Fall Upward

We take in our days with the familiarity of comfort. We believe in our predictions. We depend on the consistency of our survival while forsaking exposure to a deeper consideration. We tell ourselves that there is little hope in chance even while we take it. But all of us have wandered. All of us have walked into the dark places with wide eyes and have been elevated by the discovery. Those moments are not chance exploration. Those moments define our "why". They are the essence of what makes you believe in your truth. They are manifestations of our creativity and courage. A new belief holds power. A power that like a fire spreads and grows but builds rather than destroys. It inspires and delivers opportunity. We do this and call it luck. We explore and see new things and don't take credit for noticing. Learning and teaching take equal shares of courage. Accepting a new idea at times feels like standing on the edge of a rocky cliff and letting yourself fall forward. But it's important to realize that there is no gravity in the creative process. You are in control. Allow yourself to fall upward. Learning and teaching, listening and sharing is the most important thing we can do for each other.

You need to get wet.

Imagine a never-ending rain that covers the entirety of the earth. Now imagine every raindrop as data that could be used to solve problems, understand language, inspire emotions, and deliver expectations. Now imagine how many of these drops actually touch us with a lifetime of rain. How many times we've shielded ourselves from data necessary to collect so we can creatively process these drops into manageable solutions, important questions, bigger understandings, stronger communications or in essence conscious realization. The rain is out there always falling always present. We just need a willingness to get wet.

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Nobody Cares about You

Sorry if that seems harsh, but the truth is in the way that statement makes you feel. If you agree, then I am likely right. If you are offended by that statement, you likely don't believe it's true and you've already begun to file through all the reasons why'.

"I have value!"
"I make a difference!"
"I change lives!"

Great! That is the perfect state of mind to be in to get some real work done. If you really believe those things are true, you must ask yourself if others also think that way about you or your brand. Do people seek you out? Do they value associating with you? If not, is it their fault, or yours?

When people ask "What do you do?", are they looking for a list of tasks? Or, are they actually asking "What can you fix?", or "Can you enlighten me on solutions I didn't even realize I need?" If they had the answer to those questions then they wouldn't be talking to you, right? So, it's not about you, it's about the results you can achieve.

But to find out how to answer those questions, you first need to figure out what it is you do, how you do it and why you do it. Be truthful to yourself at this point, as it will lead you on the right path. It will open your eyes to the value and impact of what you do. This makes answering the big questions easier, because you become more qualified to understand what motivates and drives you. Solutions manifest themselves more quickly as a result, and you can answer the "What can you fix?" questions with confidence.

When people ask you, "What do you do?", you should describe the impact of what you do first. Then the tactics on how you get those results, so they can clearly see how what you do impacts what they need.

Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of creative courage

To understand our creative capacity 

we must see the world through the eyes of our own infancy.

What does your brand stand for?

I recently encountered the question, "what does your brand stand for?" In essence, what makes you different? The advice that followed the question recommended making "a list of the differences and the extremes and start with that. A brand that stands for what all brands stand for stands for nothing much."

 

I don't agree with the premise that you need to compare and contrast your business with others to discover what your brand stands for. Comparisons don't reveal the truth about who and why you are, they only reveal differences. But being different is not your goal, it's your inevitable result if you go through the process of defining your brand. When using comparisons to define your brand, you are more likely to see perceived negatives and counter them with definitions that may or may not be true. At that point, your brand is being defined by the failings of others and not by what is truly great about it. I believe the better advice is to look inward and examine your methods and techniques of doing business. What are your personal motivations? What are your learned solutions?Collecting that information will define your brand truthfully,and the differences will manifest themselves within the definition. If you are able to share with others who you are and why you do what you do, you are communicating the truth of what your brand stands for. And, if you don't like what you see,you are now in a position to develop an informed solution.

Finding out the why could lead you to the correct path.

When you find yourself liking something or inspired by something, take a moment to ask yourself "why?". Finding out the deeper reason of why something inspires you could be very valuable. You will be surprised at what you might learn about yourself. It's good to break away from the roles we feel we need to play and find our true path in life.