Good news is always quieter than bad news

Negative examples always spread farther and faster than positive examples. In a world this big, you'll find at least one negative example every day. Don't let the existence of a bad example ruin your faith in the world. Good news is always quieter than bad news. Good behavior rarely stirs the pot or ignites emotion. But no matter. We still need role models. Continue living the best way you know how.

When you have worked through failures

Trust in yourself is not only built through successful repetitions, but also through failed ones. When you have worked through failures in the past, you fear them less in the future. You know you can bounce back. Successful repetitions build competence. Failed repetitions build resilience.

Even our smallest actions have potential for great change

Rather than feel impotent and useless, you must come to terms with the fact that as a human being you are infinitely powerful, and take responsibility for this tremendous power. Even our smallest actions have potential for great change, positively or negatively, and the way in which we all conduct ourselves within the world means something. You are anything but impotent, you are, in fact, exquisitely and frighteningly dynamic, as are we all, and with all respect you have an obligation to stand up and take responsibility for that potential. It is your most ordinary and urgent duty.

Unexpected forms of generosity

Being early can be a form of generosity. You wait, so they don't have to. Leaving something unsaid can be a form of generosity. You don't always need the last word. Delivering your work on time can be a form of generosity. You make life easier for everyone downstream. Not taking things personally can be a form of generosity. You give people the space to say things imperfectly.

Good work can be good without being popular

Popularity is easy to measure. Good, not so much. Setting out to make something popular requires only a focus on the crowd and on the moment. Most pop music is popular simply because that’s what it was built to do. Good work can be good without being popular. And so the two goals aren’t easily aligned. It helps to begin by becoming comfortable with what good feels like to you. Because conflating it with popular is a trap.

Unreasonable commitment is unreasonable

Unreasonable commitment is unreasonable. It happens before there’s a guarantee it will work. It’s out of proportion to what others think is standard. Unreasonable commitment is dedication, persistence, care, energy, connection and investment that doesn’t seem to make sense. You can’t do this in everything, and you probably can’t do it all the time. That’s why it’s unreasonable to expect.

Talent and potential mean nothing

Talent and potential mean nothing if you can't consistently do the boring things when you don't feel like doing them. Simple and shallow sound the same until you ask the second question. The person who earned their simplicity can go ten levels deep when challenged. The person who skipped the work falls apart at level two.