On letting yourself look cool

Hey, friends.

Well, it would appear that it's November. I blinked, recovered from tour jetlag (check out that sweet photo from Chicago, though), dove straight into releasing my first video for The Human Jukebox Project, and then finally broke down with a lousy winter cold. But as always: worked my way back to you, now haven't I?

Here are some musings and thoughts to get us back up to speed:

1. No throwing in the towel early. I'm determined to squeeze 2015 for all it's worth. Austin Kleon--one of my favorite writers and general inspirations--wrote this post a couple years ago about not reflecting back on the year until it's actually over. I'm feeling that vibe. 

2. I owe some of you an apology. Well, not an apology exactly. I watched this completely brilliant talk (30 min) about how not everybody has a passion. Or you have seventeen passions. And how Follow Your Passion is pretty stupid advice for these kinds of people.

I totally agree with the thesis behind this talk, and I hope I manage to get that message across to you guys: It's not always about some obvious Do What You Love career path. Sometimes--often, even--it's just about giving yourself permission to get interested in something. Before writing it off as far-fetched. Before shooting it down as a dumb idea. Just give yourself three hours to explore it.

Will be curious to hear what you think.

3. Don't discredit the facts. They're facts for a reason. One of the biggest things I've learned this year (so far! It isn't over yet!) is how to give someone factual information about myself and then shut up, without going on to immediately discredit what I've just said. Let me show you an example:

- I run a boutique English content agency called The Dots Creative.
- I work with clients like Nokia, Bayer, Rocket Internet, and Eithad Airways.
- My first The Human Jukebox Project video got over 50,000 views on Facebook and YouTube.
- I just got back from the American leg of my tour.

*breathes*
*stops talking*

Even writing it down, I want to backtrack. I want to tell you about how I only really did that one project for Nokia, or about how the algorithm for Facebook video views is pretty loose and the only stat that really matters is length of time watched and--

And nothing. Everything I said up there is actually accurate. Are those facts painted in the best possible light? Hell yes they are. But shouldn't you be doing that for yourself anyways?

Try and figure out which of your own accomplishments you're playing down. You're probably more impressive than you think.

Hugs,
Alexa
@alexashoen 

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PPS: Have a question you want me to answer, or a topic you think I haven't addressed? Click reply or send me an email at hello@alexashoen.com with your thoughts.

PPPS: Autumn in Berlin has been next-level delicious.