EDITOR’S NOTE:

Brendan Hufford works in content and growth at ActiveCampaign. 

In 2019, he created and launched SEO for the Rest of Us, a resource for folks who want to learn the craft.

In this 376-word micro-interview, Brendan shares: 

• Why writing is central to making progress… 

• Two novels that were more valuable than any “business” book… 

• Where happiness — professional and otherwise — comes from… 

And more… 

Enjoy!

Thank you, Brendan.

Let’s get started. 

1) “What’s your work routine?”

A WORK IN PROGRESS. We all know the things we need to do to be effective, but the hardest part is just getting your butt in the seat and doing the work. So, I do that as early as possible. 

2) “What do you know about your work now that you wish you’d known when you first started?”

I have to write. I don't know the context around it, but one of my favorite suspense/thriller writers (Blake Crouch) has this throwaway line in one of his books where he writes: "When you write something, you focus your full attention on it. It’s almost impossible to write one thing while thinking about another. The act of putting it on paper keeps your thoughts and intentions aligned.” 

It’s true. If I want to make progress, I have to write about everything that I'm making.

3) “What did your biggest professional failure teach you?”

Oof, this is rough because I feel like I'm only a few weeks removed from it. Money won't make you happy. Working with big brands and doing popular work won't make you happy. This is everything every addict will ever tell you: at the end of the day, you still have to look at yourself in the mirror and if you can't stomach who you are, nothing you slap on top of it (success, friends, romantic partners, children, $$, fame, Twitter followers, etc.) will be anything more than a fleeting dopamine hit. What makes me happy is being happy with myself (still very much a work in progress - therapy is a big part of this for me) and then being able to bring my WHOLE self into my work.

4) “What’s the #1 thing that has helped you shorten your craft’s learning curve?”

Remembering that everything is in service to people. 

5) “What book has helped you the most over your career?”

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday and The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo have helped me navigate the winding path of this all better than any "business" book could ever hope to. 

6) “And your parting piece of advice?”

Be humble, but shoot your shot. 

If you're reading this, any modicum of success you're after is attainable. You just have to keep going.