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Gunnar Branson

conviction & humility

Published 5 days ago • 1 min read

how do I get there?

Creating something new is hard.

Can I protect myself from those telling me it can't be done? It hurts when they point out, rightly or wrongly, that I don't have what it takes to see it through, that the obstacles are too great, that my skills, my plan, or my temperament is not up to the job.

And how do I defend myself when I agree with the critics or when I'm the toughest critic of all?

If I listen too closely, I might give up. If I don't listen at all, I might miss what is important.

So how should I thread the line?

Here's the formula that works for me whether I'm leading a business team or writing a book:

Conviction - belief in a vision and the passion required to get it done.

Plus

Humility - If I start by knowing I can't know everything, that mistakes are guaranteed and other perspectives are essential, if I ask why the criticism is there, and what might be missing in the work, then my feelings forget to be hurt and the work gets better.

I'm grateful for the help - even when it hurts.

Everyone can reach for something better, and every criticism, idea, and note - questioned instead of defended against - gets closer to the goal.

Keep chasing lights.

Chasing Lights is now available in hardback, paperback, and e-book versions from Amazon. An audio book version will be available later this year.

Saturday Morning, May 9th and 10:00 AM I will give a public reading and sign copies of Chasing Lights at Larksfield Place in Wichita, KS. If you are in town tomorrow, please drop by. More information about readings, signing events and videos are now posted at www.gunnarbranson.com.

Gunnar

chasinglights@gunnarbranson.com
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Gunnar Branson

Author of Chasing Lights

If you are chasing lights in your life and want to see where they lead. If you agree that none of us are important and yet all of us are important. If you care about our environment and our place in it - SUBSCRIBE - Chasing Lights may be a book you will want to read.

Read more from Gunnar Branson

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19 days ago • 1 min read

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21 days ago • 1 min read