🌱 Follow your bliss(ters)

Here’s your 3 insights in 3 minutes. 

👣 Taking The Leap 

I quit my job in December. 

Four months later, I just had my best revenue month on my own. (More than any month I’ve had with a full-time job.)

What caught me off guard was the shape of the growth.

I thought it would be linear:
more effort → slightly more results each month

Instead it (monthly rev) looked like this:

Turns out, most leaps look a little messy in the middle. 

That’s why taking the step feels so uncomfortable. Our brains want proof and assurance before taking the leap.

But that generally comes after the commitment. 

Most times growth looks messy before obvious.

🧭 Follow Your Bliss(ters)

Joseph Campbell famously said: “Follow your bliss.”

Later in life, he clarified: “What I should have said was, follow your blisters.” 

Because eventually he realized the meaningful path usually comes with friction. 

Certainly was the case with my path. Of course I don’t have it all figured out (obviously). But I think there’s real merit here. 

The path often looks less like bliss… and more like irritation you’re weirdly willing to tolerate.

So follow your blisters* instead.

(*Unless they appear in medically concerning areas…Then maybe just follow your doctor’s orders.)

📱 Careful What You Optimize

Back in the day, websites used to end. 

You’d hit the bottom of the age and have a tiny moment to think: “do I actually want more of this?”

Then a designer named Aza Raskin invented the "infinite scroll” feature. 

At the time, he thought he was was improving user experience. 

Years later, he admitted the invention made him feel “sort of dirty.”

That part stuck with me.

Because once you realize what social media is actually optimized for, a lot of modern behavior suddenly makes more sense.

Spoiler: it’s not optimized for your happiness or wellbeing.

Mostly your time and attention.

Which is maybe why so many tech leaders heavily restrict their own kids’ screen time.

Steve Jobs limited his kids' use of tech.  Bill Gates didn’t allow phones until 14.

And headlines like this keep popping up:

Not that tech is evil. I love tech and the advancements it’s created made. 

But more that than, I like thinking through and asking:
“Does using this thing align with my values and who I am becoming?”

Salud, 
Mitchell 

Ps. How caffeine works