False memories are so interesting - maybe they are all false. They are certainly highly subjective and creative. So are future plans. Maybe that's why we tend not to focus on the present - because we feel less in control a lot of the time. Less able to choose or be creative. Thanks for sharing your reflections, Mack.
That’s such an interesting take, Lisa. The past and future give us room to revise. The present maybe, not so much. No wonder it’s the hardest place to stay.
Hi Lisa, I think it’s a mindset in terms of control. If we think about our actions today and how it will impact the next 50 years, ok maybe we don’t have much control. But if we only focus on today, and our actions during this day, then we have total control.
I wonder why we are so messed up with time? Those who live in the past - those who don't believe in the past - those who live today as if tomorrow is irrelevant - those who wish today was tomorrow - and oddly when we get in a creative moment - time is forgotten
Nicley said, David. Time really is this strange, stretchy concept.
We’re either racing against it, clinging to it, or trying to escape it altogether. I happen to think creativity is the only place where we finally make peace with it.
It's great to meet you here Mack. Being friends with Neela is certainly a choice you have made in your past that will be celebrated and not regretted! A great article! It is funny how we harbor such memories from our past (some accurately, others in need of a fine tune) and how they can be triggered by something innocent like a song playing on the radio - One such memory for me (which is completely bizarre) is when I was 7 (I believe!)... and the song Baker Street was playing on the radio (so triggers the memory each time it's played) and I was in our garden in a village outside of Aberdeen, Scotland - helping my mother hang washing out, and here's the kicker....with snow falling. I've checked with her a couple of times over the years whether that was accurate because why on Earth would we hang washing out when it's snowing.... sure enough, it was and there was logic there somewhere! lol
Like I said in Neela's great article about comparing ourselves to others - I've learned in life to only compete with myself, be a better person today and tomorrow than I was yesterday. Otherwise in our minds we are destined to be in 2nd place!
Enjoy your upcoming weekend and thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Ha ha yes.. I must confess I am called Andrew A LOT due to my surname! lol Thanks mate, I'm all through mine and halfway through Monday on my side of the world! I hope you're having a good one!
Hi Alexander. Isn’t it funny how we can remember the most obscure things from when we were 3, but can’t remember what we had for breakfast yesterday? Lol. Great story, thanks for sharing!
It’s interesting how we bottle in memories right from when we were children, and some states of our brains determine who we get to become today and even our emotional states are also depicted by them.
The only childhood memories I possess are mostly ones of pain and I think that’s the drive. The only drive I get to have in this current life.
It’s so lovely meeting you Mack. And I’m so happy your friends and my sister Neela. She’s the most beautiful soul anyone could everfind here.
Thank you, Ral! It’s wonderful to meet you as well. I often think about some of the behaviors I have as an adult, and wonder “Is this shaped by something I went through as a child? That I don’t remember?” Our memories play tricks on us, my memories from childhood are disjointed from reality due to time I guess. I appreciate your thoughtful reply, have a great day!
This is so good. I recently had a conversation with a colleague about sales and prospecting. In my 30 years in sales I know that you have to prospect and call people and follow-up and all that jazz but it gives me anxiety. I dislike prospecting. DISLIKE IT.
So, I thought I should set aside time to prospect. Then something happened.....I worried the day after prospecting that I didn't do a good enough job and would say, well tomorrow I'll get it right.
It was never enough and I have stopped purposely prospecting. Now, when I see a potential client pop up I reach out. No planning, no worrying about the right email, nothing more than connecting.
It has relieved me of so much stress because I'm living in that moment and not hoping for the day of prospecting to end or for tomorrow to be the follow-up day!
Jason that’s a great example of providing value for the client vs selling to them when you know they dont want or need to be sold to. It makes it just as uncomfortable for you as the client. Well done on your new approach!
The anxiety around prospecting is very real!Spontaneous, genuine outreach feels better than scheduled dread. You're working with your natural rhythms instead of against them. Glad you appreciated Mack's article.
have been under. This is the collaboration of the year! My two favourite people on Substack among many. But Mack will always be the first sense of community I had here and through him I met wonderful people here, but the best of them all is Neeelaaaaa🥰🥰. Ok now that the admiration and love is out of my system, let’s get to this warm piece which felt like that familiar aroma of freshly baked bread. I LOVED knowing about your childhood Mack. You
Have always been the facts and figures guy with a heart of course but this storytelling broaching a very prevalent attitude of inadequacy that we all bear was very refreshing. Little Mack would be so proud of you and all that you do and the community you have created and maintained here ☺️👏🏽👏🏽.
Mack’s always been the connective tissue here and I’m just lucky to be one of the weird and wonderful humans that wandered into his community orbit. Thank you for the love Urmila.
Great to meet you, Mark! I love the cross-collaboration that both you and Neela are doing. I was one who got stuck in the past quite a bit and would kick myself for the past decisions I made and would constantly run through what I 'coulda, shoulda' did. Only caused me to stress more than I needed to. These days, it doesn't happen so much. I've learned to give myself a bit more grace as I move through the choices I make and accept them as they are.
Great article, Mark! Thank you, Neela for bringing him to us :)
Ah, sis, thank you for such a kind and thoughtful note. And just a tiny correction that it's Mack with a 'ck', not Mark. You know how much I love love names. I can relate to all that you shared. Here’s to more grace and less backward time travel. Have a good weekend, and thank you so much for restacking :)
I love that Bryant story. Dude never shied away, and he missed most last-second shots, but he said you only remember the ones I put in. His point is to go for it. Instead of thinking "what if it doesn't", think "what if it does."
Hey Parves, love that! Jordan was the same way, he bragged about how many last second shots he missed. Both of them understood the importance of embracing failure and not letting it define you. Failing yesterday doesn’t mean you are doomed to fail from now on.
My mom didn't quote the Bible much, but I recall: Sufficient unto the day is the evil there of. Funny how even the Bible changes. Your work resonates. The moment is the portal. 🤍🖖🏽
Your mom was onto something. Some days, just getting through without making it worse is a win. I’d love to take credit, but this one’s all Mack. Just grateful to host his story.
How great to read this today (yes, today), and both to learn more about your journey, Mack, and about the opportunity to be alive in thus moment. I'm glad for your collaboration here!
False memories are so interesting - maybe they are all false. They are certainly highly subjective and creative. So are future plans. Maybe that's why we tend not to focus on the present - because we feel less in control a lot of the time. Less able to choose or be creative. Thanks for sharing your reflections, Mack.
That’s such an interesting take, Lisa. The past and future give us room to revise. The present maybe, not so much. No wonder it’s the hardest place to stay.
Thank you for taking the time, Lisa.
The present can be magical, but come to think of it, usually when we surrender control. I'm still thinking about this...
Hi Lisa, I think it’s a mindset in terms of control. If we think about our actions today and how it will impact the next 50 years, ok maybe we don’t have much control. But if we only focus on today, and our actions during this day, then we have total control.
True, Mack. We might have to work or be responsible but we can choose how to act within those constraints
I wonder why we are so messed up with time? Those who live in the past - those who don't believe in the past - those who live today as if tomorrow is irrelevant - those who wish today was tomorrow - and oddly when we get in a creative moment - time is forgotten
Hope your today is awesome Mack
Nicley said, David. Time really is this strange, stretchy concept.
We’re either racing against it, clinging to it, or trying to escape it altogether. I happen to think creativity is the only place where we finally make peace with it.
Happy weekend, friend :)
Thank you for taking the time.
Thank you sir, I’ve had better, but tomorrow is another day :)
It's great to meet you here Mack. Being friends with Neela is certainly a choice you have made in your past that will be celebrated and not regretted! A great article! It is funny how we harbor such memories from our past (some accurately, others in need of a fine tune) and how they can be triggered by something innocent like a song playing on the radio - One such memory for me (which is completely bizarre) is when I was 7 (I believe!)... and the song Baker Street was playing on the radio (so triggers the memory each time it's played) and I was in our garden in a village outside of Aberdeen, Scotland - helping my mother hang washing out, and here's the kicker....with snow falling. I've checked with her a couple of times over the years whether that was accurate because why on Earth would we hang washing out when it's snowing.... sure enough, it was and there was logic there somewhere! lol
Like I said in Neela's great article about comparing ourselves to others - I've learned in life to only compete with myself, be a better person today and tomorrow than I was yesterday. Otherwise in our minds we are destined to be in 2nd place!
Enjoy your upcoming weekend and thanks for the trip down memory lane!
What an amazing walk down memory lane, bro, complete with Baker Street and snowy Scottish laundry logic! 😂
Just a friendly correction, it's Mack who wrote the piece, not Mark (though I bet Mark wouldn’t mind the credit either hehehehehe).
You are always in first place in my book.
Thank you for always showing up here.
Much appreciated.
See ya on IG and happy weekend.
Ha ha thank you...
Oh whoops... it appears I need glasses!! Sorry Mack!!
Aww bless you my dear friend!
You're always welcome Sis! I hope you're enjoying your weekend and have an awesome week ahead! :)
No problem at all, Alexander, the perils of having an unusual name :). Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Ha ha yes.. I must confess I am called Andrew A LOT due to my surname! lol Thanks mate, I'm all through mine and halfway through Monday on my side of the world! I hope you're having a good one!
You're good bro ...
The weekend was wild in a good way 😀
Always so short
Thank you so much.
Have the best week ahead
1 more week for you 🙌🥳
That sounds.. um...... wild! lol
Too short for comfort... thank you and to you! Yes I'll be hoping for my vacay to run in slow motion when it arrives! lol
I think I’m more excited than YOU for YOUR vacay lol
Ha ha ha....... NOT possible! lol (I don't think.... lol )......Just how excited are you for my vacay? lol
Hi Alexander. Isn’t it funny how we can remember the most obscure things from when we were 3, but can’t remember what we had for breakfast yesterday? Lol. Great story, thanks for sharing!
Hey Mack... ha ha I know right? Absolutely bizarre! Thank you very much, you're very welcome!
It’s interesting how we bottle in memories right from when we were children, and some states of our brains determine who we get to become today and even our emotional states are also depicted by them.
The only childhood memories I possess are mostly ones of pain and I think that’s the drive. The only drive I get to have in this current life.
It’s so lovely meeting you Mack. And I’m so happy your friends and my sister Neela. She’s the most beautiful soul anyone could everfind here.
It's true sis.
Our childhood memories impact us in complicated ways, often more than we realize. + I love you too. Thank you for taking the time to show up here :)
Always 🌝
Thank you, Ral! It’s wonderful to meet you as well. I often think about some of the behaviors I have as an adult, and wonder “Is this shaped by something I went through as a child? That I don’t remember?” Our memories play tricks on us, my memories from childhood are disjointed from reality due to time I guess. I appreciate your thoughtful reply, have a great day!
This is so good. I recently had a conversation with a colleague about sales and prospecting. In my 30 years in sales I know that you have to prospect and call people and follow-up and all that jazz but it gives me anxiety. I dislike prospecting. DISLIKE IT.
So, I thought I should set aside time to prospect. Then something happened.....I worried the day after prospecting that I didn't do a good enough job and would say, well tomorrow I'll get it right.
It was never enough and I have stopped purposely prospecting. Now, when I see a potential client pop up I reach out. No planning, no worrying about the right email, nothing more than connecting.
It has relieved me of so much stress because I'm living in that moment and not hoping for the day of prospecting to end or for tomorrow to be the follow-up day!
Jason that’s a great example of providing value for the client vs selling to them when you know they dont want or need to be sold to. It makes it just as uncomfortable for you as the client. Well done on your new approach!
The anxiety around prospecting is very real!Spontaneous, genuine outreach feels better than scheduled dread. You're working with your natural rhythms instead of against them. Glad you appreciated Mack's article.
Thank you for reading and commenting Jason 🤗
Oh my days!! Look at the rock I
have been under. This is the collaboration of the year! My two favourite people on Substack among many. But Mack will always be the first sense of community I had here and through him I met wonderful people here, but the best of them all is Neeelaaaaa🥰🥰. Ok now that the admiration and love is out of my system, let’s get to this warm piece which felt like that familiar aroma of freshly baked bread. I LOVED knowing about your childhood Mack. You
Have always been the facts and figures guy with a heart of course but this storytelling broaching a very prevalent attitude of inadequacy that we all bear was very refreshing. Little Mack would be so proud of you and all that you do and the community you have created and maintained here ☺️👏🏽👏🏽.
Mack’s always been the connective tissue here and I’m just lucky to be one of the weird and wonderful humans that wandered into his community orbit. Thank you for the love Urmila.
It means the world. 🥰
Awwww…thank you, Urmila! That’s very kind of you to say ☺️
Great story, Mack! It inspired me to write about my first memory!
https://dinahbeingme.substack.com/p/just-me-and-dad-and-a-giant-watermelon
Thank you for stopping by Dinah :)
And you have a photo of it!
RIGHT?!!!! I couldn’t believe it either!
It's easy to fall into that comparison trap. Thank you for sharing.
Hey Chason - thank you for taking time from your busy travels to support :)
Thank you Chason!
Great to meet you, Mark! I love the cross-collaboration that both you and Neela are doing. I was one who got stuck in the past quite a bit and would kick myself for the past decisions I made and would constantly run through what I 'coulda, shoulda' did. Only caused me to stress more than I needed to. These days, it doesn't happen so much. I've learned to give myself a bit more grace as I move through the choices I make and accept them as they are.
Great article, Mark! Thank you, Neela for bringing him to us :)
Ah, sis, thank you for such a kind and thoughtful note. And just a tiny correction that it's Mack with a 'ck', not Mark. You know how much I love love names. I can relate to all that you shared. Here’s to more grace and less backward time travel. Have a good weekend, and thank you so much for restacking :)
Sigh.
Read. Breathe. Read. Breathe.
I’m bound to the Now.
Your piece distracted me from writing my own story. :)
But, I clearly see the good in it.
Thank you for helping me focus on the moment.
I promise Mack didn’t mean to derail your creativity hahahaha
I am so happy you are here.
Happy weekend, Chris.
Mack has that habit, you know. :) love to read from you. Happy weekend! 🤿
He does. Have a good week ahead.
Thank you, Chris! Pause, reflect, focus :)
This is so true and comes at such a good time for me. I have been trying to live in the moment more and this is a valuable reminder
Hey Kim
So happy it helped.
Thank you for the support here.
Enjoy your evening....
Thank you Kim!
I love that Bryant story. Dude never shied away, and he missed most last-second shots, but he said you only remember the ones I put in. His point is to go for it. Instead of thinking "what if it doesn't", think "what if it does."
‘Shoot your shot, even if you airball.’ Because you never regret the attempt, just the hesitation. Thank you so much Parves.........
Hey Parves, love that! Jordan was the same way, he bragged about how many last second shots he missed. Both of them understood the importance of embracing failure and not letting it define you. Failing yesterday doesn’t mean you are doomed to fail from now on.
My mom didn't quote the Bible much, but I recall: Sufficient unto the day is the evil there of. Funny how even the Bible changes. Your work resonates. The moment is the portal. 🤍🖖🏽
Hey Jeanne
Your mom was onto something. Some days, just getting through without making it worse is a win. I’d love to take credit, but this one’s all Mack. Just grateful to host his story.
Thank you for always taking the time.
Happy Thursday!
🫶🏽
Thank you, Jeanne! Your mom knew when to pick her spots, it sounds like! We have enough trouble without looking for more :)
How great to read this today (yes, today), and both to learn more about your journey, Mack, and about the opportunity to be alive in thus moment. I'm glad for your collaboration here!
Thanks bro.
It’s good to be reminded that this moment, complicated as it is, still matters.
Always grateful for the support here.
Enjoy your day.
Thank you, Hans! It’s really an honor to have the opportunity to write for Neela. Her community (which you are a big part of) is the best!