Well we didn't win the $93 million dollar jackpot in the California lottery this past Saturday (I threw in a few bucks at a client site employee pool). Although that's certainly not the closest I've ever been to being a millionaire (that was back in 2000), it made me question whether I would do anything at all differently in my life had I instantly been transformed into multi-millionaire Saturday.
I think the answer is no. I decided after the start-up imploded that I was done waiting to hit it big to do what it was I wanted to do. (Ughh, the next question is what exactly would that look like?) The money was supposed to buy freedom. I was going directly to freedom regardless.
I wasn't intending to write this post but it ties into Awareness Mondays. Matt at [non]billablehour's Think Tank Tuesdays question provoked me to write.
The first big question is: What one thing could I do to completely transform my business?
Good question. I think I'll hit upon the answers to these questions if I devote myself to doing what The Highest Goal by Michael Ray recommends trying for a full week:
Do only what you love and love everything that you do.
Yikes. Michael Ray, the Stanford prof whom teaches the Personal Creativity in Business courses has his students do this exercise, writes:
You don't need to do anything in particular. Just be fully in the world, holding your vision and allowing your purpose in life to come into focus. Throughout the week, or whatever time period you do this live-with, increase the amount of time (coming as close to one hundred percent as possible) spent only in activities that meet at least one of the following criteria:the activity is easy, effortless and enjoyable;
the activity is intrinsically meaningful to you;
the activity feels natural to do;
the activity makes time go by quickly;
the activity is something you look forward to;
the activity makes you feel good about yourself;
there is nothing you would rather be doing;
you enjoy the activity for itself, not simply as a means to an end;
you have the sense that you are contributing to the fulfillment of your purpose in life. [As for the love everything you do part; much more difficult for moi:] See difficult activities that you have to do in a larger context of your goals.
I challenge and invite you to try this live-with for a week. If that feels like too much, consider this sounding board practice this week:
Spend more time in attentive silence. Don't radically shift your schedule around to accomplish this. During your commute, turn off the radio and notice what's around you. Wash dishes without turning on the TV. While gardening or hiking, go alone and leave the Walkman behind - look around. Don't use this as an opportunity to have your mind race off to solve all your problems. Mulling, stewing, pontificating, strategizing, rehearsing scripts isn't attentive silence. Try focusing and observing what's right in front of your eyes. Next week I'll talk more about attentive silence and why it's a sounding board practice.
I'll report next Tuesday (after Labor Day) on how this particular live-with week went for me. Good luck if you accepted my invite!
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