Truly appreciate these reminders of the reps it takes to be visible.
I've heard entrepreneurs complain after blogging for 3 months (1 blog/month) that it's taking too long.
Just do that about 3,000 more times, and take that blog and share an idea from it on LinkedIn and another on Substack.
This is the boring repetitive work that most won't do. I've been in business 11 years and haven't "exploded," but I know that with every day I show up and keep doing the work, I'm increasing my odds.
Your article showed me how I can do more — thank you, Justin.
First time reading you. Really enjoyed this and been thinking about it - EXPOSURE. Now, it's the Action, swinging the axe. I don't need to get "better;" I need to get more visible, offer more, sell.
“you don’t get a one-in-a-thousand break without taking a thousand swings first.”
“The break that looks lucky from the outside is just compounded volume finally paying off.”
“The market doesn’t reward the most talented people. It rewards talented people who are also visible.”
“What moves the needle is getting your face and your brand and your thoughts and your expertise in front of as many relevant people as humanly possible.”
“the number of people who know you exist is what matters right now.”
*
Super good, Justin. Thanks for sharing, and Happy 4th!
there's a second problem hiding right behind the exposure point that nobody warns you about. once the swinging works, the thing that breaks isn't your skill or your visibility. it's your ability to hold all of it at once. thousands of dms means hundreds of half-live threads, and the break that looks lucky from the outside often got dropped on the inside because you couldn't track who was waiting on you. volume creates the luck and then quietly buries you in it. that's the part most people hit right after this advice starts working.
Wow! That essay hit me like a lighting bolt. I have been trying to get my AI consulting business started for about 2 years now. I keep refining my craft, but working another full time job has cut into this so much, I have put it on the back burner. I have been in either state and federal law enforcement for about 34 years and most officers hate AI or think it's the devil and believe it will take over all jobs. I want to create an on-line live training class for basic and advanced AI. I think I need to take your advice on this "Stop sharpening your axe" essay and do the thing you mentioned in it. Thanks for your awesome advice!
Thanks, Justin. This is such a day-and-night difference in approach.
For the over-preparers, it might be a mindset thing. We've been told all our lives to be excellent, and when we don't meet the mark, the feedback has been harsh. The over-reliance on preparation is the result for people who had been pushed to deliver the "best" work most of their lives.
Now, we need to do the work of not being afraid of being seen and judged for our outputs, and being okay with publishing not-so-perfect pieces. We have to be okay with iterating and getting better as we go along.
Great message. And it's exactly what I realised this year. So I finally wrote my novel. And the issue today is not the quality. I've worked with editors, I've compared to the books on the shelves. I'm there. But what's missing is the audience. It's putting myself out there. More. So that's what I'm doing this summer. DMs, Instagram (new for me), Substack. I'm an entreprenauthor ;)
And I've sharpened my axe enough– thanks for the reminder.
Your 7 months is quick. Congratulations! I think you have a knack for networking and sales. And you're right, it's a high batting average that counts. And I need to do more. So thanks for the reminder to get back to work–not harder work, not better work, but more exposed work and connecting with those who might enjoy what I produce.
I really needed to read this. Thanks for sharing this message.
Truly appreciate these reminders of the reps it takes to be visible.
I've heard entrepreneurs complain after blogging for 3 months (1 blog/month) that it's taking too long.
Just do that about 3,000 more times, and take that blog and share an idea from it on LinkedIn and another on Substack.
This is the boring repetitive work that most won't do. I've been in business 11 years and haven't "exploded," but I know that with every day I show up and keep doing the work, I'm increasing my odds.
Your article showed me how I can do more — thank you, Justin.
First time reading you. Really enjoyed this and been thinking about it - EXPOSURE. Now, it's the Action, swinging the axe. I don't need to get "better;" I need to get more visible, offer more, sell.
I love the quote, I forget the source:
"If you want to become an overnight success, work for 10 years with nobody noticing."
“you don’t get a one-in-a-thousand break without taking a thousand swings first.”
“The break that looks lucky from the outside is just compounded volume finally paying off.”
“The market doesn’t reward the most talented people. It rewards talented people who are also visible.”
“What moves the needle is getting your face and your brand and your thoughts and your expertise in front of as many relevant people as humanly possible.”
“the number of people who know you exist is what matters right now.”
*
Super good, Justin. Thanks for sharing, and Happy 4th!
Preparation becomes avoidance when it never turns into a useful attempt. At some point, the next lesson only arrives after you put the axe to work.
Loved this. 👆
there's a second problem hiding right behind the exposure point that nobody warns you about. once the swinging works, the thing that breaks isn't your skill or your visibility. it's your ability to hold all of it at once. thousands of dms means hundreds of half-live threads, and the break that looks lucky from the outside often got dropped on the inside because you couldn't track who was waiting on you. volume creates the luck and then quietly buries you in it. that's the part most people hit right after this advice starts working.
If you could do it again, would you take the same axe swinging method or is there any strategy you've learned?
At some point you have to start cutting
Wow! That essay hit me like a lighting bolt. I have been trying to get my AI consulting business started for about 2 years now. I keep refining my craft, but working another full time job has cut into this so much, I have put it on the back burner. I have been in either state and federal law enforcement for about 34 years and most officers hate AI or think it's the devil and believe it will take over all jobs. I want to create an on-line live training class for basic and advanced AI. I think I need to take your advice on this "Stop sharpening your axe" essay and do the thing you mentioned in it. Thanks for your awesome advice!
Thanks, Justin. This is such a day-and-night difference in approach.
For the over-preparers, it might be a mindset thing. We've been told all our lives to be excellent, and when we don't meet the mark, the feedback has been harsh. The over-reliance on preparation is the result for people who had been pushed to deliver the "best" work most of their lives.
Now, we need to do the work of not being afraid of being seen and judged for our outputs, and being okay with publishing not-so-perfect pieces. We have to be okay with iterating and getting better as we go along.
Once that happens, there will be more progress.
Great message. And it's exactly what I realised this year. So I finally wrote my novel. And the issue today is not the quality. I've worked with editors, I've compared to the books on the shelves. I'm there. But what's missing is the audience. It's putting myself out there. More. So that's what I'm doing this summer. DMs, Instagram (new for me), Substack. I'm an entreprenauthor ;)
And I've sharpened my axe enough– thanks for the reminder.
Your 7 months is quick. Congratulations! I think you have a knack for networking and sales. And you're right, it's a high batting average that counts. And I need to do more. So thanks for the reminder to get back to work–not harder work, not better work, but more exposed work and connecting with those who might enjoy what I produce.
Best,
Will