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Tag: awareness

Sweet and spicy

The most talented chefs have memorized which flavors keep diners coming back for more. These particular dishes aren’t ones that fall into strict “Spicy,” “Sour,” or “Sweet” categories. Instead, they combine elements of several flavor profiles and artfully merge them into one.

The best freelancers — and lovers — understand this balance, too.

Give a creative too much freedom without structure, and ideas will bounce wildly about the room. Set some boundaries, however, and that creative energy can be harnessed into productive results.

Similarly, too many restrictions placed on any partnership will end up in resentment and distance. Fire needs air to breathe. Your most passionate relationships will continue to burn if you give them the space to do so.

The best work and the most satisfying relationships evolve out of unique blends of hard and soft, sweet and spicy, routine and surprise. Find the combinations that work for you.

Strike while the iron is hot

Success is complicated. Failure can be easier to unpack (and accept); a boot stomping out a potential future. Success, however, leads into a winding, mystifying unknown. This is scary to many people and for good reason.
When things start to go right, how do you respond? Do you take credit or attribute some outside force — the right place at the right time, a lucky draw, someone else’s connections, a recommendation from a trusted peer.
Sure, sometimes you get lucky. But when fortune starts to favor you, don’t back down or shy away from success. Keep working hard, keep saying yes, keep finishing tough projects. And remember: You deserve your wins.

Time to rest

With expectations from work and family, one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is deciding when to push and when to rest.

Drawing lines and setting boundaries can be difficult with so many demands, yet rest can be an asset to your schedule and goals, providing the inspiration and stamina needed to finish tough projects and tackle new challenges.

Rest days aren’t just for athletes. Pay close attention to your mind and emotional states throughout the day. Aside from feeling tired or sluggish, your body will tell you when it is craving extra TLC.

Any time you create for rejuvenation and relaxation will come back to you tenfold. Your body and mind will thank you, and your work and relationships will benefit from the added spark you bring back with you. Enjoy.

When there isn’t a spark

When your heart no longer flutters in your relationship, at work, or for a project, you have a decision:

1.) Walk away

2) Dig in

If you choose Option 1, take time to consider what went well about the experience. What aspects were enjoyable? What attracted you in the first place?

For Option 2, make sure there’s an upswing. How is the situation serving you and helping expand your skillset? What goals are you working toward?

Rekindling takes time and effort but can be just as rewarding as finding new passions.

11 reasons to work for free

“Why do you work for free?”

I hear this question often, especially after having volunteered for five years in Nepal. Most creatives, freelancers, and entrepreneurs will face this very same question at some point in their careers.

Should I work for free? Should I participate in this unpaid project? Should I volunteer my time?

Working for free can come with many benefits. Here are my top nine:

  1. Connections
  2. Personal satisfaction
  3. Appreciation
  4. Experience
  5. Opportunity
  6. Exposure
  7. Growth and development
  8. Supporting something irreplaceable
  9. Building your resume
  10. Changing careers
  11. Exploring new interests

Yes, absolutely, work for free. But choose projects and commitments mindfully, with the utmost respect for your valuable time.

More reading:

The risk of vulnerability

Vulnerability is associated with weakness and inferiority, yet exposing your true self requires strength and conviction.

The future is uncertain, and there’s no telling how events will pan out.

Find the courage to live your best life — truly, freely, authentically.