A creator’s manifesto.

We only get one life. There are no do overs.

If we don’t decide what’s important to us, someone else will. And when we’ve already established that we only live once, why would we want to live by someone else’s priorities?

Or at least, searching for it is. You don’t find passion, you build it.

Speak to anyone at the top of their game. Talent may have unlocked the door but hard work is what opened it wide.

There are 27 bones in the hand. There are over 30 muscles. Millions of nerve endings controlled by an immensely complex brain. Our hands were made to do so much more than tap out emails or swipe through social media.

Birds sing beautifully, as do whales, but nothing else on Earth can combine melody with rhythm to make music. Elephants and apes can be taught to paint shapes. As incredible as this is, it isn’t art.

Our ancestors didn’t start the process of evolution for us to sit. They didn’t migrate across frozen wastelands wearing nothing more than animal skins so that we could stay in one place.

The start of anything is exciting. But through commitment and sacrifice it’s replaced with something deeper, more meaningful and longer lasting; pride.

Not people or planet.

Sustained effort over a long period of time will always generate better results than intense effort over a short period.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

The doorstep mile is a Scandinavian idea. It refers to the difficulty in taking the first step of any adventure. We need a goal, a big scary, exciting vision of the future but we also need a realistic idea of how we’re going to get started. Set the bar low, take action, set another low bar, rinse and repeat.

In any project, it’s the last 10% that takes 90% of the time. The details don’t come easy but they’re what elevates the ordinary into the extraordinary.

It takes a long time to become an expert. As Tim Ferriss says “we overestimate what we can achieve in a day and underestimate what we can achieve in a year.” Good things come to those who consistently work hard. Give your dream the time it deserves.

We are not alone. Although it can often feel that way. Find your tribe, connect with people. Use social media for good.

There is no perfect. Take action, build on the results by taking more action and keep progressing towards your ideal.

Rarely is it possible to compare apples with apples when we compare the beginning of our journey with the middle of someone else’s.

It’s all around us.

Purpose is what gets you out of bed at 4am on a cold, dark, winter’s morning. To get that shot, to make the most of a quiet road, to watch the sunrise, to finish that build.

No success story is complete without failure. Learn from it, move on.

If it was, the aim would be to get to the end as quickly as possible. Fall in love with the process before the result.