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MCC #78 – 20 Oct 2023
Hey! Super short one this week. The moment has arrived! I’ve prescheduled this letter as we are going into hospital for new Baby Head to be delivered 🤞
Welcome to My Creative Calling!
You wanna know what caught my eye this week?
An insight that another creator, Louie Bacaj, shared.
It got me thinking.
Busy can be bad.
Well, actually, I already knew that.
I’ve written about it over and over in one form or another.
I’m not talking about being productive in the genuine sense, but rather in the busy for busy’s sake sense.
You know all that busy work that magically fills up your day?
Assuming it’s not the meaningful work you are meant to be doing, it’s probably costing you.
Costing you how?
Opportunity.
If you are forever on the hamster wheel, it’s hard to discern between the right opportunities you should capitalise on and those you should ignore.
I’m not talking about jumping on random shiny objects.
Something will come into your world that is a game-changing opportunity.
But you need the space to be able to see that.
Want an example?
One with whopping huge numbers?
Here’s the little story Louie shared in his newsletter:
But how important is having some slack to jump on an opportunity?
Matt Damon recently explained that James Cameron asked him to be the lead actor in Avatar and even offered him 10% of the profits to do it.
Matt told him he was too busy.
In this video, while laughing, presumably to mask the pain, Matt explains:
“You will never meet another actor that’s missed out on more money than me.”
Matt’s explanation is probably true because the first Avatar made $2.92 billion, and the second $2.32 billion so far.
Matt might have lost some money in the short term by being less busy.
But at $524 million for Matt (back of the napkin 10% from the two movies), Avatar would’ve put him in the top 10 list of the richest actors in the world.
Right up there with Tom Cruise, who is worth $570 million.
Then with all that money from those two movies he might’ve had to work less, who knows.
Louie Bacaj
Interesting to ponder, hey?
Reflection
Are you so busy that opportunities could be slipping right by your nose?
How can you start to create some slack in your days?
Remember the cliché saying:
You can just work “in” your business. You need time to work “on” your business.
That applies to life.
A quote to ponder
So, all of this to say, be less busy.
Have more freedom, more options.
Long-term prioritise work that maximises enjoyment, curiosity, and energy.
I firmly believe all of this eventually leads to better outcomes, it has for me.
Louie Bacaj
What happened this week
Poetry & Purpose
Courageous
Your ability to show up
is the ultimate display
of courage.
… Continue reading on Substack.
Final thoughts
Today’s writing background music playlist was Moon Safari by Air on Spotify.
I hope you enjoyed this letter, please share it with a friend.
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It would be great to have you on board!
Cheers!
Matt K. Head