What I’m reflecting on as we wrap the week: How this all started!
Friday Morning Reflection #1
From time to time, I’ll text or send emails to myself when something comes to mind that seems especially important or there’s an idea that I want to come back to. And sometimes I’ll repeatedly self-reply to one of those messages to create a string of ideas over time.
I was looking back at a thread with the subject “Riffing thoughts” that I started in November and found this:
Think big. Start small. Act now. Measure results.
When I wrote these few words, I didn’t know where they would lead or how I’d act on them. But I felt compelled to write them down in the moment.
In retrospect, it’s clear that - quite unintentionally - I was surfacing into consciousness my personal philosophy of how to be an agent for positive change.
It’s the thesis that led me to create Do Good by Doing Better and my podcast here on Substack.
That’s not the whole story of course. I was in that reflective moment because I had taken a risk as part of my search for a new job: investing family money to attend a media technology conference in New York so that I could learn, network, and rejuvenate relationships that had suffered during the pandemic.
I was really feeling the pressure and was in a moment of elevated consciousness, thoughtful introspection, and stimulation from all of the sessions and new people I had met.
Now looking back, it all makes sense, and I’m glad I had the awareness, courage, and confidence in myself to write it down.
Think big. Start small. Act now. Measure Results.
What can I take away from this?
When confronted with a challenge, I should be open to all potential options. Bring thinking together with feeling to discern answers. Listen to what my heart and mind are telling me to do and do my best to bring them into harmony.
Be brave. Be willing to put myself “out there” - try new things that cause me to stretch so that my discomfort leads to a zone of learning
Keep a record of my thoughts and ideas. Some will be great, others less so, but they serve as a record of inspiration and are a first step to materializing the potential for change.
When I continue to feel a pull or a nudge - or my inner voice saying “you know, you really should ….” - that’s my spirit telling me that it’s time to take action. Don’t worry about the full plan…just start and keep working to fill out the big picture.
Remain mentally and emotionally nimble. Perpetually inhabit and exhibit a learner’s mindset. Know the difference between when it’s time to study the puzzle and when it’s time to act - be brave and reach for that ring!
Have you had a similar experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights on this topic in the comments!
Thanks for accompanying me on this journey and I hope you have a great weekend.
-Eric