I wanted to be Ferris Bueller.
My whole life when I watched a movie or TV show I liked, I immediately became the characters I liked in my own life.
The content I consumed did so much more than entertain and inspire me – it literally changed me and influenced who I became.
Seeing other people do things made me believe I could do them, made me want to do them, and made me willing to try.
That’s powerful.
And it extended way past childhood.
To this day, the things I consume have a direct influence on the things I do.
I’m reading Cameron Crowe’s excellent memoir right now and learning about the incredible conversations he had with legendary musicians as a young writer for Rolling Stone.
Meanwhile, I just did my first two-week long “Creative Correspondence” – an ongoing interview/conversation with a successful creator conducted via email (which I’ll publish soon).
Is it a coincidence that I came up with that idea while reading Crowe’s book?
Of course not.
When you recognize the power of the content you consume, you become more deliberate in your consumption choices.
Don’t settle for what the algorithm shows you.
Choose your own adventure.
Because when you do, you’re choosing your future too.
Four quick tips for making better consumption choices:
1. Follow your curiosity.
You don’t need any reason to consume something beyond being curious about it.
2. Bail quickly.
Don’t waste time trying to “finish” something that doesn’t resonate.
The worst thing to do is try to finish a book you don’t enjoy just because you started it – repurpose that time into something new.
3. Go down the rabbit hole.
When something clicks, explore its influences and descendants.
The creations that came before and after it will likely resonate as well.
4. Find a curator you love.
You don’t have to find all the great stuff yourself – just find one person you trust to surface things for you.
I’m proud to be that person for 30,000 others right now.
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