willie jackson

Month: February 2012

  • Why are you asking for permission?

    Many people ask for permission to do things because they secretly want to be told no.

    If you don’t want to do something, just don’t do it. It’s unlikely that you’ll be called out for cowering in the shadows and sitting on an important idea. No on can read your mind, and you’re not responsible for what nobody knows.

    But if the terror in your belly confirms that you’ve got to give it a shot, then hurry up and jump. If the anxiety you feel is because you actually might have what it takes to execute, then go for it.

  • Unflinching where it counts

    I left my job in April of 2010 on my own terms, with a bitter distaste for traditional employment in my mouth.

    It would have been easy to say, “no jobs again, ever” after that experience, as I was able to support myself through freelancing and consulting at that point.

    But I wouldn’t have gotten hooked up with The Domino Project, an opportunity that altered the course of my life (in a good way). It changed the way I think about fear and projects and teams.

    I also wouldn’t have been able to take on my role with W3 EDGE, an opportunity that’s further shattering my ideas about how a business is run, how to be an executive, and how to deal with problems.

    Invaluable experiences.

    Both critical to my development and professional trajectory, and both would have been missed had I foolishly clung to an unhelpful and immature mindset about freedom and employment.

  • Spark by spark

    Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swaps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It’s yours.

    -Ayn Rand

    A quote I happened upon last week through the Twitternets.

    I can think of few better quotes on which to meditate on a Monday morning.

  • Mastery or resources

    I know how to get a website online.

    Everything from registering the domain to building the server to installing the necessary software and making it all play nicely together.

    If I didn’t know how to do those things and wanted to get a website online, I would need to pay someone to do it for me (or call in a favor to a friend…). Less control (and speed) perhaps, but the same result.

    A habit I see some people developing is both not knowing how to do something, not being willing to learn how to accomplish the task (without being instructed), and not being willing to put the money towards hiring a competent freelancer to do the work.

    I’m pretty sure you have to pick one.

  • Geek Yoga

    If you’re in the NYC area and have an interest in Yoga, you should come to Geek Yoga on Thursdays at 8PM.

    Here’s why I’m sharing it with you:

    • Jenny didn’t wait for anyone to give her the chance to teach a class, she rented the space and now it’s a thing.
    • The class makes it easy for stiff engineers like me to get started with something physical like yoga without feeling as ridiculous as I look when doing it
    • Every time I drag someone along, they say they love it and come back the next week

    See you soon?

  • Recovery period

    How long does it take you to get your head back in the game?

    In the same way that top athletes maintain focus when competing by not allowing bad plays or incidents to derail them mentally and emotionally, you must resolve to let your failures from the past (even from yesterday) to remain in the past.

    You do your tribe and your art a disservice by beating yourself and preventing your own progress.

    Shake it off, you’re late.

  • Self-direction

    “Traditional jobs” (which will continue to become less interesting and common over the next few years) are traditional because they typically involve a clear set of instructions: do what has always been done.

    There’s not a lot of risk involved on a personal level and thus, there’s not a lot of growth that takes place for the person in the position.

    For new projects and startups, the path is less clear. No one knows the best way to do things, because many things haven’t been done before.

    The solution here is of course to fail as fast as possible in the most likely direction of success. Many are paralyzed by a lack of direction and instruction on the job, but this is where you can shine.

  • Remember when I said….?

    Accountability makes us uncomfortable because it’s precisely what we need.

    When someone holds themselves accountable to us, it implies that reciprocity is desired or appropriate. And since we spend so much of our time making excuses, hiding in the shadows, and avoiding our potential, this is terrifying.

    When we hold ourselves accountable (publicly or to others), we choose our words more carefully, set more purposeful goals, and fight the urge not to promise anyone anything.

    This situation virtually guarantees progress or admitted cowardice.

  • Dialing down the generosity

    When things don’t work out as we’d like them to, we react defensively and seek to prevent the same embarrassment and pain from happening again.

    We put up walls, swear off risks and certain people, and become a little less brave every time it happens. When a similar situation presents itself again, we know exactly what to do!

    We retreat.

    Among the problems with this approach is that the terror of “something bad happening” is carried with us every day.

    The bravery we lose in the face of adversity makes us less confident in many other areas, and the net effect of this defensive posture is emotionally debilitating in the long term.

    I don’t have a “this is what you should do in these situations” admonishment, but what I think that the courage to lean into the pain is important.

    Your posture towards failure and disappointment is just as important as everything else.

  • Urgency

    There will always be factors outside of your control when launching a new venture or doing work that matters. (Your ability to deal with this risk is what makes you valuable in the first place.)

    The voice of doubt and fear in your head (Resistance) will have you doing things like “research” and “preparation” for months and even years if you let it, virtually guaranteeing that your art is never shared with the world.

    Since the real lessons that need to be learned aren’t ones gleaned from Google searches and white paper browsing, the goal should be to launch quickly with as much momentum as possible.

    Your idea (in its original form) won’t survive contact with the market anyway, so why not spend six months iterating, delighting your customers, and building a customer base?