Taylor Emails 12/24

Email 1 Subject Line: Want to see some magic wizardry? I can read your mind. In the event that I fail, keep reading because what I have to say will still shock you. Within the last 3-4 days you have told yourself in some way, shape, or form… “I need to get back on track” Let’s just be honest, this whole “holiday season” is really where overindulgence is at an all-time high for everyone, even those who have the best self-control. It's almost like the holiday season comes with its own set of rules, where the usual discipline and routines take a back seat to celebration and indulgence. This isn't necessarily a bad thing – it's a time for joy, relaxation, and making memories. However, it's also why so many of us feel the need to 'get back on track' once the festivities wind down. This feeling of needing to recalibrate isn't just about food or exercise; it extends to all areas of our lives. Whether it's our sleeping patterns, work routines, or personal goals, the “holiday season” can disrupt our regular rhythms, and I’ll be the first to go on record to say, you need this. (Okay, maybe I’m not the first, but it sounded cool when I wrote it.) The feeling of “disruption” that you’re experiencing is a natural part of the ebb and flow of life. Look, nobody loves focus and deep work more than me… But I also understand the importance of stepping away from work so I can reconnect with what truly matters – family, friends, and our own well-being. This 'disruption' that we often label as a setback is actually a crucial part of maintaining a GOOD life. It's a reminder that we are not machines, programmed to be in a constant state of productivity. We are human beings, and part of being human is recognizing the need for rest, celebration, and change in pace. The truth is, these periods of relaxation and indulgence are actually some of the best fuel for our productivity and creativity in the long run. I think most people have this belief that productivity is a linear process, where more hours and more effort directly translate to more output and success… But that's not always the case. In reality, productivity is more cyclical, with peaks and valleys that reflect our natural human rhythms. The key to sustained success isn't relentless work; it's finding the right balance between hard work and adequate rest. So take some time today to rest, you deserve it. Or maybe you don’t. I think the answer can only come from an honest conversation with yourself… Regardless, I hope you had a great Christmas, I’ll talk to you soon. * Taylor Email 2 Subject Line: Stop Coasting Are you coasting right now? In my last email I talked about how sometimes we need a period of rest to help us reset and recharge… But it’s already 2 days after Christmas. You should be back in the full swing of things unless you decided to take a full week-long vacation, which if that happens to be the case, more power to you. But for most people, they’re not in Hawaii, they’re on their couch, waiting for New Years to be done with so they can get back to it. I know this period between Christmas and New Years can feel like a strange limbo. That’s why it's easy to fall into a sort of 'coasting' mode, where you're not fully on vacation, yet not fully back into the rhythm of work and productivity. It's a time where many people find themselves waiting, as if the new year will magically bring a renewed sense of purpose and energy. Spoiler Alert: It won’t But here's something to consider… Why wait? Why let an arbitrary date dictate when you start moving towards your goals again? The new year is just a date on the calendar…it doesn't hold any special power to kickstart your success or motivation. That power lies within you, and it's accessible any day, any time – not just on January 1st. Instead of seeing this period as a 'dead zone' where you're just biding time, view it as a unique opportunity. You have a few days where the world slows down a bit. Use this time to gain a head start. Reflect on your achievements and the lessons learned over the past year. What worked well for you? What didn’t? How can you apply these insights to make the coming year even better? Remember, progress isn’t made by leaps and bounds; it’s the small, consistent steps that lead to big results. Start taking those steps now. Even if it's just a little bit of planning or some light work towards your goals, it's progress. And consistent sustainable progress is what separates the coasters from the doers. * Taylor Email 3 Subject Line: Are you jelly? The holidays are almost up… We’ve got one more and then we got a nice stretch without any “days of celebration” for a while. Let me ask you this, do you feel behind or ahead? If you answered, “ahead” that’s amazing, I’m proud of you. However, this email is not intended for you, this is for my friends that answered, “behind”. I’ve found that there are really only two reasons why someone can feel behind: 1. You set a timeline for yourself that you haven’t been able to execute on 2. You’re comparing yourself to other people 10% of the time, the answer is A…which if that’s the case, I wouldn’t necessarily say that’s a bad thing, it’s just part of entrepreneurship. All the time I’ll say “we’re going to accomplish X by Y” and then it ends up taking way longer than expected. This doesn’t make me less of an entrepreneur, it makes me human. It’s called “human error” for a reason, and I think what matters is how you respond to these delays and setbacks. Instead of seeing them as failures, it’s much more productive (and more conducive to good mental health) to view them as opportunities for learning and growth. But that’s another email for another time… I want to talk about B, because I know for a fact 90% of the time the real reason why someone feels “behind” is because they’re comparing themselves to someone around them, especially when everyone is posting big ole’ Christmas trees with the gifts they got their loved ones. I think a lot of “gurus” will tell you that this is wrong and that you shouldn’t do that… I’d like to offer a different perspective that hopefully is a bit easier to adapt than the simple “just don’t do it” approach. (Which by the way, good luck with not doing that, if you figured out how to stop comparing yourself to others you’ve solved one of the biggest problems on earth, so congrats.) When you see someone doing better than you, what do you feel? Jealousy? Frustration? Maybe even a bit of resentment? These are natural human emotions, but it's important to recognize them for what they are: signals. When we feel frustrated or resentful seeing others' success, it's usually a sign that we're not fully content with where we are in our own journey. This doesn't necessarily mean we're failing; it could simply mean that we're in a phase of growth and haven't yet reached our destination. I think when we instead transform what is a negative emotion, into a positive one, we start an upward spiral for ourselves instead of a downward one. Here’s the truth: There’s an infinite number of people who are better than you, more successful than you, and way further ahead than you. Even harsher truth: There’s another level that you haven’t started playing at yet. Instead of looking at someone else’s success and comparing it to your own, how about we look at that as a source of inspiration? What if we looked at the jealousy we feel as a calling signal for us to step to the plate and play a bigger game? What if the frustration was really just a sign that you know you’re not operating at your full potential? What if the frustration was actually a powerful indicator that it's time to push your boundaries and expand your capabilities? See what I mean? Don’t beat yourself up, you got this, keep going. * Taylor