When Any Old Thing Will Do 🤷🏾‍♀️

Author

Damon Brown
January 29, 2025

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Hi reader,

I love the current discussion on not compromising before you have to. Not giving up your rights before they are taken. Not letting go of the fight before it really starts. Not moving your ethics before they are even questioned.

We can catch and correct ourselves doing this when we’re in a wave, like when we feel like we’re part of a bigger movement. Agreement builds momentum.

But what about when your battle is way more private? With the family member that is a habitual line stepper. The supervisor that keeps pushing to go beyond your job description. The friend that won’t get off your couch.

What happens when it isn’t some broad sentiment, but something more intimate. Something more you? 😬

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It’s much more exhausting when we have to clearly state what we deserve rather than being angry about not getting it. At least in the short term.

In the moment, it’s much easier to gripe about some untenable situation (that, through our lack of action, is obviously tenable!). We can point at someone or something else. We can cash in our chips and invest in the argument that things just aren’t fair.

And sometimes we have no power, like when we’re being held against our will or being oppressed by someone or something with complete dominion over us.

This is scary.

It is also scary - and much more common - to recognize when we actually have power in the situation. It is scary to know that we could get our worth if we were willing to risk our often temporary, often false peace. It is scary to know we’re afraid to take a stand.

Right now, one of my favorite sayings from my mentors is:

“There’s a difference between moving towards something and running away from something.”

Knowing which we are doing at the moment points to where our fear really lies 🧭

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🙋🏾 I’m Damon! (http://www.damonbrown.net) I help side hustlers, solopreneurs & others like yourself bloom. As a bestselling author, 2x startup founder & 4x TEDTalker, I co-founded the popular connection app Cuddlr and led it to acquisition within a year while being a stay at home dad with my infant son.

🫱🏼‍🫲🏿 Today, my boutique coaching business Bring Your Worth supports hundreds through one-on-one virtual and in-person support, as well as behind-the-scenes services for TED, HEROIC, and other impactful organizations. You can catch this free weekly newsletter as well as the 18,000-subscriber strong television show BringYourWorth.tv.

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