Chapter 01: BRUTAL TRANSPARENCY

I’ve been trying to pull this project off since I first teased it a few months ago. But money-making, doubts and other distractions get in my way constantly. And of course they do, that’s just life.

There is always something ‘urgent’ to take care of before you can finally start to focus on your important work — it’s never-ending, and it’s an easy excuse.

A wise man once said THE PRICE OF INACTION IS FAR GREATER THAN THE COST OF MAKING A MISTAKE.

So starting today I’m making this journey, the hustle to get this thing going, the first story itself.

Because ultimately this is what the PRESENT project is about, or what I want it to be about: How we manage to realize the truly important projects, plans and goals in our heart, despite everything that’s going on. Despite all the small and big problems and worries in this life.

We have to start somewhere.
No more waiting for the perfect moment.
Let’s go.

Chapter 02: TOO MANY IDEAS, NOT ENOUGH ACTION

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.“

I had a hard time focusing on PRESENT these past two weeks. Too many too urgent projects with real deadlines, real budgets, and many promises to be kept.

Sometimes my deepest wish is to pause time and freeze the world around me for a few hours, so that I can get all things done in peace, with no interruptions, and no rush. We all want more time. But it’s the same amount of hours a day for everyone. How are even busier people with more responsibility than you and me able to fully focus and get important things done, despite the craziness of life?

PRIORITIZE UNTIL IT HURTS.

It sounds harsh and brutal. And it is. Because it’s about being calm and staying with ONE task, despite a hundred other ‘important‘ tasks lurking behind you, screaming for your attention. It’s about being brave enough to free yourself from the urge of having to please everyone all the time. It’s about saying NO even though it means you might disappoint people. It’s about being honest to yourself.

PRIORITIZE UNTIL IT HURTS may be one of the most important mantras to live by — because done right, it may be the closest we get to freeze time and space. And finally get some important shit done.

Chapter 03: PRIORITIZE UNTIL IT HURTS

Everyday I’m writing, accumulating ‘grandiose’ plans and concepts. But I feel that all the beautiful ideas in the world don’t matter until they get executed — and ultimately manifest into something of actual use to others.

But that’s also what makes executing ideas hard — once they left the save place of your head or notebook they can be judged and criticized. Still better and more interesting than being hidden away. I’m sick of great ideas that go nowhere.

Even though I’m still not sure if a lot of people are interested in my vision or the things and people I want to feature and push — all I know is that I have to do it, no matter what. But more on that another day.

For now, these are the things that I’m trying to put in out in the next weeks to push this project forward:

1. A concise presentation/document that contains, pinpoints, clarifies the core ideas and ambitions of PRESENT to be sent out to future contributors, collaborators and interview partners. (It’s an ambitious and exciting list!)

2. A catalogue of specific and unique questions for upcoming recorded conversations. The questions I’m mostly interested in are rarely appear in classic interviews. They are going to be always respectful but highly personal, and at first sight often banal, but tremendously insightful.

3. PRESENT clothing and merch. Super excited about that. I want to build a brand again — that’s just one of my favorite things to do. Ultimately these products could become a great tool for people to support and sponsor the project.

Chapter 04: DON'T BE BITTER, BE BETTER

It's been too long since the last update but I'm finally back at it after some intense weeks of work and traveling. I started this chapter a couple weeks ago on the plane to New York, crammed into my seat, barely moving, only my fingers hastily hovering over the keyboard …

Late one night about a year ago when I was still living in NYC I made the decision to pull PRESENT out of my "favorite unrealized projects" drawer and give it a go. It equally excited and scared me — always a good sign to go ahead and do it.

A lot happened in one year. I found an apartment in Berlin with more space to reflect and tinker. I decided to work more independently again, with my own clients and more control over my time and my voice, to be able to do my own thing more thoroughly.

IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW SLOWLY YOU GO, AS LONG AS YOU DON’T STOP. Getting this project to where I want it to be is a slow process — but at least it’s moving forward steadily. And that’s the important thing. I can’t lose momentum again.

I recently gave a workshop at Bauhaus University in Weimar titled MY FAVORITE UNREALIZED PROJECT — I talked with the students about all the projects we dream of realizing one day, and what’s holding us back. Everyone had to design a motivational poster (by hand) around their project visualizing their inspirations, doubts, hopes and ultimate action steps toward actual realization.

I’m teaching what I want to get better at myself. PRESENT is still my own favorite unrealized project — but I’m working very hard to make it as real as possible as fast as I can.

Chapter 05: FECK PERFUCTION

“The moment that you feel that, just possibly, you’re walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself. That’s the moment you may be starting to get it right.” — Neil Gaiman

Lately I published a new version of www.PRESENT.xxx with more background info, future subjects and a store. It’s a good overview on my intentions what this project is and will be all about.

I’m putting myself out there. I’m exposing myself. I’m trying to be as transparent and honest as I possibly can. I know it’s the right thing to do, but it doesn’t come easy for me. Negative self-talk and doubts come up daily:

Is it any good? Is this actually useful? Am I spending too much time on this? What am I doing here anyway? Can I afford this? Shouldn’t I focus on making money instead? Am I capable of pulling a project like this off? Will this burn me out completely? ⠀⠀

Those are all fair questions and I try to notice and accept them — but then let them go. I have my mission. Even though I sometimes don’t know exactly how or when I get there, I know what I want. And I know I just have to be patient and keep pushing.

Because what we need to do is act despite our doubts and fears. Overthinking, perfectionism, pessimism — those are the killers for so many good ideas, it breaks my heart. So let's fuck perfection and start shipping.

With the new website online, I’m now reaching out to future collaborators and people I want to interview. I’m realizing that it’s not as easy as I thought it’d be with a project this new and still a little intangible. But I’m slowly getting there and you can expect first original content by new contributors in the next weeks.

In the meantime I bought a screen printing machine to experiment with the first iterations of the PRESENT workwear. Make sure to check it out — it’s a great way to support this project. And special thanks to the brave people that put in the first orders. It’s very much appreciated.

Chapter 06: DIE EMPTY

“Embrace the importance of now, and refuse to allow the lull of comfort, fear, familiarity, and ego to prevent you from taking action on your ambitions. The cost of inaction is vast. Don’t go to your grave with your best work inside of you. Choose to die empty.” — Todd Henry

The thought of looking back at my life and regret not having had the courage to do something I dreamed about doing is one of my biggest motivators.

Dying empty for me means having given absolutely all you’ve got. It means not holding anything back that’s close to your heart. Not holding back your ideas and thoughts. Not holding back your work. Not holding back your love. Not holding back what makes you unique, authentic. What makes you your true self.

Dying empty means acting in spite of fears and worries. Realizing that we should be more fearless and that we should prefer (might) making mistakes than not making at all.

We have to start now. In this present moment. Because sooner or later our tomorrow’s run out.

I had to experience that life can be suddenly over, earlier than expected. Maybe that’s why I feel this urge and this urgency in me. And why I hate to see people waiting on taking action on something important, only because it's uncomfortable or might look stupid.

PRESENT is about starting. And PRESENT is about ending procrastination.

Because we all have this thing in us that wants to come out. We are all in the same boat. And we need to give what we’ve got, and share what you have inside ourselves.

Let’s be present and generous instead of fearful and entrenched. Let’s choose to die empty. Let’s get on it.