work. When, in fact, it’s been working while you sleep.

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Know What You Want

When I was first starting out, I had the opportunity to be introduced to Adam Grant. 

AG is one of the most well-known authors in the organizational-psychology field, and he’s also a professor at Wharton School of Business. I had been following him for many years, read most his work, and even applied his ideas to the way I approach business. I was a big fan to say the least. 

One of my good friends was previously a student of his, and offered to connect us. It worked. 

After getting introduced, Adam asked his colleague Karren to meet with me, since he was in the depths of writing a new book.

Later that week I joined a video call, and the first thing Karen said was, “Adam doesn’t usually meet with everyone, he only passes the few people he’s interested in to me, so congratulations.”

Which made me feel ecstatic, until she said, “So, what can Adam or I do for you?”

I had no answer.

Define What Matters

To be fair, I was just starting out and Critical-Chance was a complete experiment. I didn’t know what type of content I intended to build, or who I wanted to reach.

Regardless, Karen and I had a fantastic conversation, which I was grateful to have. At the same time, it taught me a very valuable lesson: Always know what you want. 

We focus so much on landing the job interview, securing the sales call, or carving out the much needed time with family. 

Yet we spend no time defining what we want, once we finally get it. 

Be Ready

Regardless of the domain, you should always be prepared to answer the, “what can I do for you?” question. 

Refine, evolve, simplify; but figure out your answer.

You may only be asked once. 

…

So, what do you want? 

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What’s Your Story?

Think of your favorite book. What made it so great? 

The writer invites you into their world with a hook; perhaps it’s the cover, the title, or even the opening text.

But once they reel you in, they make a series of decisions throughout the narrative. Who to introduce you to, what to let you know, and most importantly, what details to leave out.

Anyone can have a great story, but it’s the way that it’s told that makes it truly extraordinary. 

Laser Focus

“Most people fail in life because they major in minor things.”

-Tony Robbins

Your unique experiences define who you are, but it’s your interpretation that defines who you become.

What parts should you focus on? 

Who will you become?

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Uncomfortable Truths

“The reason I became 297 pounds is because I was comfortable. What was very uncomfortable? Running. Being on a diet. Facing things I didn’t want to face. 

When I was really big, I had no growth, because I was living comfortable.”

-David Goggins 

Begin to Improve

It’s hard to make an idea a reality. 

Have you ever attempted something new? The hardest part is always the beginning. Why? It’s difficult to translate your first try into the end result. 100 pushups seems ridiculous when you can barely do 10; these are two vastly different states. But everyone starts somewhere.

If you’re uncomfortable, then you’re doing something right. 

Get Going

We all have great ideas and aspirations. But until we start, that’s all they are, ideas and aspirations. Remember that you can’t improve a product that doesn’t exist. 

Don’t wait until things are perfect because they never will be.

Go make something today.

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You Are You

There is something I GUARANTEE you are better than any other person on the planet at… and that’s being yourself. 

“Everyone is the best at something: being themselves. 

When you’re competing with people it’s because you’re copying them. It’s because you’re trying to do the same thing. But every human is different. 

Don’t copy. Just do your own thing.“

–Naval Ravikant

Stack Your Path

Whatever success you are searching for, it’s always easier to achieve it through the least crowded path. 

Which ordinary skills do you have, that once combined, become extraordinary?

For example, you may be an average artist, but you’re funny and understand cryptocurrency. Individually these skills are normal, but once combined, they make you unique. This idea is called your Talent Stack, and it’s a concept coined by Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert comics.

A Winning Formula

Innovation is just a fancy word for being different. 

Add the most value by being yourself. 

It’s that simple.