If you want to have a successful career, a solid piece of advice is to look at what other people are doing and do the opposite."
I have a theory that the bubble is bursting on all that extroverted attention and promises for fast results. The true magick lives in the slow and steady tortoise pace, like Liam's Hunt for the Red Fish, instead of the quick fix of the hare's race.
I've spent my entire life doing the opposite of what everyone else does, and not quite understanding why. Thanks for making this crystal clear for me. Gonna keep doing me, my way.
One can only hope the shift will cement but looking back over the last 8 years of writing online, things move in extreme waves from hustle to no hustle and cold showers to cold showers are for morons (often written by the same people who pushed for them).
One thing this reminded me of is when I began writing I wanted to put everything under the umbrella of "slow growth" but my friends talked me out of it as "nobody wants that." Kicking myself for that now as it was me then and it is me now.
I've been playing with this idea in my head lately that those who have been successful on social media and online platforms are mainly extroverts, because their fast growth and trends and fads come off as authentic to them...because they are. But for introverts, when slow and stead is the pace, when we try to do the trendy fad thing, it comes off as fake and we lose out.
So...doing me my way...the slow growth way is the best way. I wonder if this is an undercurrent in social that is emerging slowly and steadily now.
Liam is truly Yoda-esque. At such a young age, he’s already discovered that patience, stillness, and listening bring their own rewards. We often think that the loudest voices get all the luck, but learning to be quiet and listen is one of the greatest investments we can make—especially in the modern workforce. How lucky you are that he could teach you. As my editor, you bring me incredible insights, grounded and wise. Now I can see where that wisdom comes from—thanks to Liam. 😉😜 🧑💻✍️
Very true. He's very much his mother's child but our house wouldn't be the same without me being frantic. Little loon whallops me at chess as he simply waits for me to mess up due to being impatient. Infuriating.
Michael - wonderful perspective, story, and the connection between multiple generations - Liam, you, your dad. A beautiful tapestry of wisdom and heart.
Thank you so much James and can't wait to link up in a few weeks. BTW - we were in Banyoles a few weeks ago and I kicked myself for not pinging you to see if your aunt was around.
It’s hard to focus on something that has no results for a long time. We are trained by schools to see results quickly and with writing that can be quite difficult.
One thing I love about writers is just how observant they are at seeing things from another person’s perspective. It not only develops our writing but also changes our personality as a person to be compassionate that can create better human beings.
Having the ability to help improve another persons life is the most beautiful blessing in the world - it is so valuable to our heart, it’s priceless.
Thank you so much for this. These words are so very true - "We are trained by schools to see results quickly and with writing that can be quite difficult." My first goal as a parent is create choice for my kids. A close second is to ensure they reserve time to move slowly. Really appreciate you stopping by, the support, and the great additional thoughts.
Loved this one, Michael! Agree that simplicity, consistency, and focus are timeless skills and even more important in a noisy world with so many short-cut solutions.
I truly loved reading this article! Your son's story and how you equated it to your life in business and writing was amazing. Being a self-professed introvert, I often get overwhelmed by the noise of the world today. But I loved the line "the world is only as loud as you allow it to be". I'm going to put that on my screen saver on my phone so I am reminded daily. I recently joined a Liftoff group in the writing mastermind I'm in - it's intimidating being in the room with all these amazingly talented people who are way smarter than me. But I'm finding that's exactly where I need to be and I love it! I've learned so much, and having my mind blown every day simply by listening has been a game changer for my writing business. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you Charlie for the thoughtful reply. I love the screensaver idea and so glad you're pushing yourself to be in a mastermind group as doing the same changed my life in so many great ways. Being the most curious in the room and the one who learns the most is way better than being the smartest;).
Love this article Michael! And Liam!!!! Perseverance ! Such a strong boy. He’s got my admiration for sure. That kind of patience and determination are what we all need.
Thank you for these words Michael. I will reread them often.
I said it before in a comment that he's his mother's kid. He's 10 now and net fishing is still the one place where he just sinks into the sea and focuses for hours. I hope he always keeps this habit alive.
It's actually crazy how complicated and confusing the world has become that we need to be reminded that if we want to get good at a thing, we need to be doing that thing 🤦♀️ Nowadays there is so much confusing and conflicting advice, a lot of it is mostly designed for people to sell us something. Actually, we need to just slow down and practice the thing we want to do. Appreciate your down to earth advice.
Totally agree with the craziness. I see a ton of posts about the importance of drinking water and walking. It's like, when did two basic human actiivities become things we need to put on a to-do list.
Michael, your story about Liam and the red fish is a fantastic illustration of how powerful focused effort can be. It's easy to get distracted by the 'noise' of the world, especially with the constant bombardment of information and social media. Your advice to 'put your head down and block out the noise' is spot on. It reminds me of the saying, 'The quieter you become, the more you can hear.' By eliminating distractions, we can truly focus on what matters and make significant progress towards our goals.
Man I love this - 'The quieter you become, the more you can hear.' Funny I've never heard that and constantly reminded that the simple advice is the best advice. Hope you're doing alright today and those to come.
I so appreciate all you have shared here; it is gold! Whether we are writers here on Substack or we have another job we are dedicating ourselves to, these nuggets of wisdom are both helpful and inspiring! Thank you!
There are so many sticky bits in here that really latch onto my head, or my heart or my soul. I'm still sorting that out. Part of it is the message, but even the visceral connection to the suggestions... 'hang the sign up' is very physical, not just 'write it down.'
While I don't touch my phone much, ever... I do have browsers and tabs. I need a 'virtual high shelf' for those.
I also love the 'list of how your life will change' which is another way of saying to set your priorities.
Most of all, what really stands out is the suggestion to remove the other things, but more importantly to go at it for a year. Short enough to not seem infinite, long enough to 'git gud.'
I appreciate that there is a living quality to your advice Michael. Nothing about this feels like another run of the mill post from another big name writer who has a formula for my future success.
Yeah my environment massively shapes my behavior and like you I have demoted my phone which has helped massively and like you, I have roughly 40 tabs open at the moment;).
I really appreciate the "living quality" comment man and how this doesn't feel run of the mill as it's the best compliment I can get in this self-help space.
Tim Denning posted a story on the same day, literally titled "Take One Thing and Become Insanely Obsessed About it for Six Months." ... I didn't read it, but the title suggests it's close to the same thing you're saying. The hyperbolic title is already pushing me away, maybe because I know that 'Insanely Obsessed' is a danger-zone for my ADHD.
That being said, I know when the universe is trying to prove a point... it starts bashing me over the head with similar advice at the same time. So, I should probably read it too.
yeah, I tend to mute those messages. I see a lot of coaches they're "waiting to hit their number before they go back to making what they want to see in the world" while forgetting that if you press money and speed for 5-10 years in your work, it's not easy to flick a switch and go back to slow and steady.
Haha. Pretty sure (but family lineage is). Funny I used to help expats in Spain land jobs and the English were the worst with CVs and selling themselves - so much "To be honest, I was shit at that job."
Thank you Jonathan. That means a lot as the behind the scenes of these simple 800 word articles is a lot of head-banging (which has become oddly enough my favorite part).
"The world is loud.
Everyone today is vying for attention.
Most people are looking for fast results.
If you want to have a successful career, a solid piece of advice is to look at what other people are doing and do the opposite."
I have a theory that the bubble is bursting on all that extroverted attention and promises for fast results. The true magick lives in the slow and steady tortoise pace, like Liam's Hunt for the Red Fish, instead of the quick fix of the hare's race.
I've spent my entire life doing the opposite of what everyone else does, and not quite understanding why. Thanks for making this crystal clear for me. Gonna keep doing me, my way.
"Gonna keep doing me, my way." is the only way.
One can only hope the shift will cement but looking back over the last 8 years of writing online, things move in extreme waves from hustle to no hustle and cold showers to cold showers are for morons (often written by the same people who pushed for them).
One thing this reminded me of is when I began writing I wanted to put everything under the umbrella of "slow growth" but my friends talked me out of it as "nobody wants that." Kicking myself for that now as it was me then and it is me now.
I totally agree with the "slow growth".
I've been playing with this idea in my head lately that those who have been successful on social media and online platforms are mainly extroverts, because their fast growth and trends and fads come off as authentic to them...because they are. But for introverts, when slow and stead is the pace, when we try to do the trendy fad thing, it comes off as fake and we lose out.
So...doing me my way...the slow growth way is the best way. I wonder if this is an undercurrent in social that is emerging slowly and steadily now.
Liam is truly Yoda-esque. At such a young age, he’s already discovered that patience, stillness, and listening bring their own rewards. We often think that the loudest voices get all the luck, but learning to be quiet and listen is one of the greatest investments we can make—especially in the modern workforce. How lucky you are that he could teach you. As my editor, you bring me incredible insights, grounded and wise. Now I can see where that wisdom comes from—thanks to Liam. 😉😜 🧑💻✍️
Very true. He's very much his mother's child but our house wouldn't be the same without me being frantic. Little loon whallops me at chess as he simply waits for me to mess up due to being impatient. Infuriating.
Ha, having someone so different as opponent is definitely a good lesson. Not only for chess, for life!
Michael - wonderful perspective, story, and the connection between multiple generations - Liam, you, your dad. A beautiful tapestry of wisdom and heart.
Thank you so much James and can't wait to link up in a few weeks. BTW - we were in Banyoles a few weeks ago and I kicked myself for not pinging you to see if your aunt was around.
It’s hard to focus on something that has no results for a long time. We are trained by schools to see results quickly and with writing that can be quite difficult.
One thing I love about writers is just how observant they are at seeing things from another person’s perspective. It not only develops our writing but also changes our personality as a person to be compassionate that can create better human beings.
Having the ability to help improve another persons life is the most beautiful blessing in the world - it is so valuable to our heart, it’s priceless.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts 😇
Thank you so much for this. These words are so very true - "We are trained by schools to see results quickly and with writing that can be quite difficult." My first goal as a parent is create choice for my kids. A close second is to ensure they reserve time to move slowly. Really appreciate you stopping by, the support, and the great additional thoughts.
Loved this one, Michael! Agree that simplicity, consistency, and focus are timeless skills and even more important in a noisy world with so many short-cut solutions.
Thank you Jeremy. Means a lot you taking the time and yes to take the long-cuts on the things that matter most.
I truly loved reading this article! Your son's story and how you equated it to your life in business and writing was amazing. Being a self-professed introvert, I often get overwhelmed by the noise of the world today. But I loved the line "the world is only as loud as you allow it to be". I'm going to put that on my screen saver on my phone so I am reminded daily. I recently joined a Liftoff group in the writing mastermind I'm in - it's intimidating being in the room with all these amazingly talented people who are way smarter than me. But I'm finding that's exactly where I need to be and I love it! I've learned so much, and having my mind blown every day simply by listening has been a game changer for my writing business. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you Charlie for the thoughtful reply. I love the screensaver idea and so glad you're pushing yourself to be in a mastermind group as doing the same changed my life in so many great ways. Being the most curious in the room and the one who learns the most is way better than being the smartest;).
Agreed! Never stop being curious.
You, Liam, and your dad are very wise. And you write BEAUTIFULLY. Such good storytelling combined with empowering life lessons. Thank you for sharing!
I really appreciate that. Having a stutter I don't always speak that well, but writing gives me time to think and get it right.
Love this article Michael! And Liam!!!! Perseverance ! Such a strong boy. He’s got my admiration for sure. That kind of patience and determination are what we all need.
Thank you for these words Michael. I will reread them often.
I said it before in a comment that he's his mother's kid. He's 10 now and net fishing is still the one place where he just sinks into the sea and focuses for hours. I hope he always keeps this habit alive.
My guess is that he will. Being at one with the sea is something we are born into.
It's actually crazy how complicated and confusing the world has become that we need to be reminded that if we want to get good at a thing, we need to be doing that thing 🤦♀️ Nowadays there is so much confusing and conflicting advice, a lot of it is mostly designed for people to sell us something. Actually, we need to just slow down and practice the thing we want to do. Appreciate your down to earth advice.
Totally agree with the craziness. I see a ton of posts about the importance of drinking water and walking. It's like, when did two basic human actiivities become things we need to put on a to-do list.
Michael, your story about Liam and the red fish is a fantastic illustration of how powerful focused effort can be. It's easy to get distracted by the 'noise' of the world, especially with the constant bombardment of information and social media. Your advice to 'put your head down and block out the noise' is spot on. It reminds me of the saying, 'The quieter you become, the more you can hear.' By eliminating distractions, we can truly focus on what matters and make significant progress towards our goals.
Man I love this - 'The quieter you become, the more you can hear.' Funny I've never heard that and constantly reminded that the simple advice is the best advice. Hope you're doing alright today and those to come.
Michael,
I so appreciate all you have shared here; it is gold! Whether we are writers here on Substack or we have another job we are dedicating ourselves to, these nuggets of wisdom are both helpful and inspiring! Thank you!
Many blessings and MUCH LOVE,
~Wendy💜✍
Thank you so much Wendy for taking the time and many blessings right back at you.
Great advice, thanks! One skill to focus on & hone - got it. 😊
slow is the new fast;).
There are so many sticky bits in here that really latch onto my head, or my heart or my soul. I'm still sorting that out. Part of it is the message, but even the visceral connection to the suggestions... 'hang the sign up' is very physical, not just 'write it down.'
While I don't touch my phone much, ever... I do have browsers and tabs. I need a 'virtual high shelf' for those.
I also love the 'list of how your life will change' which is another way of saying to set your priorities.
Most of all, what really stands out is the suggestion to remove the other things, but more importantly to go at it for a year. Short enough to not seem infinite, long enough to 'git gud.'
I appreciate that there is a living quality to your advice Michael. Nothing about this feels like another run of the mill post from another big name writer who has a formula for my future success.
Bravo!
Yeah my environment massively shapes my behavior and like you I have demoted my phone which has helped massively and like you, I have roughly 40 tabs open at the moment;).
I really appreciate the "living quality" comment man and how this doesn't feel run of the mill as it's the best compliment I can get in this self-help space.
Tim Denning posted a story on the same day, literally titled "Take One Thing and Become Insanely Obsessed About it for Six Months." ... I didn't read it, but the title suggests it's close to the same thing you're saying. The hyperbolic title is already pushing me away, maybe because I know that 'Insanely Obsessed' is a danger-zone for my ADHD.
That being said, I know when the universe is trying to prove a point... it starts bashing me over the head with similar advice at the same time. So, I should probably read it too.
Money loves speed- i’ve heard it so many times on socail media from coaches… do things on the go…etc.. tired of that noise! Great piece🤩
yeah, I tend to mute those messages. I see a lot of coaches they're "waiting to hit their number before they go back to making what they want to see in the world" while forgetting that if you press money and speed for 5-10 years in your work, it's not easy to flick a switch and go back to slow and steady.
I like the way your boy's brain sees the world. So charming.
And, thank you for this flip.
I'm not going to worry about being good at the things I love.
I'm just going to do it until I'm no longer bad at it. Genius.
(not sure if good to say but the link to your book is snapped)
In my book the underlying theme is not "Good to Great" but "Bad to Not Awful;)."
And yes, it's very good to say so I can make the link less bad.
Thank you Rebecca for letting me know.
Are you sure you are not English? HAHA
Haha. Pretty sure (but family lineage is). Funny I used to help expats in Spain land jobs and the English were the worst with CVs and selling themselves - so much "To be honest, I was shit at that job."
That’s us.
Taking Gold at the‘ I think someone else would do this better’ Awards.
PS. Hope you are ok in Spain with the rains. Awful.
This is a beautiful piece. Well done, Michael. You have honed your craft by putting in the hard yards.
Thank you Jonathan. That means a lot as the behind the scenes of these simple 800 word articles is a lot of head-banging (which has become oddly enough my favorite part).
Nice! It can be a massive grind eh. Always takes my 3X the time I plan!