Have you been approved?

In what ways do you seek approval?

By being good?

By looking good?

By being good at something?

By being bad?

By being modest?

By being nice?

By being smart?

By having stuff?  

The 'right' house, car, books, phone...?

By being Apple?

By being PC?

Having the right hair?

Having the right clothes?

The right weight?

By not having stuff?

By being famous?

By being infamous?

Being in the right club?

By how much you're worth?

By how much you give?

By your work?

Being funny?

Being generous?

Doing the right thing?

Doing the wrong thing?

Does this way/s of being get the approval you're seeking?

How much effort is it for you?

What does it stop you doing?

Who are you really seeking approval from?

And what would things be like if you didn't seek approval at all?

I think it might be worth thinking about these things.

There isn't a right way!  Yes, you heard me!  THERE ISN'T A RIGHT WAY (if that seems shouty… it's because I'm shouting!).  There is not a rule book up in 'heaven' or written into the DNA of nature, that can be used for assessing the best way to 'bake a cake', 'start a new business', 'write a presentation', 'make love', 'bring up a child', 'write a status update', 'take a photo', 'make a film' etc.  Some people will tell you otherwise.  Be rest assured they're talking nonsense.  

And… as such, there is no such thing as BEST PRACTICE!  It's a stupid phrase.  It should be renamed "A pretty good way to do stuff we think… but if you can find a better way, then do that… and then keep searching for an even better way, but either way just bloomin' do something".  Okay, not so catchy… but you get my point, right?

The only good thing about best practice is 'practice'.  Practice means doing stuff, making some mistakes, getting things wrong, learning and, well, trying your best.  

So, just in case you missed the earlier memo… there isn't a right way, so go and get on with it!

Quit to Get Started

Quit waiting

Quit waiting for the right time

Quit the excuses

Quit your job

Quit the fake promises

Quit kidding yourself

Quit kidding others

Quit lying

Quit lying in bed

Quit the TV

Quit the screen

Quit caring too much

Quit caring too little

Quit complaining

Quit the comforts

Quit being scared

Quit arguing

Quit blaming others

Quit being right

Quit listening to others

Quit reading this and get on with it!

Being out there...

Your reasons not being out there...

I need to do more research.

I'm too busy with other stuff.

My idea is not quite right.

I don't have enough money.

I've got to earn a living.

The world is not ready.

I'm having a bad week.

The kids are having a bad week.

This is a bad month.

I'm not sure I'm any good at this.

I need more experience.

I'm too old.

I'm too young.

I don't have the right equipment.

I don't have the right space.

My mum will think it's stupid.

My dad will think it's stupid.

My friends think it's stupid.

I think it's stupid.

I'm busy today.

I'm busy with other stuff.

I'm busy with life.

I can do it tomorrow.

Of course all this stuff is just fear.

Get out there.  Do something.  Today.  Whatever your dream project... today is the day to take the first (or another step)... do something to make it real.  Put yourself on the line.  Put it out there for judgement.  

There is one way to guarantee your idea not happening and that is doing nothing.  Think about it all you like, mull it over, put it off another day... but if you don't take out there (in whatever small way) then it is guaranteed to stay... just another idea.

Who says...

We should work 37.5 hours per week?

Who says working more is better?

Schools should start at 9.00am?

Teachers know best?

Managers are a good thing?

What counts for art?

You're too old to start a new career?

You're too young to know better?

Creative people are disorganised?

Accountants are boring?

Businesses don't care?

Television is bad?

Reading is good?

We should eat with a knife and fork?

Governments make a difference?

This isn't possible?

That you have to do x?

What's good?

What's bad?

Who says what the rules are?

And should you care?