Folks,

My kids love those machines - coin droppers. 

This week, my desk has reminded me of a coin dropper; lots of stuff on the verge of getting done. Do I keep frantically feeding the machine with effort or do I sit back and wait? Will the return be worth the investment? 

Here are some questions to think about if, like me, you are wondering where to put your effort: 

• Am I building an asset, or will it lose value when I stop working on it?
• Is the thing I'm working on linear or compounding?
• If I repeat this cycle, will it lead to an advantage?

Of course, you could just get fixated on the prize, and keep pumping the machine until finally the penny drops. I mean, who doesn’t want a Pokemon card, a token card, and a pile of 2ps that have fallen off the ledge?

It’s been 25 years since DJ Shadow released the album Entroducing. No one could have predicted just how big an album it would become, but one thing is for sure, DJ Shadow created something that people still talk about today. 

And it started with woodshedding - if you think what you are working on has value, today is as good a day as any to go chop some wood. 

Here’s to a great week, 

Simon

P.S. When you are ready, you can book your slot to talk about coaching. 

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AI feedback this week: 

The controlling idea here is: "True commitment to meaningful work requires resilience in the face of challenges and a willingness to persist despite difficulties." This is explored through: 1. The central question: "What will it take to stop you?" 2. The personal anecdote about completing the 5K run, demonstrating persistence. 3. The reflection on the sobering side of considering quitting. 4. The observation about how meaningful work often requires going "deeper" and coming back with "better answers." This piece effectively develops its controlling idea using personal anecdote combined with reflection in the third. These controlling ideas all relate to themes of personal growth, creativity, and perseverance, but each approaches the subject from a different angle.