Category: career

WHERE YOU’RE NEEDED

Whatever you love or want to improve, be prepared to spend a lot of time where the opposite is the norm.

Because that’s exactly where you’re needed.

Love bold ideas? You’ll sit in rooms full of caution and fear.

Believe in excellence? Prepare to wade through waters where mediocrity is celebrated.

Value coherence? Your best work may be inside misaligned systems.

This isn’t a bug. It’s the job.

Stop waiting for the right environment.
You’re there to change it.

1% BETTER

1% better. Every day. Compounded.

Year one?
37× better.

Year five?
77,000,000× better.

Yes. Million.

Which means this was never about a giant, perfect plan.
It’s about the small things you do today.

Like…
– Ask a better question.
– Write a clearer sentence.
– Have the brave conversation.
– Remove one thing that drains you.

Most people don’t fail because they aim too low.

They fail because they stop too early.

Compounding only works if you stay in the game.

THE SECRET OF SUCCESS FOR PEOPLE STARTING OUT

… the secret to this industry is to live the fullest life you can.

Not your work life, but your life. And there’s one major reason for that …

Because creativity – whether we’re talking about strategy, production, media, account management, design – is born, nurtured and crafted through your exposure to experiences.

The people you meet.
The places you go.
The stories you hear.
The concerts you see.
The food you eat.
The books you read.
The museums you visit.
The history you learn.
The lessons you try.
The shit you get up to.

Because all of it – every single bit – somehow comes together and help forge YOUR opinion, rather than mimic everyone else’s.

Basically, the bigger the life, the more you’ll breed your own originality, independence. ideas, craft and voice.

– The Secret of Success for People Starting Out by Rob Campbell

Change creates change.

“The duty of the artist is to strain against the bonds of the existing style.” – Philip Johnson

What’s the “existing style” in your world that keeps you up at night?

You must adopt the posture of an artist – even if you are a founder, operator, or leader.

Because the job is the same:

“strain against the bonds.”

Push on the lazy defaults.
Prod the obvious compromises.
Provoke the conversation your team is avoiding.

And then change something real:
– the question
– the process
– the message
– the standard
– the decision

Because here’s the truth:

Change creates change.
No change means nothing changes.

Morning Pages: January 21, 2026

[while writing ‘morning pages’ today I got stuck and jotted down what I believe about the intent, process, and output of work. these scribblings are raw and from the heart, but have a sprinkle of manifesto-like thinking that can be clarifying and powerful.]

I want to do interesting work. I want to do work that matters.

I want to come alongside business leaders to help them connect with their people -> employees, customers, clients, partners, communities. And for that connection to be so meaningful that it transforms the business – and those connected to the business.

I believe in serving others. I believe in setting a standard. Delivering on that standard. Reviewing and improving that standard.

I believe in looking closely at the details and making things better. About giving a damn. About not settling.

I believe in under-promising and over-delivering. I believe in making it easy as possible. I believe it takes a full suite of resources to help from every angle. I believe in preparing, equipping, empowering, and supporting others.

I believe it takes a full, unified team approach. I believe there must be a clear, documented north star and understanding/agreement of how our individual work comes together to help us get there. I believe we must know how our team contributes, but also how all the teams’ play their respective roles to achieve the goal/vision.

I believe we all have a “zone of genius” that we should foster, protect, grow, and utilize to help others.

I believe we must truly care about people. And be willing to sacrifice our wins for theirs.

I believe there are no dumb questions. I believe in humility to listen deeply and respect others’ perspectives and opinions. I believe in finding common ground.

I believe the answers and solutions are out there, if we let go of our ego and expectations and work together.

STAYING IN THE GAME IS WINNING

I write 500 words and sometimes delete them, just re-write it from scratch. I keep quotes and ideas and tuck them away into WordPress drafts and come back to them later. I write in spurts, between YouTube videos or playing with my cat. I dictate thoughts and ideas and never go back to them, knowing full well its still effective because I had those thoughts and said those ideas out loud – they don’t disappear.

For me, staying in the game is winning, and winning just means I get to play again tomorrow. I just never stopped writing for my little corner of the world. – “How I Write” by Seth W on Indie Thinkers