A breakthrough requires the tough work of internal change. Breaking through is difficult and painful. If we can endure, if we can push through difficulty and keep our heads up, the rewards are incredible. A breakthrough is an act of faith, faith that all we know in any moment is the very next step. The rest of the path is wholly uncertain. If we are committed enough to look fear, rejection, and disappointment in the face and keep going no matter what, then we’re ready for a breakthrough. When the going gets tough, go further.
“Fortune favors only the prepared mind.” ~Louis Pasteur
2014 taught me to expect, and be prepared for, the unexpected. We have to be prepared to recognize fortune when it comes our way and that takes training. Fortune commonly arrives neatly disguised in ways we don’t anticipate. We spend so much time steeling ourselves for disappointment and disaster that we often forget to equally prepare ourselves for remarkable good fortune, too. Be brave. Be positive. Be prepared to be successful.
“Never mistake motion for action.” ~Ernest Hemingway
It’s important to keep moving forward, no matter how slowly. Sometimes I find I’m moving forward rather aimlessly and that’s when I stop to reassess. Where am I trying to go? And why? And how? And with whom? These kinds of questions ensure that I’m not just in motion but that I’m taking action. Action is motion with purpose. And if I find that I’m moving in a direction or along a path that lack this definition of action, or that the action isn’t authentic to who I am and who I want to be, I change direction. My path is winding, but every step is meaningful.
Seniors who met through a virtual community take in a movie together
It’s exciting to see a plethora of companies across industries scooping up new technology and innovating to grow and enhance a sense of community. Here are some of my favorite recent examples:
Subscriptions For a long time I’ve wanted a subscription to a movie theater that would give me unlimited access to one of my favorite pastimes. I came up with all kinds of ideas why this wasn’t possible – impossible to predict when / if a movie time was sold out, crowd control, and the question of profitability all came to mind. Much to my surprise, and delight!, AMC Theaters is giving it a go with MoviePass. Starting in Boston and Denver, the movie chain will offer a movie-a-day subscription for $35 – $45. I can’t wait for them to get to my city. With my movie going habit, this subscription will be well worth it. Of course the chain hopes that this type of program will lure people out of their comfy homes and back into the immersive world of big screens. I hope so, too!
The sharing economy We have a number of services that allow us to share durable goods such as cars, lawn equipment, and power tools. But what about delicious, local, and healthy perishables? Is there a way to reinvent the barter system of food among farmers so common in the markets of a long ago age? Crop swaps are popping up from the Bay Area to New Haven, and they’re growing in popularity. Coordinating events online, farmers, professionals and hobbyists, swap their homegrown goodies, stories, and tips, and delight in a homemade life.
Senior living If the idea of a nursing home or a retirement community makes you cringe, you’re not alone. Now that so many seniors are healthier much further into their golden years, they want to stay in their homes. But they also want companionship and purposeful ways to spend their time. Enter Virtual Villages—robust online spaces that have a relatively low yearly membership fee for seniors to meet other seniors who are interested in getting together in the real world, to get advice, and to find resources that can help with tasks like walking the dog, getting the gutters cleaned, and weeding the garden.
These examples provide ways to think about technology, new and not so new, as a means to build community, drive revenue, and delight customers. Technology is a catalyst for change. With insight and the genuine desire to serve, it can be used as a force for good for all.
Dr. E.O. Wilson examining plant gall, Walden Pond, Massachusetts
Whether you’re a scientist or not, young or not-so-young, Dr. E.O. Wilson’s book, Letters to a Young Scientist, is a primer in how to building a meaningful life from a purpose-driven career. I first encountered Dr. Wilson’s work as one of the most esteemed biologists in the world while I was a fundraiser at Conservation International. Dr. Wilson is a member of the board of directors and in many ways was (and probably still is) a supreme guiding light of the organization’s strong science basis. I picked up his slim volume to read how he addresses a young audience in search of meaning. What I found was much more than I expected.
On opportunity “Opportunity is [now] broader, but more demanding.” This was a light bulb line for me. We have more opportunity now than past generations thanks to technology, the democratization of knowledge and learning thanks to the growth of the Internet, and the rapid and extensive sharing of inspirational stories. Dr. Wilson explains why we now struggle more to seize opportunity—with great privilege comes great competition and an even greater need for commitment and determination.
“When you select a domain of knowledge…go where the least action is happening…observe the fray from a distance…consider making your own fray.” This is my favorite bit in the book. We’re so quick to rush to a field that is gaining traction and popularity but if we really want to have an impact, it’s best to go where no one else is going.
“Imagine looking back on your life. What do you want to be known for?” Imagine yourself at the very end of your life. When you’re rocking in a chair and watching the sun set for the very last time, what do you want to remember and what do you want to be remembered for? Work your way back to the present day from there and follow the breadcrumbs that you’ve left to guide the way.
On determination and passion “The more difficult the problem, the greater the likely importance of its solution.” When the going gets tough, we think of giving up. Dr. Wilson encourages the opposite. When the going gets tough, go further.
“Decision and hard work based on enduring passion will never fail you…put passion ahead of training.” Education is only valuable if we are educated in something that lights us up. Figure out what you care about and then obtain the training to make it into a career.
“Waste and frustration often attend the earliest stages.” It’s always easiest to give up early on. That’s the stage where we need the most determination—when something isn’t going well. Doubt is a powerful deterrent and formidable opponent. That second step, the one that we have to take when all of our early hard work feels wasted, is the one that hurts the most. Take it anyway.
Passion and curiosity are skills we all need in abundance, especially given the current state of our world. There’s plenty of engaging work for all of us if we know where to look.
“Amidst the worldly comings and goings, observe how endings become beginnings.” ~Tao Te Ching
There’s a lot of talk about making endings in beginnings, but how does it actually happen? Here’s what’s worked for me:
I spend some time to consider what actually learned in the goodbye so I can use that knowledge in my next hello.
I take the emotion out of it. I let myself feel all my feelings about the ending, and then I really let them completely pass. I don’t take those emotions into my next beginning.
I trade fear for excitement. There’s a fine line between the two, and I try to focus on the positives of a new journey.
I remember the tough parts that caused me to say goodbye to the old.
I ask for help. I have a small circle of people who really encourage me along my new paths and their belief in my gives me confidence to keep going.
I have faith in myself and in the journey. There’s a Buddhist teaching that says every moment contains exactly the lesson we need exactly when we need it. I’ve embraced that philosophy. The Universe works undercover in ways that I don’t always understand in the outset. But when I look back on my life I’m able to see the purpose for everything. I have faith that this will always be the case. Life makes sense in reverse. I trust the timing of my life unconditionally.
Have you turned an ending into a beginning? How did you do it?
Disneyland will never be complete. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world. ~Walt Disney
Disney directly supervised the construction of the original Disneyland in a single year. Handel wrote Messiah, one of the most beloved and popular pieces of holiday music, in 24 days. Whenever I feel crunched for time, I think about these two examples. They remind me that time isn’t my issue; it’s a matter of focus, discipline, and determination. If Disney and Handel can complete these enormous tasks in such a short amount of time, then certainly I have the time to finish whatever projects I have on my plate. I take a couple deep breaths and get back to work knowing that time is on my side.
Alice in Wonderland – my inspiration to believe in the impossible
On Friday, I had a meeting with someone who explained his definition of vision: “It’s something that keeps us constantly reaching; a place we never really get to. And if by chance, we do reach our vision then we know that we haven’t dreamed big enough.” His idea intrigued me. I’d never heard it put quite that way before. It caused me to think that maybe I’ve been selling myself short; perhaps I haven’t dreamed big enough. And maybe it’s time. Can I make 2015 a year of wonderful and inspiring impossibles? I guess I won’t know unless I try.
This week, I started my research on Orlando’s business community. When I lived here a decade ago, the idea of an Orlando business community was a bit of a pipe dream. What a difference 10 years can make. I don’t know much about the landscape here so I started with a simple strategy—I contacted all of the companies on the “2014 best places to work in Orlando” list published by American City Business Journals. (They probably have something similar for your city, too!) I sent off a simple email that explained my interest in what they do and a bit about what I do.
Within 10 minutes, I got a response back from a business owner and we set up a brief phone chat. His company wasn’t the right fit for a content creator like me, but he gave me the names of 5 other companies that he thought would be. (Incredibly generous on his part!) After our brief chat, I immediately emailed all of the contacts he gave me. 24 hours later, all 5 had responded positively asking to meet me, set up a phone chat, or refer me to another company they felt would be a good contact for me.
This same strategy has worked for me as I’ve slowly but surely worked my way through the channels at a certain very large and highly-matrixed company that has *just a few* theme parks here in Central Florida. I’m in the midst of the (very long) interview process though all of those contacts have been made by directly emailing leaders at the company whose work interests me, not by applying to any public postings.
For me, the lesson has been clear: whether it’s freelance work or a new job, we can’t wait for postings. Being proactive and highly engaged is the name of the game, especially in a new city. If someone writes something, builds something, or talks about something that interests you, reach out, connect, and see if there’s a way to collaborate. It takes some effort, but is ultimately much more fruitful than endlessly sifting through job postings. Don’t wait for the job, or collaborative business partner, you want to become available. Create your own opportunities.
“The only good thing about pounding your head against a wall is when you stop.” Robert Spekman, my marketing professor in my Darden MBA program, said this during one of our classes almost 10 years ago. I repeat this line to myself almost daily because I like messy, complex challenges without clear answers. I guess it’s the adventuress in me.
Author Ray Bradbury once said, “Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.” We can’t force realization.
Once I’ve gone ’round the mulberry bush to the point of dizziness, I do anything but sit down and try to reason through the challenge at-hand.Take a walk. Write. Paint a picture. Do a jigsaw puzzle. The sooner I do that, the sooner I find the answer I need. The older I get the more I understand that the answers I really need are those that start in the heart. What the heart speaks, the head eventually understands.
Christa Avampato 