July 28, 2010

No regrets

How old are you?
Whatever your reply, I bet you’re not old enough.
Old enough to have real regrets.

The other day, I came upon a thought-provoking piece attributed to ex-NFL lineman Joe Ehrmann. It goes like this; there are Three Things the Elderly Regret not Having Done,

Those three regrets are:
1: Not leaving a legacy
2: Not taking time for reflection
3: Not taking more risks

Can you do me a favour?
Can you sit back and think about those three things?
Go ahead,
Think about them long and hard.
Think about how those three things relate to what you’re trying to accomplish—today—in your everyday life.
As you rush—feverishly—through your days,
Just trying to get things done,
How mindful are you of those three things?

Well, let’s see.
Do any of us think of legacies?
How could we?
We’re busy.
Working at our jobs, making ends meet.
We have bosses and obligations,
Colleagues and commitments,
Legacies?
Who has time?

What about risks?
How many of us take risks?
Other than, maybe, throwing caution to the wind during a weekend rafting expedition,
Or a bungee jumping excursion,
Most of don’t venture too far out on that limb.
For many of us, taking risks with our careers, with our livelihood—with the stuff we’d really love to do,
Is all—you know—too risky.

What was the last thing?
Ah yes, reflection.
Do we stop and reflect?
Actually, many of us do.
And what do we reflect on?
On our future.
On what we’re going to do, once we’re done with whatever it is—our jobs, our businesses, our careers—we’re doing now.
We reflect on what we’re going to accomplish,
On how great our lives will be,
At some hazy, uncertain point in the future.
And until that hazy, hopeful future arrives,
We continue to live our lives—with not much more than a glint of reflection.

And that’s what I find curious about the Three Things the Elderly Regret not Having Done
Do you see?
In our 30s, our 40s, and even into our 50s and 60s…
We sometimes think about all the wonderful, meaningful, fun things we’re going to do—some day.
Then…
We wake up and and realize…
We’ve arrived at that hazy, uncertain point of our lives,
Where there are more yesterdays than tomorrows,
And, suddenly, we’re the ones thinking of Three Things we Regret not Having Done.

My message is simple.
Don’t wait to find your purpose.
Don’t wait to pursue your passion, or to do what’s meaningful.
Go ahead,
Reflect on what’s important.
Go ahead,
Take a few risks.
Go ahead,
Leave a legacy.
Go ahead,
Live your life, every day. Turn your work into play. And never, ever stop pursuing your passion.
Go ahead.
Do it now.

And,
If you keep visiting my blog, I’ll show you how.


Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

  • Share/Bookmark
July 22, 2010

Net. Present. What?

When first seeing my book, many people ask,
The Net Present Value of Life? What does that mean, anyway?

With no lengthy preamble, no rambling introduction, here are a few suggestions.

The Net Present Value of Life means…

  • Today—this moment—is the most valuable thing you possess;
  • The future—tomorrow—is tenuous and uncertain;
  • The value of life, today, is therefore greater than the uncertain value of life in the future;
  • In each of us, there’s a tendency to say, “One day, I will…” and, by saying so, to postpone the achievement of a rewarding life;
  • The notion that you must work for decades at potentially uninspiring jobs, and then, at some hazy, uncertain date, achieve happiness by retiring is one that is as outdated as it is unbelievable;
  • There are, simply, too many myths about retirement;
  • The courage to walk away from an empty, unfulfilling career is more rewarding than it is rare;
  • There is no better career choice than the pursuit and attainment of passion and  purpose;
  • To live a life not dictated by society, by the experts, by the boss, the neighbours or, even, by public opinion is less difficult than imagined;
  • There is satisfaction derived from remembering that you’re in charge of your life, that you’re the one firmly planted in the driver’s seat;
  • The only meaningful drumbeat to march to is the one that you create;
  • Caring and careful counsel provided by loved ones should never be confused with the warnings and reprimands of doubting naysayers;
  • The one scarce, valuable (and non-renewable) resource is time;
  • There are but a few ingredients to a happy life. They include; health, relationships, love, purpose, passion, inspiration, determination, belief, honesty, laughter, potential, and possibility;
  • Money is just another of life’s ingredients, and it’s one that will never buy any of the ingredients listed above;
  • There is as much illusion to money as there is value;
  • Material possessions will never result in true happiness; defining your own version of success will;
  • And finally, The Net Present Value of Life means: Living fully every day, turning work into play, and never, ever stopping to pursue your passion.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

  • Share/Bookmark
May 25, 2010

Go for the big one



The evidence exists.

And I just found more…



Much of this site is devoted to helping readers realize they can get whatever they want.

Success. Happiness. Reward. Achievement.

Whatever you want.

It’s there—waiting for you.

But some of us don’t believe it can happen—to us.

Some of us believe dreams only come true—to other people.

And, some of us need proof.



For those needing proof, for those unable to believe it’s true.

There is, indeed, evidence.

Some already on this site.

And, now, I got more.



I’m reading this book, The Brain That Changes Itself…

Allow me to quote from the back cover,

“(The book introduces) principles we can all use, as well as a riveting collection of histories—stroke patients cured, a woman with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, learning and emotional disorders overcome, IQs raised and aging brains rejuvenated.”

And that’s just the back cover…



You know,

One of my favourite expressions is, “What if? Anything is possible.”

And this book is but another example, reinforcing that,

Much of what was once thought impossible, is now known to be, very much, possible.


Do you have a goal? A desire? A dream?

Do you view it as something that’s possible? Or impossible?

Before answering, just think,

If it’s possible for the brain to change itself, then what else is possible?

So,

If you have a dream,

Go for it.

Go for the big one.

Because, maybe, just maybe, anything is possible.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.


  • Share/Bookmark
May 12, 2010

What makes them different?



Someone—just the other day—asked me about my book, “What’s it about?”

My answer, I thought, was catchy, “It’s a story of hope, happiness and making your dreams come true.”

Then I said, “It’s a novel that explores creative alternatives to the common, mundane, Work-Success-Retirement formula.”

Ahem.

I was kinda proud of myself.

Work-Success-Retirement formula.

Has a nice ring, doesn’t it?

And, while I like the label, I’m not, to be honest, at all fond of what it represents.

What I mean is, I’m not fond of a formula that says, “Work hard. Become successful. Retire.”

Why not?

Look at it this way.

Is there something you love doing? Music, maybe? Photography, perhaps? Cooking, conceivably?

Whatever it is you love, when you’re doing it, are you looking forward to the day that you can stop (retire from) doing it?

Not too bloody likely, right?

You’re doing it because it’s fun, because you love doing it, because it’s who you are,

And you, likely, don’t want to entertain the thought of stopping.

Now, I know what you’re thinking too.

You’re thinking, “Hang on, we’re talking about work, and work isn’t something I love doing.”

But, what if work could be like that?

What if your career—your livelihood—was derived from something you loved doing?

Wouldn’t that be cool?

And that’s what the book addresses. It holds—within an amusing and compelling story about two people on a park bench—real-world, workable solutions for taking control of your career, your future, your life.

Now, before you dismiss me (and my idea), do me a favour.

Think about people you know, or you read about, or you see on TV, who make a living at something they love.

And think of those people—people well into their 60s, 70s or even 80s—who can’t dream of stopping. Won’t think of quitting. Won’t entertain the thought of retirement.

What makes them different?

(And it’s at this point that I finally get to, ahem, the point).

For months, I was searching for one word—one catchword, one byword, one slogan, one mantra—that explains, defines and illustrates what it is about those everyday people—those chefs, those journalists, those tailors, those musicians—who will never quit doing what they do.

And, after a long search, after scrolling, in mind, through an index of catchy one-word candidates, I found  (at last!) the mot-juste.

And that word is; Passion.

That’s the difference.

That’s why there are people who go to work, every day, and who refuse to stop going to work every day.

Because their lives—and their livelihood—are filled with passion.

They Pursue Passion

They Experience Passion

They Own their Passion

They Communicate Passion

They Live a Life of Passion—every day.

And you can too.

All you need to do, is to

Pursue passion.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.



  • Share/Bookmark
« Older Entries