You Can't Win Them All
Life is a photograph where the circumstances fall short of ideal and the results are absolute. However, within the flawed photo, there is beauty in finality. It is humbling to relinquish control of the work to limitations. It is freeing to accept the outcome. There is a magic in letting chance and kismet fill the cracks where your diligence and amb... See more
bobbyhundreds • That's Enough.
“in the process of trying to attain a few moments of bliss,” Rinaldi explains, “I experience something else: patience and humility, definitely, but also freedom. Freedom to pursue the futile. And the freedom to suck without caring is revelatory.” Results aren’t everything. Indeed, they’d better not be, because results always come later—and later is... See more
Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
When this sort of confrontation with limitation takes place, Chapin writes, “a precious state of being can dawn. . . . You’re not seeing the landscape around you as something that needs to transform. You’re just seeing it as the scrapyard it is. And then you can look around yourself and say, OK, what is actually here, when I’m not telling myself co... See more
Oliver Burkeman • It’s Worse than You Think
One of the great comics of our time is booked for a gig in New York City. His agent isn’t paying attention, though. The comic shows up at the club; he’s in a good mood. He brings his best material. He’s up there, working the room, and no one is laughing. Not a peep. He’s bombing. After the show, he’s beating himself up, thinking of quitting comedy
... See moreSeth Godin • This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn To See
You really, really, really don’t know when a given event is, or isn’t, for the best. If this falls into the category of “too soon”, by all means file it away for later. But it’s true all the same: you can’t know what effect present-day events will have in the long run, and it’s to ignore your status as a limited human being to imagine you ever coul
... See moreI know that sometimes, persistence is not a virtue. I would trade my other abilities to be an exceptional songwriter. I gave it a serious enough try to know that I don’t have the knack, for years, and I’m not interested in being publicly mediocre at the performing arts. My life is incalculably better for having let the dream go. The world will be h... See more
Sasha Chapin • 50 Things I Know
In any creative endeavor, it’s possible to define success as the big win, the moment when your dreams match reality. Success is the end of imposter syndrome, stability and finally making it to the other side.
By this definition, it’s clear that success isn’t going to happen. It’s incompatible with the reason you do this work in the first place.
Sure,... See more
By this definition, it’s clear that success isn’t going to happen. It’s incompatible with the reason you do this work in the first place.
Sure,... See more
It is impossible to get better and look good at the same time.
And yet, we always want to look good.
We want to be polished and respected. We want ballooning analytics and bestseller lists and the prime spot at the table. We want praise instead of critique and we’d like it now, if that’s not too much trouble.
But working through is the way. Th... See more