I've only got time for a quickie, Reader,
I’m spending the weekend with my parents, and that means two things:
1) I’m short on time to write my newsletter because I’m being yelled at every few minutes to hear about the latest traumatic local lore like “Ooooh, you know Helen over the road? Her best friend now has cancer and has been given three weeks to live.” As sorry as I am for Helen and her best mate, it is quite the challenge trying to feign deep interest when realistically I could not care less without legally entering a coma.
And 2) being with my family of origin surrounded by old photos and memories makes me reflect back on my life and how I ended up here.
So, I thought I’d share 10 quickfire things I’ve learned while building my brand in public for 15 years.
- The person you worry about most who you feel stops you from being the most genuine person you can be online is the person dictating your life. Yeah, we all have the Brain-Karen, but that person—whether they’re still in your life or a distant memory—is quietly holding you back—and they don’t even know it.
- It’s not the trendiest person, nor the person who scales quickest, nor the person who is best at the job (objectively) who succeeds. It’s the person who stays in the room the longest. If there is something that you’re working towards, and you feel like giving up because it feels like everyone else around you has "zoomed past", try a pause or a break first and then try it again. The tortoise and the hare story exists for a reason.
- If something isn’t working and you really don’t care about it anymore? JACK IT IN. Discernment is being able to learn the lesson before you get to the end of the story. It’s ok to change your mind.
- Regularly working 80, 90, 100 hour weeks is not a badge of honour. Work is a part of your life, but it’s not your whole life. This also applies if work takes up space in your mind for this length of time, too—I said what I said.
- Trust your gut. I’d rather trust my gut early and adjust later, than ignore it and find myself fucked over by someone I trusted too quickly against my better judgement.
- STOP TRYING TO BE LOVED BY MISERABLE PEOPLE. Seriously. Take a closer look at that person. I bet they look like they fight seagulls for street chips.
- Being yourself sounds simple but hahahahahahaha it is not. It requires you to continually know who you are, to know who and what you love, to actively understand the light AND the dark parts of yourself, and to be courageous enough to do and be all that you are to the best of your ability even when no one is looking. Babycakes, it is HARD to be yourself when you have been surrounded by people who are not OK with being themselves.
- At the start, you might be the only member of your audience. Everyone starts here.
- Cringe is the entry fare to get to where you want to be. Persistence is the maintenance fee.
- You will never not feel scared to put yourself out there. The fear retreats somewhat, but it never goes away. Doing shit scared and out-loud widens your capacity for opportunity.
That’s it from me this week, hotpot! Short and sweet, but I am currently being asked to look at a new kneeling aid for gardening to see if I want one.
I love my family, but it’s important that you know I live in a city centre apartment with no discernible outside space 🙈
Same time next week?
Gemma :)
