I really enjoyed this article perhaps because I am slowing down myself and properly reading the articles I enjoy which are often yours but sometimes I don’t get round to reading them all. Doing less and slowing down really made me smile as it’s on my own agenda. Key messages is something I am going to ponder on thank you for sharing
I recently ran across another quote from Fred Rogers that I find helpful. "It's really easy to fall into the trap of believing that what we do is more important than what we are. Of course, it's the opposite that's true: What we are ultimately determines what we do!"
I’m struggling to pick just one because I deeply resonate with all of these in the current stage of my writing journey! I love the reminders to set my own pace, be clear on my mission, engage with even a handful of readers, and not worry about the trends popping up. Thank you, Dan! We can always count on Mister Rogers to inspire us and keep us focused.
Sheesh you’re smart. Love it when writers can do what they’re saying: this post *felt* like being in a convo w/ dear old Fred. As my twin 5yos would say, “fanks!” Needed it—
👌🏾 I resonate deeply with: do less and slow down because I realize the consequences of moving fast or wanting to always do do do. I get burned out or dissatisfied with my work when I’m constantly moving fast.. so slowing down definitely allows me to find what truly feels good to me & then sharing from that space of clarity.
Getting radically clear about your message is a good one, but it can take a long time. For years I was just writing and drawing about my life. Of course there were some themes: parenting, living in a country where I didn't grow up, plants... but only recently, I started making comics solely about climate action. I couldn't have forced that decision on myself, it was something that started to pull me in. However, it's nice to read this as an encouragement to keep focussing on that one subject I really care about. It helps me figure out what my message is, although again that is a process.
Of course some subscribers left once I went more 'niche'. That was to be expected and it's still painful. Again, thanks for confirming I'm on the right track.
To Leverage the Power of Full Attention resonates most with me. Feedback is most helpful when I know who is reading my work. I can learn something from every comment, but only when I understand such comments in the context of another person.
Can't even remember how I got to your Substack, and so glad I did for this new post! Hard to choose a fav here. The validation/reminder about slowness always helps--I'm a plodder, 51, Enneagram 5, I'm not doing anything fast at this point in my life. Even with a five-year-old daughter. But I'm going with #4 -- leverage the full power of attention -- I like the play here on what would be more typical: getting a reader to attend to something fully in the world, a la Mary Oliver and how she's become the de facto figurehead of the nature attention movement. I like this wrinkle -- the reciprocity of attention. That attending needs to be a back and forth, and not within just a simple (or crass, or trendy) model of exchange. It has to be more. And lots of us are trying to figure out where and how to do this "more" and find others who yearn for it too. Thank you!
I just 'discovered' your substack---Fred Rogers is my hero --of child media, of life in general. He always saw the humanity of each person watching, child or adult. This is a wonderful essay, you have distilled so much of what I appreciated into some tangible principles. Thank you. I am writing about listening and attention and you have reminded me that he is one of the great models of both. Thank you Dan.
Love that you say you read and reply to every comment. I just joined substack and realised that this is the first time in my life that I actually want to comment on articles, because people are actually being human in them, and not [as you point out no one should be] chasing trends and likes. And I was wondering since yesterday if someone would indeed read the comments I am making and reply back. Thankyou :)))
What a wonderful read about a man so centered in himself he could welcome everyone into that center without feeling compelled to change it. Thanks, Dan.
Regarding 3.: I've been resisting the podcast trend for years now. When everybody seemed to be hopping on the bandwagon of creating their own, I thought to myself, hell no! Talking is not my medium, text is. I don't even like being babbled at, so why create something I myself don't like?
All of the four ways resonates with me, but Do Less and Slow Down really hits home. Last year in my gardening, I consciously focused almost all of my energy one flowerbed that I can see from my office window. And it was glorious. So I've been reminding myself that if I can do that in my creative work, that can also be the result. Still haven't quite figured out which are the best areas to focus, but being aware of why that is important is a good first step.
I'm struggling with work on my third book project and the first point—Get Radically Clear About Your Message—hit home. Many of the things you said subsequently clarified it further, of course. We don't realize how much readers/listeners look for clarity in the things we do or say. I needed to hear it this morning again. Thank you!
As a former preschool teacher (who definitely wanted to be my own version of Mister Rogers), thank you for pointing out his simple and deepiful wisdom. I immediately made my list of "themes" that I think/write about and appreciate the countercultural elements you pointed out as I continue being a co-creator in my life.
Loved this one and as always, I'm grateful of the time you take to produce work that makes us reflect on who we are as creators. The one that resonates with me is, "being less reactive to trends". I'm finding that I no longer want to "keep up", but rather want to honour the artist I have become. I post blogs only after they are edited to my specifications, not on a schedule based on reader demands. I offer paintings that reflect my style, (pastoral landscapes that seem to have been painted 100 years ago!) rather than whatever is currently popular. While sales are great to have, I don't want to compromise my art just for the purpose of making money. After all, it was Fred Rogers that told me that I am special, just the way I am...
I really enjoyed this article perhaps because I am slowing down myself and properly reading the articles I enjoy which are often yours but sometimes I don’t get round to reading them all. Doing less and slowing down really made me smile as it’s on my own agenda. Key messages is something I am going to ponder on thank you for sharing
I recently ran across another quote from Fred Rogers that I find helpful. "It's really easy to fall into the trap of believing that what we do is more important than what we are. Of course, it's the opposite that's true: What we are ultimately determines what we do!"
I’m struggling to pick just one because I deeply resonate with all of these in the current stage of my writing journey! I love the reminders to set my own pace, be clear on my mission, engage with even a handful of readers, and not worry about the trends popping up. Thank you, Dan! We can always count on Mister Rogers to inspire us and keep us focused.
Sheesh you’re smart. Love it when writers can do what they’re saying: this post *felt* like being in a convo w/ dear old Fred. As my twin 5yos would say, “fanks!” Needed it—
👌🏾 I resonate deeply with: do less and slow down because I realize the consequences of moving fast or wanting to always do do do. I get burned out or dissatisfied with my work when I’m constantly moving fast.. so slowing down definitely allows me to find what truly feels good to me & then sharing from that space of clarity.
Getting radically clear about your message is a good one, but it can take a long time. For years I was just writing and drawing about my life. Of course there were some themes: parenting, living in a country where I didn't grow up, plants... but only recently, I started making comics solely about climate action. I couldn't have forced that decision on myself, it was something that started to pull me in. However, it's nice to read this as an encouragement to keep focussing on that one subject I really care about. It helps me figure out what my message is, although again that is a process.
Of course some subscribers left once I went more 'niche'. That was to be expected and it's still painful. Again, thanks for confirming I'm on the right track.
To Leverage the Power of Full Attention resonates most with me. Feedback is most helpful when I know who is reading my work. I can learn something from every comment, but only when I understand such comments in the context of another person.
Can't even remember how I got to your Substack, and so glad I did for this new post! Hard to choose a fav here. The validation/reminder about slowness always helps--I'm a plodder, 51, Enneagram 5, I'm not doing anything fast at this point in my life. Even with a five-year-old daughter. But I'm going with #4 -- leverage the full power of attention -- I like the play here on what would be more typical: getting a reader to attend to something fully in the world, a la Mary Oliver and how she's become the de facto figurehead of the nature attention movement. I like this wrinkle -- the reciprocity of attention. That attending needs to be a back and forth, and not within just a simple (or crass, or trendy) model of exchange. It has to be more. And lots of us are trying to figure out where and how to do this "more" and find others who yearn for it too. Thank you!
I just 'discovered' your substack---Fred Rogers is my hero --of child media, of life in general. He always saw the humanity of each person watching, child or adult. This is a wonderful essay, you have distilled so much of what I appreciated into some tangible principles. Thank you. I am writing about listening and attention and you have reminded me that he is one of the great models of both. Thank you Dan.
Love that you say you read and reply to every comment. I just joined substack and realised that this is the first time in my life that I actually want to comment on articles, because people are actually being human in them, and not [as you point out no one should be] chasing trends and likes. And I was wondering since yesterday if someone would indeed read the comments I am making and reply back. Thankyou :)))
What a wonderful read about a man so centered in himself he could welcome everyone into that center without feeling compelled to change it. Thanks, Dan.
Regarding 3.: I've been resisting the podcast trend for years now. When everybody seemed to be hopping on the bandwagon of creating their own, I thought to myself, hell no! Talking is not my medium, text is. I don't even like being babbled at, so why create something I myself don't like?
All of the four ways resonates with me, but Do Less and Slow Down really hits home. Last year in my gardening, I consciously focused almost all of my energy one flowerbed that I can see from my office window. And it was glorious. So I've been reminding myself that if I can do that in my creative work, that can also be the result. Still haven't quite figured out which are the best areas to focus, but being aware of why that is important is a good first step.
I'm struggling with work on my third book project and the first point—Get Radically Clear About Your Message—hit home. Many of the things you said subsequently clarified it further, of course. We don't realize how much readers/listeners look for clarity in the things we do or say. I needed to hear it this morning again. Thank you!
As a former preschool teacher (who definitely wanted to be my own version of Mister Rogers), thank you for pointing out his simple and deepiful wisdom. I immediately made my list of "themes" that I think/write about and appreciate the countercultural elements you pointed out as I continue being a co-creator in my life.
Hi Dan
Loved this one and as always, I'm grateful of the time you take to produce work that makes us reflect on who we are as creators. The one that resonates with me is, "being less reactive to trends". I'm finding that I no longer want to "keep up", but rather want to honour the artist I have become. I post blogs only after they are edited to my specifications, not on a schedule based on reader demands. I offer paintings that reflect my style, (pastoral landscapes that seem to have been painted 100 years ago!) rather than whatever is currently popular. While sales are great to have, I don't want to compromise my art just for the purpose of making money. After all, it was Fred Rogers that told me that I am special, just the way I am...
Thanks again Dan!