Tag Archives: balance

Defy Your Gravity

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There is a force more powerful than government oppression or military might. It holds you back from success but can also push you towards great achievement. This force is You.

by Pete Ferguson

Yesterday was a large loss for many who had hoped Mitt Romney would win as President. I saw many Facebook postings about the end of the world, how our country is headed for ruin, and that the economy is never going to recover.

Certainly there will be effects – both good and bad – which trickle down from Washington that determine how much of our money stays with us and what requirements are made for providing benefits to employees for businesses along with other changes.

I wanted to see Mitt win for a variety of reasons, but my life is not going to dramatically change because of who is President of the United States. My life dramatically changes because of me.

We each have this force which drives us to excellence or ruin. It is our own self-will which determines our future.

When the alarm goes off in the morning to go to the gym or to get up and study and write, I am the one who makes the decision as to what I should do. Not Romney, not Obama. Not my wife, boss, children, or society.

The gravity which holds us bound is an extremely powerful force.

Part of becoming a better man for me is to better understand what happens in my brain in the brief time between stimulus and response.

And it is what happens during that sometimes nanosecond of time that makes me a better person, keeps me in a stagnate position, or causes me to go down dark paths.

I’ve been working to get to a different orbit for several years now and it takes a lot of work. It takes understanding what the stimuli are that lead me to action.

One of the most important concepts I have learned is the difference between my circle of influence and my circle of concern.

If I am concerned all day long about poverty throughout the world, but I fail to provide my children with food, shelter, my time and love, I am nobody.

If I am concerned about politics, but refuse to volunteer in my neighborhood, then I am nobody.

If I am concerned about the way my company is run, but then I waste time at work and do not get my job done and look for ways to go the extra mile, then I am the problem.

Change happens inside the heart, motivating the body and mind to move forward.

It doesn’t happen in Washington. It doesn’t happen on Wall Street.

It happens inside of you.

What Is Your Life Saying To The World?

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by Pete Ferguson

When all is done and you exhale your last breath, what will your imprint on the world be?

In your daily work, do you provide a service to others, or are you just looking for a paycheck?

I came across this Quaker saying – What is your life saying to the world? – while reviewing the teaching material for a career class I was privileged to present last night to a group of friends, colleagues, and new acquaintances.

The quote came through author and life coach, Dan Miller, who was raised Mennonite on a small farm and has moved forward to affect the careers, happiness, and livlihood of millions.

As you wake up each morning to go to work, where are you on the scale of excitement and dread? Last night as we talked of each person’s unique path, I could sense a variety of emotion about where everyone was.

Some held advanced degrees, yet had not seen the payoff. Others felt they had much more to offer in their current situation, but were being held back by the complexity of a large organization which resists change.

I could sense for some that the dissatisfaction with work was affecting other areas of their life.

Family.

Social.

Physical.

Mental.

Spiritual.

Financial.

Within all seven areas, you likely feel a greater sense of accomplishment in several, perhaps frustration in others. A serious family illness can make the rest of these items seem irrelevant for a time. Bankruptcy or facing a short sale certainly can have its toll on the rest of the balance as well.

But within the seven areas of your life, there should be several you can affect and change.

Last week I attended a high wilderness camp and watched a scout “confined” to a wheel chair traverse the terrain with his father on a four wheeler and accomplish many tasks perhaps a bystander would not think possible.

I have witnessed many experiences in my life where others have begun a spiritual journey and seen the great payoff that has provided for them in their search for meaning.

I have attended, and taught, a class on Provident Living and seen the very positive results as I and others get out of debt, increase food storage and savings, and learn to be more self-sustained.

Personally, improving physical health and fitness has also been a great blessing and allowed me to go places and do things I couldn’t have done five or ten years ago.

The great thing about having goals in each area is that by improving one area, you improve the other areas as well. Your self-esteem grows. As your confidence grows, new opportunities present themselves. With the new opportunities, you are able to increase your influence and impact and benefit financially. With increased resources, you are able to make a greater impact.

What is your life saying to the world?

Learn: Print out a “Wheel of Life” weekly and give yourself a score on where you are in each area.

Act: Set goals for each area. A few small goals, like walk for 20 minutes each morning. And a few goals that take more time and effort to stretch your growth. Work on these goals daily and weekly.

Share: You are an expert in something – probably many things. You were not given your talents to hide, but to share!

Photo Credits:

Wheel of Life – Page 55 of “48 Days to the Work You Love,” Dan Miller

Are You Living a Life Worth Living?

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And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.

~ Abraham Lincoln

Are you Living a Life Worth Living?

by Pete Ferguson

Years ago a young American, celebrating his recent graduation from an Ivy League University with an MBA, visited a small village in south America. With its pristine beaches and warm weather, the location was the vision of Paradise for every American Corporate cube dweller.

He took time to walk the beach each day and watched the small boats return from fishing. He approached one of them and complimented the fisherman on his fine catch, but noted that it was such a small bounty.

Eager to put his newfound education to work, he asked the man how long it took to catch the fish. “Not long” replied the fisherman.

The young man then asked what the fisherman did with the rest of his day, to which he replied, “I sleep in late, go fishing, return to play with my children, eat a nice lunch, take a siesta, meet with family and friends, play guitar and then go to bed. I have a full and busy life.”

The young many quickly replied, “I just received my MBA, I could help you. If you fished longer, you could bring in more money, buy a larger boat, and eventually have your own business. Some day you could then sell the business and make a lot of money.”

“How long would this take?” asked the fisherman. To which the young man replied 10-20 years.

“What would I do then?” asked the fisherman. “Anything you want! You’d be rich,” replied the young man.

To which the wise fisherman replied, “I currently have everything I want, what more could I want for?”

Having traveled Europe and the Asia Pacific region, in addition to spending time along the Mexican border and in Canada, I have seen that as Americans, often our idea of “success” is really distorted, as we place the majority of our score in the career category, forgetting the rest of living that makes up life.

In his book, “48 Days to the Work You Love,” author Dan Miller discusses how to “Plan Your Life Around the Life You Want.” It doesn’t require doing more per say – it requires doing less of one thing, usually we are overbalanced in the career category – it requires allowing time for a balance of all the important aspects of life.

This is how my “unbalanced” wheel looked two years ago – very unhealthy, I can assure you.

It has been a personal life saver as I found myself burnt out and unhappy several years back. Overweight, unhealthy, frustrated at the lack of “progress” in many different areas of my life, I was one day cleaning out a drawer and came upon an old journal – ten years old to be exact. In the front I had written down ten goals. And I hadn’t accomplished any of them!

Since then I have worked to balance my life and start each day doing what I love. Reading, writing, exercising, spending time with family. At work, my duties now are better aligned to what I love, helping others understand their potential. In the evening, I return home and conclude the day with family and enjoying what I do.

Everyday is not paradisiacal bliss. But there aren’t many weeks where it doesn’t all balance out in the end.

What is the life you want to live? Certainly I have long term goals, and shorter term goals, but one non-negotiable for me now is that each week will have a balance of what I would do anyway if I won the lottery tomorrow.

Learn: Are you living your retirement dream today? If not, why not? What small changes could you make to have one hour of retirement a day?

Act: If your wheel of life is out of balance, make a plan to increase one segment this week! Today!

Share: Discuss with a friend, coworker, spouse what you plan to do to even out your balance, and invite them to come with you on the journey.

Credits:

Story adapted from Dan’s “48 Days to the Work You Love” Leadership Guide, Chapter 3 “Creating a Life Plan,” page 45

I found this picture on another blog – not sure where he got it.

What does your wheel look like? Page 56 – “48 Days to the Work You Love,” Dan Miller

Keep Living the Good Life!

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Use Your Fine China Often and Live A Happy Life

by Pete Ferguson

Last night after dinner we started a fire and found a new favorite treat, Reece’s Peanut Butter S’mores. Just like it sounds, two graham crackers, one peanut butter cup, and one very hot marshmallow. Complete perfection.

While the fire was burning down to coals and we waited for the wind to subside, first we had another of our favorites, a Boston Tea Party. We purchased a very nice black polka-dot china when we were in Boston, and we make our kids recite what happened many years ago as we make hot chocolate, herbal tea, and set out some cookies.

Well sugared and chocolate stained, our kids then brushed their teeth and set off for bed.

While creating a good career is important, finding balance is even more important. I won’t remember the meetings I need to attend this week in 20 years most likely, but I will remember the peanut butter S’mores.

And my kids will too.

Learn: What were your favorite childhood memories? Have you passed them on to your kids or others?

Act: Be spontaneous, do something out of the ordinary with your family and friends.

Share: Write in your journal, send an email to your folks, do something to share the joy – then you get to relive the great moments at least twice, just as I have.