Category: Turning Stories
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Remember the idea now, not later
What if an idea mattered more now, than it did later? What if the process was more important than the result? A notemaker scribbled his thoughts on the corners of newspapers and envelopes. He would, inevitably, always lose them. When his grandson asked him why he did this, he replied, “I’m not writing this down…
Herbert Lui
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Miracleless growth
A good friend of mine had recently pivoted their career, from growth marketing in tech to the culinary arts. In their exploration, they’d realized they didn’t want to work as a chef or start a restaurant. Instead, they introduced their dishes through self-initiated supper clubs. They found their first customers by inviting friends and their…
Herbert Lui
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Make your dream something you can’t fail at
Some children have dreams of winning awards; they practice their speeches in front of mirrors, speaking into their toothbrush as if it was a microphone. Tilda Swinton’s dreams were much more ordinary. Her ambitions were to live by the sea, with a garden she could grow vegetables in, somewhere in Scotland, where she was born…
Herbert Lui
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Stop exploiting yourself
One of the friends you grew up with is now a popular YouTuber. When they visit your city, they ask if they can stay with you, and you oblige them. You get a glimpse into their life. An employee might get a lunch break, but not a YouTuber; lunch is for filming. They constantly are…
Herbert Lui
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It’s always worth spending time up front to make the process smoother
A lumberjack once said, if his life depended on cutting down a tree in five minutes, he would spend three minutes sharpening his axe. More and more, I’ve appreciated this approach to life. Here are some ways I’ve applied it: A few days ago, I wrote about how cleaning the dishes and kitchen before I…
Herbert Lui
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Whatever you struggle with is a great place to start writing
“A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people,” goes a quote attributed to Thomas Mann. The difficulty is, precisely, why you’d want to write. There’s something you need to make sense of, that you can’t avoid, and you need somewhere to put everything you think and feel.…
Herbert Lui
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Maybe promotion isn’t about making money, it’s about helping your work find other people
A few years ago, I republished my post on longcutting at Forge, with the headline asking readers, “What are your favorite anti-shortcuts?” “Clean the kitchen before you start cooking. Empty the drain rack and dishwasher, clear and wipe down the counters. You might not get something [on] the table as quickly, and you will feel…
Herbert Lui
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Why Allen Iverson stopped dunking
A basketball game’s regulation time is 48 minutes. When Allen Iverson played in the NBA, he would play, on average, over 41 minutes. That’s over 85% of each game. During the playoffs, that number went up; Allen played over 45 minutes each game (93%). Allen loved basketball, and he hated sitting on the bench. In…
Herbert Lui
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When is a best effort enough?
Japanese transportation is well-known for its precision. For example, when a train runs more than five minutes late, the railway company will issue a delay certificate for its passengers to show their employers and teachers. In other words, Japanese transportation all but guarantees results. In business-to-business deals, this type of guarantee is enforced by a…
Herbert Lui
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Participation is more important than the outcome
Whether an outcome turns out your way in the near term—which you and I usually call, “success”—or not, isn’t that important. Showing up to participate in the outcome is much more important. Bringing good energy, showing your expertise, and starting a working relationship before a formal engagement, is much more valuable. Participating, and constantly improving,…
Herbert Lui