#founder

by Winston Ash on Founder Journal

I Didn’t Forget

I know. I said, “…posting on here daily.” My bad. It’s a lot harder than I expected. 

Building a brand takes work. 

 I’m focused on video for the next 12 weeks. My skills are lacking. But time and effort will fix that. 

The overall goal: to tell great stories. 

Since I was young, I love stories. They enchant me. I’ve never been the best communicator. Ask my wife! 

That is going to change. I’m learning everything I can. Taking frameworks and building out themes. Hammering away and getting  better at sharing.

I can see the big picture – hint, everything matters.

So, bear with me. I’ll do better. 

 

 
by Winston Ash on #Life Lessons, Founder Journal

No

I will say no. Every single day.
It’s a promise. 

Saying those two letters allows me to say yes to my life. 

No, thanks. 

To fast food, reruns, and sitting on the couch spaced out watching TV. And to the many other things that take away from the good works I have been called to do.

And that’s what it feels like to me. A calling. That higher purpose to provide value. Speak my mind. And help others through my example of success. 

Hard days are normal.

Yet everyday is a good day. I woke up on this side of the grass. And even under a foot of snow; the grass is greener. 

So, you want my answer?

No, to what you are offering. And yes, to what I want. 

 
by Winston Ash on Entrepreneurship

Decisions in Context

Every decision I make includes all past choices.

I relish in the fact that I can make new choices daily.

Today, can be the exact opposite of yesterday and tomorrow, if I want.

So, when people are paralyzed by decisions I take the Aristotle approach with a twist of coaching.

What’s on Your Mind? And, What Else? What Do You Want? What’s it going to take to get there? What’s the Hard Part?

Going through this exercise may bring you closer to an answer.

The framework clears my thinking. It allows me to see all options. And then, I choose.
Either way, it’s going to be hard.

So, the cost of failure is small.

Why do I say that?

Think of it like this. I’m 31 years old. So I’ve lived 11,315 days give or take a few. In all that time I’ve made countless decisions that I don’t even remember now.

And say, conservatively I live another 40 years. That’s 14,600 more days. What happens over the next year or two will teach me a lot but it’s not the end.

My decisions in the short term determine the outcome over the long term. The point though is that each decision can either be reinforced by the next one or completely overridden. 

The cost of action therefore is small. The cost of inaction though is high. Each moment wasted cannot be retrieved. 

Don’t waste time. Make a decision. Live with it or change it. End of story.

 
by Winston Ash on Founder Journal

Traveling

I feel good when I travel. Allows me to focus. My mini-reboot.

Got to the hotel. Went running. 1st time this month and felt great.

And then ended up in my favorite place. A bookstore.

Sometimes, I look for an independent bookstore. And yet, I went with old faithful. Barnes and Noble.

Walking the rows of books I was awestruck. Think about this. The huge amount of knowledge in a bookstore. It is taken for granted. Not me, I respect it.

We live in great times. Our troubles are tiny compared to the generation that saved the world. The least we could do is get educated.

Read a book. That’s what I enjoy.

So, as I lay tonight in my hotel. I’ll read a new book. And think of times past. Strategize for the future. After, I finish documenting this day.

[clickToTweet tweet=”What you read when you don’t have to determines what you will be when you can’t help it -Oscar Wilde” quote=”What you read when you don’t have to determines what you will be when you can’t help it. – Oscar Wilde” theme=”style4″]

 
by Winston Ash on Founder Journal

Learning to Write

Writing is a skill.

Learned through repetition.

Like any skill, it dies without constant use.

So, I’ve committed.

Learning to write, daily.

Put my ideas on paper. Sort them. And present them to you.

I appreciate you.

Personally, I may not know you. But my writing has always been for you.

I like learning. And, writing well is a good skill to have.

Challenge accepted.

 
by Winston Ash on Founder Journal

For the weekend

Been hustlin’ all week. And it keeps going this weekend.

What I’m Reading –

Just picked up “Steal Like An Artist” by Austin Kleon. Love it so far. My favorite line, “Steal the thinking behind the style”.

What I’m Listening To –

Went back to some rap. “Believe Me” by Lil Wayne (Ft. Drake). Needed a change up from the classical electronics, country, and smooth R&B.

What I’m Watching –

Just got into Luther on Netflix. Trying not to spend too much time watching.

Podcast Addition –

Heavyweight by Jonathan Goldstein & Gimlet Media. The title does justice to the content. The first episode gave me feelings.

 

Thanks for reading!