As schools let out for summer, it’s report card time. Many students hope for straight “A”s. But the “A”s that matter most are not found on report cards. They’re found within words like learning, understanding, empathy, and compassion.

Sometimes we’re exhausted at the end of a project. A workshop ends, and we’re drained.

But sometimes, the feeling is different. Sometimes our accomplishments infuse us with excited anticipation, and the feeling of, “What’s next? Let’s go!”

Whenever you can engage with experiences like that — the kind that empower and embolden — embrace those opportunities and leap.

Once you add water to Portland cement powder, you’ve got to move. You have to mix. You have to be ready to pour and apply. There’s limited time before the cement hardens. The clock is ticking.

And so you focus, and you get the job done. You can’t delay. You have to focus.

* * *

Are there things that you’ve been putting off, that just need a little push? They just need that first step that forces you to carry out the rest of the task? Like water poured into the cement mix?

Maybe it’s picking up the phone and dialing. Maybe it’s driving to the gym. Maybe it’s asking for professional help.

Whatever it is — that tipping point that will put important things into motion — figure it out, and take that first step. Push yourself into action. You can do it.

Yesterday morning, there was a long line of cars behind me at a red light.

Across the intersection, I saw someone who needed to turn left ... across my path.

Having seen people stuck there before, I waited for the light to turn green, and I flashed my lights.

I waved visibly. “You can go. Go ahead and turn. C’mon now. You’ll be stuck there.”

Nothing.

The driver wasn’t paying attention. She was lost in her own world of being stuck trying to turn.

What could I do? I had to move on.

* * *

She’s not alone of course. Sometimes we don’t see help, and sometimes we don’t even look for it.

Even now. It’s quite possible that someone is trying to help you in some way, and you’re just not seeing it.

Who surrounds you? What are those relatives, friends, colleagues, and associates like?

More importantly, who stays top-of-mind?

Do you spend more time thinking about a bitter neighbor, or about an encouraging friend?

A gossiping coworker, or a caring mentor?

A much as you can, surround yourself — physically and mentally — with the people that are cheering for you. The people who want you to succeed. They’re the ones that matter most.

And the detractors? They’ll show up from time to time. You don’t need to help their cause by letting them occupy your mind when they’re not around.

When nobody likes your idea …

Either your idea is not as good as you think it is, or the timing isn’t quite right.

It could be that you haven’t found the right people … the people who will love your idea. The people who will support it. Even help it to spread.

So before you take others’ lack of interest to heart … if you truly believe in your idea, then see it through. Give it all you’ve got.

For now, it’s not about them. It’s about you and your vision.

If we want to find a distraction, we can. Very easily. At any time.

But it’s worth considering: why do we seek to escape? What are we avoiding?

What happens when we consciously block out the distractions, and we let ourselves focus on what’s most important? What happens then?

How prominent is the asterisk in the work you do? How much time do you spend apologizing for the flaws and pointing out the shortcomings?

Here’s an invitation: stop. Everyone deals with limitations and constraints. Time, resources, skill ... there’s rarely as much as we’d want.

But you don’t have to apologize. You don’t need a footnote saying, “This is the best I could do given the challenges I faced.”

Do your best. Be your best. Ship your best. No apologies.

Besides: tomorrow’s work will be even better.

Asking, “What do you want me to do?” can be useful, particularly when expectations are unclear.

The trouble comes when the answer is, “I want you to do something without me having to tell you to do it.”

It’s the difference between equal partnership, and a relationship where one person is a doer, and the other is a doer and a director.

That second role involves more emotional labor. Knowing the schedule. Knowing the big picture. Understanding the various moving parts.

Sometimes “help” is more than satisfying requests. Sometimes “help” is becoming more involved. Taking on more responsibility. Knowing what’s going on. Doing, without having to be told.

When the finish line is in sight, we experience a mental shift. Part of it is relief, part of it is leaning hard on grit and commitment.

But as we approach that line, we have to remember: every finish line is a starting point for the next step in our journey. Whether we’re nearing the end of a sprint, a marathon, or a stroll, there’s always a new starting line waiting for us. Don’t hang up those running shoes; there’s another adventure ahead.

You can’t pretend to be a doctor. It’s called “practicing medicine without a license” and it’s illegal.

But pretending to be confident? Demonstrating leadership when you don’t have the credentials?

Go ahead and pretend. Step into those roles. Test the waters. There aren’t laws against it. The only thing stopping you is your own fear. So add that to the list ... and pretend you’re not afraid.

When we draw attention to things, we give them power. Through our words, through our actions ... we’re able to say, “Look at this. Don’t miss it. This is noteworthy.”

But how much of our time is spent pointing out flaws, versus highlighting the good?

Failure versus success?

Petty versus significant?

Trivial versus meaningful?

When we discuss these lesser things — when we gossip about them, share them, meme them — we are making a choice to elevate them. These hollow or even injurious things … they become consequential because we make them so.

If we’d like to see more goodness in the world, we might start by taking more time to acknowledge where it already exists, and less time pointing to everything else.

When we see joy, something changes in us. It can be subtle, but it’s there nonetheless.

It’s like joy is such a powerful force, that it not only affects those experiencing it directly, but also those who witness it.

Look for it, and let it change you. See the child laughing. See the old couple holding hands. See the friends embrace.

See it, and feel it. A little piece of that joy gets to go home with you in your heart.

How do you turn into your superhero self? Clark Kent would find a telephone booth. Diana Prince might spin. Bruce Banner would get angry.

So what do you do? Do you take a deep breath? Silently say a phrase to yourself? Touch an accountability coin in your pocket?

Figure out what you do in that moment before greatness, and then make sure you do it often.

Turn on your superhero. We need your help.

Ecdysis \ ˈek-di-sis \ is the process of shedding an outer cuticle. We know it more commonly as molting. It’s when an insect grows, and sheds its outer shell.

At that critical point of growth, the insect is completely unguarded. It’s paused, and focused totally on growth. All of its energy is centered on escaping the old armor. On stretching. On growing.

So what does this have to do with you and me?

It has to do with vulnerability. It has to do with pausing, and intentionally growing. With removing the shells and facades. Temporarily ignoring distraction, and pouring every ounce of our energy into becoming the best versions of ourselves.

We can’t maintain this posture continually. But for moments — intentional moments — we can choose to grow. We can choose to level up. We can choose to leverage all the resources at our disposal (which are nearly infinite and mostly free) ... and to stretch into the excellence that’s just beyond our current reach.

And eventually, to do it again.

And again.

Some meditation practices focus on the breath. That something different happens when you pay careful attention to a breath-in, and a breath-out. When you bring mindfulness to the act of respiration.

And yet ... we breathe all day. Constantly. So what changes in this kind of meditation?

It’s the paying attention. The noticing. The intention.

It turns out, when we bring attention to something ... when we allow ourselves the time be still and to observe ... the ordinary can become extraordinary. In those quiet moments, even something that has been happening all along can be transformed into a powerful act of restoration.

And it all starts with slowing down, and paying attention to what’s already happening.

Sometimes, people in customer service will say, “There’s nothing we can do.” That’s not true, of course. That line is usually a test to see how serious you are. To see if you’re committed, or if you’ll give up easily and go away.

Someone fed me that line today.

“I’m sorry. You’re outside the seven-day window for order complaints. There’s nothing we can do.”

I approached the situation using a friendly and curious tone. “Are you sure? We ordered [one thing] and were given [a lesser thing]. You’re saying that beyond seven days, the company is unwilling to make this right?”

<long pause>

“Can you please hold, sir?”

After five minutes, I was given the partial refund that I had specifically requested.

* * *

So, two observations. One, a friendly (yet firm) conversation can sometimes turn a “no” into a “yes”. Shouting wouldn’t have done that. It probably helped, too, that I was very clear about what I wanted the company to do.

And two, it’s a shame that corporate customer service flow charts don’t begin more often with, “Thank you for being our customer. How can we make this right?” That approach wouldn’t stop mistakes from happening, but it would make for many more happy customers in the long run.

As often as people ask us, “How are you?” how often do we stop to think deeply about that question? Not always to answer deeply (a reply of “I’m excellent” will do in most cases) but to think deeply.

Are you centered? Anxious? Content? Overwhelmed? Grateful? Ready? Excited?

People tend to check-in with us quite a bit. Just as often, we’d do well to check-in with ourselves.

Today, you get to begin your week. You get to move forward from yesterday, whether yesterday feels like a success or not.

The things you have to do ... you get to do.

There’s a future version of yourself saying, “Embrace today. Savor it. Live it. You might see it as Monday, but I see it as the gift of a specific day in this life — a unique gift that’s only given once.”

At yard sales and similar scenes ... it’s not uncommon for someone to pick up an item marked $0.50 and ask, “Will you take a quarter?”

It’s a game: find a good deal and bargain for a better price. It doesn’t matter if it’s a $100 item, or a $1 item. Players of the game love to play.

All well and good for the yard sales and flea markets of the world.

But when you’re paying a professional for services, you’re not at a yard sale.

When a skilled house painter offers a quote for $1,000 ... don't ask if she can do $900.

When an award-winning ad agency charges $5,000 for creative work ... don’t ask if they’ll accept $4,500.

And when a lauded copywriter bills $100 an hour... don’t ask if she’ll agree to $50.

Find your bargains at the flea market. But when you’re dealing with professionals, find your wallet … or politely find a better fit for your budget.