Finding my Rhythm

what even is productivity

I started watching some lectures and Ted talks on YouTube about starting a business, and my algorithm was all too happy to pick up on that. I’m now seeing a lot of Alex Hormozi content - he’s a gym bro/business owner who’s made millions and is now making millions more being a business growth content creator. I am far from the target audience for him, but I’m intrigued and I like keeping my algorithm on its toes. He released a short video where he unironically one-ups Rocky by shaking up a carton of egg whites with some chocolate syrup in it…and then drinking it straight. At least one of us getting enough protein.

The majority of his content is focused on how to want more and then get more out of your business - more leads, more customers, more money, more employees. And I do think he has a lot of good advice, like how the best affirmation that you’re doing good is to have proof, not to look in the mirror and try to convince yourself without any tangible evidence. Or his dice parable about how the only way to win is to keep rolling, even though every time you roll you have a high chance of failure. But his advice is extreme: he recommends working 12 hours a day (because you want to be successful, right?) and putting on noise-cancelling headphones while locking yourself in a windowless office to optimize focus. He would argue that those habits are what’s required to make millions, and that’s why most people aren’t multi-millionaires.

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I know that hard work is needed to grow a business from scratch. And I know that I’ll be figuring out what that work is and how to do it as I go. But I feel no need to work 12 hours a day, and I do not want to keep wanting more forever. Tough love sometimes works for me, but mostly I’m trying to give myself a lot of grace right now. The most productive thing I did last week was pull myself out of a 3-day slump where I stopped believing I could be successful. I was back to normal on Friday and this week has been busy and exciting.

I had my first site evaluation for an upcoming project on Monday. I had no plan, just a feeling that I would know what to do when I got there. And I did - the space is a big rectangle of lawn situated off an access road connecting two schools. The garden possibilities are endless.

Other ways I’ve been productive this week: I reactivated my LinkedIn account, which has been sitting dormant for about five years. I thought that was a good idea, even though I often feel allergic to social media. I’ve also just been asking for support. I’ve been so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my network who are willing to be champions for Seeds to Smiles. Asking those people to introduce me to some warm contacts is a big part of my plan for getting leads.

I feel so fortunate that I never had a problem asking for things. My dad is a big believer in “nothing is ever as it seems” and “you won’t know until you ask.” From the time I was little, I learned the worst thing that could come from asking is being told no, and that’s actually not the end of the world. Pretty solid parenting if you ask me.

Three of my favorite new discoveries:

1. Raye’s 2023 album, My 21st Century Blues. I literally can’t stop listening to this.

2. Death at a Funeral, a very funny, very British movie from 2007.

3. Using end-of-season green tomatoes instead of red ones in chili.

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!