Notes on Doing

Welcome to Notes on Doing. Conversations with people who love what they do. I'm Jenna Matecki.

Exactly a year ago on October 10th there were only three episodes in this podcast. At the time I tried to juggle publishing two episodes a week (and that didn’t last long).

There’s been so many interviews since then. Now, this is Episode 50.

The biggest question that I get asked with Notes on Doing is always “How do you find these people?” And I think that’s an interesting one.  

I find people who love what they do are everywhere, and since the series started more and more people have been introduced to me under the lens of Notes on Doing. And I’m lucky to live in this gorgeous mecca of opportunity and creativity that is New York City, and to be privileged in that I can devote time to this series - so it’s continued.

But the thing is, and this is key, is that I know someone’s perfect to be interviewed when they are hesitant to do it.

We live in a time where everyone’s self promoting, competing, and trying to be the best. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But because of that it strikes me more when people would rather just continue doing their thing instead of talking about it and asking for attention.

There was this sailing race that happened back in 1968. A group all competed to be the first man to circumnavigate the world single handedly. The person who won, Sir Robin Knox Johnston said:

“It was all a bit of a dream. You look at all these people, and say ‘I’ve done this.’ This thing that people said you couldn’t do. I’ve done this now. I don’t have to yell, scream and shout about it, it’s inside.”

And, among the many insights that I’ve uncovered from this series, this is the one that I want to convey for Episode 050.

When you truly love what you’re doing, and don’t feel like you have to compare yourself to anyone else – it doesn’t matter if you’re silent. You have all the recognition you need, because the best kind of recognition comes from yourself.

So, that’s Episode 050. A celebration of that internal thing. In Notes on Doing it’s sometimes revealed not in what the interviewees say, but in their pauses, tea breaks, funny laughs, and awkward ums. It’s revealed in their hesitation to be interviewed in the first place.

Because the people interviewed are good at being themselves. And they already have the recognition they need because of that. And that’s why they’re featured on Notes on Doing.

…

I’ll leave it at that, and I’d love to plug that a group of us are throwing a party in New York City this Thursday (that’s October 13th) at this great bar/restaurant called Freehold, starting at 7:00pm. I’d love to see you there.

In the meantime, always do. And what I mean by that, is always do you.

Notes on Doing is a series of conversations with people who love what they do. notesondoing.com