Minute With Mallon: Just Start!

Apr 29

Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught:

This week marks the third anniversary of Minute with Mallon.

When I started, my goal was simple: write one each week that would help people grow, both professionally and personally.

I haven’t missed a week. This is #156.

When I first started, I knew a little about writing newsletters, but it took time to get better. I made plenty of mistakes along the way.

That got me thinking about something that happened about a month ago.

During my quarterly goals, I realized my fun and recreation was sitting at about a 7 out of 10. Normally, it’s closer to a 9 or 10. So I set a goal:

“This quarter, I am intentionally planning my weekends and scheduling fun activities like farmers markets, festivals, pickleball, hiking, and golf so I bring my fun and recreation back to a 10.”

I can honestly say the last four or five weekends have been outstanding.

Then one Friday, I had an idea.

I decided I was going to learn how to make pickles. Yes… pickles.

I jumped on ChatGPT and asked how they make kosher dill pickles at Katz’s Deli in New York City. I’ve been to the top delis up there, and Katz’s has the best pickles I’ve ever had.

It gave me the full recipe.

Saturday morning, I went out, bought everything I needed, spread it all across our kitchen, and got to work.

About an hour later, I had completely destroyed the kitchen.

Sandy was not impressed. 🤣

But while I was cleaning it up, I realized something. The next time I make pickles, it will be 70% easier.

Because I made mistakes.

Because I learned the process.

Because I now know what to do and what not to do.

And it hit me…

Isn’t that how it works with anything new?

You try it. You make mistakes. You learn. You get better. And it gets easier.

So let me ask you this:

What is something you’ve been wanting to do, but you’ve been holding back because you might fail?

What are you avoiding that you actually want to step into?

Here’s what I’d encourage you to do. Take one step today. Not ten. Just one.

For me, it was deciding to make pickles, and then simply asking for the recipe.

Three years ago, it was deciding to start this newsletter and share what I’m learning with others.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.

You just need to start… and let the growth come after.

Something to Ponder:

"Everything is difficult until you know how to do it."

Anonymous

Something I Learned:

I just finished for the second time a great little book by Steven Pressfield called "Do the Work!"

As I was reading it, I was highlighting things that meant a lot to me. Here are some of the thoughts that I think really correspond with the story above, about the newsletter and the pickles:

Don't think. Act. We can always revise and revisit once we've acted, but we can accomplish nothing until we act.
When we conquer our fears, we discover a boundless, bottomless, inexhaustible well of passion.
Don't prepare. Begin.
You "have" Resistance the same way you "have" a heartbeat. (It will always be there…)
Our greatest fear is fear of success.
When we experience panic, it means that we're about to cross a threshold. We're poised on the doorstep of a higher plane.
Slay that dragon once, and he will never have power over you again.