Bootstrap

Bootstrap: boot·strap/ˈbo͞otˌstrap/

To get (oneself or something) into or out of a situation using existing resources.

Cowboys are synonymous with getting the job done. Their no-fuss no-frills methodology is as backward as it is forward-thinking. Don’t be afraid to rustle what needs chasing, lasso what needs to be reigned in and pull up those boots high and tight. Straps need to be secure, ain’t nobody got time for a soggy grip. 

I decided to finally tackle the row of business books written by CEOs, hustlepreneurs, and thought leaders, (pro tip if you want to get on doing some quality reading and self-learning, delete all those #productivityapps that consume wads of time.). The underlying theme was, “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” Or as Pirkei Avos resonates so well,

And be a tail unto lions, and not a head unto foxes: It is better to attach oneself to a group of people who are above you, in wisdom and goodness and to be accounted the least among them, then to be the head of a group of people who are below you in wisdom or goodness, and to be the first among them. A person should not measure himself against a lower group of people and thereby make himself feel better about his standing. Rather he should strive to join a higher group, one where he can grow more. We could apply this saying to many situations. For example an athlete will grow more when he plays with other players better than he, than if he were to play with those of lesser talent.

This applies to all- if you are friends with 100 millionaires, how long do you think it will take to amount?

These days especially, it’s harder to motivate oneself. Couple lazier summer vibes on top of quarantine and standstill lockdown. It’s so hard to stay motivated at a time when it feels like the world is our oyster, and at the same time, you feel stuck in a shell. It’s not the actual quarantine, but the quarantine mindset.
My favorite line ever is Emma Watson’s rebuttal to “what is your greatest fear?” “unfulfilled potential.”

It’s okay to feel the feels. This is something we’re all learning to accept. Feel sluggish, feel unproductive, seemingly accomplish nothing. But don’t let this productivity hump be your downward spiral downfall. This past week I was feeling 100% unmotivated. Emails I was sending out were going unanswered, rejection letters to potential recruiters were coming by the landslide, and the scale was gaining momentum in the wrong direction. Make sure you have cowboy friends and family who look you square in the eye and say, I’m permitting you to feel your feels, but then I’m reeling you in, so you better secure your grip and pull up those straps high and tight.

“Cuz ain’t nobody got time for a soggy grip. “