The last phase of the Jump Curve is called Don’t Look Back. It’s that part that comes after you decide to go for your gut, when you dig in and think big and close your eyes and hope your jump works. It's called "Don't Look Back" because today, more than ever, we’re increasingly tempted to look back at what we didn’t do, or around at what we could be doing. The buzzes and pop-ups and notifications and text bubbles show us what Joe had for breakfast, what happened on Susan’s vacation, what Tom’s new bakery looks like. Sometimes, looking back can be good. A lot of times, it’s a painful exercise. Especially when you decide to take a jump - because there will always be a more “successful” version of what you’re trying to do.
Christina Hobbes and Lauren Billings form the pen name Christina Lauren. Together, the two have written 20 books with a total of 2.5 million copies in print. Together, they have fourteen New York Times bestsellers out in the world. They are the epitome of success in the literature world - the rare duo who can earn a living by simply writing. This week, Christina and Lauren came on the podcast. They didn’t talk about their dozens of best sellers and millions of books. Instead, they talked about life in the working world as a junior high guidance counselor and neuroscience researcher, writing tucked away as a side gig and passion project - for years. They didn't look for permission, or approval, to write."You gotta run your own race when you jump" they told me. In deciding to write on their terms, their race was theirs and theirs alone. And when they first tried to become published authors? The first rejection came in 9 minutes later. If they stopped on the 10th minute, there would be no Christina Lauren. Instead, they kept writing, and kept running - their own race. Mike |
When To JumpWhat If the Job You Have Isn't the Life You Want? Archives
July 2019
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