#038 Welcoming More, Full Hands, & Perfection
Common Discourse is a weekly briefing designed to help others (and myself) think through creativity, focus, and intentional work. It hits your inbox every Tuesday at 9:17am.
If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider sharing it with a friend. If you haven’t subscribed yet, feel free to opt in below.
I was back in Los Angeles this week moving out of my DTLA apartment. More on that later, but for now, some ideas, a quote, and links I collected on my phone in-between packing boxes and waiting on movers.
When I was 14 I read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which explains a lot. I think the most important takeaway is that life doesn’t stop for anybody.
I’m in New York until Thanksgiving 👋
— Alex
Ideas from me
I. WELCOMING MORE
A saturated market is often looked at negatively when it should be welcomed.
With more participants, the clearer it is to see the best talent rise to the top.
If you didn't get to it first, your only choice is to do it better than anyone else.
II. FULL HANDS
Comfortability is the most dangerous state of being for the creative mind. Even when we feel safe with what's in front of us, it's imperative that we grab onto new ideas, information, or ways of thinking. And also release them when the time comes.
Hands that are full can neither give or receive.
III. PERFECTION
In the grand scheme of everything, perfection is the enemy of done. Or the enemy of progress, whichever way you want to put it.
To get from 0 to 97% may be fairly easy and familiar. But 97 to 100% can be 10x more difficult.
Give it everything you got, but don't let it stop you in your tracks.
The successful creative has found the perfect balance between the effort it requires to make an impact and the ability to let go when it can't be pushed any further.
Quote from somebody else
“It’s fear or love, period. Fear is: I want to leave a legacy, so I got to work hard now. But it’s like, are you afraid that you are insignificant now and that just being present is not good enough? Love is: I’m accepting today. I don’t care about what tomorrow is. Yesterday happened. If I accept today and be the best that I can today, each day that I have that opportunity to be my best, that will be my legacy. I don’t have to compete with anyone. This is who I am. This is what I can do. This is what I choose to do with my time here today.”
— Donté Clark on Operating from a Loving Space
Links worth sharing
💆♂️ Excellent bodies of music released by Dijon and Snail Mail last week
👁 Google Earth View is a collection of the most stunning landscapes captured through Google Earth
👖 Drip is the New Drop, The Sociology of Business
🌐 What is Internet Criticism? Dirt
🖊 Contemplative Drawing Machine
😗 The Internet Needs Better Rules, Not Stricter Referees, Substack Blog
Thanks for another week!
ℹ️ Read more about Common Discourse here.
📬 If you like this newsletter, please consider sharing with others who might enjoy it as well.
👉 If you’re new here, sign up to receive future briefings.
🗂 Here is every Common Discourse weekly briefing to date.
💬 Reply to this email to open up a conversation, I always respond.