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💡 The Lightbulb

💡 Keep moving


It’s been quite a week.

Even in a remote business, I can sense the tension and exhaustion.

And yes, for some of my clients and counterparts, disillusionment and pain.

A few months back, I put out the ‘Liftoff’ framework about the underlying traits that I’ve deduced to signal a good fit for self-employment.

Trait #4 was what I called ‘dynamic stoicism’, or even more simply put, Resilience.

From that post:

When you go out on your own, the freedoms you unlock come at the expense of some of that stability.

- Some months’ revenue will be high, and some might be zero.
- Your pipeline may ebb and flow.
- You’ll deal with a string of rejections.
- Your service portfolio will evolve over time.

In short, there’s change all around you, which can be both exhilarating and paralyzing.

The most effective soloists can meet that ever-present change not with capricious decision-making or panic, but rather with what I call ‘
dynamic stoicism’:

- The ability to adapt regularly to a changing context...
- To embrace serenity in response to adversity...
- To maintain clarity amidst uncertainty...
- To prioritize long-term objectives over short-term wins

As you process any big life event, personal or professional.

A lost deal. A broken partnership. A trying election.

It’s important to take inventory of how it’s affecting you and care for your own needs.

But just as important is the ability to look forward, with strength.

Because there will always be another hill ahead on the rollercoaster.

Typically, I’d say if you show this trait of resilience in other parts of your life, you’re likely to get on well with a soloist path professionally.

Today, I’ll flip it and say, because you have chosen the soloist path, I don’t doubt you have the resilience to keep moving ahead.

💡

-Wes

💡 The Lightbulb

A daily email about monetizing your corporate expertise. Give me ~1 minute a day, and I'll help you turn what you know into your most differentiated and lucrative asset.

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