"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
Hello, Nice Maker.
❤️
It’s your Sunday evening edition. This week, I had a big revelation that will especially resonate if you are self-employed and sell original content like coaching, consulting, keynote presentations, and workshops like me.
Business has been much slower than I’m comfortable with this year, which has left me feeling down lately. I have been re-reading Jon Kabat-Zinn’s brilliant book, “Wherever You Go, There You Are,” and one passage (actually many) stood out to me that changed my negative self-talk in just a moment.
“Meditation does not involve trying to change your thinking by thinking some more. It involves watching thought itself. The watching is the holding. By watching your thoughts without being drawn into them, you can learn something profoundly liberating about thinking itself, which may help you to be less of a prisoner of those thought patterns - often so strong in us - which are narrow, inaccurate, self-involved, habitual to the point of being imprisoned, and also, just plain wrong.”
This thought of being imprisoned in my negative thinking led me to deeper self-examination and the realization that when what you sell is yourself, and sales are not good, you subconsciously conclude it’s you they don’t want. You think you’re no good, but the truth is the market just isn’t ready or aware of the value you bring.
It also reminded me that instead of focusing on myself as the product, I should focus on the solutions I provide and the problems I can solve. For example, several people expressed interest in my developing a virtual training on leveraging AI for businesses, so I developed and delivered it and received wonderful feedback - so good in fact, that I’m doing it again soon.
Try not to beat yourself up if business is slower than you like. Pivot to what your customers are asking for and you will be closer to your next big win.
🤝 Upcoming Nice Maker Coffee Meetup.
Only three tickets remain for our coffee next week.
Running a business and working remotely can be lonely. Let's connect, drink coffee, and explore how we can serve and support one another. It will be nice to see you there.
April 26, Brentwood, TN. Register here.
NICE MAKERS OF THE WEEK
This week, I want to feature my kids Ella and Sam. Seriously, these two have been busting their butts at school, keeping their grades up while playing in marching band, jazz band, and for the school production of The Addam’s Family. This weekend they both performed in the show, Sam on percussion and Ella starring as Morticia! Earlier in the day they also performed in the Nashville Youth Jazz Ensemble.
NICE BOOK
Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
NICE BONUS
NICE SONG
THIS SHALL PASS...
If you ever feel blue, contact me or someone close to you. Understand that as crappy as life can get, it does get better. If you get very dark and are considering suicide, visit 988lifeline.org or call 988. Or Google for support where you are to find support outside of the US.
Thank you for being here.
Be nice.
Dave.