Stephen Wilson Jr. is a scientist working for Mars, Inc. (Yes, the Candy company).
One day his boss took him to the office and said something that changed his life:
“Stephen, there’s going to be a breakthrough.”
Normally the reason for the celebration, this means a warning from his master.
In a previous life, Stephen was a guitarist in a small indie rock band. He also spent his evenings writing poems.
His boss knows Stephen is a good songwriter, and where he really is.
He told Stephen about the gold chains:
“You’re in line for promotion and they give you the opportunity to go to the next level.
And you are kind of at a crossroads.
Because if you take (promotion), like I took 30 years ago, your dreams of becoming a songwriter, they will disappear. This will consume every one of you.
Right now you can write songs and do this job, but 6 months from now I’m not sure you can. So I just want to warn you.”
This small voice in Stephen, which had been there for years, began to grow.
After 6 weeks, with that inner voice now in a deafening tone, he posted a 2 week notice, which was confusing. everyone (except his master and his wife).
He started drinking and waiting tables to make ends meet while developing his career, trying to get publishing deals in country music… ;“bro country” songs;:
He was told, “write it down.” TRUTH songs. We can’t do anything with that. “…
After many years, after successfully writing songs for other singers, he finally got the courage and experience to start recording his own songs.
And last year, he finally released his first album. Father’s sonwhich Rolling Stone called one of the best albums of 2023.
Recently, Stephen released another ;a jaw-dropping cover of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,”; which I have listened to about 10,000 times in the last month.
(Honestly, please watch this video. It will inspire you!).
Golden Handcuffs vs Uncomfortable Expansion
From 2008-2010, I also lived a double life.
I have my day job at Sixthman, helping to promote and produce floating music festivals. But I also spend my nights and weekends working on a small website helping young people get fit.
My boss April and my mentor Andy (who owns the business) both know where my heart is; they encouraged me to pursue the frustration of trying to incorporate Nerd Fitness into my career.
16 years later, we’re still going strong!
In Oliver Burkeman’s ;Four Thousand Weeks;encourages us to ask specific questions when making decisions in life:
“Where in your life or work are you currently looking for comfort, when what is called is a little discomfort?”
Asking ourselves “what will make me happy” will most likely lead us to a short-term, stable, safe choice.
Instead, we should be thinking about which way will make us PROGRESS as a person, or which version will make us WIN every week. Maybe, deep inside, we know the answer to the question, if we have the courage to ask it.
Burkeman’s advice:
“Choose an unpleasant promotion over a pleasant discount whenever you can.”
Yes, sometimes looking for “unpleasant tunes” doesn’t lead to a songwriting deal, or a successful business. I choose the path that is not comfortable and sometimes things don’t work out. But that’s part of the process, and at least it eliminates the possibility of unpleasant regrets!
Which brings me to today’s mission.
Let’s be comfortable with discomfort
Let’s kick out the uncomfortable expansion in 2025.
- When we encourage discipline, we force the muscles to experience discomfort by lifting weights and weights – they respond by growing and adapting.
- If we use food as a coping mechanism When we are sad or angry or bored, dealing with our relationship with food can be uncomfortable.
- When we have an uncomfortable conversation, finally we can deepen our relationship or stand on the things that are important to us.
In 2025, let’s ask:
Where in your life do you live in peace and safety, when the depth of the earth You know the “uncomfortable initiative” method is exactly what you need to grow and help you get what you really want?
You may not need to quit your job right away, or take on a new passion or change…
But it might be worth asking yourself this uncomfortable question.
Life is hard, and change is even harder.
It’s not good.
Awful.
Insensitivity.
But if you’re willing to say NO to comfort, it might be just what you need.
-Steve
PS: ;We are doing a free 5 day workshop; for people looking to build new habits that actually stop in 2025, it starts in a few days!
