On thinking of Independence Day, it’s become a patriots’ day.
But if you consider it fully, it is a celebration of dissidence. Rebellion against unfair governance.
And some will certainly say that it’s a time of unfair governance, but I think it’s more important to look back, and see what our revolutionaries we’re actually fighting against.
It takes a certain kind of person to write daily. Really, to do anything with that level of consistency.
We don’t always have to be that kind of person.
But if we are, more often than not, we still see results.
We are all influenced. Just as we all influence.
Who we become influenced by is at least partially within our control.
Who we influence, not as much.
Be mindful of the legacy you’re leaving.
When it comes to your creativity, don’t say it. Do it.
Show up. Create. Ship.
Simple.
When the sum is greater than its parts. That’s collaboration.
I’ve recently been blessed with amazing collaborators. Perhaps they’ve always been available to me, I just hadn’t been ready to tap into that aspect of my business yet.
We’re not always ready. But, we’re likely ready more often than we think we are. Collaborators help get you out of your own way.
So, if you’re stalled, find someone you trust to work with. Open up and expand your thinking.
You might be surprised just how good the deliverables can be.
May 5
I was told this was a heartwarming, well-done movie going in. So, I had high hopes. I’m thrilled to say that it didn’t disappoint.
I was also told to expect tears, which left me really concerned…
So what is Thelma? A ninety-four-year-old widow still lives at home, taking care of everything herself. She has a grandson who seems to dote on her, helping her with computer basics and encouraging her to wear her Life Alert bracelet.
When one day she gets a call from grandson Daniel, saying he’s been in an accident. He’s in jail. The lawyer is going to call to arrange bail.
Now, I’m not sure if you’re familiar with scams and the way they target the elderly, but this was pretty spot on. Sure enough, wasn’t Daniel. Just a young man sounding similar enough, with what he says is “a broken nose”, to fool Thelma into sending $10,000.
Then the scam’s revealed.
Now at this point in the movie, it could be purely an investigative tale of the police going after a scam artist trying to rob little old ladies out of their savings.
But Thelma doesn’t let that lie. She goes after the scammer herself.
Imagine the film RED, but instead of retired special forces, you had a stay-at-home needle-pointer on her own Mission: Impossible.
It. Was. Delightful. She didn’t take the needles. No. She brought a GUN.
Two stolen scooters. Two scooter crashes. Several gunshots, and one pretty decent explosion. Thelma skillfully played by June Squibb, and her partner in crime played marvelously by the late Richard Roundtree. The cast was filled out by Parker Posey, MCU alum Clark Gregg, and grandson Daniel portrayed by Fred Hechinger.
Stay to the end, and see the inspiration behind the movie – Director and Writer Josh Margolin’s actual grandma, Thelma.
At time to tell the women in your life how meaningful they were to your development – either as a child, or in adulthood.
We don’t often respect the sacrifices made by those around us to get to where we are. Or, at least, we don’t convey just what that meant to us.
So let them know.
Today and every day.
It’s easy to try and take on too much. But what can you really get done in a day?
I was recently introduced to the 1-3-5 system of productivity. Each day, you can handle one big thing, three medium things, and five small things.
Do I think this will work for me? Who knows.
But I don think having a system is important. I’m always looking for the one that will let me tame my heinous stack of paperwork, inbox, and random to-dos that seem to accumulate faster than I can even check one off.
Still. Some of us are prone to taking on too much. And it’s important to acknowledge that, and make space for yourself to recover.
You can’t connect with someone if you’re forcing yourself onto them.
Too often, some will try to espouse their many virtues in a first or second meeting. What accolades they believe they’ve accrued over the years. What benefits they provide. How great they are.
The thing is, there are those who will eagerly listen. But they’re likely not the ones to move you to the next step. The ones you want in your corner.
For those people, you have to offer, not take. Have your ears open, and your mouth closed.
Lately, I’ve been coaching a number of creatives. I’m not sure how it happened, but aside from the three or four projects I’m working on, I’m also fostering the creative output of another six or seven people.
While, yes, this is exhausting and does eat up a good chunk of time, creativity is like a bonfire. And if you have an idea, I feel strongly that you should get it out for people to see.
As I’ve said a thousand times over the past two months: writers write. Even if you’re not sure who it’s for, yet.
