19 Mar The Most Dangerous (& Unfounded) Risk of Attempting to Do Work You Love
“The biggest risk is doing nothing.”
After last week’s post on Creating More & Consuming Less, I noticed one very common response. It’s actually become a bit of a broken record over the past few years.
It all boils down to one word: Risk
A common response goes something like this:
“Thanks for the inspiration to get me creating things and doing work I love. But my situation is different. There’s just too much at stake to take that kind of a risk right now. I’m not some carefree single 23-year-old. I have too much to lose. Plus I don’t think I’m quite ready to start creating.”
Their excuses go on…
- I’m too old
- I’m too young
- I don’t have enough experience
- People won’t value the things I create
- My mortgage is too high
- I don’t have the support from the people around me
- I have kids and a family to support
- And on and on depending on how creative you are
The thing is these are all still excuses.
And after reading The Alchemist for the 7th time while in a jungle lodge in Northern Thailand last week (I reread it on most international trips), the topic of finding reasons to put off dreams could not be more front of my mind. In fact the name Live Your Legend was a direct result of reading the book while fly fishing in Patagonia a few years ago.
You see, the only difference between the people who do something meaningful and the ones who sit in complacency as another 20 years go by is simple.
They don’t let excuses stop them.
Living Legends find reasons for change that are more compelling than reasons to stay the same.
I don’t care how big or crazy or permanent your excuse is, I guarantee you can find someone who faced your same situation (and likely worse) and did something epic with it.
But excuses are not my main frustration (although they’re pretty high up there).
What really gets me is this idea of “Risk.”
People hear about the work we do at Live Your Legend and talk about how there’s just too much risk involved in making a change.
But what risk are they talking about?
You’re missing the point.
I’m not suggesting all of you go out and quit your job tomorrow, mortgage your home and start some brand new business, with your whole livelihood hanging on the edge.
Entrepreneurship is a great fit for some people. I happen to love it. But many aren’t cut out for the insane emotional swings and all else that comes with it. Or maybe you don’t have any interest in starting your own thing.
That’s fine.
This is not about starting your own business. For some of you it might be, but that’s not the message.
What this is about is swapping your life story from one of the victim to one of the protagonist, to the one who’s actually in charge.
This starts with recognizing you are in a bad place – with work, life, whatever. Then comes making a change.
As it turns out, in a great majority of the cases a tiny shift in your work environment – in the people you spend time with, in the skills you use or don’t use, in the passions you employ – can make a dramatic improvement in your fulfillment in what you do. Literally a 10% shift could cause 90% improvement in how you experience each work day.
Living Your Legend isn’t necessarily about huge changes. At least not in the beginning.
It’s about stopping the broken record of misery and doing something about it. About slowly becoming the hero of your own story.
It’s about deciding to learn everything you can about your life experiences and who you really are and what you really want, and then steadily pushing yourself to new levels, ever so slightly, and deciding to surround yourself with the people who make it possible.
Living Your Legend, more than anything, is about a mindset – a belief that passionate work is possible for you. And not only possible, but probable, if you commit to it.
What’s the risk in making that decision?
Really think about that.
Maybe you quit to try something more meaningful. Maybe it doesn’t work out. It sometimes doesn’t. But it’s all learning and at the very least you can congratulate yourself on killing the victim and being proactive.
Think about what your real worst cast scenario is. For most it’s ending up back in their old job and life – right where many of you might be today. If your worst case is your current case, then what the hell do you really have to lose?
Yes, I know the timing isn’t perfect. It never is. It never will be.
So by default, that means it’s always the right time.
And I’m not asking you to quit tomorrow or take out a second mortgage to fund the new business. That’s your decision – and rarely necessary, especially at first.
What I am asking you is to do something. Anything. To get you closer to experiencing who you are, and putting a dent in the world that only you’re capable of.
That is why we must all start creating value absolutely as soon as possible.
Sure, at first others might not see a lot of value in what you offer (they never do in the beginning) — even more reason to start experimenting, learning and adjusting.
And one thing I guarantee… as soon as you start to create things, the sooner people will have a chance to appreciate what you create. The sooner they will want to pay you for your help.
More importantly, the sooner you will build the confidence that the all too commonly accepted scripted life is not a fate you have to subject yourself to. And with that confidence, everything starts to change.
And if you don’t – you will wake up in another five years, or maybe 10 or 20 and realize you are in the same discontent, perhaps miserable, place you were so many years prior.
Perish or Flourish – Nothing Stays the Same
Remember, doing nothing when in a bad situation doesn’t mean things will be the same years down the road. There is no constant. They either improve or they worsen. Imagine where you’ll be in 20 years if you do nothing. How will you feel? How disenchanted will you be?
So no, the biggest risk is not that you go out and try something and fail.
It’s not that people don’t at first value what you create. It’s not that you experiment with an idea that turns out to be the wrong one. It’s not even that you get fired or have to move out of your house.
The biggest risk is that you do nothing.
The biggest risk is waking up in 20 years and wishing you would have made a change today.
The biggest risk is not giving yourself a chance to make the impact only you can make.
The biggest risk is not doing something, it’s doing nothing.
Please – do something. Anything.
You’ll never be the same.
Wishing you love and the courage to start, from a quiet beach cove in Koh Lanta, Thailand…
-Scott
For the comments: What’s one thing you can do today to stop putting off the important and actually START? Let the momentum begin in the comments!
P.S. With all this talk about creating things and getting started, I’ve realized I want to dedicate our work at LYL even more to helping you make real-time progress in Living Your Legend. We have a fun new tool/service/product idea we’re cooking up over here that I am SO excited about. And don’t worry, it will be really inexpensive, so anyone in need will be able to get access to it.
The sole purpose of it will be to get you to start creating value for others, with a pure focus on results. I cannot wait. More coming soon!
David Loker
Posted at 00:40h, 20 MarchAwesome post! I love the pic, too.
I have to say that I’ve fallen victim to some of those excuses at various points in my life. I’m happy to say that I’m currently pursuing work that matters to me. No regrets!
benfanning
Posted at 03:12h, 20 MarchScott, for years I really felt like working in Corporate was the most
safe and secure path. It seemed like starting my own business was much
too risky and something more for “someone else”. Then I realized I was
putting all my eggs in 1 basket. I started taking “micro-risk” by
writing a few articles about how much better life could be even inside
Corp and how healthy starting something on the outside actually is. I
was so nervous when I posted my first article in my company’s LinkedIn
group but then I was shocked by the positive response I received. My co-workers and the executive group either supported it directly or just turned a blind eye. Either way the bigger risk would have been doing nothing….
Deacon Bradley
Posted at 12:18h, 27 MarchLove it Ben! I remember feeling the same way when I first got started (which was a huge fear hurdle for me to cross). From time to time I still think, “what if someone tries to call me out on this side biz thing?” I’ve decided that in this day and age it’s much more responsible to take my brand and income (even part of it) into my own hands. Like you said, putting all my eggs in one basket is risky! And I work at tech startups, hah. Who knows where we’ll be next year 🙂
Ben Fanning
Posted at 13:13h, 27 MarchSo true, Deacon! At first I thought my problem was having enough time to start. Likewise for me, it ended up that fear was the biggest challenge.
Michelle Leanne Bunt
Posted at 03:28h, 20 MarchThis post was so timely for me today. I’m at a fork in the roads right now with my study not panning out this year (which is so disappointing). But this is actually ok because it actually gives me permission to start my own freelance writing business. This week I am setting up my website for my SEO writing service, creating content samples, creating a contact database, composing a query email and start making contact with companies. My goal is to achieve this all this week, and start earning by next week. Looking forward to taking control of my life (and finances). Scary but as you say the greatest risk is doing nothing. Thanks for the inspiration.
Jane Robinson
Posted at 05:01h, 20 MarchTo evolve, take risk and walk towards your authenthic voice is the mission for all of our lives. Since very young I have taken small steps to reach my goals… the act of Kaizen. The act of doing always helped me to know that whatever situation or job I was in was a temporary stop in life. This habit transferred to saving money, paying down debt, changing jobs, creating my art, fitness and evolving in all areas of my life. I believe to NOT evolve is the risk.
Barrie/The Life Passion Coach
Posted at 05:41h, 20 MarchGreat post Scott! It’s all about taking small steps in the direction of your dream and empowering yourself to be the creator rather than a reactor to your life. Risk is inherent in any change, even change that appears easy and “risk free”. The willingness to take that leap of faith — that “this or something better” will happen — is critical to growth. Beautifully written. Thanks for the reminder Scott.
Jeremy
Posted at 05:42h, 20 March“And one thing I guarantee… as soon as you start to create things, the sooner people will have a chance to appreciate what you create. The sooner they will want to pay you for your help.”
This is the key. This is the key. This is the key.
Is that an echo or a chorus?
This makes all the difference in the world. I was scared by what “create” had to mean, but it doesn’t have to mean oil paintings (unless that’s your thing). Reach out and do one thing for another person that wasn’t in the world before. FOr me, that’s meant learning how to write better by sharing that writing. You mileage may vary.
At first the idea seemed trite: “You can’t get anywhere if you don’t start.”
Perhaps so, but that is because it is a simple truth, like “say please and thank you” or “don’t kick puppies.” This is the key.
Joyce Li
Posted at 06:02h, 20 MarchScott, you nailed it again. I resonated with all your points. For me, I’ve taken a huge risk and spent countless hours to shape my legend. I am pursuing my childhood dream.
I’ve created something, a book; I’ve quit a job that I was no longer passionate about; I’ve re-launched my dream business. I am waiting for those someone that appreciate what I can offer. As you said, it will take time. It’s all worth it. I’ll say to this community: Do something; make a difference; start today. Last but not least, thank you so much Sott for your inspiration!
Daniel O'Beirne
Posted at 06:11h, 20 MarchKudos, great post Scott…
Some thick-skulled people (like me) might need a near death experience.
See I was a complacent smiling sheep working for a big corporation, making my boss look good & about to get a MBA.
Then death approached me as a gangland bullet was randomly shot through my car on a rainy night at 60mph on I-55 in Memphis, TN.
So that bullet help me grow some cojones, to say adios corporate America, adios grad school debt, & took the leap to follow an undefined path of passion to Peru, Argentina, Brasil & Chile (Patagonia rocks!)
My advice is avoid the bullets….instead go to a big cemetery, see a funeral and imagine you will be there sooner or later. Remember your last loved one who died, Did anyone care about his job? Likely NO one will care about your lame job either although they might miss you.
You have nothing to lose except years of boring memories of life lived as a complacent sheep. That said we are all human & feel fear of the unknown & make excuses. Now I run a Spain foodie adventure travel biz but yearn for more human connection and satisfaction of helping others beyond hedonism. Also I miss the relationships as our very cool customers are here once or twice and gone.
So I am crafting a new project but with a new wife & family here in Spain it is more complicated. No one i know in Spain understands this but then they do not have to. So i am small chunking & commiting the first hour per day to my new project and step by step I will grow it and be able to get into a coaching niche. Hasta pronto 🙂
Sameer Tembre
Posted at 06:18h, 20 MarchAll the best…friend. You and scott have given me the confidence to move…
Many Thanks…
disqus_EyeJMjW6fp
Posted at 06:27h, 20 MarchHey Scott! Thanks for the kick in the ass! I totally needed to hear this. I am taking your CWA course and already, it has been a life changer for me! I am starting to move forward and take ‘baby’ risks. I fully admit to being that person who has used the ‘I’m 44 with two kids and a mortgage’ excuse to avoid the risk taking. I’m so over it! Thanks for your compassionate honesty. Can’t wait to find out what you’re cooking up next!
Lara
Staycee Bloom
Posted at 06:47h, 20 MarchThank you for sharing your vacation with all of us! May you feel my gratitude for all your dedication in helping me realize that what I had stoped creating was killing my spirit. I am Setting under the waterfalls with you now explaining WHY, only because I finally understand the importance of WHY. Looking forward to the future with you and the next stage passion. ForeverBlooming
Lara
Posted at 07:12h, 20 MarchHere’s my excuse: I want to do too much. For example, I want to put in 100% into a job that I love, but I also want to put 100% into my research (I’m a should-be-part-time-but-am-actually-full-time PhD student). I’m also a passionate creator – I love making things with my hands, currently heavily into crocheting. I’d love to put 100% into that too. Most days I feel like there simply isn’t enough of me to go around, let alone enough of me to persue the next thing that tickles my fancy.
Steve Walters
Posted at 16:23h, 21 MarchI feel the same. ha.
For me, I believe it all comes down to unravelling how to make things happen.
That’s a skill they should teach in school from the start (at least in the UK that’s not the case right now).
What;’s your thought? How are you working to resolve your situation? I’m interested!
Steve Walters.
Swansea, Wales, UK.
http://www.smehelper.com
Deacon Bradley
Posted at 12:13h, 27 MarchI hear you Lara! One thing that helps me pick and choose better is to clearly define my core values (family, freedom, etc.). There are tons of things I’d love to do, but most of them don’t really fit into my core values and my overall vision for where I want to be and what I want my life to be like.
Daniel Smith
Posted at 07:27h, 20 MarchHi Scott,
I came across your site about 4 weeks ago and I am just starting to get through some of your posts. We share the same passion of wanting to add MASSIVE value through inspiring others to ‘live their legend’. I have been immersed in the study of learning to understand myself and others for the past few years, mainly through the works of Stephen Covey and Eckhart Tolle and it has been an extremely challenging but rewarding journey so far. Now I am ready to commit to living my legend and sharing my strong belief that within us all lays the immeasurable power to create a truly amazing world. I dedicate myself to service, the only source of true and lasting fulfillment.
I’m sure our paths will cross someday but until then, keep up the good work and have a Chang for me!
Daniel Smith
Morgan
Posted at 07:40h, 20 MarchThanks Scott (and commentators!), I love your postings and the email updates are great- I read them on my bus ride to work and I think about how I want to shake things up in my life.
My problem is not risk aversion though- I’m 24 years old, graduated top of my class from university (BAH Political Studies), was elected President of our university student government, oversaw an operating budget of $16Million, made the jump to business and now I have a good job in a management training program for a major company, and I have no debts. But I’m really unhappy. I feel uninspired at work, I’ve lost the motivation that had me working 12-14 hour days last year (ya, I miss that!), but I don’t know what my passion is or how to find it. I know that I can work hard when I love what I’m doing- and now I’m learning fast that I don’t work that well when I’m uninspired. How do you find a passion you can live off of when you have limited professional experience or strong technical skills to speak to?
ibrente
Posted at 12:53h, 20 MarchI have been on the road you are on. Only YOU can find the correct motivation to make yourself change. I would recommend you look into the book Delivering Happiness and research/reflect about your own definition. It’s there.
Treat this life not as a gift, but as a LOAN. You need to leave this planet a little better than you arrived. It might be curing cancer, making someone smile or inventing a lollipop that stops hiccups. There are lots of mysteries to solve out there … https://vimeo.com/51704432
(we’re counting on you)
Rachel M. Walaskay
Posted at 08:01h, 20 MarchDear Scott – I love your passion and urgency. You are definitely the boy in the story! Alas, I suspect most people are more like the Crystal Merchant. They’ve long since accepted that they will never realize their dream.
I also just finished re-reading the Alchemist. It’s definitely a book that needs to be revisited over and over at different times in ones life. I love the core message – it reminds me of what my HS philosophy teacher said to us “stay awake and never stop growing.”
There’s a price to pay for being so awake though – it means that you see things others do not. It means you cannot be content with complacency and inertia. It means being able to read the signs and trust the universe will provide for you on your quest.
We live in an overly complex world – money has convoluted every aspect of the human dream with technicalities, red tape and bureaucracy. Being awake can be painful because it means being acutely aware of this giant obstacle, and for someone like me, a educated working class single mom, it really sucks!
Well… that’s all I have for now, as I must return to the drudgery of my soul-sucking day job…. in my case, being awake has not provided me with the means of escape that I crave. I am not afraid to leave my situation, I just live paycheck to paycheck and lack the resources to make it happen… YET.
Some day, I WILL go to India…
Namaste pilgrim… Bless you!
Taramathea
Steve Walters
Posted at 16:16h, 21 MarchI read your comment with interest and honestly felt a little sorry for you.
Have you ever had ‘someone’ or a ‘business owner’ that you found, pay you for something you proposed? I ask as it sounds to me that your mindset is where mine was back in 2008. I wasn’t sure if I could find an opportunity myself AND get them top pay me after my proposal.
Started off as £40 or £200 sales here and there, then consistenty turned into £250+ per month x 6 month contracts per Client of mine. The best I’ve managed was recently (Sep 2012) I phoned 12 companies in the Exhibition Manaufacturing sector as I could tell their Google Ads were inefficient (I’ve built up expertise in such). To my pleasant surprise, 1 firm took me up on my offer within 8 weeks. £1000 per month x 6months, + £500pcm ongoing thereafter.
I’ve also been chipping away at a Training Workshop I’d love to run for business startups / Web Startups… £150 per person and they’ll leave the day with a website in place + immense knowledge and guides on Web Marketing thereafter (including, how to organise time that they follow my guides).
Anyway… just thought I’d share that the above alone is very possible right now for you. You could pick something you think you’re good at and devise some proposals – even try it at a cheap rpice to start off with, or with a local charity? That’s what I did.
Hope it helps. And good luck. Do reply or get in touch to discuss further (I’m not selling anything – just curious to see how I can Live My Legend.
Steve Walters.
Swansea, Wales, UK.
http://www.smehelper.com
Vincent Nguyen
Posted at 08:49h, 20 MarchI love this topic. The argument on fear of failure vs inaction always reminds me that inaction is literally the worst thing you can do.
Hm, your question has me thinking quite a bit. There really is nothing that major I am putting off, but I do suppose filing taxes for Financial Aid. You know what, Scott? You’ve inspired me. Financial Aid isn’t anything risky or make or break because for sure I’m doing it sometime, but I’m not going to put it off anymore.
Jenn Gonsalves
Posted at 09:29h, 20 MarchScott, this is spot-on! I’ll refer friends and family to this post as they try to process what I’m trying to do in my own life, to help them understand how I feel. I absolutely agree, the bigger risk is doing nothing. For me, I just don’t want to get to the end of my life and not have a fantastic story to tell. Who wants to say “Well, I worked in corporate for 35 years and didn’t really enjoy it, but it paid well, and now I’m retired but too old to follow the dreams I used to have”? And yes, I may “fail” at what I’m trying to do, but it will be so much better than never having tried at all!
As you mentioned, I too have looked at “what is the worst-case scenario” – for me, it’s not just my current situation, it would be losing all our savings, having to sell our house at a loss and move into a smaller place, etc. But my husband and I have planned for those (hopefully unlikely!) scenarios to get more comfortable with that risk, in order to get to a place where we feel like doing nothing truly is the bigger risk at this point.
Kudos to you for all your amazing work, looking forward to hearing about the new tool!
Kim Doyal
Posted at 09:45h, 20 MarchGreat content as always Scott!
I spent the first part of my adult working life in pursuit of that “thing” or calling if you will. I always knew there was something else I was supposed to be doing. Multiple shots at different businesses, etc. were just the catalyst.
It was being widowed at 32 with a 6 yr. old and 2 yr. old when the reality of “tomorrow is promised to no one” hit me.
It took 5 more years for me to start my business (now going into my 5th year)- even knowing that most people around me thought I was crazy (being the one solely responsible for income), I knew it was the only way.
EVERY risk has been worth it! The quality of my life is amazing, my kids want to be entrepreneurs (hallelujah! and if they change their mind, that’s fine too!) and there isn’t a single day that I am not grateful and love what I do.
My income has fluctuated, which can be stressful at times, but the more firmly I stand in what I know to be true and pursue things that can truly help people, the more my income grows.
Two quotes come to mind with this post:
I remember listening to Wayne Dyer sharing the story of “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” by Tolstoy:
At the end of the story, on his deathbed, Ivan Ilyich turns to his wife and says “What if my life has been wrong?”
(ouch)
And, by Oriah Mountain Dreamer (paraphrasing here):
“Are you willing to risk disappointing others in order not to disappoint yourself?”
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Kim
p.s. Doing another event /meetup in the Bay Area soon? I’m across the Bay
Angie
Posted at 10:12h, 20 MarchI agree totally, I could find enough excuses to sit back and watch my life fleet miserably by, for anyone. I am 45-years-old, single and mother of 4. I live in a foreign country which I hate but can’t leave (or I’d have to leave my kids too) and I have a teaching job I don’t much care for but which pays the rent. Excuses could easily be, no time, no money, no experience, no family support etc and so on. But I have absolutely no intention whatsoever to allow any of this get in my way. I am going to blaze a huge trail right through the rest of my life, doing things that fire me up and hopefully setting an example to my kids, so they’ll have the courage to do something which fires them up, when the time comes. And when that time does come, I hope – correction – I plan to be a veteran trailblazer, able to say without reserve, that it was damn well worth the ride – risks and all.
Marty
Posted at 11:16h, 20 MarchGreat Post Scott! I am currently in the process of building a lifestyle and coaching business, I have took that leap. Sometimes the Risk of whatever it is holds us in our chains and doesn’t allow us to go for our Ideal Life, We allow the fear of Losing keep us from creating the life of our Dreams. We are all creators whether we write, create
Art or not We are creators in the fact that everything we do creates the life you want or the life you don’t want. For me Im creating the life of my dreams, its posts like these that keep me on the right track, when fear rears its ugly head. Thank you!
Without Risk there is no Reward!
Elizabeth Klecha Mihalik
Posted at 11:18h, 20 MarchAt 53, I am trying! I feel the success of my service business is near. I hired help to design and develop a logo and website. I acquired a contractor’s insurance policy. The hiccup in my giddyup is EXACTLY what I read in my first e-mail from you – I don’t know how to sell. After 18 months of a stalemate with getting the business off the ground, I cancelled my insurance, put the business on hiatus – and I am now back in college hoping to learn what I need to sell myself. I have acquired quite a long list of what doesn’t work. What will work HAS to be just around the corner!!!!! I’ve printed out the flyer, “The Connect With anyone Creed,” and have it inserted in my school notebook cover. I posted it on my refrigerator and keep it on my desktop.
Steve Walters
Posted at 16:00h, 21 MarchI’d love to discuss with you about your selling (not selling myself).
Read my post above if you want to see where I’m coming from in life.
Whilst I’m often introduced to businesses to help make their web work, often, it’s the offering and how it’s packaged which is the issue.
I wonder if I could help you? If I can’t then nothing lost eh?
Steve Walters.
Swansea, Wales, UK.
http://www.smehelper.com
Jane Alaimo
Posted at 11:18h, 20 MarchHi Scott. Great post. Two things really touched me: first, when I read “surround yourself with the people who make it possible”. I realized that I gotta do that! And the second was “do something! Anything!” – I gotta do that too.
I’m one of those people who has let 10, 20, 30 years go by and I’m still in the same place. I’m so freakin’ scared to do things differently – but I’m finally realizing that I have to. Luck for me, I got laid off so I’ve now got the time to explore and ACT!
Thanks for your great work. This post motivated me to sign up to volunteer for an organization in the area where I feel most passionate – teaching cooking and nutrition skills to low income families. I don’t know where it will lead, but at least its SOMETHING!
Stephanie
Posted at 15:04h, 20 MarchThanks Scott, lovely post as ever. I did my task (to record a load of podcasts) before I posted so have done my homework! Baby steps are indeed the way forward!
Mercedes
Posted at 17:20h, 20 MarchThank you Scott, I realized that nobody can value what I have to give, if I do not value it myself, when you work with “intangibles” and bring them into your daily life, “practicality” seems to run over you and sweep your creative energy. For me life is about metaphors, colors, lines and music, there are those who can state facts in numbers, probabilities, charts, symptoms and budget lists, predict the weather, growth and even the future… so grateful for them ! I am the one who will prove that 2 plus 2 is not always 4, add color to bars and graphics, translate probabilities into possibilities, forget about symptoms, enjoy the rain and splash in puddles, make origami with my budget lists and tell you how all this can bring fulfillment and success into your life! Sharing my thoughts here is just the beginning…
Life is a gift, let us enjoy our time.
Smiles.
Fiamma Aleotti
Posted at 21:23h, 20 MarchThis made my night. Thank you.
Mike Routen
Posted at 23:53h, 20 MarchScott
I used to be a real risk-taker. Taking risks are what got me to the South Pole, my Helicopter Pilot’s License and into Search And Rescue. Somewhere along the way I lost my tolerance for risk and got stuck at a desk job for the last 17 years.
Well, I’m happy to say that I’m back! I left the job, my family and I are getting ready to move onto our sailboat and we are going to start an open-ended cruise to explore the world.
Thank you for this reminder that the greatest risk of all is to do nothing. I will keep this close to heart as we begin our next great adventure!
Natalie Sisson
Posted at 02:23h, 21 MarchHells Yeah Scott. About time you gave a bit of a pep talk to the risk averse, excuse mongers. Everyone needs to hear this kind of advice and better yet PUT it into ACTION more often. I think you personally do a great job of this right here, but at the end of the day you cannot hold peoples’ hands to lead them to make change. They have to find it within themselves. For those who do I congratulate you – your life will be richer for it. I promise!
Peter Wright
Posted at 03:47h, 21 MarchOne of the biggest risks of doing nothing to change an unhappy life is that outside forces will change it for you, for the worse. Could be suddenly left as a widow with young children to support as Kim found out, being fired, illness or any other crisis. Much better to start building a new life before it is forced on you.
Hope Swiatek
Posted at 07:01h, 21 MarchI am currently finishing up a 13 year run with the same company and picking up my life and moving a thousand miles away. This is something I’ve always wanted to do but for a long time had plenty of excuses why I couldn’t. And then I realized I didn’t want to wake up one day a bitter old woman because I hadn’t at least tried to do something like this. For years I have told friends the right decision is not necessarily the easy decision. And I had to listen to my own advice in making this decision. I also believe this, in taking a leap I may land on my feet and hit the ground running or I may fall flat on my butt; either way I have still catapulted myself forward from where I was.
Thank you for sharing your work. It is truly inspiring.
Steve Walters
Posted at 15:51h, 21 March*** Hi Scott, (please read — I’d love a response to this) ***
Have been reading and following your very inspirational work for some time now.
I’ve even shared and made people read it whom I think need inspiration to change the mindset.
However, one thing occurs to me. Why can’t you work towards making LYL and such tools freely accesible to all? or at least require set a criteria for people to prove they’ve started something in their life.
Seriously, whatever rate your changing the world at right now (or making a dent as you put it), IF your absolute goal is to truly change the world for the better, then surely, THE maximum velocity in which to do that would be via freely available courses to the masses would it not? an app easily downloadable by ANYONE.
I ask, not to be cocky or clever, but as this is a path I’ve been exploring for the last year with my own business. I’m paid around £600 a time to teach a business owner where they’re going wrong on the web and often their marketing package and target audience.
I’ve been templating my teachings, so business owners (inc stay at home parents) can purchase this template for between £25 – £75 – long term it will be sponsored; so free to business owners and people. and/or at least a phone app which is under £5 after the free trial.
Why? I want to spend my time helping those whom I believe can make positive change in the world; helping charities and children etc. I already do an element of this, but would love to do it full-time without needing to worry so much about an income.
Hopefully I’m not dreaming and this is a very achievable reality over next couple of years. I’ve been chipping away at it for just over 1 year and can see my prive reducing and my income increasing.
You seem to be a guy more capable than most to achieve the above for your LYL and such ventures – I don’t quite understand why you don’t.
Best wishes,
Steve Walters.
Swansea, Wales, UK.
http://www.smehelper.com
Gill B
Posted at 00:02h, 23 MarchI’ve just taken my first risk in getting into teaching on completing my teaching qualification. I had a job lined up but I panicked – would I be good enough, how would I manage that and being a wife and mother and a whole myriad of other excuses. So I “put on” some courage and walked into my local school to volunteer my services one or two days a week working in support of the teacher in a classroom – they practically bit my hand off with enthusiasm, loved my resume, loved my experience and when could I start and would I consider applying for one of 2 jobs they have advertised even although they stated no beginning teachers. To be honest I hadn’t even known they were recruiting – I was just following my passion to be with children and support their learning as best I can in my locality.
Baby steps – I start volunteering on Thursday and if all goes well I may well apply for one of the positions but even if nothing comes of it, I’m happy to continuing volunteering and contributing my passion and my skills, knowing I took a risk and it will pay off.
Your posting reminded me that it is just risk I face – failure is just another chance to tweak a little and keep going. The world doesn’t end just cos I missed some imagined standard, but a chance to learn, adjust and try again. thanks for the reminder to keep trying and not give up on achieving my dream.
Janet Thompson
Posted at 22:19h, 23 MarchI’m going to create an outline for a program that will help people change their mindset and increase their confidence level to achieve their goals.
Also, I am very exited about the tool you are working on to help us create value for others. You’re the best, Scott. Thanks!
CSoncrant
Posted at 18:35h, 25 MarchScott! I hope Thailand was spectacular! I’ve been away (I have returned though 😉 from the blog and CWA for a little bit as things are picking up in my life really rapidly, BUT I want to let you know that every time I read one of your posts I end up feeling inspired, zazzed (great word… I think I just made it up!), invigorated, and FIRED UP for the day! You’ve got a gift good and kind sir! Your heart is so friggin pure and I just love you to death brother!
Iris Barzen
Posted at 04:26h, 27 MarchGreat point. You’re right, the biggest differentiator between living legends and someone miserable is that one takes action and the other one doesn’t.
Also I just wanted to mention that I got my dad The Alchemist because it had such a big impact on you. I’m currently listening to it (audio book) myself and it’s just such an inspirational and potentially life changing piece of art. Thanks for the suggestion!
Claire Kerslake
Posted at 17:34h, 27 MarchI love ‘So by default it’s always the right time’. Thanks for the inspiration!
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Posted at 13:51h, 08 AprilI used to be one of those people, full of every excuse known to mankind, until I was fortunate to stumble upon “Excuses begone” by Wayne Dyer. I then realised that they were just thoughts that may or may not be true and when I started to change my thoughts my life starting to improve in all areas.
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Charlie
Posted at 11:21h, 11 MarchSuch an inspiring post Scott! I am on the path to creating my own life – life on my terms.
It doesn’t feel natural living the “script.”
http://Bing.com
Posted at 02:05h, 15 SeptemberThanks on your marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back someday.
I want to encourage one to continue your great job,
have a nice morning!