Brain by Design

There's a curiosity gap we're trying to create, where someone says, "I get what you mean, but I don't fully understand it, and I'd like to know more." That's the sweet spot. It makes sense to have a second conversation. It's just a logical next step.

Be explicit: "You may or may not want to work with us. I don't know that. We'll just have a call. Let's have a conversation about what your needs are and where you're going."

Saying it out loud, "This isn't a high-pressure sales call, we're just having a conversation," lets people relax and actually share their real challenges.

One of the things that chips away at confidence is breaking promises with yourself.

Most of us have had the experience of setting out on a goal, some kind of behavior change we're trying to make. A new exercise routine, a new eating routine, a new meditation routine, a new writing routine, a new reading routine.

Some of this is starting things. Some of this is cutting things out. Cutting down on Netflix, cutting down on the Ben & Jerry's at night, cutting down on soda.

And then we've watched ourselves not do the thing we intended to do.

There's a difference between assuming that we have to be perfect to build self-trust and realizing that our self-trust is about resilience and learning.

When we inevitably fall off the wagon, when we don't do a thing that we intended to do, the way to thread that needle is to get confident in your ability to bounce back.