by Paulo Coelho
Short riffs on work, life, and the patterns that shape both.
From a distance, every mountain looks impossible.
Too steep, too far, too much.
Most of the time, that size only exists in our head.
Fear stretches the slope and thickens the air.
But the first step always shrinks it.
Each move makes the climb more real, and less terrifying.
What feels impossible is often just unfamiliar.
At the supermarket I spotted a free checkout.
No line, no fuss. I walked up, the operator smiled, and I was out in minutes.
On the way out I passed a queue of people waiting for the self-serve.
They’d chosen more work, slower progress, because that’s what we’ve been trained to do.
Sometimes the easier path isn’t hidden.
We’ve just stopped looking for it.
The work sat unfinished while I tried to make it perfect.
But perfection is a trap. Startups fall into it. Writers, designers, makers too.
The work you’re holding back is likely good enough. Certainly better than your old work.
Waiting for perfect only delays the growth that comes from sharing.
The real shift happens once it’s out there.
A magpie dived at a scooter today.
Wings flared. Beak sharp.
The rider never flinched.
One committed to attack.
The other committed to moving forward.
We call it defence, instinct, survival.
But often it’s just noise colliding with presence.
Some things only have power if you give it to them.
Keep moving forward.
My car is at the mechanic, so I’ve been catching public transport.
It takes longer. It’s less direct. Normally that would frustrate me.
But the extra minutes are a gift. Time to read. To think. To just sit without a wheel in my hands.
The trip is slower, but I arrive lighter.
Not all delays are setbacks. Some are invitations to be present.
Around Melbourne, real estate signs often double as ads for local fetes. Good exposure for the agency.
But today I saw a sign out front of a house and my first thought wasn’t “for sale.” It was “another fete.”
When your brand shows up everywhere, it risks meaning nothing.
Awareness isn’t the same as clarity. If people forget what you stand for, the exposure is just noise.
Birds don’t wait for permission. They don’t check the forecast or the schedule.
They just sing. Every morning.
Not because the world is perfect, but because the day has begun.
Maybe that’s enough reason to start.
Some mornings, the bed feels heavier than it is. Not because you need more rest, but because starting feels harder than staying still.
Rest repairs you. But sometimes rest turns into hiding.
The trick is remembering that momentum comes after movement.
Energy follows action.
You don’t need to feel ready to begin.
You just need to get up.
Most people skim the surface. Few question what’s underneath.
The surface is fast. It looks neat. But it leaves the hard truths buried.
Critical thought isn’t glamorous. It means slowing down, digging deeper, refusing easy answers.
Ignorance is quick. Understanding takes patience.
We strive to improve. Small steps, small gains.
And quietly, the room shifts. The people near us lift too.
That’s the ripple of growth. You don’t rise alone.
Growth spreads faster than you think.
