I wrote my first blog post in 2016. My first podcast episode dropped in 2019.
I’ll admit I had no idea what would happen. I do know that I was heavily influenced by Seth Godin’s work, and three of his guiding principles. Here they are.
Do Generous Work
Rather than asking, “What can I get out of this?” or “How will this benefit me?” asking, “How can I help?” or, better yet, “How can I make a difference?” is a game-changer.
Doing generous work gives you a purpose that goes beyond self. It’s focused on making a positive impact. That will keep you going when you’re wondering if what you are doing is worth it.
This Might Not Work
Putting yourself and your ideas out into the world is scary. What if no one cares? What if it’s not perfect? What if it doesn’t work?
Godin emphasized that if you aren’t saying to yourself, “This might not work,” you’re not really putting yourself out there. You’re playing it safe.
Edwin Friedman put it somewhat differently. He wrote that leaders not only need to learn to embrace discomfort, they need to learn to love it.
I have done a lot of things over the years that haven’t worked. It wasn’t fun, but it didn’t hurt either. And I’ve learned a lot.
Drip, Drip, Drip
We all want to be great from the beginning, but that rarely happens. Consistent, incremental progress over time is the key to making a difference. This requires a long-term perspective.
When I started The Non-Anxious Leader Podcast, I made a commitment to do weekly episodes. The idea of producing a small amount of content on a regular basis seemed to be the best way to introduce people to family systems theory and to improve my craft.
Persistent and steady effort aren’t flashy but it’s the best way to make an impact. Or, as Shane Parrish wrote, “In the short term, you are as good as your intensity. In the long term, you are only as good as your consistency.” Drip, drip, drip.
These three principles have been foundational for me over the last decade. I hope they can help you.
Ironically, I feel like I’m just getting started. There is so much to learn and so much to share. Thanks for spending time on the journey with me.
