CHOOSING BETWEEN MAKING MONEY AND DOING WHAT YOU LOVE

Here is a great article from the Harvard Business Review about following your passion instead of the the dollar signs.  I've always believed that your passion will facilitate fulfillment in all ways that are important to you.  Read on.

"If you're really passionate about what you do, but it's not going to make you a lot of money, should you still do it?"

What a great question! It seems like just about everyone who has ever addressed a graduating class of high school or college seniors has said "Do what you love, the money will follow."
Inspiring. But it is true? Couldn't you do what you truly care about and very well go broke, as the question above (recently sent from one of our readers) implies?

Based on the research we did for our book, we're convinced that when you're heading into the unknown, desire is all-important. You simply want to be doing something that you love, or something that is logically going to lead to something you love, in order to do your best work. That desire will make you more creative and more resourceful, and will help you get further faster.

And, it will help you persist. When you're trying something that's never been attempted before — beginning an unusual project at work, or trying to get a new business off the ground — you're going to face a lot of obstacles. You don't want to be giving up the first time you encounter one.
But, let's be real. None of this guarantees wealth, or even financial success.

A friend of ours was hanging out at a bar with a few fellow professional musicians after a recording session, talking admiringly about another musician they all know. One of them commented on how fortunate it was for this musician that his music was commercial. In those four words, you will find an enormous truth. We all have our music and there is no guarantee that anyone will buy it. Absolutely none. These are two entirely separate things.

So this reader question attacks us straight on and says, in essence, "I have the desire, but I am pretty certain it's not going to lead anywhere that's monetarily profitable. Now what? Should I still go ahead?"
Of course you should.

Now let's qualify the answer a bit:  If you can't afford to do the thing you're passionate about — for example, if you do it, you won't be able to feed your family, or it would keep you from graduating college (which is something you think is more important than whatever you're passionate about) — then no, you'd better not bet your economic life on it. A basic principle concerning how you should deal with an unknown future is that every small smart step you take should leave you alive to take the next step. So, make sure you attend to your lower order Maslow needs of food and shelter and the like.

But even this doesn't mean you can't work on your passion a little — even if it's just for 15 minutes a day.
And you should!

Why?  Research (such as The Power of Small Wins that ran in Harvard Business Review May, 2011) shows that people who make progress every day toward something they care about report being satisfied and fulfilled.

We're in favor of people being happy. And we're also in favor of provoking people into pursuing happiness. The nice thing about this reader's question is that it might get people who have — by any objective standard — more than enough money to reconsider whether they want to continue to do things that are not making them happy, just because it'll make them more money. More often than not, these people say, "Once I get enough money, I'll do what I really want to do. I won't worry about the money." But somehow, they never get to that point. Time is finite. The question might be enough to get you to reconsider how you're spending it.

And of course, the assumption embedded in the question could be wrong. You might, indeed, end up making money if you engage in your passion, even though you currently think you won't. Remember, the future is unknown. Who knows what people will buy, or what you might invent after your very next act. At any moment in time, you are only one thought away from an insight — an insight that can change everything.

When you are facing the unknown, they only way to know anything for sure is to act. When you are dealing with uncertainty — and whether you are going to make any money from your passion at this point is definitely an uncertainty — you act. You don't think about what might happen, or try to predict the outcome, or plan for every contingency. You take a small step toward making it a reality, and you see what happens.

Who knows? Even the smallest step can change everything.  So take those small steps. You might discover that your passion does, in fact, make you money. After all, who knew you could make huge amounts of money figuring out a way to connect all your friends (Facebook) or make a better map (pick your favorite GPS tool).

Even if you don't, you want to spend part of your day doing at least one thing that's making you happy. Otherwise, something is terribly wrong.

START NOW, NO FUNDING NEEDED

Derek Sivers inspires me with this short video clip suggesting that we get out of our own way if we want to grow and pursue our dreams.

We are often the greatest obstacles of our own success.  Your ideas do not require third party approval or backing. They need only be of value to someone to grow from idea to reality.

Sivers goes on to offer some helpful suggestions to drive your ideas and passions and avoid the traps that ego present.

MOVE!

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S BLUEPRINT?

Six months before he was assassinated, King spoke to a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967.

I want to ask you a question, and that is: What is your life's blueprint?

Whenever a building is constructed, you usually have an architect who draws a blueprint, and that blueprint serves as the pattern, as the guide, and a building is not well erected without a good, solid blueprint.

Now each of you is in the process of building the structure of your lives, and the question is whether you have a proper, a solid and a sound blueprint.

I want to suggest some of the things that should begin your life's blueprint. Number one in your life's blueprint, should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your worth and your own somebodiness. Don't allow anybody to make you fell that you're nobody. Always feel that you count. Always feel that you have worth, and always feel that your life has ultimate significance.

Secondly, in your life's blueprint you must have as the basic principle the determination to achieve excellence in your various fields of endeavor. You're going to be deciding as the days, as the years unfold what you will do in life — what your life's work will be. Set out to do it well.

And I say to you, my young friends, doors are opening to you--doors of opportunities that were not open to your mothers and your fathers — and the great challenge facing you is to be ready to face these doors as they open.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the great essayist, said in a lecture in 1871, "If a man can write a better book or preach a better sermon or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door."

This hasn't always been true — but it will become increasingly true, and so I would urge you to study hard, to burn the midnight oil; I would say to you, don't drop out of school. I understand all the sociological reasons, but I urge you that in spite of your economic plight, in spite of the situation that you're forced to live in — stay in school.

And when you discover what you will be in your life, set out to do it as if God Almighty called you at this particular moment in history to do it. don't just set out to do a good job. Set out to do such a good job that the living, the dead or the unborn couldn't do it any better.

If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well. If you can't be a pine at the top of the hill, be a shrub in the valley. Be be the best little shrub on the side of the hill.

Be a bush if you can't be a tree. If you can't be a highway, just be a trail. If you can't be a sun, be a star. For it isn't by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are.

— From the estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

LIVING ETHICALLY

At my sons karate class this morning I was sitting with another parent who is also a neighbour. We were chatting and suddenly my phone vibrates twice to let me know that I have a text message. I'm not going to tell you what I did, but the situation got me thinking of vice or virtue. In today's society is it a vice for me to peek at my phone to check the message? Is it virtue for me to demonstrate respect and consideration for our conversation by ignoring the text and practicing active listening? What role has technology played in ethical complexity?

After karate we went to pick up some groceries. Is it vice for people to leave their shopping carts diagonally in the middle of the aisle where it blocks others from getting by? Is it virtue to park your grocery cart on one side of the aisle to allow your fellow shoppers to pass while you are reading the labels?

The discussion of write and wrong is relevant in so much we do and as I am discovering in any interaction with others whether active or passive. While there are no real rules about my experience in the dojo, I believe the right thing is to ignore my phone until there is a break in the conversation and then excuse myself politely in order to check to see if I have an important message. However, I've seen others sabatoge a conversation because of a meaningless text message or phone call. While there is nothing written on any signs at the grocery store it only seems ethical to keep your cart to one side to consider others who may want to pass and enjoy their shopping experience.

Not sure how much I believe in an absolute right and absolute wrong, but awareness of how our behaviour affects others in critical for leadership and building better relationships. Bass (1999) suggests that ethics plays a huge part authentic transformational leadership.

What's the big deal?  Ethics are part of the invisible network of systems that connect humans to one another.  With Ethics comes an understanding of how ones behaviour impacts others and society.  Bad in, bad out.  Good in, good out.

WHAT IS YOUR ELEMENT?

Whether on court or facilitating self-direction in a cognitive sense,  my element is coaching.  Changing lives by helping people to learn new things, understand the depth of their greatness, empowering and enabling leadership are a passion.

Sir Ken Robinson suggests that you're in your element when something you're naturally good at comes together with a passion.  My favourite parts of my element is being in the zone because it is a state of unconsciously practicing presence.  There are other tasks or responsibilities in life where your mind wanders to past and future because you are not enjoying what you are doing.  Being in the moment is an indication that you are engaged and enjoying the present.

So, are you in your element?  If so, great.  If no, why not?

Your element (not to be confused with your comfort zone) is a place for you to realize your limitless greatness.  It is your multiplier and the place for the maximum returns to scale for every unit of your output.

Again I ask, are you in your element?  If so, great.  If no, why not?

THE LAST LESSON

We went to the final class of my son’s Salamander swim lesson’s last week.  Usually the pool is a buzz with four to five classes of different levels going on simultaneously, effectively using all the space in the pool.  On this day easily two-thirds of the swimmers were absent.  Instead of 30 swimmers in the pool there might have been 10.  It amazes me how few people attend the final class of a session of swim lessons.  Only two of four participants showed up for my son’s class. 

Swimmers find out if they pass (and can move on to the next level) or whether they must repeat the level 2 classes before the end of the session.  Repeating levels, especially at younger ages is quite common as it is critical that swimmers demonstrate competency before they are moved to the next level.  It is interesting to see who is there to learn and who is there to be rewarded for their effort.  I understand that external rewards are motivators, but parents have a responsibility to help kids understand the value of learning so that kid’ motivation for participation is intrinsic.  Progress and learning vs. performance. 

I’ve observed the “last class” phenomenon for 2 years now and it concerns me every time.  Funny thing is that the children will learn from their parents to only do things when there is a reward associated.  Parents must have clarity on why they are enrolling kids in learning programs.  If it is indeed to learn then why would you deprive your child of one-tenth of their learning experience?  If the instructor cancelled a class people would want a refund for the class or for there to be a class added.  But nothing when the parent chooses to do it.  Interesting paradox. 

THE THINGS YOU REMEMBER

My dentist Dr. Montague (coolest Dentist in Toronto) pointed out the "THINGS WE REMEMBER" to me at a recent appointment.  I had a crown lengthening procedure done to prepare a tooth and the gums around a tooth for a crown.  Dr. Lenga performed the procedure.  I didn't remember the discomfort, the stitches in my mouth, not being able to chew on my right side. What I did remember was that Dr. Lenga phoned me at 8pm the evening of the procedure to see how I was feeling.

I've been frequenting the neighborhood Starbucks regularly over the past 4 weeks since I started my Master's studies.  This morning I didn't have to communicate my order, the pleasant coffee technician who makes my beverage of choice with care and precision, called out my order once I stepped in line. 

Think about the things you remember about experiences.  Then compare that to what you spend time focussing on in your daily life.  Is there a connection?  Are they in line?

AN ACRE OF ATTITUDES

One of my new favorite sources of conversation is Seth Godin's Blog.  Seth Godin is the bestselling author of 12 books. He writes about marketing, the spread of ideas and managing both customers and employees with respect.

If you see your attitude as land.  What are you doing with your acres of attitude.

From Seth's Blog:

Everyone is given an acre of attitudes at birth. It's yours to tend and garden and weed and live with. You can plant bitterness or good humor. Feel free to fertilize and tend the feelings and approaches that you want to spend time with. Unless you hurt someone, this acre is all yours.

Probably worth putting up a decent fence, so that only the attitudes that you choose will have a chance to put down seeds, but it's certainly a bad idea to put up a wall, because a walled garden is no good to anyone passing by. You get to decide what comes through your fence gate, right?

Watching out for invasive species—spending sufficient time on weeding and pruning and staking seem to be incredibly powerful tools for accomplishing the life you want. I refuse to accept that an attitude is an accident of birth or an unchangeable constant. That would be truly horrible to contemplate.

Happy Valentine's Day. Good luck with your garden

MAYONNAISE JAR & TWO BEERS...

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. 

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. 

He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was. 

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly. 

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. 

They agreed it was. 

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar 

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes....' 

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. 

The students laughed.. 

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. 

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. 

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. 

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. 

The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. 

Spend time with your children.. 

Spend time with your parents. 

Visit with grandparents. 

Take your spouse out to dinner.

Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. 

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. 

Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand. 

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. 

The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' 

The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

Thanks SL for sharing.  Keep fighting!!

BEING YOUR BEST YOU

Each morning I go for a nature walk.  The walk is a great start to my day and facilitates, optimism and inspiration. 

This morning I thought about a particular student at the school where I work.  This young woman inspires me with her courage and accomplishments.  As adults we take every opportunity to pass wisdom on to someone younger or less experienced than ourselves.  With students, we try to motivate them to be the best they can be, so that they may realize their true potential.  This is the unwritten responsibility of each adult.  We must positively guide and mentor so the next generation maximize their potential and so that the world is a better place now and in the future.

This morning, I wondered "How many of the adult mentors, teachers, coaches, sources of wisdom, have endeavored to be the best they can be?"  My father used to say "Do as I say, not as I do", which is valid because it's important for young people to "taste the Kool Aid" (thanks Sef) presented from their mentors.  However in our efforts to support, inspire and motivate the next generation did we forget something? Did we forget ourselves?  Have we become distracted from opportunity for our own self improvement?  Are we accessing or creating opportunities to be the best us that we can be?

Many mentors, teachers and coaches chose to live vicariously through those they mentor and abandon their own quest for self improvement.  As we get older we chose to believe that the obstacles to our personal growth are real and growing exponentially.  This is not true.  At different stages in life many adults ignore their "Beginners Mind" (BM).  Our BM allows us to appreciate things like we've seen them for the first time and also inspires us to take risks and journeys for self improvement and self discovery instead of being paralyzed by fear, anxiety, insecurity or ego.

Robin Sharma suggests a very interesting list of "The 10 Human Regrets" in his latest book The Leader Who Had No Title.  It would be deflating to know that tomorrow is your last day, however it would be even worse if any of these regrets applied to you:

You reach your last day with the brilliant song that your life was meant to sing still silent within you.

You reach your last day without ever having experienced the natural power that inhabits you to do great work and achieve great things.

You reach your last day realizing that you never took any bold risks and so you never received any bright rewards.

You reach your last day full of pain at the realization that you never took any bold risks and so you never received any bright rewards.

You reach you last day understanding that you missed the opportunity to catch a glimpse of mastery because you bought into the lie that you had to be resigned to mediocrity.

You reach your last day and feel heartbroken that you never the skill of transforming adversity into victory and lead into gold.

You reach your last day regretting that you forgot that work is about being radically helpful to others rather than being helpful only to yourself.

You reach your last day with the awareness that you ended up living the life that society trained you to want versus leading the one you truly wanted to have.

You reach your last day and awaken to the fact that you never realized your absolute best nor touched the special genius that you were built to become.

You reach your last day and discover you could have been a leader and left this world so much better than you found it.  But you refused to accept that mission because you were just too scared. And so you failed.  And wasted a life.

It's never too late to be your best you.  Allow the courage of many of the youth around you to inspire you to be your best you.  Direct some of your own wisdom towards yourself.  Let's not live through young people, instead allow them to teach you some things about yourself and how great you can be.  Are you being your best you? jas