We live in interesting times. We’re blessed that way.
The world is changing rapidly.
The way we work is changing, the way we live has already changed. Entire industries are crumbling, and more are growing on their ruins. People are empowered to express themselves, to create, to become a part of a global conversation and transformation, in a way that has never existed before.
What will you do with that?
What will your place be in this new, interesting world? Will you have a voice? Will you be a creator, or just a consumer?
Do something.
Do something interesting.
Be a part of the conversation, and say something remarkable. Create something unique, new, beautiful. Build upon the works of others and transform it into your own.
How to do this?
Write a book. Or an ebook. Write poetry and publish it on the web. Create interesting, lovely or funny videos, put them on You Tube. Be passionate. Write a web app that will solve a problem in people’s lives. Become a watchdog to replace the faltering newspapers. Explore the world, and blog about it. Try something you’ve always been afraid to try, and put it on video. Be yourself, loudly. Start a new company, doing only one thing, but doing it very well. Start a business that does a service you’ve always wanted, or that you are frustrated with in other companies because the service sucks. Put your heart into something. Say something that no one else dares to say. Do something others are afraid to do. Help someone no one else cares to help. Make the lives of others better. Make music that makes others want to weep, to laugh, to create. Inspire others by being inspiring. Teach young people to do amazing things. Write a play, get others to act in it, record it. Empower others to do things they’ve never been able to do before. Read, and read, and then write. Love, and love, and then help others to love. Do something good and ask others to pass it on. Be profound. Find focus in a world without it. Become minimalist in a world of dizzying complexity. Reach out to those who are frustrated, depressed, angry, confused, sad, hurt. Be the voice for those without one. Learn, do, then teach. Meet new people, become fast friends. Dare to be wrong. Take lots and lots of pictures. Explore new cultures. Be different. Paint a huge mural. Create a web comic. Be a dork, but do it boldly. Interview people. Observe people. Create new clothes. Take old stuff and make new stuff from it. Read weird stuff. Study the greats, and emulate them. Be interested in others. Surprise people. Start a blog, write at least a little each day. Cook great food, and share it. Be open-minded. Help someone else start a small business. Focus on less but do it better. Help others achieve their dreams. Put a smile on someone’s face, every day. Start an open-source project. Make a podcast. Start a movement. Be brave. Be honest. Be hilarious. Get really, really good at something. Practice a lot. A lot. Start now. Try.
I just read this recently on the Zenhabits blog and it gave me some mixed feelings. Part of me is tired of reading this. This constant telling us what to do. This constant need to sound clever.
But in other more important ways, it resonated with me in a way that I haven't felt in a while. It touched upon a conversation I've been having with myself for the last two months now, which is, am I doing enough with my life? As the saying goes, am I truly living the life I am capable of living? Am I doing enough? Am I learning enough? Am I challenging myself or am I coasting my way through? Am I improving anything around me - my desk, my home, the world? How am I leaving anybody/anything different after I've passed through?
In college, a professor often spoke of what he called the learning curve in life and it's stuck with me ever since then. I've measured every job I've ever had by the learning curve. Leaving when I felt the learning and the buzz were done. But only recently have I realised that I haven't applied the same as strictly to my personal life. I struggle to think of how I've bettered myself in terms of skills or talents or goals I've set myself in the last 4 years, ironically in jobs that have given me the most time to myself. For the longest time, I was obsessed with the idea of travelling the world and everything else around me fell to the wayside. The only skill I've added is that I've begun to cook and bake and I know it's something I enjoy.
So anyway here it goes. The list of what I'd like to accomplish this year in the six months that are left. Not to be the best at, but to learn and to do competently
And most importantly of all, I need to remember that the results are not as important as the process
The world is changing rapidly.
The way we work is changing, the way we live has already changed. Entire industries are crumbling, and more are growing on their ruins. People are empowered to express themselves, to create, to become a part of a global conversation and transformation, in a way that has never existed before.
What will you do with that?
What will your place be in this new, interesting world? Will you have a voice? Will you be a creator, or just a consumer?
Do something.
Do something interesting.
Be a part of the conversation, and say something remarkable. Create something unique, new, beautiful. Build upon the works of others and transform it into your own.
How to do this?
Write a book. Or an ebook. Write poetry and publish it on the web. Create interesting, lovely or funny videos, put them on You Tube. Be passionate. Write a web app that will solve a problem in people’s lives. Become a watchdog to replace the faltering newspapers. Explore the world, and blog about it. Try something you’ve always been afraid to try, and put it on video. Be yourself, loudly. Start a new company, doing only one thing, but doing it very well. Start a business that does a service you’ve always wanted, or that you are frustrated with in other companies because the service sucks. Put your heart into something. Say something that no one else dares to say. Do something others are afraid to do. Help someone no one else cares to help. Make the lives of others better. Make music that makes others want to weep, to laugh, to create. Inspire others by being inspiring. Teach young people to do amazing things. Write a play, get others to act in it, record it. Empower others to do things they’ve never been able to do before. Read, and read, and then write. Love, and love, and then help others to love. Do something good and ask others to pass it on. Be profound. Find focus in a world without it. Become minimalist in a world of dizzying complexity. Reach out to those who are frustrated, depressed, angry, confused, sad, hurt. Be the voice for those without one. Learn, do, then teach. Meet new people, become fast friends. Dare to be wrong. Take lots and lots of pictures. Explore new cultures. Be different. Paint a huge mural. Create a web comic. Be a dork, but do it boldly. Interview people. Observe people. Create new clothes. Take old stuff and make new stuff from it. Read weird stuff. Study the greats, and emulate them. Be interested in others. Surprise people. Start a blog, write at least a little each day. Cook great food, and share it. Be open-minded. Help someone else start a small business. Focus on less but do it better. Help others achieve their dreams. Put a smile on someone’s face, every day. Start an open-source project. Make a podcast. Start a movement. Be brave. Be honest. Be hilarious. Get really, really good at something. Practice a lot. A lot. Start now. Try.
I just read this recently on the Zenhabits blog and it gave me some mixed feelings. Part of me is tired of reading this. This constant telling us what to do. This constant need to sound clever.
But in other more important ways, it resonated with me in a way that I haven't felt in a while. It touched upon a conversation I've been having with myself for the last two months now, which is, am I doing enough with my life? As the saying goes, am I truly living the life I am capable of living? Am I doing enough? Am I learning enough? Am I challenging myself or am I coasting my way through? Am I improving anything around me - my desk, my home, the world? How am I leaving anybody/anything different after I've passed through?
In college, a professor often spoke of what he called the learning curve in life and it's stuck with me ever since then. I've measured every job I've ever had by the learning curve. Leaving when I felt the learning and the buzz were done. But only recently have I realised that I haven't applied the same as strictly to my personal life. I struggle to think of how I've bettered myself in terms of skills or talents or goals I've set myself in the last 4 years, ironically in jobs that have given me the most time to myself. For the longest time, I was obsessed with the idea of travelling the world and everything else around me fell to the wayside. The only skill I've added is that I've begun to cook and bake and I know it's something I enjoy.
So anyway here it goes. The list of what I'd like to accomplish this year in the six months that are left. Not to be the best at, but to learn and to do competently
- Make a great cup of chai to satisfy the standards of my exacting family that expects perfection in every mug that's placed before them
- Take a driving refresher course and drive, drive, drive.
- Join a gym and go regularly six days a week
- Learn how to ice a chocolate cake
- Establish a skin care routine and follow it dutifully
- Write, write, write. At least once a week on the blog
- Take an online course in something I really care
- Complete the project I've been planning for my bedroom wall
And most importantly of all, I need to remember that the results are not as important as the process
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