5 more things I learned from Austin Kleon's "Keep Going"

Dear you,

I shared 5 lessons from this book yesterday, if you missed it, read it here. I decided to add a few more here.

6. Ignore the numbers: When you share on social media, don’t be too focused on likes, retweets, etc. There are some things that cannot be measured. Someone might feel inspired by something you share, online metrics can’t tell. Put your work out there and it will speak for you. Of course, I believe in the power of data and using numbers to tell stories, but there are some things that data cannot capture in a way that you can see. I talk more about it in detail here. One person's life might change drastically by encountering you or your work, create for that person.

7. The ordinary + extra attention = extraordinary: Give extra attention to things/skills you have. You have everything you need. Look within, what do you have? What can you do with it? How can you transform it? Focus on what you have. It's so easy to focus on what you do not have but magic happens when you focus on what you have and add a bit of flair to it, to make it extraordinary.

8. Pay attention to what you pay attention to: Your attention is valuable, that’s why everybody is fighting for it (Instagram, Facebook, Google, Apple, TV, Brands, everybody). So protect it. Choose what you focus on and surround your mind with the things that ass value to you. Your attention is an asset. Protect it.

9. Find time to rest: SLEEP! Every other animal is smart enough to sleep. Why not you? You’re smart, sleep. It tidies your brain. It takes away toxins. It refreshes you. I am still trying to learn this one. I did so much better than last year with my sleep patterns but just watching my pets, they don't joke with their sleep. Animals in general do not joke with their sleep. Plants even respect times and seasons and go to sleep at some point. If animals and plants, and most living things are smart enough to go to sleep, we humans should be too. Our body needs it. You can only aspire to be successful if your body and mind are sound. Sleep helps you do that. So, take your sleep seriously. Schedule your rest. Build relaxation into your schedule. Be deliberate about it.

10. Leave things, people ans environment better than you find them. Make things better.

With love,

Blessing Abeng.