In the newsroom, we have a name for a reporter who can write one brilliant front-page story but can’t handle a daily beat: a “One-Hit Wonder.” They are a liability. The person we actually value is the “Steward”—the one who keeps the sources warm, the facts verified, and the desk clean, day after day.
We’ve been sold a lie that “growth” is the only metric of success. But what’s the point of growing a garden if you don’t know how to pull the weeds?
1. The Glamour of the New is a Trap
Our brains are wired for novelty. We get a hit of dopamine when we start a new project, buy a new car, or enter a new relationship. But dopamine is a “craving” chemical, not a “satisfaction” chemical. The real satisfaction—the deep, quiet kind—comes from Care. There is a profound dignity in keeping a 20-year-old coat in perfect condition or maintaining a friendship for three decades.
The Editorial Insight: Anyone can start a fire. Very few people can keep the coals glowing through the night.
2. The “Broken Window” Theory of the Self
In urban sociology, the “Broken Window” theory suggests that if you leave one window broken in a building, the rest will soon follow. Neglect is contagious. The same applies to your life. If you neglect the “small” maintenance—your sleep hygiene, your physical space, your basic rituals—your “big” goals will eventually shatter.
The Strategy: Stop looking for a “Life Hack” and start looking for a “Life Routine.” High-level performance is simply the result of high-level maintenance.
3. Sustainability is Better than Scale
In the publishing world, we see magazines launch with a massive splash and disappear in six months because they couldn’t sustain the energy. The most successful businesses (and people) are those that have optimized for Longevity, not just Velocity.
The Action: Ask yourself: “Can I do what I did today every day for the next ten years?” If the answer is no, you aren’t building a career; you’re building a bonfire.
4. Respect the “Invisible Effort”
We live in a “Performative” age. If people can’t see it on a dashboard or a social feed, we feel like it doesn’t count. But the most important work you will ever do is invisible. It’s the conversations you have with yourself, the boundaries you set, and the quiet consistency of showing up when no one is watching.
