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Earning confidence
When you go to the gym, you only see benefits if you actually do the exercise. While a coach, trainer, or friend can support you through the process, they can’t do the actual work for you. If they lifted the weights, they would get stronger—not you. Similarly, you can’t simply trade bodies with someone who…
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100 times
If you’re getting started on something and think that a person’s advice is going to help you, you should reach out. If you don’t hear back from them, don’t give up yet. Instead, whatever you’re doing, try it 100 times. For example, if you’re trying to write a book, write 100 articles. (Or 100 pages,…
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Something to respond to
Several years ago, I suggested that responding was a powerful way to make more creative work. Advice columns and call-in radio shows are relatively timeless examples of this dynamic. You can also flip this advice and apply it to someone else: if you want to hear or understand somebody’s thoughts, give them something to respond…
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Prove it
If you want to do something, like really want to do it, you need to prove it. That starts with you proving it to yourself. In difficult circumstances, do you make excuses? Or do you face your problem head on? Are you willing to make difficult decisions to do what you’ve committed to? Are you…
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“What if I’m no good?”
Let’s say you want to do something creative. You’re not sure about how good you really are, or how much money you’ll make, or whether or not you’ll “go somewhere” with it. Would you do it anyway? The answer needs to be a resounding yes. That’s the level of drive and sacrifice that it takes…
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This is a bad sign
I was once asked to talk at a comedy class. I went in front of the class, and I said, “The fact that you’re even here is a very bad sign.” Jerry Seinfeld Most mornings I woke up early and took a walk around the neighborhood listening to an audiobook about confidence. Because that’s what…
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Preparation is not an excuse for procrastination
This post will be most useful for people who experience a tendency to overthink. In The Score Takes Care of Itself, Bill Walsh writes that luck would decide 20% of the final score of the average football game. While that 20% was out of his control, he could still prepare and plan for the other…
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A second opinion, before giving up
A schoolteacher writes the first three pages of a short story on a typewriter. When he’s done, he’s disgusted with it. It was getting too long, he didn’t know how to market it, he didn’t like the character, he couldn’t relate to the story, the list goes on… He throws it out. His wife finds…
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Professional karaoke
While karaoke is incredibly fun, you won’t have much luck finding a job as a professional karaoke singer. You may have better luck selling your work as a cover artist or cover band, but even that’s different from karaoke. You need to practice. Learn a catalog of songs well. Find gigs and take requests from…
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“I saw your latest project…”
“Can you do that for us, too?” If you’re struggling with sales, figure out which part of the process you’re stuck at.