Persistence

Wildly 41

I turn 41 at 1:41PM EST on May 19th, 2023.

As I reflect on a few recent birthday wishes, my 33rd birthday wish was granted, there’s less anticipation and a compelling sense of retirement from 39 remains on tap, and this year’s birthday definitely feels less poetic than Eclipsing 40, but I’m still here. Let’s celebrate.

Extra Shot

What’s one word to describe your work?

One word to sum up my work this year, is wild. I remain thankful for the privilege to perceptually learn through the art of connection, content creation, and exploration on the frontiers of technology. Here are a few ways we’ve continued to collaborate together!

Along with the wild in my work, I’m just as grateful for the health and happiness of family and friends. There are countless milestones that have brewed joy in different ways. While most will remain cherished without sharing, here are a few memorable moments that have art to accompany the adventure. Stay wild my friends!

©1982-2023

By Ben McDougal, ago

Landing

The energy around anything new is easy to like. Along the way, while momentum creates ease, attention can slip.

Extra Shot

In the midst of a transition? Stay golden!

Arriving at your destination took work, but the task is not complete until we stick the landing. To see this in nature, watch how birds are quick to take off and fly around with ease. As they land, a final moment of attention is required. Another example is how climbers most often get injured on the way down a mountain. Fatigue and reduced focus make an impact, but beyond physical factors, accomplishments invite complacency. Whether it’s a tiny task or epic exit, a strong finish may take more than everything leading to it.

When it’s time to finish strong, make no assumptions. Stay detail oriented to complete the sequence. Once the landing is executed, let the experience inspire renewed vitality as we shift gears and remain open to next.

Extra Shot

Every moment is the end of something.

By Ben McDougal, ago

Installing

Installation complete. BEN BOT is now online!

Forget pranks, April 1st has been no joke since YDNTB was released on April 1st, 2021. In 2022, we celebrated one year of YDNTB by uniting this tribe with Roasted Reflections on Discord and the Roasted Reflections NFT Collection.

For this year’s art project, we voyaged into the depths of artificial intelligence. The nerd knobs have been on full blast as we developed valuable influence layers supported by AI language models. The creative collaboration, early training, and immediate response from NFT owners has been fascinating! Think ChatGPT, but when you talk about anything I write about, you’ll feel BENergy pouring into a friendly, fun, and insightful conversation.

BEN BOT infuses all 125+ weekly writings in Roasted Reflections, key takeaways from YDNTB, and other strategic embeddings into a conversational chatbot!

To celebrate, a new Roasted Robots category of 25 all-new NFTs are being minted! As you can see, our friends on the rim of the YDNTB mug have been robotized and here are the first five that were just minted today!

Five more robotic NFTs will be released into the Roasted Reflections NFT Collection every Wednesday in April. Active NFT ownership includes a variety of utilities and 24/7 access to BEN BOT. While NFT ownership is the best way to access BEN BOT, not everyone wants an NFT. Your web3 exploration is rewarded with lower prices and more value with NFTs, but to make BEN BOT accessible to all, a monthly membership (paid by credit card) is also available.

Wow. I’ll stop talking. It’s time to give BEN BOT a try! Our new friend is always thirsty to chat and we can’t wait to hear what you think – BENBOT.ai

Extra Shot

Wanna build your own chatbot? Why?

By Ben McDougal, ago

Pebbles

If you’ve ever attended a live sporting event, you’ve heard Sandstorm jam through the crowd. This 1999 track was spun by the Finnish DJ and record producer, Darude.

When this EDM icon visited PLATFORM in Des Moines, I said “yes” to adventure and was rewarded with a memorable moment. I was capturing some loud video from the front and all the sudden, Darude called for my GoPro! Footage with a DJ on stage is crazy enough, but having a world-renowned artist grab your camera to shoot their own video is something a bit more epic. Of course, this meant I had to mix up a fresh edit.

Extra Shot

Darude 🪩 Des Moines on YouTube

Before the set even started, everyone knew Sandstorm would be played. Darude delivered his classic, but the build up was perfect. The tiny pebbles he stacked into his set kept the crowd teeming with anticipation. Each time he dropped hints from Sandstorm, the crowd went wild and when his hammer finally dropped, the place absolutely shook. We’ve all enjoyed concerts where sequenced sound brings everything together. These impeccable build ups remind us how to stay juicy.

Extra Shot

My latest innovation drops April 1st, 2023. Here’s your sneak peek!

When delivering your best becomes a habit, it’s easier to remain consistent. As persistence deepens loyalty, connection leads to more connection and trust leads to more trust. Within such abundance, a lasting appreciation remains on tap for what you’ve achieved in the past, while also brewing fresh intrigue for whatever is next. This makes your work feel like play and as we dance to the endless beat, individual notes align to define your music. Over time, artists can blend these pebbles into an extraordinary wall that’s unmistakably you.

By Ben McDougal, ago

Not to Lose

I’ve been around soccer the majority of my life.

Whether it was traveling with the college team my dad coached as a kid, playing club soccer at an early age, focusing on the sport in high school, playing all through college, or being the product of my first entrepreneurial venture, soccer was a part of my identity for over 20 years. This team sport helped me push to be my best, but the sense of belonging is what made it special.

As I’ve enjoyed the World Cup in Qatar, I’m reminded how easy it can be to get ahead in a match, before slipping into a dangerous trap. Instead of staying sharp by maintaining the offensive pressure that earned an early lead, it’s tempting to start playing not to lose.

In soccer, this often means a team sinks back into an overly defensive formation. Less variety invites frantic desperation and the added pressure often leads to an equalizing goal being scored by the opposing squad. Even if the need for another goal shifts your team back into a more balanced attack, the momentum has shifted.

When applied to business, getting ahead and then playing not to lose can be seen all over the map. For instance, snagging a few early adopters, then assuming customer discovery is over. Hiring new talent, then hoping everyone can work together without initiative. Launching a new product with existing customers, then not supporting them through the chasm of change. Securing product-market fit, then avoiding innovation due to a misguided sense of risk. Finding generous mentors, then forgetting to nurture relationships. Those are just a few, but many leaders are lulled into this trap that’s defined by a sense of scarcity.

Tactics to stay ahead differ based on situational factors, but when in doubt, trust that uncertainty is certain. Be strategic to avoid recklessness, then stay on the offensive by leaning into the pain. As you find fresh ways to serve customers, continue celebrating milestones and stay ahead with initiative to keep building beyond the fear of losing.

By Ben McDougal, ago