Jack Canfield said “One of the reasons most people don’t get what they want out of life is that they fail to decide and define in clear detail what it actually is that they want.”.
I would say it a different way. You can’t fearlessly pursue what you haven’t clearly articulated.
In clearly defining and stating the things you want, there is a fine balance between reinforcing your goals in everything you do and appearing self-centered and materialistic. This is a battle that I have fought since I was very young, as my parents taught me early on that I could do and be anything that I wanted and I actually believed it. Nothing wrong with that, right? Well, much to my surprise, that same confidence that is the foundation of my fearlessness was often misinterpreted by others as arrogance. That was very frustrating for me, as I thought that the only way to change that perception was to not appear confident and I couldn’t legitimately behave that way.
I have learned over the years that it is essential as a part of this journey to show your heart to others and not just your determination and drive. Although completely counterintuitive, I believe that vulnerability is actually strength. Hence the transparency of this very blog and of my radio show.
Back to knowing where you are going. For me, if what I do only produces incremental change, it is likely that I will get bored with the endeavor. I want to be a part of changing the world and having significant impact (aka, Purpose).
I have always been an iconoclast, breaking the mould and being dissatisfied with the status quo. That has been true with my various roles when I was still a part of Corporate America and it was equally true when I consulted.
Now that I am building technology for the travel industry, I am solving big problems that have been ignored by my industry and then am giving back of my profits to charity. As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog about Purpose, trait #2, I call that changing the world, one trip at a time.
I may have to wait longer than most to see the fruits of my labors, but I know that when I do “arrive” that the journey will have been worth it. Long term, I want to be the CEO of a well funded company, based in Tampa. In the short term, I know that I want to fund what I am doing on my own, without obligation to outside investors. That came out of my experience losing $6m of an investor’s money to a spectacular failure in my first technology company.
This time it is all on me. (see Trait #1)
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Did you miss the previous blogs in this series?
Knowing your purpose – #2 of 25
Taking responsibility – #1 of 25
