Three things that make all the difference

Three things that make all the difference

Wow, the jet lag has worn off and I'm finally starting to process the whirlwind of the last few weeks. Last Sunday night I arrived home after 2 weeks in San Francisco, working on an incredible event called Ocean Hack. It was a 48 hour hack/design sprint based on 4 of the biggest challenges our ocean is facing right now. We brought together an amazingly diverse group of about 50 or so scientists, technologists, storytellers, strategists and creatives to work together in finding innovative solutions.

It turns out I SUCK at being present….. how about you ?

It turns out I SUCK at being present….. how about you ?

I felt like I’d been duped into something. I had imagined it would be this uplifting, inspiring book that would leave me feeling stoked, but suddenly I was getting the impression that this would perhaps be one of those journeys that only feel positive in hindsight. When I started delving into the book I recognised something pretty massive within just the first chapter.

Of course, I’m good at being in the now when I’m in the freaking surf. Or watching a sunset. Or SUP’ing solo around the coast. It’s e-a-s-y to be in the now when life is good. To breathe in those rad moments, to lean into what’s happening and not let anything distract you. But it’s being present when life is ugly that actually takes some work.

And

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Six rules for successful collaborations

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Six rules for successful collaborations

Note: As always, I’ve learnt some of these the hard way. It’s taken me a good chunk of time to figure out that these rules are actually non-negotiables for me when it comes to partnering up in business. So if you’re about to launch into a side hustle with a friend, or join a team of like-minded entrepreneurs to create a product, service or event, then take 5 minutes to check these ground rules out.

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So it turns out structure creates space….

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So it turns out structure creates space….

Most entrepreneurs have ended up as entrepreneurs because they didn’t want to follow anyone else’s rules. They’ve probably broken a whole heap of rules along the way. Rules set by former bosses (you must sit there from 9 am till 5 pm), rules set by society (you must have a regular, stable income) and rules set by peers, colleagues & friends (work sucks, none of us like our jobs, just deal with it).

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Playing the long game makes more sense

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Playing the long game makes more sense

We’re surrounded by so many myths of overnight success, of stories about tech entrepreneurs who came up with an idea for an app and 6 months later were pulling in millions of dollars of investment. So we’ve ended up in this crazy space that looks a little like Disneyland for entrepreneurs. Full of colour & magic & big dreams. Polished, shiny and seemingly real.

And you know what it’s done? It’s made entrepreneurship sexy. Everyone wants to do it. Suddenly it’s cool to be an entrepreneur.

But so many people are starting up businesses and building brands with completely ridiculous expectations in their heads. And with ridiculous expectations come painful reality checks.

Lessons from the belly of the whale

Lessons from the belly of the whale

For those of you not familiar with it, the Hero’s Journey is seriously worth a look. Whether you dive into the book, or just read an overview of it, or watch this movie — check it out. You won’t regret it.

And so the place I’m at on this particular loop around the Hero’s Journey is called the Belly of the Whale. It’s the point where the hero has transitioned from the known world into the unknown. When they’ve made the commitment to journey and there’s no going back. It’s a point in the journey where, as far as the outside world is concerned, the hero has been swallowed into the unknown. They have disappeared altogether. Perhaps never to be seen again.

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Morning Routines : Here’s what NOT to do

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Morning Routines : Here’s what NOT to do

Mantras, crystals, meditation and more. It was a rad list, but it left me feeling … um…. not good enough. Because let’s be honest, we don’t always follow through with our best intentions. So I figured today I’d share with you two of my morning routines.

One is my rad morning routine. The shiny version. The one that I’m happy to tell you about. The one that sets me up for an awesome day, no matter what else is going on in my life.

The other is my sucky routine. The one I feel guilty about. The one I’m embarrassed to share. The one that is guaranteed for a not-so-stellar start to the day.

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Talk less. Listen more.

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Talk less. Listen more.

I didn’t respond… but if I’m honest I really wanted to. I really wanted to say, ‘Um, no…. you can’t add me to your mailing list and you can’t send me information about your business…. because I never asked you for it.’

And it made me realise how many businesses make mistakes like this. Assuming that people want to hear. Shouting about their latest product or service to everyone and anyone. Ramming things down people’s throats. And guess what happens? We actively ignore them. In fact, if you’re anything like me, you actually put a metaphorical black mark next to their name.

It’s what Seth Godin calls Permission Marketing.