Evidence-backed guidance for creators and solopreneurs. I study the world's best creators, run experiments, and share what I learn with 58,000+ readers every week.
Patient Ambition
Hey Reader,
I've always considered myself ambitious. I want to live an extraordinary life and make extraordinary things...sometimes that feeling is so strong that it's actually uncomfortable.
One of my favorite podcasts is Song Exploder; in ~20 minute episodes, the show invites musicians to break apart their songs and explain how it all came together. Then, at the end, it plays the song in its entirety.
It's such an incredibly high-quality show. At first I didn't listen to many episodes, because I didn't recognize most of the songs or artists featured. But actually it's through learning about that artist and song in the episode that I find myself interested in them.
Anyway, the creator of that show just released a Netflix Original Series expanding that same format into visuals and animation. One of the first episodes explores Wait For It from the Hamilton soundtrack...and it is incredible.
You have an incredible piece of art (Hamilton) and the creator (Lin-Manuel Miranda) talking about one of it's biggest songs. Song Exploder is breaking it apart in typical Song Exploder fashion...with video and animation!
I mean, holy crap. That's an unbelievable mash up of awesome.
And as I'm watching this episode in complete awe...I literally feel myself start rocking back and forth in discomfort. Because I want so badly to create something as incredible as what I'm watching.
I'll listen to (or conduct) interviews with creators who have been at it many years more than I have, and I get really excited thinking about a day when I'm writing my own book(s), building ambitious projects, etc.
So the ambition is strong and it's not going anywhere.
But it wouldn't be very healthy (or enjoyable!) to live in that ambitious discomfort all the time.
More and more over the past year, I've found a lot of happiness in exercising patience.
Patience isn't about inaction or letting myself off the hook from working hard. But patience is about recognizing that even if I'm allocating my time in a way that builds towards my ambition, it's going to take some time.
As I shared in an email from two weeks ago – I believe that you need to enjoy the process long before you can enjoy the results. And I'm patiently enjoying the process right now.
I know the way I'm investing my time and energy is working. Creative Elements has surpassed 10,000 downloads per episode, my LinkedIn newsletter just crossed 20,000 subscribers, this list continues to grow, and more students are enrolling in Freelancing School than ever before.
But, it's still going to take some time to get to where I want to be.
Patient Ambition is the hard work of identifying where to commit my energy combined with the recognition that it won't all happen today.
Now I ask myself if I'm pushing things forward. And not just mindless action, but smart, concerted effort.
And if I am, it's OK if I take a run in the middle of the day. It's OK to take a day off here and there. It's OK to recognize when I'm burnt out and take a step back. I know I'll be right back in the saddle harnessing my ambition in a matter of hours.
Patient Ambition is what allows me to build towards an extraordinary life while still finding joy in today.
28: Bryce Conway [Iteration]
This week we're talking with the man responsible for helping me land the coveted Southwest Airlines Companion Pass!
Bryce Conway is the Founder of 10xTravel.com and Author of Takeoff: How to Travel the World for Next to Nothing and How to Fix Your Credit: Do it Once. Do it Right. Get on with Your Life.
Bryce’s work has been featured in multiple national media outlets including Good Morning America, Money Magazine, and ABC Nightline News.
In this episode, Bryce talks about how he accidentally started GetFreeFlights, the rebrand to 10xTravel, the shift in his business model that made a huge impact, and why his willingness to iterate on the business led to his success.
Thanks for reading, my friend! As always, feel free to hit reply and let me know what's new in your world. Here's to another great week.
Cheers,
Jay
Creator Science
Evidence-backed guidance for creators and solopreneurs. I study the world's best creators, run experiments, and share what I learn with 58,000+ readers every week.
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