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Tag: entrepreneur

Priorities and time management

How you choose to spend your day reflects the priorities you’ve set. Where you direct your focus, who you spend your time with, what you do after work — these are decisions that show what is most important to you.
Parcel out the goals you’re hoping to accomplish and block work into manageable chunks. Sometimes you’ll need to turn off your wifi, or say no to lunch dates, or even place a project higher on your list of daily to-dos.
Your priorities may shift, but your core values direct your time.

The long or short game

It is tempting to choose the fast, easy route. Everyone wants to win big, and they want to win quickly. But those who work steadily, slowly, piece by piece build solid foundations. When market fluctuations and economies are unpredictable, daily decisions add up to create something that matters in the long term.

Ignore those who fail to see the long game, those who try to push you into playing short. The best fruit is not always on the bottom of the tree.

Play long.

Top 10 posts from Project Exponential

1. 12 questions to turn small talk into real talk
2. 5 rules of hustling
3. What brings people together?
4. A coffee riddle
5. 10 questions to ask at a dinner party (instead of “What do you do?”)
6. The people in your life will make or break you
7. 19 things you can do instead of grad school
8. Stop trying to find your purpose
9. 7 sins of crowdfunding
10. Figure out what you want to learn and go do it

If it is worth doing, you’ll want to quit

“Should I quit or hang in there?” is a question that will accompany any worthwhile project. If you’re not tested, the work probably isn’t on path towards the success you’re hoping for.

“Never quit something with great long-term potential just because you can’t deal with the stress of the moment.” –Seth Godin, The Dip

You will feel tested. You will be challenged. You will want to quit.
Decide the circumstances that are acceptable to quit and hold yourself to those guidelines. When work becomes hard, great rewards are usually on the other side. Don’t be afraid to sacrifice short-term comfort for long-term gain.

Confrontation and rejection: an opportunity

Confrontation and rejection are both uncomfortable, unpleasant situations that no one likes to encounter. Those with a less developed sense of self may interpret confrontation or rejection as a hit to their ego, their self-esteem dependent upon approval and positive feedback from others. As life begins to deal more social situations (and success), rejection matters less. The sting of disapproval doesn’t hold as much weight, and a healthier attitude towards potentially unkind situations develops. In fact, people who learn to deal with rejection and confrontation realize that these unpleasant circumstances are part of life, and to avoid them would create an insulating boundary that would limit the magic of living. These people accept that they won’t be a match for everyone and that this impossible expectation is too heavy a load to carry.

The first rejections are always the hardest to hear. When you begin to face the fear and anxiety of negative situations with a more positive attitude, the experience changes. The power of rejection lessens, and valuable learnings can be gained in potentially troubling situations. Conflict often isn’t as bad as we rehearse it in our own mind.

Scared of letting your feelings and emotions known? Practice first, by writing them down. Write down what you hope to say and explain how you feel. Dealing with confrontation and rejection is an essential skill no matter your line of work. Taking time to gather your thoughts before entering a charged situation will empower you to remain grounded and present when emotions run high.

5 years of connection, inspiration

Five years of dinners, thousands of connections and friendships formed.

Five years of strangers embracing risk and uncertainty. Questions asked and answered in dining rooms, wine bars, cheese bars, hidden nooks.

Five years of honest conversations and receptivity.

Romances, business partnerships, ideas, and improvements stemming from industry intersections and complementary interests.

Five years ago, when I first invited a group of eighteen entrepreneurs, academics, businessmen and women, writers and artists to a secret restaurant in New York, I asked them to embrace risk and curiosity and answer questions openly. Today, people around the world are sharing dinners, and invitations are extended to a select few to join special events in New York.

Thank you for sharing this journey. Here’s to more.