How to fight 'failure by default'

In my last post, I was frank about how I felt about what happens if one plays it safe when decisive action or meaningful progress is needed. I stand by it. Entropy is always approaching, and it’s something I personally have to fight every day intentionally.

But I didn’t mean for it to come across as exceptionally negative. I’m level-headed about it, for sure. Some might say I’m a "realist." However, something didn’t quite sit right with the post. Like it was an unresolved chord or scale.

Last night I saw something on Threads that nailed the sentiment better than I could in my prior post, so I wanted to reference it. Joan Westenberg coined the feeling as F**k You Optimism, and I can’t think of a better way to describe it.

We can persevere, but it won’t be easy. We can win, but it will require a fight — or at least a mindset that our ideas and goals are worth fighting for.

Ultimately, who will fight for one’s ideas against the entropy and "default failure" if not oneself?

So, as promised, here's how to Fight "Failure By Default"

1. First, give a damn about what you're working on. Even when "giving a damn" is excruciating. Find the deeper calling or "Why" about what you're working on. Write it down somewhere. Keep it close. Use it as the fuel in your proverbial gas tank to keep going when times are tough. You're going to need it.

2. Find a network of people who give a matching volume of damns about similar things. It doesn't have to be the exact same thing. It honestly doesn't even have to be remotely similar, as long as they're equally as passionate and opinionated as you. Passionate people inspire other passionate people and help each other through the tough times.

3. Put in the work. Stop talking about what you're going to do, and start taking action. It will be hard to get started, but it can also be exciting. As Ms. Frizzle said: "Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy."

4. Play the long game. What you're doing is monumental enough that a heads-down month isn't going to cut it. It's going to take years - anything worth doing will take time. This means you'll need to recharge; your work will ebb and flow with intensity; you'll need to recover after setbacks in order to keep going. Remember that "why" from Step #1, as you'll need to reflect on it a bit.

5. Adapt and evolve over time. Grow your vision and iterate based on the changing realities around you. Some macro trends may reveal themselves in a helpful way; others may surface in a way that takes the winds out of your sails to crush a recent achievement. Be resilient.

Go forth. Change the world. But you can't change the world until you build the habit of keeping the "Failure By Default" effect at bay every day.