Hello beautiful people!
Let’s thank those who came before us, as they showed us it can be done.
If you can detach from the comparison game and instead look at someone else’s success as a means of teaching you what success looks like so you can study the patterns leading up to it, then let’s dive in!
The success others are modeling for us is usually a combination of their time, effort, and enthusiasm for it all. We often pair two of these three elements — and we end up with ideas, hobbies, or jobs — but when we align all three elements at once (and in a sustained way), we end up soaring to the next tier unlike we imagined possible!
Who is this person for you? Take a look at what it is they’re doing from a comprehensive standpoint. Without splitting (Day 37) to say, “Oh, it’s because of this ONE thing that they’re where they are,” really analyze the whole of their process. Keeping in mind the myriad reasons they may come at some of the same stuff differently (Day 39), really take a look at their tools and their day-to-day lives (as much as you can from the outside).
Considering the three elements of time, effort, and enthusiasm, begin to map out the differences between this person’s life and yours — (AGAIN) not from a place of lack or jealousy — so that you can begin to track what tiny tweaks you could begin making to lean into this next-tier you that’s waiting for you! Is it getting up earlier, working out, drinking more water, eating better, connecting with the best possible collaborators, doing craft-related challenges, committing and showing up, staying the course, following through, removing tier-below clutter from your online profiles and demo reels, spending time every day learning about the next-tier peer group to come, investing in classes or coaching, refusing to complain? WHATEVER it is, you can begin to track it!
You’re not to try and mimic what you’re seeing in this pace car of yours, but perhaps consider ways to lean in toward those habits you see them engaging in that you know in your gut would benefit you and your goals as well. Do more of the good, less of the bad, make the good better by a larger degree than the bad is bad. Repeat.
There may be patterns for the things that succeed, but that doesn’t mean there’s a formula for success.
— Simon Sinek (Tweet it.)
Extra credit: Reach out to your pace car! Once you’re sure you’re clear in your desire to connect with someone who is inspiring you (i.e., you’re in it for all the right reasons), do a little outreach with no need for reciprocation. Just let this person know he or she is crushing it. They’re inspiring you. They’re modeling success in ways that teach you it really is possible. Write the letter YOU would want to receive as you’re on the come-up and someone behind you is telling you about the impact your journey has had on them. No agenda. No neediness. Just matter-of-fact “I see you” action is what we’re going for here.
Have fun with this! When you’re in a great place emotionally, this is one of the coolest exercises of the whole curriculum! 🙂
’til tomorrow… stay ninja!
