Tag: self-improvement

The benefits of one day

FabrizioLeave a comment

When you deviate from your path to take a shortcut, you must be aware that you are probably going to waste twice the energy. Merely because the demotivation deriving from the realization that the shortcut is not working (it very rarely does) is going to throw you a long way back from the starting point.

Most things that matter require time and dedication.

Wanting to get there faster is natural, but the time we make and take to actually achieve what we set out to achieve is precious.

It prepares us for the outcome, it makes us stronger, it builds resilience, and often it gives us the opportunity to understand if the pin we are moving towards is the real destination we have envisioned and hoped for. It trains us.

If students expend one day’s effort, they will reap the benefits of one day. After many days and months one will naturally reach the goal.

Yang Ch’eng Fu

Safe in the drawer

FabrizioLeave a comment

It is terrifying to show the work you’ve done.

They might not like it. It might be they think I am a fraud. What if there’s a typo I have missed? I have absolutely no authority to do that. Probably better if I give it another review. I can always publish it tomorrow. Everyone is so busy. Nobody is probably going to read it. After all, who cares? Is it really something important that I have to say? I might get fired for that. I look dumb in the video, I need another take. It’s not my best job. The concept I am trying to express is too weak. I am not a graphic designer, and the presentation looks dull. I’m not a native speaker, they’ll find out right away. They are crazy if they think I am going to do that.

And the most horrible of them all.

What if somebody likes it, and I have to continue …

On the other hand though, what good is it to keep that manuscript, that video, that drawing, that blog post, that article, that idea, that question safe in the drawer?

Important and not

FabrizioLeave a comment

Can you listen to an argument you do not support without interrupting?

Can you accept someone speaking at a public event near you about a topic that is sensitive and towards which you have a strong opinion, without mounting a protest and demanding the event cancelled?

Can you survive your favourite TV show being cancelled, or ending, or going through a disappointing season, without getting in touch with fellow fans and coming up with displays of affections towards the show that almost cross the limit of aggression?

Can you continue on your path when your community is led by a person you vividly dislike and disagree with, without being sucked up into the cult of that person and discuss what they do, say, tweet at every occasion, in disdain and disgust?

Some things are important, and worth figthing for.

The vast majority are not.

At some point along the road, we have lost the capacity to distinguish between the two. Everything upsets us, makes us mad, forces us to take unprecedented measures, promotes us to paladins of moral enlightment and rightfulness. We do not realize that even just by doing that, we flatten a multitude of interesting topics, solid arguments, and valid positions into an ocean of noise, resentment and, eventually, irrelevance. And that, slowly, happens also to us.

“Distraction” is a very appropriate way to describe all this. It’s a form of resistance that prevents us from persistently doing the work that eventually will lead to actual change.

Will you waste it?

FabrizioLeave a comment

It is fairly easy to step out of anonimity for a moment, particularly in this world in which everybody has unlimited access to tools and channels to reach a wide variety of people.

Of course, sustaining it for longer is as intense as a job. It’s not by chance that nowadays bloggers, youtubers, influencers that have spent time and effort building a dedicated audience get paid to produce more content.

But if you break through even just once, even with no intention to continue on the same track, there’s an important decision you have to take: what will you do with the attention you have gathered? Will you just waste it and move on to trying the next thing, or will you follow up to signal and build something, even small, that can make an impact?

Careful, though, as while you think about it, the needle moves faster and faster towards the former. At some point, it will just be to late to choose otherwise.

Building bridges

FabrizioLeave a comment

When you engage in a new connection, expect friction.

You are trying to tie-in two (or more) parts that were separated before, and therefore it is granted there’s going to be misunderstanding, resistance, overreaching and suspicion.

Your role is to not misinterpret all of that as a signal a connection is not needed or wanted. Building bridges is the only way to progress, and you have to keep motivation high and fear low to gather people around a vision, a concept, an idea.

Hang in there.