Kick Monday’s Ass: can I eat that?? (April 5, 2021)

It’s time to kick Monday’s ass…

I have an Easter mystery for you…

Yesterday I had a Hello Fresh box delivered to my doorstep. Yay, food!

Except… I didn’t order this. It wasn’t addressed to me. The address on the label was correct, but I’m mostly sure my name’s not Lyndsey. Mostly.

I had a few options… 1) enjoy the food and pretend it got “lost”, 2) knock on the neighbors’ doors in search of Lyndsey, 3) contact the Airbnb host, or 4) contact Hello Fresh.

Option one meant tasty feast – barring something that heavily features kale (barf). Tastes good, feels ick. Option two meant meeting ALL MY NEIGHBORS… on Easter Sunday. During a pandemic. Option three was easy, and option four was annoying – and the food would likely spoil by the time customer service got back to me with a solution.

I reached out to my host, who started making calls and seeing if any one of his tenants mistakenly sent it to the wrong address. No dice. Last I checked, he had it posted on Nextdoor to see if anyone in the neighborhood is missing their box o’ noms.

Sometimes life tosses a decision in your lap, and whether you wanted to (or were even prepared to) or not, you’re called to weigh the options and make a choice.

Last week I happened to be talking with my therapy group about how often depression and agonizing over choices wind up intertwined – sometimes even simple-seeming things like choosing what to eat at a restaurant can be paralyzing.

But making choices is a form of taking back your power. And deciding what to eat (or in this case, NOT eat) is not going to be the end of the world.

All you can do is make the best decision you can with the info you’ve got available, and trust that whatever comes next is figure-outable. You might even be pleasantly surprised by the outcome of your choice – but first you’ve got to actually MAKE it.

As for me, I know my default will always be some combination of what’s good for the soul (i.e. not taking some stranger’s food), and what’s easiest (as a habitual over-thinker, this is a near-constant practice).

Speaking of info overwhelm, here’s this week’s video:

Kick Monday’s Ass: Hidden Mental Trash

This video comes courtesy of my friend Kevin Rogers, who had me on a recent Chief Chat for a little exercise he calls “The Best Thing I Learned This Week”.

As you’re probably aware by now, my recent podcast launch has been a great big ol’ (and constant) learning experience. Here’s what happened when I recently got stuck writing an email for a podcast episode (and how I got myself unstuck).

Also, Kevin is opening up a new session of his Real Free Life (RFL) coaching program. This is the one I credit with a lot (if not all) of my success in becoming a freelance copywriter and getting myself out of the corporate cube for good.

Shameless plug: I am one of his co-coaches and if this is something you’ve been wondering about, I urge you to check it out and see if it’s right for you. (yes, that’s an affiliate link and I get a tiny slice if you join – but it doesn’t cost you extra)

You can always leave a comment and ask your questions. I’ll be straight up about whether I think you’re ready or not. If you’re not, I’ll give you some tips to get you ready.

Badass of the Week

Today I want to celebrate Danny Stewart and his partner Pete Mercurio. Just about 21 years ago, Danny was on a crowded New York subway platform when he noticed what he thought was a baby doll left behind.

It turns out it was an abandoned newborn baby that Danny and Pete would go on to adopt and raise. Click that link for an overview of the saga and where Kevin (the baby boy) is now, at 20 years old.

(If you know someone who should be featured as my Badass of the Week, leave a comment and tell me!)

New podcast episode!

Kim Krause Schwalm is one of my copywriting heroes, and true to the final line in this episode, talking to her gets me all kinds of fired up and feisty in the BEST possible way. In this episode, we’re talking about some big mistakes many freelancers make when landing their first clients, and how it robs you of your power, leading to frustration and burnout.

Look, if you’ve struggled to communicate with clients, it’s not your fault… there’s not exactly a “How to People: Entrepreneur Edition” manual out there to guide you through building successful client relationships. That’s why I love everything about this episode… Kim’s gonna take you by the hand and show you the difference between bending over backwards (and giving away all your power) and commanding respect as a trusted expert.

Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode:

• How I simultaneously nailed and flubbed my first big project (hint: I did a great job but didn’t sleep much while getting it done)
• The end of life as we know it: what I learned from letting my anxiety play out to the worst case scenario (nuclear winter, FYI)… and how it led to the creation of this podcast
• A simple script Kim uses that will help you slam the door down on uncomfortable advances and people who push your boundaries… solidifying their respect for you in the process
• What to say when the conversation turns to money: Kim’s strategy for confidently taking control without being forced into on-the-spot panic pricing
• Why it pays to NOT start working on a project right away, even if you’re wide open and available (this one’s counter-intuitive but powerful)

You don’t want to miss this one. Click here to listen (and subscribe) now!

On Repeat This Week…

 

Before I left Memphis last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with my friend Raven. We were talking about music and singers and harmonies, and ever since I’ve had Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac stuck in my head. Harmonies are hard – LIVE harmonies are even harder. Plus these lyrics… oh my heart.
_______________

Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
Take your silver spoon, dig your grave
Heartless challenge
Pick your path and I’ll pray

Wake up in the morning
See your sunrise, loves to go down
Lousy lovers pick their prey
But they never cry out loud, cry out

Well, did she make you cry
Make you break down
Shatter your illusions of love?
And is it over now, do you know how?
Pick up the pieces and go home