“‘Irrational Personal Passion’ is the heart of effective entrepreneurship.” ~ Tom Peters
You have an idea. A wonderful, beautiful, sparkly idea. After much crafting and nurturing, you slowly begin to release it out into the world. You tell one person, and then another, and then another. You hope for praise and encouragement and much rejoicing. And there is that one person (or in my case, there are many people) who tell you your idea just won’t work because of reasons A – Z. And what do you do? You smile.
You’re on to something. You’ve hit a nerve. You’ve found a new way of seeing the world. Now you’re getting somewhere.
Some people give up in the face of criticism and negativity. You? You keep rising. You take all that energy that people put into tearing down your idea and use it make yourself, and your idea, stronger. Plow ahead. Reach higher. Go further. Irrational passion is the only thing that has ever caused true, lasting, meaningful change. Without it, we’ll never be anything more than we already are. Irrational passion is the fuel of progress.
“My actions are my only true belongings.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
I know this to be true. Over 3 years ago, I lost almost all of my possessions and nearly my life in an apartment building fire. In an instant I learned the deep truth of that old adage “it’s just stuff.” If it had gone another way, if I hadn’t gotten out in time, all that would have remained of me would have been the results of my actions and the people who remembered them.
So there is no time like the present. It’s the only time we have. Do something with it. Make something beautiful that matters.
In the spirit of my new year’s resolution to fearlessly go after every dream I have, I’ll write every day about this journey. In 2012 I took the leap into a life of my own design. I spent a lot of time entrenched in the critical processes of planning and experimenting. In 2013 I will breathe life into those plans. I’ll roll up my sleeves, get out into the world, and actually build those dreams with my own two tiny hands because at heart I am a Maker.
Poet Mary Oliver poses the question, “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” In this new year, I mean to answer that question not in words, but in beautiful, thoughtful, passionate actions.
I’m so glad you’re here to share this experience. I hope it inspires you to take up the call to create. In 2013, what will you make?
I read this article in the Harvard Business Review yesterday. The author surveyed 30 professionals from 28 to 58 to ask them about their deepest career regrets. I was surprised by the results. In short, they wish they hadn’t taken jobs based on money, had quit earlier to start their own businesses, and had trusted their gut when it came to their careers.
These results encouraged me. As we wind down 2012, I’m making some decisions about where my career will go next. Should I keep freelancing? Should I take a full-time or long-term contract role that has some flexibility so that I can still teach and pursue my creative projects?
I only know one thing for sure – I’m glad I made the leap on June 15th. I’m glad I stepped away from my corporate job to try out this new chapter of my career. This HBR article confirmed for me that no matter what happens next, I will never have to wonder what would have happened if I trusted my gut, quit my job, started my own business, and followed my dream instead of a paycheck. I did all of those things and everything turned out just fine.
We can’t always logically explain our actions. On paper, it looked like a less-than-smart idea to leave my very good job for the sake of following my heart. I just knew when I came back from India that I had to take this adventure and that I needed to take it now. The decision defied any sense of reason. I just knew that I had to take this time and that I had to take this chance, no matter what the outcome.
I much prefer the risk of trying something new over the risk of regret.
As I was scrolling through Pinterest yesterday in search of an image for another piece I’m writing, I came across this image of a small boy making his way up a seemingly endless staircase. He’s determined – knees lifted, arms pumping, no sign of slowing down.
How many times do we stop mid-step in our journey to gaze up at just how far we have to go? Our nerves get the best of us. We wonder if we can really make it to the top. Maybe we should just turn around now, save the effort and the energy. Is the rest of the climb really worth it, especially if we don’t know what the world will look like from way up there in the great beyond? Isn’t this spot where we are right now good enough?
Maybe, but personally I like to know my options. I want to see the world from way up high, knowing that I can always stroll back down if I want to. I’m too curious to give up the climb; too in love with the journey itself to turn away from possibility.
Don’t let the height of that staircase, nor the effort it requires, keep you from going further. Don’t think about the top; just think about the next step. One by one, take them in stride, and enjoy the experience that each one offers.
Vertical staircases at the foot of Mt. Huashan, China
Difficulty is good for us.
Yesterday I was reading an article in Intelligent Life, an Economist publication, entitled “The Uses of Difficulty” by Ian Leslie. He gives examples, mostly from the music industry, that depict challenges and difficulties as gifts that we should seek out, even create, for the benefit of our growth. At first glance this argument sounds like something akin to the benefits of brussels sprouts, but I was intrigued by the argument (and I happen to love brussels sprouts) so I kept reading.
In yoga, we search for that magical space between effort and ease. At first, I thought that’s where Ian was going but he took this idea to a whole new level. He presents scientific evidence that shows we actually benefit cognitively from doing things that are difficult, that do not come naturally to us. The benefits are so stark that he suggests purposely creating difficulty even when we find ease. This theory flies in the face of the idea that we should play to our strengths, or at least the idea that we should always play to our strengths.
This article also has the wheels of my mind spinning around the concept of short-term versus long-term benefits. Should we accept, even relish, short-term challenge because in the long-term it makes us more creative, intelligent, quick, strong, resilient, and, let’s face it, interesting? Is discomfort today worth triumph tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow?
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ~ W.B. Yeats
On Sunday, I went to a housewarming party and happily saw some of my wonderful former co-workers, now friends. Most have left the company where we worked together and we all talked about finding our next great adventure in the world of work. One person finished up at the company on Friday and really wanted to know if there was as much opportunity out there as he’s heard. My answer was an emphatic “YES!”
The synchronicity of this Yeats quote flying into my inbox this morning was not lost on me. I’m in the midst of a short but intense freelance assignment in addition to my responsibilities at Sesame Workshop, PBS, and Compass Yoga. This morning I had to turn down my first freelance assignment for the sole reason that over the next week or so I have a completely full, well-compensated plate. And then we’re into the holidays when I plan to spend an inordinate amount of quality time with my family and friends, sans work.
I promise you that there are magical, joyful, blow-you-mind unbelievable opportunities floating all around you. So many that you’ll have your pick. They are like fireflies on the warmest summer nights. They are begging to be seen, recognized, and acted upon. By you. To see them, you must let go of your fears about finding them. You must trust the process – commit to finding a new kind of living and working. Then, the opportunities will be so obvious that you’ll wonder why you waited so long. Once you leap, they will be there to light your way.
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” ~ Mary Oliver
I walk through the world with my eyes and ears wide open. I take in as much information as I can, even if I’m not sure how or when or why it would be useful. I love those moments when I realize that something I saw, read, or learned years ago is now immediately relevant in my life. It really strengthens my faith in the power of curiosity and makes me wonder if there is always some divine work at play.
Are we given lessons now so that we acquire knowledge and experience that we will need many years down the road? Is today’s challenge preparing us to meet tomorrow with the increased sense of vigor and determination that we will need to get through?
Questions like this make any difficulty I face more palpable. Time and time again in my life, I’ve seen how this plays out. There are no coincidences. If I am willing to be a student in every experience, there is always something to learn that is useful down the line. Even the challenges. Especially the challenges. They are tough to live through but my goodness do they teach us better than any circumstance of our own design.
We innovate because we are challenged. We rise up because something attempts to keep us down. We reach out to others with empathy and compassion because we understand the circumstances they face and because someone gave us a hand up when we really needed it.
Awareness helps us to wake up to the gifts that this Universe has to offer, even if those gifts are cloaked in packages that seem undesirable. Pay attention to what the world offers – it’s found its way to our path for a reason. Our job is to make each of these lessons useful.
I love this decree by the Hopi Elders. There are many internet comments that say this was not written by the Hopi Elders even though it is heavily influenced by their sentiments. No matter. The sentiment is beautiful and worth sharing. When I read it yesterday I actually teared up a bit. It invites deep reflection followed by courageous action. Beware – you may feel highly inclined to better yourself in any and every way after the last line.
“You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of The river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word STRUGGLE; from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
“I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” ~ Philip Yancey via my pal, Lisa, the lovely Charmed Yogi
About a year and a half ago, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at developing an independent consulting practice to freelance full-time on projects that are meaningful to me. A meticulous personal financial planner, I knew it would take me a year to put away enough money to feel comfortable to make this leap with my whole heart. I knew the final number I needed to have in the bank and set up monthly savings goals to reach it.
I made a deal with myself that I would try this lifestyle for 6 months, working my tail off to try to make ends meet. If I could cover all of my expenses by the end of 6 months, then I could keep going. If I couldn’t, I would look for full-time work again. And just to keep things interesting, I had to be very passionate about the freelance assignments I took.
June 15th of this year was Leap Day for me. I had my Mary Tyler Moore moment, wished my former employer a fond farewell, and off I went into the great big world of freelancing. While much of that time has been as close to career nirvana as I’ve ever had, these last few weeks have been slightly fraught with anxiety. December 15th is quickly approaching. I have turned down a fair amount of work because I just didn’t feel passionate about it. There were a couple of assignments I deeply wanted to secure that didn’t come to pass. I started to realize that I may not reach my goal, despite my very best efforts. A full-time job search looked inevitable.
And then in 24 hours it all turned around. I’m elated, over-the-moon, pleased as punch, ecstatic, and grateful beyond measure that I started a short-term assignment yesterday that put me in the black. With a couple of weeks to spare, I hit my goal of covering all of my expenses with freelance work by December 15th. I even have a little bit extra to put back into my savings and this gig has the potential to create a steady stream of wonderful, well-paid work into 2013.
Thank you so much to everyone who believed that this lifestyle could work for me, who cheered me on, who shared in this incredible journey in so many ways. I am humbled by your belief in me and deeply appreciative of the encouragement. I’ll find some way to say thank you that reflects just how much your support means to me. Happy holidays indeed!
I read 
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” ~ Mary Oliver
Christa Avampato 