Larry Chiang’s 5th book, WTDTYASBS, launched at a Harvard Law School keynote, so he knows about grand openings (He even attends and promotes the ones he isn’t invited to also). As CEO of Duck9, he leads an army to help college student consumers get a FICO over 770. Post H.L.S. keynote, Harvard Business wrote: “What They Don’t Teach You at Stanford Business School” (his latest Harbus post: “Setting an intention for SXSWi”.
Often, we find ourselves lost in a tsunami of endeavors, what I like to call the tidal wave of momentum, or #EUTWMPPM (Engineering Up a Tidal Wave of Momentum, Perpetual Promotion Machine) as coined by my mentor Larry Chiang. On the surface, it appears to be a roaring force of raw, powerful action that lacks a precise destination. In truth, it’s the overwhelming energy it creates that sweeps everything along in its path. But how do we leverage this seemingly chaotic force to drive us towards our goals?
Everyone Gets Lost
Take a moment to imagine this scenario: You’re selling smoothies for a local shop, wondering, “Does this really help me get to the next level?” The task might seem mundane or insignificant in the grand scheme of your dreams. But here lies the heart of the matter – it’s about the momentum, not the end result. The tidal wave of momentum is what propels you forward, inching you closer to your desired destination.
Focusing on Momentum, Not the Result
When viewed tactically, it’s easy to get caught up in the results and lose sight of the tidal wave that’s bringing you there. If you find yourself asking, “What is my Duck9 that I’m selling through my tidal wave of momentum?” then you’re certainly not alone. This is a common trap – getting lost in the tidal wave. The main focus should be on generating the wave, not necessarily on the exact end result. It’s about cultivating energy, not solely fixating on a specific outcome.
I’ve experienced this myself. I was selling Duck9, a product that helps people improve their credit scores, and I forgot that I get to keep all $600 per sale. Caught up in the process, I overlooked the reward. This illustrates how easily we can forget the real purpose of our efforts in the whirlpool of momentum.
Harnessing the Tidal Wave
While it can be easy to get swept away, the key is learning to ride the wave. We should aim to guide the momentum, use it to our advantage, and direct it towards our goals. The strength of the wave lies in its ability to pull everything along, to build momentum that fuels future actions, regardless of the exact nature of these actions.
To help master this concept and learn how to engineer your tidal wave of momentum for a specific project, I’d recommend checking out bit.ly/chocken614 for an insightful guide on “How to Get the Benefit of Working at Duck9 without Being Hired for Duck9”.
Ultimately, the lesson is not to fear the tidal wave of momentum but rather to embrace it. The momentum you build, whether it’s selling smoothies or promoting Duck9, contributes to this wave, enabling you to ride it towards your destination. Remember, the focus should be on creating and maintaining momentum. The results, albeit important, will follow in due course. So, strap on your surfboard and prepare to ride the #EUTWMPPM!
Duck9 is a credit score prep program that is like a Kaplan or Princeton Review test preparation service. We don't teach beating the SAT, but we do get you to a higher credit FICO score using secret methods that have gotten us on TV, Congress and newspaper articles. Say hi or check out some of our free resources before you pay for a thing. You can also text the CEO:
