I’m starting to get sailing.

It’s funny to write that at the end of December when our boat is up on poppets at the boatyard and will be for months. But it’s true, I’m starting to figure it out.

I used to think that the boat went in the direction that the wind is blowing. But that’s what would happen in a boat with no rudder (and no keel).

The hardest work we have to do — the work that matters the most, the work that challenges us the most — is the work that nobody else cares about.

It’s not on a deadline, unless we create one for ourselves. If we never do it, no one will ever notice.

That’s why it’s really hard to fit this type of work into our workday, even if we work for ourselves.

I’ve observed that many high-achieving creatives, leaders, and business owners have a dirty little secret: They struggle with planning.

They rely on a clear vision, external accountability, or both in order to successfully navigate professional life.

And sometimes they pull all-nighters or all-weekenders in order to make up for the missing plan.

From middle schoolers to experienced executives, I have seen the same challenge: We put ourselves last.

We show up where we’re supposed to show up, which is almost always at someone else’s behest, whether it’s math class or a client meeting.

Then, we tend to do the stuff that’s in front of us. For some of us, it’s eating snacks and playing video games; for others, it’s answering emails and phone calls.