*Typing*

You’re good at what you like.

People who are good at chess like to play chess, just like people who are good at tennis like to play tennis. People who are good at writing like to write, just like people who are good at designing like to design.

We look at these skills as God-given talents that some people are born with and some people aren’t. But, in actuality, what we are good at has little to do with natural ability and everything to do with what we enjoy doing.

When you like doing something, practice feels like play and challenges feel like games. Liking what you do is a competitive advantage.

Diversify your assets. Not your attention.

You think to be successful, good things must happen immediately for you. But, this is only the case if you’re chasing trends, hacks and fads. If you’re pursuing a vocation you love, you’re working on a much longer time horizon. Good things don’t have to come in a matter of months. You’ve got years, decades even. This ‘till-death-do-us-part’ approach to your work becomes your greatest asset. You’re able to grow intentionally. Outlast your competition. Make long-term investments over short-term bets. And, allow ample amount of time for Lady Luck to look your way.

Doing the work is the easy part. Getting the word out is the hard part.

Jackson Pollock discovered his iconic drip painting style not in an art studio but in a hardware shop on Long Island.

While he was perusing the store one day, he stumbled upon house paint. Unlike the oil paint he was used to, the house paint was much thinner and more lustrous. It flowed naturally, like water. Pollock was curious. So, he lugged several cans back to a barn he had converted into a studio and began experimenting.

He soon found the house paints could be poured, dripped, splattered and strewn directly on the canvas right out of the can. Pollock did away with the easel and blanketed the floor with several unprimed canvases. Madness ensued.

His painting style was much like his demeanor: angry, aggressive, in-your-face, self-destructive and, at times, outright violent. One of Pollock’s most loyal supporters was the art collector, Peggy Guggenheim. She hosted a solo exhibition for him once at her house where Pollock got drunk and took a whiz in her fireplace. Remarkably, she remained his most unwavering advocate. Her loyalty was rewarded. In 1950, Pollock created arguably his most legendary masterpiece for Guggenheim.

The enormous Mural is nearly 20 feet wide and 8 feet high. Today, it’s estimated to be worth $140 million.