The Work is Being Yourself

In the world of 5 year plans, over optimisation and trying to climb the ladder - there is an alternative contradicting philosophy. I used to have on my wall goals and dreams and every vision you could imagine. I would continually think about the jobs I wanted, comparing myself to others in positions above me.

And that served me. To a point.

But now I think back, 10 years ago, I used to sit in my parents house at the kitchen bench at 5am watching end of game situations on NBA league pass and diagramming those plays in a binder. That was purely out of self interest, not following a career path or plan - the best kind of intrinsic motivation.

We are told to take linear steps, and plan and be productive - but realistically creativity comes from the most uncommon places. Down in deep in dark rabbit holes.

That's how I want to live my life, purely out of intrinsic motivation. Not doing anything out of obligation, to get a certain place. I want to get paid for being me - so I can pursue what I want in it's full manifestation and creativity.

"I set out my life to expend my energy in things I derive tremendous intrinsic pleasure from doing." - Jim Collins

What an amazing intention to have.

Jason Fried, an American entrepeneur and the CEO of BaseCamp, with an estimated net worth of over $60 million he has done that through having a business a unique business philosophy:

• Build products for yourself, you are the customer. You are the audience.

• I don't believe in long term planning, I believe in being around for the long term. We do that day by day.

• Keep it small, keep it flexible. So I can do what I want to do.

• Make things as simple as possible, as easy as possible.

By building products for yourself, you are living in self expression not in the world of pleasing others.

Being comfortable with what you've built, that's a very peaceful place to be.

Because the more successful you become, the more opportunities try and pull you away from the things you wanted to do in the first place.

The great writer, is now pulled to do more podcasts, more speaking and more marketing.

The Head Coach is pulled to do more media, more management and less basketball.

Remind yourself, what is it that YOU want to do?

The audience comes last.

The Danger of Sunk Cost

Once we reach a certain point, a certain title, amount of years invested on a path or a certain income there becomes the mindset that we can't go backwards or laterally from that. We are clinging to an identity, overvaluing past effort at the potential expense of future value.

Even though over all those years who you are has changed through your own experiences, you're not going to be open to what's in front of you because you're stuck on the maybe the wrong ladder.

Salihl Bloom, Author of the 5 Types of Wealth said:

"But the worst thing in the world isn't being on a bad path.

The worst thing in the world is being on a good path that isn't yours.

The bad path screams at you every single day to get off, to change course. It's obvious. The good path that isn't yours is much more challenging. There are plenty of reasons to stay, so most will do just that."

The biggest risk in life is not doing what you want, on the bet that you can or will do it in the future.

The Dips of Life

The times in my life where I hated who I am, why was that?

Always the monotony of repetitious working. No exercise. No writing. No sunlight. No creativity. No social life. No joy.

A broken fragile identity house.

That's why the best work is truly being yourself in all corners of your life.

Coherence.

Don't talk yourself into success as it's own reward.

Never lose what's great about what you are doing, right now.

WayFinding

The ancient art of figuring out where you are going, when you don't actually know your destination. All you need is a compass and direction.

I want to be on a journey of wayfinding, following the clues of engagement and energy.

Not be pulled by mimetic desire.

"Intuition is our most valuable compass in the world." - Josh Waitzkin

Direction is often felt before it can be explained.