A few weeks ago I wrote about playing the long game. And I have to say, since receiving that idea and sending out that email, I have seen a tremendous shift on how I live my day-to-day.
(Psst. This is part of an email series I send out every Tuesday. Sign up here!)
Life has been more fun and unexpected, I’ve felt more free and focused, and my creativity can actually breathe because there’s no rush to go viral or to “make it” to success.
One thing in particular I’ve loved doing and focusing on is building something. Whether it is my skill set, my resources, my business, my relationships or something else I want to see grow.
In February, I asked myself – what is one thing I could do this month that if I did, it would improve my workflow, the quality of my work, and my overall quality of life?
With that, I decided to learn a new program for editing podcasts. With just a few days left of February, I watched a 15 minute video on how to get started and learned the basics. BOOM, DONE.
Now, make no mistake, since then, I have researched how to use the program further, so it wasn’t a one-and-done type of deal, but my goal wasn’t to master it. My goal was to learn it enough so I could move my editing over to that program.
Because I loved that idea so much for February and was so proud of myself for accomplishing that small, but important task, I decided to do the same for March.
This month I have decided that my goal will be to create a new, refreshed website. I have one now that has the bare minimum, but would love to bring in everything I do and put it in one place.
I have created many websites for myself (and others) before and doing so is just like building anything else – a house, a car, a resume – in that you lay down the foundation brick by brick.
I remember making my websites in years prior. I would get so excited to build something new, I’d spend hours on it in one day trying to get it done before my eyes shut for the night.
My goal was the same back then.
My approach is different right now.
For those reading this who don’t love building websites (I guess I’m a nerd?) there are so many other areas to which this applies.
My roommate and best friend, Robert, and I have been going to the gym 3x a week for the past 3 weeks. We decided on and kept a pace that was helpful for us. In a few months we may decide to go 4-5x a week.
This is what I mean by buildingsomething.
This is what I mean by playing the long game.
I think sometimes we rush our goals or rush to get somewhere because we are told over and over that life is short.
“Live today like it’s your last!”
Hmm well if I knew it would be my last day, I probably wouldn’t be working on building a website. And I probably wouldn’t be going to the gym! (I’d be grabbing some donuts, a pizza, and flying to a beach to have some margaritas!)
My point is, if we lived today like it was our last, we probably wouldn’t get much done.
So instead, let’s live our lives like we’re going to live forever. And let’s make it a priority to consistently remind ourselves that the seeds we plant today, will be watered every day until they, inevitably, bloom and flourish.
I know, our bodies won’t live forever, but the ideas, actions, and tangible things that we build have the ability to live forever and impact the world long after we’re gone.
So just because I learned one audio editing program in February, does that mean I’ve changed the world for generations to come? Maybe not. But that is just ONE building block to something that will change the world.
Your building block may not be the same as mine this month, but maybe it’s:
- learning how to cook a new meal
- teaching yourself how to change your oil
- budgeting and saving a certain amount of money
- creating a business plan
- writing a script
- sending out a thank you card every day
- researching a new place to live
So many exciting ways to learn, to build, and to grow into a better you today and for years and lifetimes to come.
So, what are you building?
Comment below and share with me! 🙂
“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”
William James
Thank you for reading!
Til next week…
Shay ♥️
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