Acknowledge emotions. Overcome the resistance and SHIP!

This second drawing from the interview to Juan Pablo is about the Lizard brain section in “Linchpin”. Juan used a metaphor that was really inspiring and a call to not forget the emotions that we feel along our career journeys so that we can tell and teach others how to live through them, acknowledge them and make them conscious so that we can keep moving instead of staying frustrated. Juan said that sometimes it feels like “we forget about the anguish that we felt when we were in the ocean before reaching the island”.

And that anguish and frustration often comes from the Lizard brain. It is always there. As Seth Godin said, “the lizard brain is the one that tells you that you’re not qualified, that your degree isn't advanced enough, that you didn’t go to a good enough school. The Lizard brain cares about obedience, fitting in and postponing the day you have to stand up in front of the world and put yourself at risk. It does not care a bit about art, leadership or connection.

One simple yet important advice from Juan for us to beat the resistance is to ask ourselves “What are we good at?” “What do we know to do well?” He suggested that “This type of introspection exercise is what help people later on when they are in the midst of a personal storm”.

To finish this story and before posting my drawing, I want to share a piece of “Linchpin” from “The Resistance” chapter:

Your work is to create art that changes things, to expose your insight and humanity in such a way that you are truly indispensable. Your work is to do the work, not to do the job. Your job is about following instructions, the work is about making a difference. Your work is to ship. Ship things that make change.

My personal final remark would be: DON’T LET THE LIZARD BRAING GET IN THE WAY OF YOU SHIPPING!