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.

Lately I keep noticing… A LACK OF HUMILITY TO SIT DOWN, BE QUIET, AND LISTEN

To hold space and listen deeply. To ask questions.
To actually understand someone else’s perspective.

To share back, “I see you. This was really helpful.
What you shared will change how we’re doing things…”

And then to actually follow through. To revise. To improve.

Not because they are 3 layers above you in the org chart.
But because they’re a real user of what you’re building – and their input, engagement, and buy-in are critical to whether it succeeds.

I keep asking myself… Are we listening to understand and improve?

Or, are we just checking a box and moving onto the next thing without actually doing anything different?

I don’t think anyone of us have this figured out. But I know the teams that really win are the those who actually care about people and use what they hear.

the honest truth about where I’m at… NOT EVERY PRIZE IS WORTH THE SACRIFICE

Will it matter in 30 years, let alone 30 days? If not, why are you pursuing it? What is exalted is empty. And what is brushed aside is the real gold. Don’t be confused. Anchor back on your values and stand firm on your boundaries. You may be laughed at. Ignored. Let them – those aren’t your true friends. What will matter in 10 years? What can you do in the next 10 minutes to step in that meaningful direction?

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

LIVE WILD, LIVE FREE, BE WHO YOU ARE


If I have any message to leave anybody with, it would be… live wild, live free, be who you are. You don’t have to follow rules. You don’t have to be who somebody else wants you to be or thinks you should be. That the world is this crazy, horrible, terrifying, magnificent, delirious place. Go do everything. Go go feel everything. Take every risk. Take every chance. And you hear this kind of horseshit from motherfuckers all the time. But I will say I think one of the fundamental differences between me and those people is I have actually done that. I have lived an insane life all over the world. The highest highs, the lowest lows and it has been nothing but fucking great. Whatever pain I have felt, whatever humiliation or embarrassment I have felt has been well worth the price of just being wild and just being free and just being able to look in the mirror and say, “Man, you ain’t fucking perfect, but you’re doing it your way and you’re doing it the best you can. Fucking keep going. That’s it. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going.” -James Frey