Its Three Things Thursday
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Web nails it like usual. From the outside looking in, things always seem easy. Once you put some skin in the game, everything changes. What do I mean?
I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic that I had somehow missed sending out this newsletter and it was Friday. I felt shame and disappointment. It was a dream.
Two things happen when starting a newsletter. First, I want to be consistent for myself. This internal desire drives me to continue. I said I would do it, so now I need to follow through. Second, I want to be consistent for you, the reader. My goal is always to reward you for giving me your time. Time is too precious to waste.
To build on the point Web talks about, this is also true for public speaking. My experience as a trial attorney taught me the following:
Trials 1-10: Just figuring the basics out
Trials 10-20: Learning how to be persuasive
Trials 20-30: Learning individual style
Trials 30-50: Combining persuasive and style
Trials 50-100: Experimentation
Trials 100+: You are in the top 1%
Change the word trial for public speaking if you like but the idea is the same. The more experience, the more you learn. Most people stop far too soon. Most people never see the compounding benefits of rep after rep after rep.
Now for Three Things.
This visual by Jack Butcher on the above point
Get some skin in the game and make mistakes. We learn from mistakes.
Why do I give speeches? Why do I write? Why do I send a newsletter?
Because the only failure would be if I didn’t try. I will make mistakes in all of these endeavors but I am good with that. I will learn. I will move on. I will get better.
Take risks and put some skin in the game.
This week I wrote on a tough topic. My dog Roxie has been with me for nearly 10 years now and has completely changed my life. I had dogs growing up and I understand that they die. I have had multiple dogs die during my life and they always made me very sad.
But, this was different. Roxie is my first dog as an adult. For most of the past 10 years, it has been just us two living away from my childhood home. That bond cannot be described unless you have experienced it as well. I am her person. Me. Nobody else.
I do not know what I will do when she leaves me but I know we are nearing that time. I keep asking the universe for one more year but at some point, time will be up. That is the way life goes. I remember a quote from the movie Troy where Achilles says “The Gods envy us. They envy us because we’re mortal. Because any moment might be our last. Everything’s more beautiful because we’re doomed.”
That may be true but I still don’t understand why the hell dogs don’t live forever.
“Don’t waste your time looking back. You’re not going that way.” Ragnar in Vikings on History Channel
I recently restarted watching Vikings from the beginning. The show has been added to Hulu and Ragnar Lothbrok is one of my favorite characters in television history. As a history major, I always enjoy historical fiction but this show has the added benefit of incredible storytelling.
This storytelling uses music, lighting, costumes, and filming techniques to really take the audience on an emotional journey. I have had chills many times watching this show and one episode in particular titled “Blood Eagle” which occurs in season 2 is one of the most powerful episodes of television I have watched.
I highly recommend giving this show a chance. Both for entertainment purposes but also to study and learn how to effectively tell stories. Television is not just a mindless pursuit if you watch with intention.
Let me know what you think about Vikings if you have watched it or start watching it. I would love to discuss the show.
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See you next Thursday