Are You A Moment, or a Mountain?

Todd Henry [00:00:02]:

Not long ago, I found myself in a conversation with someone who was having a moment. You know, the kind I mean, it's like the big splash, the sudden surge of attention, the cultural spotlight shining brightly. And they had just experienced a breakthrough that put them on the map. Everyone wanted to be near them. It was kind of cool. Kind of cool to watch, actually. And yet, as I listened and I watched, I couldn't shake the sense that this success seemed a little bit overwhelming to them. Their calendar was packed.

Todd Henry [00:00:30]:

Their mind was scattered. Their energy felt a little bit frantic, like someone trying to catch water in their hands while more kept pouring in. The attention was exciting, but beneath the surface, I could sense that there was some instability, A lack of practices, a lack of rhythms, a lack of grounding or maturity that would be necessary to sustain this newfound success. I've seen this pattern before. I see it all the time with leaders, actually. People who are suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Someone rides the wave of a cultural moment. They get swept up in the applause.

Todd Henry [00:01:02]:

But when the attention fades, as it always does, by the way, they don't have the stability to continue. They were a moment, not a mountain. Later, I met someone else. They weren't flashy. They weren't trending on social media. They weren't headlining big events. In fact, you may not even know their name. You probably don't.

Todd Henry [00:01:23]:

But for 25 years, they've been doing steady, focused, meaningful work, day after day, year after year. Their impact isn't measured in trending hashtags, but in the lives they've touched, the work they've built, and the reputation they've cultivated over decades. This person wasn't a moment. They were a mountain. So let's talk about that. We live in a culture obsessed with moments. We chase them, we celebrate them, and sometimes we even worship them. Viral fame, sudden recognition, a big stage, the right mention from the right person.

Todd Henry [00:01:55]:

It feels like lightning in a bottle. And for a time, it might be, actually. But the problem with moments is that they are, by definition, temporary. They spike, and then they fade. And if our identity, our work, or our sense of meaning is only tied to the moment, when it's gone, so are we. Now, moments aren't inherently bad. There can be important catalysts in. In moments, right? They can launch movements.

Todd Henry [00:02:22]:

They can create opportunities. They can shine a light on something valuable. But a moment is not a strategy. A moment cannot sustain a life's work. When I was in the music business, when I was a singer, songwriter, I got to travel and perform with a lot of big acts. And I saw this truth play out constantly. Someone would land a big hit. It was a song that captured the moment, caught the radio wave, and launched them into sudden visibility.

Todd Henry [00:02:46]:

And I would often be the opening act for some of these bands, right? And so I would see this firsthand. I would see how they went from obscurity to just sudden ubiquity overnight, for a brief period. It was intoxicating, and they were everywhere. But often, instead of getting back into the writing room, sharpening their skills, and continuing to do the unglamorous work of creating, trying and failing, they tried to coast on that one success. They toured that hit. They lived off the applause. They chased the same formula over and over again and again, rather than deepening their craft. And inevitably, the wind shifted.

Todd Henry [00:03:23]:

Their moment faded. Meanwhile, other artists, sometimes with fewer hits or less mainstream recognition, were quietly building. They kept writing. They kept creating. They played the small clubs. They experimented, they explored. They evolved. And over time, they developed not just a catalog, but a loyal following.

Todd Henry [00:03:43]:

Their careers didn't burn as brightly in any single instant, but they endured. They became mountains. And this is why I often say, cover bands don't change the world. And I know that was a recent podcast episode as well. A cover band might get a big reaction in the moment. They might even fill a venue for a night. And there's nothing wrong with that. They can entertain people and it's fun and whatever, but they're not really building something that lasts.

Todd Henry [00:04:07]:

They're only creating moments, original voices. Those who commit to the ongoing work of creating are the ones who make a dent in the universe. Mountains, on the other hand, are not built overnight. They rise slowly over time, through consistent, unseen forces. A mountain isn't concerned with applause or attention. Its strength comes from its foundation. The mountains I've known, the people whose work endures, the people who continue to inspire me, are rarely the loudest or the flashiest. They are the ones who keep showing up, doing the work, and making progress, even when no one is watching.

Todd Henry [00:04:45]:

They prioritize rhythms over rush. They prioritize practices over pressure, depth over display. And here's something important. Mountains do have moments. They do a great book release, a sudden breakthrough project, all the eyes are on them, a song that suddenly and unexpectedly connects. But those moments don't define the mountains. They're byproducts, not the foundation. The mountain remains long after the moment has passed.

Todd Henry [00:05:14]:

Their success might not always make headlines, but it compounds over time. They build trust. They create things that last. And while others come and go with the tides of Culture, they remain steady and strong. So how do you ensure that your life and your work are more like a mountain than a fleeting moment? Well, here are a couple of ideas for you. First, build practices, not just projects. Okay. Projects end, but practices endure.

Todd Henry [00:05:43]:

So ask yourself, what daily or weekly or yearly rhythms anchor my work? What habits strengthen me even when no one else sees? As my favorite quarterback Joe Burrow says, work in secret, and then your work shows up on the field. So for you, what is the secret work, and what is the field where your secret work will show up? What does that look like? Build practices don't just do projects. The second thing is this. Value depth over visibility. The number of people who notice you isn't as important as the depth of the impact that you have. Moments thrive on visibility, but mountains are built on substance. Third, think in decades, not days. A moment feels urgent.

Todd Henry [00:06:33]:

A mountain requires patience. So ask yourself, what will I be proud to have built 20 years from now? Let that vision guide today's decisions and today's actions. And the fourth thing is stay grounded in purpose. Last week, I had a chance to speak to several thousand people about the importance of productive passion, which means the outcome that we're willing, if necessary, to suffer for because it matters more than our temporary discomfort. If you chase applause, you'll always be enslaved to it. If you work from purpose, from productive passion, you'll remain steady, regardless of the noise around you. Okay? So build practices, not just projects. Value depth over visibility.

Todd Henry [00:07:16]:

Think in decades, not days, and stay grounded in purpose. What is the thing that you need to do today to get you where you want to be five years from now, ten years from now? Every day we have a choice. We can orient our work around moments, chasing the thrill of attention, grasping for quick wins, or we can build like mountains, steady and unshakable. The truth is, we all need moments now. And then we do. And if you're doing the mountain thing right, you're probably going to have one or two moments along the way, maybe even more. Those moments energize us. They draw new opportunities, and they give us confidence.

Todd Henry [00:07:52]:

But the real measure of a life well lived is. Is whether those moments rest on the foundation of something deeper, something enduring. When the spotlight moves, what will remain of your work? Will it crumble or will it stand? Because in the end, I believe this to my core. The world doesn't need more moments. The world needs more mountains. So be a mountain, not a moment. All right. Hey, I hope this was helpful.

Todd Henry [00:08:25]:

Thanks so much for listening. That is going to be all for today's episode. It's just a little solo episode. I'm going to be doing more of these, perhaps over time. If you'd like to get full interviews, some bonus content, and much, much more. All of our full interviews, in fact. You can do so for free. Absolutely for free.

Todd Henry [00:08:40]:

@DailyCreativePlus.com Just go there, enter your name and email, and we will send you a private feed where you can download all of the bonus content. My name is Todd Henry. If you want to know about my speaking and my books, all seven of them, you can find them at ToddHenry. Until next time, may you be brave, focused and brilliant.