A few years ago I got an email from a reader — let’s call him Arnie — seeking advice on how to grow his (written) blog. In his email he mentioned that he wasn’t good at writing and didn’t enjoy it. A sentence or two later, he mentioned how much he loved talking and creating videos. Being distant … [Read more...] about How to Use Your GATES to Make Your Project Easier
How to Stay Sane and Productive While Working from Home
We know a lot of you are looking to be as productive and balanced as possible in your new work-from-home situation due to COVID-19, which is why we hosted a webinar on “How to Stay Productive and Sane While Working from Home”. You can watch the recording of the webinar above or over on YouTube. … [Read more...] about How to Stay Sane and Productive While Working from Home
How Success Packs Push Your Project to Done
In my experience, the chief reason people don’t finish their most meaningful projects is because they’re trying to do it alone. Given that the more a project matters to us, the more we’ll thrash with it, it’s even more important that we build a team of allies around us, yet it’s the fear of having … [Read more...] about How Success Packs Push Your Project to Done
The Five Projects Rule: Defining Your Best Work
A common challenge I help people work through is figuring out how much work they’re doing and whether they’re going to be able to finish the projects they have on deck in time. Most people have committed to too many projects — especially when we add in their personal projects — and they’re … [Read more...] about The Five Projects Rule: Defining Your Best Work
How Do You Prevent Project Fatigue?
On our February 2020 Monthly Momentum Call, someone asked a great question about project fatigue. Shortly after the call, I had a hit that it’d be a great topic to share publicly, too. Before I jump into that, though, if you’re unfamiliar with our Monthly Momentum Calls, they are free Q&A … [Read more...] about How Do You Prevent Project Fatigue?
5 Questions to Make You Rethink Your New Year’s Resolutions
Psychologists agree that 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February (that’s next week, if you’re keeping track). And the social fitness network Strava is even more pessimistic: Their research, analyzing more than 31.5 million online global activities, proclaims that the … [Read more...] about 5 Questions to Make You Rethink Your New Year’s Resolutions
How to Find the Right Level of Success for Your Next Project
As you’re thinking about that next big project you want to tackle in 2020, it’s important to consider just how big that big project will be. Which means you’ll need to define not only what success looks like, but the level of that success you want to achieve. [The information below is a modified … [Read more...] about How to Find the Right Level of Success for Your Next Project
4 Reasons Why Coworking Is on the Rise
In case you’ve been living under a rock, WeWork, once touted as one of the world’s most valuable startups, is in trouble. From a spectacularly bungled IPO to the ouster of its capricious, cash-burning cofounder and CEO Adam Neumann, the workspace-sharing company is making major headlines. And by all … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons Why Coworking Is on the Rise
20 Practices to Amplify Your Happiness and Productivity in 2020
Who wouldn’t want to be happier and more productive in 2020? Chances are... no one. So this year, instead of setting the standard, short-lived New Year’s resolutions — you know the ones — why not be resolute in amplifying your happiness and productivity with some simple practices. (Tweet … [Read more...] about 20 Practices to Amplify Your Happiness and Productivity in 2020
4 Creative Myths That Are Keeping You From Your Best Work
It’s more than just “the system” that makes it hard for creatives; the stories we have about what it means to be a successful, productive creative person are askew. Here are some of the most common creative myths: Creatives must be solo players. Since many creative people have been outcasts or … [Read more...] about 4 Creative Myths That Are Keeping You From Your Best Work
Book Launch Roller-Coaster Part 1: Miscarriage
Content Warning: The post below mentions miscarriage and pregnancy loss. “I don’t know how to tell you this ... I’m pregnant.” The fear and uncertainty in Angela’s eyes told me everything I needed to know. In three seconds, it was no longer just another Friday afternoon. Whatever train of … [Read more...] about Book Launch Roller-Coaster Part 1: Miscarriage
4 Reasons Why Going from Idea to Done Is So Hard
For some of us, project ideas come a dime a dozen. We’re self-starters who are motivated and idea-rich. For others, we’re able to hone in on just a handful of profound ideas that mean the world to us and leave everything else off that idea list. It doesn’t matter which end of the inspiration … [Read more...] about 4 Reasons Why Going from Idea to Done Is So Hard
School Doesn’t Teach You How to Work in Project World
In the United States, we spend somewhere between 12 and 20 years going to school, but only a tiny fraction of that time is spent learning how to work. Even when skills that lead to academic success are formally taught, those skills rarely translate to the world outside of school and academia. The … [Read more...] about School Doesn’t Teach You How to Work in Project World
Why the Summer Is Surprisingly Busy — and What to Do about It
Many people find themselves surprisingly busier in the summer than they expect to be. The chief reason we’re surprised is that the summer brings new projects that we often don’t count as projects and we have to weave those projects in with the projects we set in motion in the spring. Why don’t we … [Read more...] about Why the Summer Is Surprisingly Busy — and What to Do about It
Should You Get a Job When You Have a Great Business?
One of my friends who has a great business is looking for a job. For many people, "having a great business" and "looking for a job" are incompatible. If you had a great business, you wouldn't be looking for a job, right? Wrong. They're looking for a job because they've realized that their … [Read more...] about Should You Get a Job When You Have a Great Business?
5 Ways to Have that Trust Conversation Sooner
Conversations on trust are difficult because they have moral and practical connotations. We sometimes mean trust in the practical way: I trust my car to start, the sun to rise, or my cappuccino to be good. Other times, we use trust in a moral way, as in the way I trust my neighbors not to give my … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Have that Trust Conversation Sooner
How Do You Sing in the Morning?
I was listening to the audiobook version of Mark Nepo's More Together Than Alone the other day. The following passage struck me: In an elemental way, empathy and connection are life-giving. Let’s consider how birds sing at the sign of first light. By itself this is remarkable, that light causes … [Read more...] about How Do You Sing in the Morning?
Do You Need to Get Better at Asking for and Receiving Help?
I used to suck at receiving help. I was so bad at it someone finally had to tell me ... We were sitting at a table in the sun at a retreat I was facilitating in Cancun in 2012. I had just finished my glass of tea and a retreat participant asked if she could fill it up because she was going to the … [Read more...] about Do You Need to Get Better at Asking for and Receiving Help?