Andy Lykens

Innovating and operating through growth

Progress

Just keep going

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As you pursue this thing that you’ve conceived you’re on the path of ‘keep going.’ Immediately, you’ll experience feelings. In fact, there’s no opportunity to not feel things – good or bad. Either way, whatever you’re feeling, it’s temporary and just because you don’t like a feeling doesn’t mean it isn’t doing you some good.

Once you realize that feelings are transient, there’s no reason to stop putting one foot in front of the other on the path of ‘keep going.’ You’re allowed to feel bad AND keep going. You’re allowed to celebrate the win AND keep going.

The reason to keep going isn’t for productivity. It isn’t to distract yourself from bad feelings, or because you’re never good enough and need to always achieve. The path includes breaks, vacation, and fun. The path also includes distractions and mistakes. The path offers quitting something and starting over. The path sometimes means staying too long.

The path you’re on leads to the thing you’ve conceived, and this thing you’ve conceived can’t be done without you. So wherever it is you are – just keep going.

Luck and shortcuts

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Between the origin and the destination, shortcuts are an oasis in the desert. They’re a sleight of hand. A prestige.

Luck is a tailwind. It’s a cloud when the sun is hottest. A mist when the climate is driest.

When you take shortcuts, you wind up needing to start over again and retracing steps. Shortcuts require you alter your course. They’re a distraction from the end goal.

When luck shows up, it enhances what you’re already doing. It’s encouragement to keep moving boldly ahead. It’s unexpected and welcome.

Neither luck nor shortcuts are dependable.

When you set out to do something, it’s not so crazy to believe you might get lucky, but watch out for shortcuts.

Ducks

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Tomorrow, you’ll get started. You’ll finally have enough information. You just need a little more time. A little more knowledge. Less fear. More courage.

Tomorrow that person will be helpful. The world around you will organize itself in way that the stars, your stars, are aligned.

Then you’ll have the insight. The pattern will finally be clear. The ducks will be in a row.

If you’re waiting for tomorrow, then you can be sure of 2 things:

1. It will never come

2. You will waste today.

A row of ducks, after all, is imperfect. So you may as well start today, because the only thing tomorrow has that today doesn’t, is your attention.

Second impressions

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Don’t get me wrong, first impressions are important; they get your foot in the door. Sometimes they get your whole body in the door.

But what about second impressions? What if you show up even better than the last time? What if your second impression is still just the tip of the impression iceberg?

Our lives are made up of impressions, most of which we’re lucky to get in the first place. The real trick is proving the first impression wasn’t a fluke, and that the second impression was just a glimpse at what’s to come.

What’s more? First impressions come around over and over, and you can always choose how you show up for the second.

Crushing It.

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Crush It.

When people hear this phrase most think of doing something incredibly well. Maybe they’re driving a golf ball 300 yards, picking up ladies at the bar, or are having a hair day so epic, so flawless, they can’t help but feel like the sassiest gal in town (I love feelin’ sassy!).

All of these situations are great and imply some sort of higher-being moment for the individual who’s in the zone. But maybe there’s another way to think about it…

I was playing Settlers of Catan last night (which, if you don’t know, is the greatest game of all time – kind of like Monopoly mixed with Risk but easier to learn) and at some point during the game I looked at the board and thought to myself:

“There is no way I am going to win this game. There aren’t enough resources and there are too many obstacles.”

Then I looked around the table and it dawned on me. Everyone else likely felt the same way; eyes glued to the board searching for options, hands running through their hair in frustration, and all looking at the exact same thing:

A crowded board with too many obstacles and not enough resources.

Once I had that realization my mindset shifted. Everyone has mostly the same problems and perhaps if I change my outlook I will find a way to at least be competitive. Since I was going to play the game anyway, why not try to at least make the most of it.

I decided to crush it, but not like you might think.

I wasn’t trying to re-invent the wheel and create some insane new strategy. Instead my aim was to crush my limiting mindset:

“not enough resources, too many obstacles.”

So I looked at the board, more closely analyzed the other players’ situations and continued to move ahead despite what seemed like an implausible scenario.

This happens in art, science, and business all the time. We all look at the same game and conclude it’s too difficult based on the resources available and the obstacles in the way.

Yet people always manage to succeed.

People even come in second and third and do pretty well despite not coming in first place.

So the next time you think someone’s really crushing it ask yourself: Have they re-invented the wheel? Are they playing out of their mind? Is her hair REALLY that silky and smooth?

Or have they simply crushed their limiting beliefs?

The Certified Best Way To Fail To Impress A Music Supervisor

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Illiterate.

That’s exactly how most people come across when they communicate.

Not because they can’t read and write.

This is much worse.

Most people can read and write. They even know a lot of words. But despite all this fluency, they do the worst thing possible.

They write first, and read second.

Failing to read

The internet contains a host of information. Tons. Yet you wouldn’t believe the outreach I get where people still don’t know what they’re doing when they send an email.

Questions like “How can you help me?” or outreach like “Please listen to my music.”

Be mindful of the person you’re contacting and respect their time enough to READ FIRST.

Then draft a thoughtful, succinct, and relevant message.