5 Steps to Amazing

I recently watched an evening of TV and thought, "I will never get those two hours of my life back." It happens more often than I'd like to admit.

Things passively enter our lives all the time. Some of them are great. But a lot of the stuff that comes across our path just doesn't do much for us.

Wanna make the next three months amazing?  Here are five steps to get you there.

Watch something great.  
Don't just default to what's being targeted to you by someone else.  Instead, watch what you'd like to see.  Something that can add to your life, not take from it.  List out 3-5 films, vids, plays, or whatever might inspire you, teach you a part of history, or just make you laugh.  Who else might like it?  Watch it with them and then be sure to talk about it.

Interact with the best.  
List out the top three people you'd like to meet in your city.  Then treat them to coffee or offer to swing by their office.  When you sit down with them ask the question, "What do you love about what you do?"  It's easier than you think to get 30 minutes with them as long as you show a little persistence and some flexibility on your part. 

See somewhere new. 
Think through some places within a 500 mile radius that you'd like to see.   Sure, we'd all like to sip coffee at the base of the Swiss Alps and take a gander at the real Mona Lisa.  But I'll bet there are some sweet spots that aren't all that far away.  Make a list, grab a friend, and hit the road. 

Educate yourself.  
Is there a skill to acquire that's not a part of your everyday routine?  A hobby to take on?  A language to learn?  There's more info available than ever these days for the casual or not-so-casual learner. 

Read a book or two.  Or three.  
What 3-5 books do you want to read over the next three months?   Reading a book forces the brain to slow down and take things in.  A lot of times I'll get an idea completely off-subject while spending time in a good book-- just because my mind is getting exercise.  Their like energy bars for creativity, without the funky aftertaste.  Don't just let books sit there, read them... and take a few notes while you're at it.

This was filmed while visiting the top of Spain's highest mountain, El Teide, to photograph the stars.  The mountain also features one of the world's greatest observatories.


The Mountain from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

Some of this is just incredible.  Well done.

Tell me what I don't want to hear.

Getting constructive feedback makes me wanna scream like there's a live deer waking up in my backseat.  I hate getting feedback because it reminds me that I'm not the hero.   It reminds me that I don't do things the way people see fit, and that I don't always represent the way I'd hoped.  But more than I hate feedback, I don't hate growing.  In fact, I love growth.  It beefs up our souls.  And often it's that feedback that leads us to a growth spurt. 

The best kind of feedback is the kind we get in real-time.  Great teams do this.  They keep short accounts and really value listening to each other.  Every now and then, in addition to that real-time input as we collaborate with others, we have a chance to pause and get a more comprehensive view of where we are as people. 

So, are you inviting people to give you feedback? 

If so, that tells us a few things:

1. You're willing to listen.

2. You value other people and how they experience you.

3. You have a certain amount of courage- after all, they might tell you something really ugly.

4. You want to grow more than you want to be applauded. 

Fog from Caleb & Shawn on Vimeo.

Song by one of my favorites, Ben Howard.   Nice job guys.

 

Sundance.  Story telling mecca for the independent film maker.  It also boasts that it's "the first word in culture every year".  This is a photo I snapped of director Jim Rash (also of tv's "Community") answering questions after showing his film, The Way, Way Back.  One writer said it has been the recipient of "the biggest wet sloppy audience kiss at Sundance".  Funny.  Heartwarming.  Awkward.  Did I mention funny?  

One of more fascinating parts of Sundance was hearing the directors share the "whys" for making their movie and then answering questions about it from the audience.  In Jim Rash's case, he also played a supporting role as an actor in the film. 

Two friends who trained together and then both set personal records in the 3M half-marathon.  Couldn't be prouder.

 

 A kite rises against the wind.  Not with it.  

-Winston Churchill

Last week I met an author who has been read by millions.  Lots of things struck me, but two things stood out as he reflected back on his 73 years of life.

First, he quoted a friend who's nickname is "Tremendous". "You'll be the same year after year, except for the people you meet and the books you read."  That will stick on me for awhile.  It's also tremendous.

Second, he talked about writing books and what it's like when two authors begin to write one together.  "When you first get together," he said, "you always talk 'essence' and 'form'."  He went on... "If the other guy jumps quickly to form, then you know you'll have problems down the road with the project."  I could picture that happening.  "The best books are co-authored when you begin talking about essence.  And stay there for awhile." 

Then he shared about the time he met with a delightful couple years ago.  He was beginning a project with the gentleman, who brought along his wife for the meeting.  After the three of them talked for hours, never about form, the man turned to his wife and said, "Well, honey, do you think we ought to work with this guy?!"  And his wife replied, "Yes, but only if he brings his wife next time."  That's essence over form.  

So, I wonder, how would it affect our recruiting and hiring practices if we began with essence and ended with form?  How might it affect which students our staff spend much of their time with in the field, if form followed essence?  How about the kinds of people we bring on our teams? Is there a shared essence and not just common form?