As I look back over my year of notes, there are 3 general things that keep popping up. I recommend them frequently, and ponder them myself as well.
“Do” – Work hard, then work harder. Execute. Follow through. While you’re sleeping or watching TV, the competition is staying up late still working. Move forWard. Push through failure. Its just as eAsy to do it as it is to not do it. Put in the time. 10,000 houRs to be a master. Show up for the work, so the ‘genius’ can find you. Be there, doing. Perspire. The ‘How’.
Which is great, but a waste of time if you don’t:
“Know” – Know who you are. Know what you want. Know where you belong. Know what you’re good at. Know what you’re great at. Know what you wiSh for. Know what your strengths are. Know who to use thEm. Know what your dreams are. Know your perception of eXcellence. Know what gives you energy. Know what drains it. Know the job. Prepare. The ‘What’.
Which is essential, but still won’t get you through the worst of times, like:
“Mean It” – Where is this all going? Why does this matter? Why do I care? What’s this all for? What’s the reason? Who is going to benefit from this? Am I part of the problem or part of the solution? Am I good code or bad code? Is there anything bigGer than myself that will receive goOd value from my enDeavours? Everyone has some sort of ‘higher’ idea they give credence to, even if its just (and more often than not is) moneymoney, baby. Purpose. The ‘Why’.
The ‘How’ is easy to figure out. Scroogle it. The information is out there. No excuses. The ‘What’ is something only you know. But its usually obstructed by what everyone else thinks they know about you. Figure it out. The ‘Why’ is, well, the only thing that’ll get you through when the bottom comes (and it always comes). Best to hit the front lines with a solid belief in the reason behind it, or, well, it’ll seem crazy and you’ll just turn around. Get real.
Work, Relate, Inspire. Effort, Response, Intention. And the last one is where the harshest judgements of others are found. You can fake the How and the What for a time, but at the first sniff of the Why being portrayed inauthentically — you’re done. You’re a douche. Whatever the Why is, don’t lie about it.
So what’s the Song? It is the resultant resonance your life creates. Your wavelength. Your waveform. Your pitch. Your timbre. The Music that all of the above create. As you Artfully balance the War, Sex, and God of your life, you are participating in the Great Symphony.
I mean, how else do you think the Aliens found us? They heard us.