Insights

No. 1

"Expertise coupled with strength of will is going to prevail." -Bill Walsh

It doesn't matter how good you are if you can't endure the pain.

No. 2

"If you are doing something primarily for money and without real emotional commitment, it will translate into something that lacks soul and has no connection to you. You may not see this, but you can be sure that the public will feel it and they will receive your work in the same lackluster spirit it was created in. If you are obsessive and excited in the hunt, it will show in the details. If our work comes from deep within, its authenticity will be communicated." - Robert Greene

There is a different feeling when you are around an emotionally committed person. This is true in relationships and business, and the opposite is also true.

No. 3

"Signs of a deep friend connection: Laughter is abundant. Honesty is encouraged. Support is real and active. Vulnerability is welcomed. You can put your guard down. You inspire each other to grow. You give each other good advice. Both of you feel stronger together. You help each other weather storms." -Yung Pueblo

How many of these friends do you have? Are you this kind of friend?

A Thought

For most of my career, I thought being good at something was enough.

A few weeks ago, I had dinner with a friend. He's been part of my professional life for more than a decade. He runs a very big business. While he sat in a position of authority 'over me' and is considered very tough, he has always made the space for me to be transparent and real. As I was on the eve of making a professional change, I asked him for his advice for my new role.

I've asked him questions like this before. The last one was, "What do you look for when hiring?" His answer was simple: "Care." He said,

"If someone cares, we can figure almost anything out. Some roles need technical competence, but if they don't care about the work, the technical competence won't matter."

I agree with that. Tonight, his advice held similar elegance.

"You have to commit, fully commit. Not partially, but fully. Do that, and you will be successful."

As I think back to my failures, they were failures of commitment. I went in partially, not fully. I was there for the wrong reasons. Maybe it was money, admiration, or something else.

The things that have worked in my life started with caring enough to commit. When you care and are committed, you work it and work it until you bring those together and gain competence. If you don't care (emotion) and aren't committed (mission), you won't stick at it long enough to make mistakes and endure the failures that precede competence (craft). Success comes when you have all three.

This is true whether you're building a business or a career. It’s particularly in relationships. The formula doesn't change: Care deeply enough to commit fully, then work to become competent. Skip any of these, and you'll always wonder what could have been.

Be good.

Kelly

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