Jesse Steele

Hang in there with people who need to do better. Explain it to them. Be nice as you be firm. Things don’t need to get ugly every single time we disagree. The feeling that conflict must always end uglily is an addiction to ugliness; it’s not a negotiation philosophy. Don’t let addiction to ugly endings direct your conflict management strategy.

As a general rule, if you know how to be calm in a way that calms others, if you can put away the dagger and convince others to put away theirs, then do just that as long as you can.  · · · →

In the early stages of your “thing”, customers and clients will flock to you, but half of them might have nothing to do with your vision or your identity. The core strategy is to find the “one thousand” core customer base—your supporters, your audience who loves what you do and wants to pay you to do it.

They’re your visionary compass.

As you grow from fifty to one thousand, you will produce more material in line with your core vision, and you will lose those initial fans who liked what you had early, but not your true vision.  · · · →

Holding the floor requires first taking the floor. Hope needs to get attention—to be heard. Few things draw attention like well-drawn art.

Have beauty and skill in whatever you think is important. If your message will help people, get them to read it by drawing them in with the artwork you use to present it.

Practicing art strokes with your paintbrush or calligraphy pen may pave the way to tell the world about your cure for cancer. Captivate your captive audience with artistic diligence. They may not care to hear your words, but people just can’t ignore good art.  · · · →

We say that courage wins victories. It does, at some level. Overcoming fear with a desire for something more important, determination and willpower, resolve—these things are quite formidable. But, they won’t win if they wait until the last minute.

Competence comes from diligence. Skill and know-how need practice and experience—they need time. One can’t sluff off, reject counsel, not learn, then expect to win at the last minute by sheer will. The one whose courage and resolve lead to daily practice and improved skill is the one who will win. That’s why well-earned competence triumphs over last-minute courage.  · · · →