If you want progress, it’s time to antiquate

How do you know if you’re making progress? Here’s one sure fire way: antiquate.

Yesterday’s gone.

The question is: what is progress? In today’s fractured world, we often associate progress with acquiring the latest thing. But you see the problem with that, don’t you? The problem is, you end up wanting the latest thing without remembering why you want it, much less why it matters in the first place.

Why do you want it?

This is the essential question, composed of what and why. When you put the why with the what, you begin to get at the meaning of life. Notice the title of this little section of text: “Why do you want it?” Because unless you can answer this question, you won’t know where you are or where you’re going. And without knowing where you are and where you’re going, you won’t know whether or not you’re making progress. You’ll just keep wanting without knowing why, which will leave you feeling very empty at the end of the day. 

It’s time to antiquate.

So — it’s time to antiquate. And by that, I simply mean getting back to basics. You may have noticed at the top of this post a picture of a 1937 Underwood typewriter. I write on a typewriter just like this one every day. Why? Because it slows me down. It reminds me that I don’t need the very latest MacBook Pro with the highest gigabits to write. I just need help getting my thoughts out of my head and into the world. That’s all I really want. 

Don’t wait: start today.

So: If you want to make meaningful progress in your life — please watch this brief (about 17 minutes) talk by Chip Conley, and then come right back for today’s takeaway.

You caught the message, right? Here are the six takeaways, which Conley draws from the basics of Maslow’s pyramid:

1. Do you know your mission?
2. Do you believe in it?
3. Can you make an impact on shaping it?
4. Are you working to measure the intangibles?
5. How can you want what you already have?
6. What one thing can you start counting today, that will actually make a meaningful difference?

Read more.

I can help you figure out what to count — so you can make progress faster and better and with more meaning in your creative ventures.

And you have a couple of options for your next step. You could contact me and describe what you’re going through. And I’ll be in touch with suggestions. Or you can book a free session to make a time to get together and talk it over in person. Either way, I’m here to help you focus, overcome resistance, and get moving again.