I recently recalled a conversation I had with Corbett on our way back from Portland and the World Domination Summit several months ago.
On the plane, there was a young lady a few rows in front of us feverishly working on a PowerPoint presentation that admittedly looked boring as all hell, with too many words, graphics, and colors to make any logical sense at a glance.
Though I didn’t have to do any PowerPoint presentations at my old job, I thought about all the other things I had to do that I wasn’t very fond of.
The traditional job world always felt like a maze to me. Either that, or a hamster wheel… getting instruction, producing output, doing it all over again, day after day. I was always looking for the big wrap-up, but it was like a stale, recurring dream with no end in sight.
All the seemingly unimportant tasks, the work that needed to be completed NOW NOW NOW and the internal clients who made those requests, the unavoidable feeling of confusion and having to ask, “What’s the point of all this?”
—
I was in a dream-like state, recalling this old life of mine that seemed to have ended years back (but in reality was only 2.5 months ago at the time) when I quietly declared I would much rather wonder where my next rent payment will come from, than die a little inside with each passing day.
The feeling of dying on the inside when you’re in a position of hopelessness is unavoidable. I knew I was on the wrong path when I was at a job. I could tell I was meant to do other things, but when you’re stuck, all roads out look intimidating, dark, and uncertain. One can’t help but conjure up thoughts of failure, confusion, possibly homelessness.
In reality, things never turn out that bad.
That feeling of being alive, however, is infectious. It invades your every thought, your every minute, every single thing you create. There’s a hunger that awakens and a confidence that grows with every little win.
It’s about what you’re meant to do
It’s not about quitting a job if you like it, it’s not about running marathons if you hate running, it’s about taking the time to really discover what it is you’re meant to do. Perhaps the whole picture isn’t clearly visible, but it’s your job to uncover the rest of it, little by little.
It’s about pursuing the sweet spot, that intersection where your passions, skill, and potential for profitability meet. It’s about attacking opportunity and venturing out further than you thought possible, to a place where it’s a bit uncomfortable. Discomfort is simply an opportunity to grow and learn, so embrace it.
Constantly reassess your life
Who says you have to stay at your job? If you’re a homeless drug addict, who says you have to stay that way? No one. You can change your circumstances. It may not be a walk in the park, but it’s not impossible. Change comes one step at a time, day after day. It’s work, but it’s worth it.
You have one life
Wherever you are in your life right now, this is it. This is your life. Are you content? Are you where you want to be? Are you really happy, or are you just telling yourself you are?
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