Why You Keep Holding Back Your Best Work

We hold ourselves back all the time. We bite our tongue in a meeting when we know we should speak up. We keep our writing private instead of letting it help someone else. We pretend our artwork is just doodles to ensure we aren't hurt if no one wants to buy it. Holding back isn't just about fear of rejection. Holding back is an identity crisis.

The Cost of Staying Stuck

Change isn't scary. It's terrifying. Radical change even more so. We are hardwired for consistency. We take the same route from home to work and back again, telling ourselves it's because it's the shortest path. Not true. We are not agents of change even if we pretend to be sometimes. We are agents of consistency. Agents of repetition. But should we? What if that which feels most comfortable and natural to us is bad for us? What if the change, a radical change, is the best thing we can do?

Learning to Write Longer by Writing Shorter

Big tasks can be overwhelming. Huge writing assignments or the notion of starting a book with an intended final word count in the 80,000 word range (after edits) is daunting, discouraging, and usually leads to distraction and defeat. Little tasks and short writing goals, however, are easy and achievable. If you don't think you can trick your brain into viewing your writing assignment differently, think again.

Making Lists Brings Order and Success to Chaos

Have you ever had trouble falling asleep because your brain is on overdrive? It's hard to turn off the switch when so many things need our attention. Human beings cannot think two thoughts at the exact same time. We can move between thoughts incredibly quickly, and we can act upon multiple thoughts at the same time (like compound exercises), but our brains are literally unable to take two inputs and process them at once. It's this natural proclivity to become overwhelmed that results in the effectiveness of making lists.

Why Brand Trust Is Built Through Consistent Value, Not Marketing

When I think of a trustworthy brand, my mind splits in two directions. On one hand, higher quality brands are trusted to make good on their promises of delivering an exceptional product, like the latest Apple iPhone or a new car. On the other hand, large businesses have been cutting away at the cords of trust over time with ever worsening incidents. Private data is sold to the highest bidder. Financial information is hacked despite the promise of safeguarding. And high-end products don't always deliver. Trust is growing as the commodity of choice in the modern age and that is a very good thing for you.