I needed all three of these maxims to launch Change Signal.
Here I’m celebrating with the podcast’s producer, Pedro.
Three unexpected maxims to keep going when it gets tough
Genius may need a witness
You might have seen that moment when Paul McCartney came up with ‘Get Back.’ Here’s another great moment: the Rolling Stones figuring out ‘Sympathy for the Devil.’ Watch, if only to admire Bill Wyman’s boots and Keith Richard’s sunglasses.
In both cases, I’m really struck by how the band is just … there.
Hanging out, paying attention kinda, somewhat indifferent to what’s happening, not really interfering, but also present to it.
Presence can mean holding the space and creating the container for great things to emerge.
Gather the people you need to do your work
I’ve been a fan of Craig Mod’s work for ages. He’s an American who’s lived in Japan a long time, and takes long walks, photos, and creates books.
He supports his work through a membership model–people who are his “true fans”–and he recently shared his rules. The first four are utterly clear, slightly shocking, and quite brilliant. They’re such a clear commitment to do his Worthy Goal aka Something That Matters.
And when you’re doing something that is thrilling, important, and daunting … you’ll need to find people who’ll support you.
- Have clear creative goals; mine are:
- Staple those goals to your walls, your mirrors, your forehead; if you ever have a decision to make, ask yourself: Does it help me achieve these goals?
- All membership activities are in support of these goals.
- General newsletters, pop-ups, board meetings (even writing this essay)—these all make me better at writing books; they provide the drafts, the grist, the “deadlines” that help complete books.
- The program exists for the goals, not the members.
70% is good enough. Do it!
If you find yourself stuck, procrastinating, worrying that you can do a little better, research a little deeper, and take a little more time … a counter-offer from the ever-delightful Oliver Burkeman.
The 70% rule: If you’re roughly 70% happy with a piece of writing you’ve produced, you should publish it. If you’re 70% satisfied with a product you’ve created, launch it. If you’re 70% sure a decision is the right one, implement it. And if you’re 70% confident you’ve got what it takes to do something that might make a positive difference to the increasingly alarming era we seem to inhabit? Go ahead and do that thing. (Please!)
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