"Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." - Steve Jobs (below)
Well, roll me in marinara sauce and slap me with a wet noodle! I cannot believe how much time has passed since I last blogged. And regular blogging is one of my goals for the 2010: Begin Again project. So let’s get back to it . . . and begin again.
First - Happy birthday!
John Charles Bly – JC to his friends and family – turned three this weekend. Yup. My grandson is three years old. It was a simple get together with grandparents, great grandma and his Aunt Kelsea. Some fun gifts and some tasty potluck. It was a good Sunday afternoon.
Sometimes you need to take a chance
A few days ago I received an e-mail from a friend who was interested in an offer included in a newsletter she receives on a regular basis. She asked my opinion, for which I am flattered, as she’s seen some claims that the offer is a scam. Part of my 2010: Begin Again project involves developing a home-based business for many reasons. (I should write about those some time.) As a result, I’ve looked at a lot of things and done a more-than-average amount of research.
Here is my reply to my friend.
This is similar to many things I've looked at. Part of my challenge is I receive so many newsletters and info pieces now that I'm suffering from 'analysis paralysis'. At some point, I need to focus on something and move with it.
As to this offer, do I think it's a scam? That might depend on a person's expectations. I do not believe it's an out-and-out scam to separate people from their money without offering something of value. Without actually seeing the information, I'm guessing it does what it says it will do, but I suspect some people may read into the offer more than what is actually there.
Perhaps it generates higher expectations than it can deliver for those who see it as offering more than it does. In such a case, the person receiving it may perceive it as a scam. But as long as it actually does what it says, even if not to the level some would hope, I would not classify it as a scam.
While it's true there are a million and one scams out there, I think it is also true that there are as many cynics. Some of them will try something half-heartedly, expect great outcomes for little effort, and then be ticked off when they fail and feel a need to blame someone. So they'll claim they were scammed.
Others have claimed something is a scam because the creator of the offer is providing information you could get for free if you did your own research. I don't consider that a scam, though. Sure, maybe you can find it elsewhere if you take the time to do the investigating. But what is your time worth to you?
Suppose you're salary equals $26/hour. What if it takes you 20 hours to gather, research and understand something that can increase your income? If your time is worth $26/hour, that would have been worth $520 to you. If you can pay $175 for that same info, would it be worth it? Is it a scam if someone is selling that info for $175? To me, no.
So what is a scam to one person may not be to another.
During the past couple of weeks I've been reading and watching things that are driving home the point that maybe it's time to leave the comfort zone, step out and take bold action. Here are a couple of things that have been inspiring me.
Highlights from You Were Born Rich, by Bob Proctor. Chap. 7, The Risk Takers.
... just consider the monumental risks which all of our great religious leaders have undertaken during the course of their heroic lives. Then stop and reflect upon the enormous risks which all of our great business leaders have also undertaken, during the span of their illustrious careers. Finally, as you seriously meditate upon these stupendous accomplishments, you will become increasingly aware of the fact that you too must become a risk-taker for you to develop the greatness you were worn with.
For the life of anyone who chooses to live with extreme caution will never amount to anything more than a succession of dull, soporific days, continuing on, without interruption.
You should be aware that as you start engaging in more risk-taking behaviour, the majority of people will be trying to avoid it 'at all costs.'
If we only cast our minds back to the formative years of our own lives, we will soon recognize where this reluctance to engage in risk-taking behaviour has its source.
You too can become a bona fide risk-taker . . . simply by doing the things you have dreamed about - off and on - for months, or possibly even years.
If the truth were to be known, you would dearly love to execute the dream
The simple truth is you can. But in all likelihood, it is going to require a considerable amount of courage on your part.
Begin to visualize yourself as a risk-taker and then start telling yourself you are one.
So even if you should lose everything you own, you still retain the capacity to bounce back, to try once again.
Check out the book to see the entire chapter.
Highlights from Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford commencement speech.
When he was 17, Steve Jobs heard a verse, something like: "If you live each day as it if were your last, someday you'll most certainly be right."
Look in the mirror each morning and ask yourself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" If the answer is 'no' too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Almost everything, all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked, there is no reason not to follow your heart. (Note: This address came a year after Jobs was diagnosed with a form of pancreatic cancer that could be treated. So he's faced the real thing.)
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet, death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it and that’s how it should be because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.
• Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.
• Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking.
• Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.
• And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Check out Steve Jobs for the actual speech. It is great content and will be the best 15 minutes of your day.
Conclusion
2010: Begin Again is really about recognizing the boundaries of our personal comfort zones. Real change can only come when we push at those boundaries and expand beyond our self-imposed limitations. Bob Proctor offers insights into personal greatness. In his speech, Steve Jobs touches on the importance of not letting others necessarily influence you and keep you from following your heart. J.C. is a three-year-old who still finds delight and wonder in the world. What causes you delight and wonder in your life? Perhaps you need to pursue it.
