4. Create a Forcing Function to come up with something tangible to deliver (a prototype, an analysis, a presentation, a blog post, a talk, an event...). If you aren’t sure what that is, first pick a date and tell some people you’re doing “something”on it. There’s no better way to pull yourself forward in life or business than to publicly commit to doing something specific by a date, even before you know how you’re going to do it. 5. Do The Time, repeating steps 1­4 (especially the Forcing Function step) over and over and over and over again...because, chances are, its going to take a lot longer than you want or expect to turn any idea first into proven results, much less recognition, career and money. Keep updating your want to do/learn list to keep yourself interested. 6. Remember: the whole point here is that executives (at least the confident ones who aren’t threatened by others success) want you to take the initiative and make the most of your opportunity. It makes their jobs much easier! As long as you don’t go rogue. Go to them for guidance and mentorship, not handholding for every little step. Holding your hand at every step makes more work for them. Make it easy on them and others to understand why your idea or project is important, how it’ll work, and your plan. YOUR COMPANY ISN’T YOUR MOMMY OR DADDY The whole movement around making employees happy is well intentioned, but it’s also unintentionally distracting people from what actually creates revenue and enduring fulfillment. Happiness is a funny thing. Its transitory, often coming and going on a moment’s notice. And happiness today can be the enemy of happiness tomorrow, if you let it make you complacent. No one really understands it, regardless of what the studies say. A company is responsible to employees, not for employees. It can create the conditions for your fulfillment: a safe work environment, no assholes, fair pay, career opportunities and an honest culture. But it can’ t be responsible for making you happy – just like it can’t be responsible for keeping you entertained or interested. Your company isn’t here to make all your boo­boos go away. To praise you at every turn, or avoid calling you on your shit, because they don’t want to upset you. You’re just as responsible in making things interesting to yourself as the company is in helping you find the right fit. Boredom usually comes from a lack of learning. Don’t wait for the company to figure out what you do – what can you do to take charge of learning on the job, Hey, it’s your life, and only you can solve your problems ­ as much as you’d love someone/ something to come in and save you – a big deal, an investor, a producer, a spouse, the Universe, a big bet, or family. Including matching your life to your finances (or vice versa), or finding purpose and passion in your life and work. It’s all on you, guy/gal. You need a support system. You need to find people that believe in you. But depending on them for advice is different from being dependent on them for answers. People hope easy