Two parents at the pool

I watched two parents at my youngest daughter’s swimming lessons this morning.

Both with kids about 4-ish and younger.

You could see it painted on their faces. They’re just hanging on. Survival mode.

They weren’t smashing PBs in the gym this morning. Or doing whatever else the IG profiles they follow seem to portray.

They were just getting through Friday morning.

Thinking about what their kids needed next. Longing for an hour on the couch. Some quiet me time.

That’s most people, most of the time.

The polished version of your competitor’s life on Instagram … the launch, the trip, the team photo, the framework they “just dropped” … none of that is what their Friday actually feels like.

It’s not what mine feels like either.

I’ve had a great week on paper. Investments growing. May’s Escape Velocity cohort in full flight. Ecom revenue & profit doing well. The businesses are humming.

But I’m still tired.

Still looking at too many options.

Still have fires to put out in business and family life.

The mountain still feels real.

It’s just the job.

If you’re tired this week. If the mountain looks bigger than it did on Monday. If too many options feel like no options at all…

You’re not alone. You’re not behind.

You’re just on the inside of your own life, looking at the curated outside of everyone else’s.

Here’s what I do…

I zoom out. Twenty thousand feet. Forget the ten things on the list. Forget the shiny things on your socials that make you feel you’re not doing enough.

I ask: “What’s the one thing that would move the needle if I did nothing else this week?”

Then I do that. The rest can wait.

Pick one. Put the blinders on.

— Matthew