It’s not always the case, but many times, the way to get better at a thing … is to do the thing. And to do it again, and again, and again.

Direct engagement. Not talking about it, thinking about it, and immersing yourself in theory.

But achieving a minimal threshold of preparedness and competency — and then doing the thing as often as you can.

Focus on doing; learning and progress will follow.

The classroom is not the same as the field.
Rehearsal is not the same as show time.
Practice is not the same as game time.
Food prep is not the same as service.
Garrison is not the same as combat.

In one mode, risk is low, time is abundant, and the supply line works as designed.

In the other, things break down, plans change, and chaos seeks to prevail.

But we’re prepared for that. We anticipate being pushed off balance. We know how to recover. We know how to improvise. We lean on our training, creativity, and intuition.

And we remember that challenges and adversity are clear signs that we’re human and we’re alive.

A metric bolt and an imperial nut won’t work together.

It doesn’t matter if they’re each perfectly milled and they’re made from the finest materials. The two things won’t pair.

With enough slop, you might be able to thread the pieces together, but even so, they won’t tighten as they should.

Indeed, there are instances where two things simply aren’t compatible. Whether they’re physical tools or mental ideologies, sometimes a mismatch is just that: a mismatch.

Does this mean game-over? Of course not. When we discover what doesn’t work, it can help point us in the direction of what does work. When we learn where we don’t operate at our best, it can give us clues to find where we’re a better match.

And with the hardware above? A metric bolt and nut could serve as one anchor point while an imperial pair takes another.

Sometimes, it’s a matter of finding the right ways to work together while understanding the incompatibilities.

Which kind of uncomfortable do you want?

The discomfort of doing the thing?

Or the internal discomfort of not doing the thing?

We straddle this all the time.

Advice: If you’re going to be uncomfortable anyway, lean toward the kind of discomfort that yields forward progress.

It’s a good question to chew on from time to time: “What if I’m wrong?”

For many, the default assumption is, “I’m right.”

That generally serves us well; we wouldn’t be able to navigate the world if we constantly second-guessed ourselves.

But pausing to consider our fallibility is a good thing.

Every so often, we might discover that where we thought we were right … we might not be one hundred percent. Or we might even be totally wrong.

With healthy introspection, we give ourselves an opportunity to consider alternatives. And when we can recommit to what we do believe, those beliefs become even more meaningful.

While the speaker might judge himself regarding eloquence and range, others might judge him on efficiency and brevity.

Or the equation could be flipped.

For those you seek to serve — in whatever way you serve them — understand their expectations. Honor those expectations.

Act accordingly.

There’s a rhythm to life.

It’s easy to forget this when the tide has been out for a long time or the fields are dry from lack of rain. Or when business is slow, or friends are silent, or the days are laden with stress.

But there’s a rhythm to all of it.

Embrace the good. Be resilient through the inevitable storms.

And remember that whether sunshine or rain, these are natural rhythms, tides, and seasons.

Even when we are still — to the point of holding our breath — change happens. At the subatomic level and on the scale of galaxies too large for us to fathom, change is constant.

The idea that we can hold anything static is an illusion.

Instead, we have moments of intersection and connection. Windows of time when there’s a certain kind of alignment. It might last a second or it might last a lifetime. But within and without, abrupt and glacial, change is happening.

We move, we change, we grow, we decay.

We even try to resist.

But change is persistent.

When we can be at peace with this, we can stop trying to fight it … and instead we can dance with it.

For a few weeks, the handle on the back door of my house had been squeaking. It began to get worse.

Yesterday, I took a screwdriver, disassembled the knob, lubricated the mechanical components, and put everything back together.

The entire task took less than five minutes.

As a result, the handle now works smoothly and quietly — better than I can ever remember.

I wondered: why did I wait so long to attend to this?

So it is with many things in life. Small issues grow over time. Little things become big things. Then, they get to a point where we can ignore them no longer.

But often, the fixes are simple. We just need to give them attention.

And then we wonder: why did we wait so long?

* * *

Is there something in your life that could use fixing? Could the solution — or at least the beginning of it — be within reach … if only it had your focused attention?

A friendly face in the crowd can lift a performer’s confidence. It can improve a speaker’s headspace. It can draw forth the best in a player.

Be the friendly face. Actively choose to offer that silent affirmation. It costs you nothing and you can do it at any moment — even after the event has ended.

In its simplest form: smile more, judge less.

When we generate ideas, many of us stop after just a few. Some will think of a dozen. Not many will try for more.

But there’s great value in thinking beyond what quickly comes to mind. Some of the best ideas aren’t near the surface; they’re found much deeper.

Beyond a dozen. Maybe beyond a hundred.

Even the practice of thinking expansively is helpful — no matter if the best idea was the first one (and it probably wasn’t) or if it was the ninety-ninth. The practice is worthwhile.

Put some diligence into your ideation. Remarkable ideas are still there for us to discover.

Perhaps it’s counterintuitive.

The answers we seek aren’t buried in the noise. No. Instead, they await us in the silence.

We don’t need to search and filter and sort. Often, we’d do better to just turn all of it off and to listen to what’s already within us.

Legendary record producer Rick Rubin tells us, “… the Universe is on the side of creativity.”

Yes. Yes it is. And that should encourage all of us.

Be an active participant in this endless, beautiful project.

A good friend taught me about a powerful tool: the “could-do” list.

It’s simple. Make a list of all the things you could do.

This is a useful exercise if you’re considering a career shift or another big change in your life.

Just list all the things you could do.

The problem is, we’re really good at self-editing. We’re exceptionally rational. We have a good idea of what won’t work and why. We know what’s safe and what's certain.

So we keep the could-do list reasonable.

It’s almost amusing. Given the opportunity to dream, with no investment and no accountability, we still hesitate to dance with the near infinite realm of possibility.

Even with just a list.

One that no one ever has to see, except for you.

* * *

Create space to dream. Allow yourself to do it. Remember: you don’t have to follow up with any of it. You don’t have to try any of it. You won’t be judged for not having pursued anything or accomplished anything on that list. That’s not what it’s for.

The point is to explore possibility. It’s to suspend what’s logical, expected, and scripted. You know those choices already.

The could-do list is all about holding a glimpse of what else could be.

H/T Allegra

We need ideas. Lots of ideas. But every group also needs doers.

Without those who will do the work, even the best idea-generation is all for naught. What structures would ever be built if we only applied ourselves at the drafting table? True, we’d produce magnificent plans and renderings. But our purpose in planning is not to create beautiful plans. The plans are just the beginning.

So the question of “Who will do it?” must always be somewhere in the conversation.

Even internally: amidst our dreaming and ideation, the real magic happens when we toggle the switch and begin to make things actually happen — when we shift between thinking and doing.

I moved aside to let another shopper pass through a narrow aisle. After we exchanged pardons and thanks, the customer turned back to say, “By the way, that’s a great coat you’re wearing!”

It was the kind of unexpected compliment that left me smiling and standing a little taller.

In the right context, friendly words from strangers can bring a surprising amount of cheer.

And, of course, those words are at their best when nothing is expected in return.

I recently saw a movie in the theater. Afterwards — I don’t know why — I looked up some of the critical reviews.

Sure enough, it was a mixed bag. Some viewers enjoyed it while others assailed it as predictable and obvious.

It’s a good reminder: we’re all seeking different things.

One moviegoer might be hoping for a plot that’s nuanced, complicated, and filled with twists. Another might seek what’s charming, familiar, and light. One might seek a well-worn genre while another might seek the unconventional.

Much of it has to do with our own tastes and expectations.

Unsurprisingly (or at least it should be unsurprising) our opinions are not always shared by others … even when we’re certain we’re right.

Sports fans love to see their favorite teams win.

But above all, we want to see a good game.

The best wins aren’t the lopsided blowouts; they’re the nail-biting, last-second, hard-fought victories.

Thrilling. Satisfying. Memorable.

We can seek to live our lives — or at least parts of our lives — in the same way. Not choosing the paths without friction, but instead seeking an appropriate level of challenge and adversity.

Set yourself up for some good wins. More specifically, embrace the kind of adventures that have the possibility of delivering either a win or a loss. Victories under those circumstances are especially sweet.

Some of us are quicker to look at a notification on a mobile device than we are to notice a person entering the room.

The world is full of notifications and distractions. It’s up to us to prioritize the signals that matter.

Because not everything that dings and blings is worthy of our attention.

Anyone can rock the boat. On the other hand, it takes skill to stand at the helm and navigate.

Making waves is not the challenge. It’s more about the kind of waves you’re going to make.

So make ripples and waves. But don’t settle for being an aimless agitator. Be a skipper.