July 22, 2010

Net. Present. What?

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

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

The Net Present Value of Life means…

  • Today—this moment—is more valuable than anything else 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;
  • Life is supposed to be lived, cherished and enjoyed today; right now. Not at some uncertain, hazy date in the future;
  • There is no better way to enjoy life than to do something that has meaning and purpose;
  • Consumerism and consumption are not proof of an enjoyable life. They are substitutes for an enjoyable life
  • To work for decades at uninspiring jobs (in the hope of, one day, having a happy retirement) is a notion both outdated and uninspiring;
  • There are, simply, too many myths about retirement;
  • The courage to walk away from an empty, unfulfilling career and make the leap to a meaningful life is more rewarding than it is rare;
  • It is both surprising and inspiring to realize how few material possessions you need when living a meaningful life;
  • 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, by 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;
  • There is only one meaningful drumbeat to march to, and that is the one 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, honesty, laughter, potential, and possibility;
  • Money is just another of life’s ingredients, and it’s one that cannot 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. Making the leap to your own version of success will;
  • And finally, The Net Present Value of Life means to live fully every day, to turn work into play, and to never, ever stop pursuing your passion.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

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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.


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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.



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May 10, 2010

They’re getting me talking now



They’re asking me to speak.

Folk are,

Asking me to speak at various events.

Later this week, in Halifax.

Then Ottawa on May 28 and June 19.

“Talk about what’s in the book,” They say.

Which may have you wonder,

What’s in that book, then, that people want me to talk about it?

Let me answer as briefly as possible (because a lot is already described, here, on this blog. Plus there’s also the book, of course, if you want it all in one place, wrapped up in an entertaining and compelling story).

Okay, let me tell you—succinctly—what I’m going to say at those speaking events.

I’m going to tell folk…

Whatever it is you’d like to do—whatever you’d like to achieve.

If you believe in yourself

Then you can do it.

Don’t wait for permission either.

Just go ahead, and do it.


Oh, and one other thing.

It isn’t about the money.

It never is.

Ideas? Suggestions? Questions? Please leave a comment.

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