Daybreak Notes #215 | What can be done in 1 year? Or 10 years? | Feb. 6, 2023
A little news and an invitation
Good evening, dear,
It’s been nearly a year since the last Daybreak Notes. I wonder: How are you? I hope you don’t mind this little missive of out of the blue. I’ve been mainly writing over at the Odyssey of the Body newsletter, which is about the exploration of wellness and illness, but today I have a note and news to share with you.
It is February, still early in a fresh new year, and I’ve got big dazzling ideas on my mind. I also feel like 2023 is whizzing by. I wonder what is really possible in these compact 330ish days.
Have you heard this saying?
We overestimate the change that will occur in the short term and underestimate the change that will occur in the long term.
Or, here’s another variation:
We overestimate what can be done in one year, and underestimate what can be done in ten.
(It’s unclear who first captured this notion, though Bill Gates or Arthur C. Clarke are sometimes credited.)
What do you think of this idea? Does it line up with what you’ve observed or experienced? Do you find it reassuring? Disappointing? Startling? Hopeful?
At first, I find it a tad discouraging, a hint that what I am dreaming of for 2023 is an overestimation, unrealistic, impossible.
But then, I think of the second, hopeful part: That whatever vague ideas we have of 2033 (and goodness, that seems like a sci-fi world away) are an underestimate.
What can be done in a decade
Illustrator Adam Ming wrote recently in his wonderful newsletter Adam’s Notes about his career path:
“In 2020, I decided I would commit a decade to try to make it as an illustrator.”
I love several things about this.
First, that it was a decision Adam made. Not a resolution or a hope. He may or may not ultimately make it to being a full-time children’s book illustrator (I think he will), but he is deciding to devote 10 years of his life to trying. He sees clearly that he has a choice about his life.
Second, that he shares his commitment publicly. His subscribers see evidence of his commitment regularly in his newsletters and updates. It’s exciting to see his progress in action.
Third, he specifies a DECADE. This is not a vague idea. It’s clear. It’s a long while. And a lot is possible in that stretch. If he gets to year four and he hits a wall, well, he’s only on year four! He doesn’t have to decide to stop or continue, because he’s already decided.
What would it mean to you to make such a decision — to decide to commit a decade to a dream?
What if, 10 years ago, you had committed a decade to a dream you had then?
I have a feeling that if we each had taken it seriously, shared our dream, kept returning to it, not let it slip away in the surprises of life, that this dream goal would have seeped into all sorts of corners of our lives.
We would have found new ways to incorporate the goal into daily life; we would have made new friends related to the goal; we would been able to see setbacks as just one of the downs and ups of the landscape, rather than a permanent red light.
A story
This brings me to my news to share with you today.
Fifteen years ago, the newspaper where I worked as an editor closed. (Yes, it was 2008.) What to do next? I decided to go to business school. I wanted to help figure out how to reinvent the failing business model of trustworthy, good-for-the-world journalism. (I’d still love to work on that!)
At business school, I discovered I loved classes in entrepreneurship. Totally, utterly fascinating!
I thought I might start my own business one day, or join a startup, or go work for the business side of newspapers. But that didn’t work right away. I tried one startup idea, and then we moved overseas, and it seemed impossible from there. Like a red light.
But those ideas followed me.
The idea of running my own company tailed me for years.
Finally, I decided.
If not now, when?
So this year, I finally filed paperwork to set up my own business. It will be a side project for now, in the cracks of evenings, between my full-time job and my lovely family. But like Adam, I have bigger dreams.
The first thing I’m creating is an online gathering to help get us through winter, this cold, dark season that can be so hard. I’m calling it Winter Camp.
And you are invited. ❤️
Winter Camp will be Feb. 25-March 25, four weeks where you can meet each other in a private online community (not Facebook) and get daily gentle emails (like Daybreak Notes) around six themes: light, connection, movement, creativity, nourishment, and outdoors.
There will also be virtual sessions around movement and creativity, like yoga and dance. It’s all as much or as little as you like to dip into. The hope is to help boost your spirit this winter.
Imagine meeting some of your fellow Daybreak Note readers there!
I’d love to see you there.
Adam’s commitment makes me want to reframe what I’m trying to do.
Instead of: I’m going to try my own startup and see how it goes.
How about: I’m deciding to commit a decade to trying to make it as an entrepreneur.
That sounds a bit terrifying and also … good.
How does the voice in your head think about your hopes and your dreams?
What is important enough for you to spend 10 years on?
Would it help to say it differently?
With love,
Brianne
p.s. If you are interested in Winter Camp, you can use the code DAYBREAKNOTES for $80 off. I would love to see you there!