by stephen warley

I think it’s safe to say we’re all living through a time of unprecedented change both in terms of its breadth, depth and intensity.

I’m often asked what motivates me to keep pushing forward despite the chronic uncertainty we all now face. I tell them it’s my beliefs.

I believe my survival depends on being true to myself in all that I do. I’m cool with missing out on opportunities that aren’t in alignment with my values.

I believe the future of work is self-employment. (The sooner you realize this the better;)

I believe the 9 to 5 lifestyle is unnatural.

I believe I only have 4 hours a day to do my best work.

I believe my time is more important than money.

I believe these are life skills that matter.

I believe in taking breaks, naps and month-long vacations to restore.

I believe to receive you have to give, but don’t forget to give to yourself.

I believe fear is just my brain being an overprotective parent.

I believe excuses are the most insidious form of procrastination.

I believe everyone has the capacity to work for themselves.

I believe the most valuable contribution you can make to the world is to be yourself.

I believe joy and meaning are the most powerful motivators.

I believe trusting my gut leads to better decisions than trusting my rational thoughts.

I believe I need to worry more about accepting myself and less about acceptance from others.

I believe all marketing is designed to make us feel insecure.

I believe soft skills are more durable than hard skills.

I believe work doesn’t have to be miserable to be considered work.

I believe travel is the best way to get unstuck.

I believe I will never work for anyone again and no one will ever work for me.

I believe success can only be defined by you and no one else.

I believe it doesn’t matter what I say, it only matters what I do.

I believe I already have enough to do whatever it is I want to do.

I believe the fountain of youth is to never stop being curious.

I believe we all have the capacity to help each other create our own work.

I believe the less I have, the more I can do.

I believe I will never achieve perfection, I will only keep getting better.

I believe you don’t need permission to do the work you want to do.

I believe happiness comes from what energizes you, not from what others think of you.

I believe you don’t need to accept anything that doesn’t make sense to you.

I believe anxiety is caused by living out of alignment with who you really are.

I believe the easier way becomes the harder way. Embrace discomfort to grow. Shun comfort, so you don’t become numb.

I believe in collaboration, not competition to create value.

I believe self-awareness is the single most important skill you can ever learn.

I believe intentions are more useful than goals and habits are more effective than to-do lists.

I believe I will never have it all figured out and that’s OK.

What do you believe?