Are you an Audiobook Person?
I ask because…
On my near daily hikes through the wilderness of our farm, and the surrounding landholdings…
When I’m not taking in the sounds of nature, in what permaculturalists would describe as Zone 5 on the farm…
I almost always have an audiobook as my companion…
My current listen is Ego is the Enemy, by Ryan Holiday…
And it’s an excellent book, IMHO. If you haven’t read it, the ChatGPT summary reads:
Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday explores how ego can hinder personal and professional growth by creating obstacles to learning, humility, and meaningful progress. The book emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, humility, and resilience in overcoming the destructive influence of ego. Through historical examples and practical advice, Holiday advocates for putting aside ego to achieve true success and fulfillment.
One of the concepts Holiday introduces early in the book is the role of “Anteambulo” (a term that was admittedly new to me), which roughly translates into “one who clears the path.”
It’s a role that originated in Ancient Rome, wherein one or more patrons would hire an artist / writer / thinker (their “anteambulo”) to help “clear the path” for them in life – both literally and figuratively.
The meaning has somewhat expanded and evolved since.
But I’ve found myself embracing this role of “anteambulo” (pronounced: an-tee AM-byu-loh) – especially these last few weeks…
Like for example, with the concept of “The Great Sea Change“, that I’ve been writing a lot about recently…
“Why the Digital Marketing Playbook of the Last Decade is Now Obsolete, and Where We Need to Focus Our Attention these Next 18 Months…”
The Great Sea Change was an idea that originally started as a single issue of this newsletter (Issue #007) and an accompanying Facebook Post (which unexpectedly generated hundreds of comments…)
Most recently it’s led to me hosting back-to-back live Town Halls on Zoom on the topic (Which were oversubscribed, and filled to 100% capacity in both sessions…)
It’s a string I’ve been pulling – without expectation or agenda, beyond the pursuit of truth and in the spirit of service and sharing what I’m seeing, observing, and as a result, what I now believe:
That we are in the middle of what is likely the greatest shift in digital marketing and commerce of the last 15 years.
And based on the feedback I’m receiving:
At this moment in time, for a lot of people right now…
This has really struck a cord.
I think Amanda Howell said it well, in the chat on this week’s Town Hall when she wrote:
“These big shifts always seem to realign us back to the truth. And within that truth is a big opportunity.”
BTW – If you missed “The Great Sea Change” Town Hall recap I hosted this week, you can catch the Zoom Recording for the next 48 hours by using the link below:
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Recording: The Great Sea Change
Passcode: 1j^w!e4a
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NOTE: That link will expire on Sunday night at 11:59pm CT in case you are interested in watching it while it’s available.
Want to join my next virtual workshop?
Get notified about my upcoming free workshops, town halls, and special events before I announce them anywhere else.
Now…
Another learning from Ego is the Enemy that for me was SO good – that it stopped me on my hike the other day, and inspired me to take out my phone and take note was this:
Frank Shamrock, the great UFC fighter, has a system he uses for training new fighters. He calls it the “plus, minus, equal” system:
“Each fighter, to become great, needs to have someone better that they can learn from, someone lesser they can teach, and someone equal that they can challenge themselves against…”
And it really made me think.
Everyone. All of us. We should all have a…
* Mentor (To learn from)
* Mastermind (Peer group to challenge ourselves)
* Community (To share our wisdom and learnings)
And if you’re missing any one of these ingredients…
It creates a notable void not just in your business – but in your life.
As creators – we all need each of these elements in order to do our best and highest work…
The work we’re called to do…
The work we were put on this planet to create.
To paraphrase, Shamrock:
In order to become great, we need to have someone better that we can learn from, someone lesser that we teach, and someone equal that we can challenge ourselves against…”
So if you too are compelled to create work worth sharing, and build a live a life worth living, my challenge to you today is this:
Who is YOUR plus, who is YOUR minus, and who is YOUR equal?
Until next week,
Ryan :-)
P.S. I wrote this past week that I’ve been living in the tension around creating short form content that’s fresh, ephemeral, and in the moment…
Versus longer-form content – Deep Work – which is where I really want to be spending more of my time (and more importantly, doing the type of creative work I think can make a greater, positive impact…)
For example:
I have at least four different books / audiobooks I’m considering writing/recording right now, as well as ideas for two different podcasts – along with more regular town hall style sessions like the one from this past week…
But I can’t do it all. And I need to make some Hard Choices.
It’s important to me that before pouring my heart and soul (and perhaps some blood, sweat, and tears) into whatever comes next, that it’s in a format that’s consumed…
So I’m curious:
In terms of long-form content format – what would you love to see from me (and why would you choose that format)?
Please shoot me a note to this email to let me know. It would mean the world to me, and ultimately help me best serve you. Thank you :-)
