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Success

What’s Next?

Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Success, Where to begin

When the arrival of the future you want will be determined by something you can’t control, what do you when the result your waiting for doesn’t come? The first time. The second time. The third time….

When that game changing factor:
the investor;
the audience;
the love of your life;
the recognition;
the once-in-a-lifetime win;
doesn’t come through?

What next?

Change bearings or stay the course?

Some would say let it go. It’s a fool that keeps hoping for a lost cause. Find another dream that is not dependent of random good fortune falling your way. But when you hear that advice, you have to wonder if the person dishing it out has ever had a dream they’ve really been sold out for. In your world, you know full well that giving up that dream is an incredibly difficult, painful, and gut-wrenching call to make.

Whatever your decision remember that it is indeed your choice. Time marches on regardless of the road you take and all will eventually reach a point where going back is no longer an option. So, despite how crazy the dream might sound to someone else, the only person you really need to convince of its merit is yourself. The only way to understand its merits is to fully understand the ramifications of the choice.

If you fail, you will have to be the one to wrestle through it.

If the dream turns out to be less than you expected, you must be the one to resolve the difference.

If you succeed, you will be the one who will have to decide how much you’ll let the accomplishment change you (because it will).

This not a message to give up. It’s your call to attention.

Seek out the consul of friends, meditate, research, learn the stories of the giants who have gone before – do what it takes to make sure that before you commit your heart and soul, the dream is really worth the sacrifice. Above all else, be prepared with your answer to “what’s next?”.

Creating Space

Thursday, 21 March 2013
Challenge, Success

14 days ago, several friends of mine gathered a bunch of us together to pitch an idea to make Easter a more meaningful time for our city. Their goal, to become “our” goal, was to build a public art installation within 2 weeks based around 7 interactive pieces. From scratch, in an inner city space that has never played host to such a thing before, and attempted by people who don’t consider themselves artists.

The Oil Press Project was born.

2 weeks later, after more than 150hrs of work, 7 pieces were installed ready for the wider world to engage and enjoy. On time and with smiles still on our faces.

This is a  huge moment for us.

It cost us late-late nights, early starts, and demanded that we dip into unknown reserves of creativity and intuition to bring to life thought provoking works. All in the hope that our city might get something from the experience.

All for free; all done for the love of it.

How will the project space be received? The next 9 days will reveal. But for me, the mammoth achievement is already reached - simply following through on, and enjoying every moment of, a very scary, very audacious endeavour. An amazing experience, and perhaps even a defining one for the group.

Ain’t It Good?

Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Inspire, Success, Where to begin

Ain’t it good to be alive?
Not feeling that way?
It can seem as if you have a problem when trying to make a fist at life feels more like a chore than an adventure.
Perhaps now is the perfect time to step back from what your doing, take a guilt free day off from work and the responsibilities of the daily grind, to consciously fuel up on the sweeter parts of your life that you too often seems to run out of time for.
Engage nature, take your oldest friend out for lunch, or woo your partner for the day.
The world is only a fit place for you when you’re engaging it with an equal measure of energy and deliberateness. Fall of the pace with living out what your made for and it’s time to remind yourself how great things can be when you’re contributing your best, most generous self.

3 Days In Sydney

Monday, 25 February 2013
Musing, Success, Where to begin

I just spent a brilliant weekend in Sydney, Australia where I was reminded of some important lessons I’ve learned along the way.

1 – There is real relational potency in being able to share your personal story well. It makes forming new connections significantly easier. Like a little oil on a cog, a clear picture of your life narrative makes slipping into a smooth conversational rhythm seem that much more natural. Knowing your story means being aware of the parts you’re comfortable being vulnerable with and being able to share where your genuine passion lies.

2 – Everyone has a story but it might just take a few warm-ups to get to it. Fight the urge to write people off if they fail to fire the first time you meet them. First impressions aren’t always accurate and if I was never given the chance to loosen up in a conversation, I would never be known by anyone. Remember everyone has gold to share. Just because it’s not easy to spot doesn’t mean it’s not there.

3 – Relax, be conscious of the moment, and don’t trust everything you feel. Easier said than done, right!

Sometimes feelings of awkwardness, insecurity, or just plan tiredness, hinder us from embracing positive new experiences. Meeting new people can sometimes feel this way for me. But when I don’t dwell on how I’m feeling and instead focus on finding the gold in someone else, I’m always more than fine.

Make stepping out of your comfort zone, your comfort zone. It might be turning a stranger into a friend, committing to write a book, or facilitating a workshop, but whatever it is, as soon as you let go of the idea that “failure to perform is fatal“, you can start to enjoy the buzz that comes from taking on something new and reap the long-term payoff of growing your capacity to live wide awake.

Deep Pockets & Second Chances

Thursday, 21 February 2013
Success
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Have you ever made a pact just between you and your maker – an “if you do” “I will” promise?

Perhaps in a desperate time you’ve whispered a proposal that if you could just be spared, given another shot, shown just a little bit of favour that you’ll do better on the next time around?

Chancing your hand for a bit of leniency in trying circumstances.

Searching for a little bit of grace.

For the many times I’ve found myself there, I’m always aware that:

A) It’s usually on myself that I’m in the predicament I’m in; and,

B) I’ve already been down the same road before.

It’s never a comfortable feeling to be aware you’ve made the same avoidable misjudgment over and again.

Just as well the one at other end of the bargain seems to have some really deep pockets when it comes to dishing out second chances.