Spending Time On Things That Matter

     On September 11^th, Judy and I had the great fortune to attend the Zac Brown Band concert at Wrigley Field.  I knew going in that this would be a great show because Zac and company are ultra-patriotic.  After the third song on the playlist, Zac spoke about Patriot Day and what it meant to him.  He said that on that day he realized he would no longer spend time on things that don’t matter, and only on things that do.  He talked about paying it forward (or giving back) as a way of saying thanks for the blessings he has received in this lifetime.

     In the days following, I decided that I was going to write a blog post about that experience, but I needed to sit with the concept awhile and just live in and re-live the moments of that night.  Eventually, what I had to say would be drawn from inspiration.  Last post, I discussed writing the Primary Aim of what you want to be most remembered for time and eternity.  It took me three days to write mine because this was going to be some serious stuff.  For all intents and purposes, I was going to be writing the eulogy of my life (how extraordinarily powerful is that!!).  So how does one go about completing such a task? 

     The first thing I suggest is to sit with it awhile and visualize what you want your life (or the rest of it) to be like.  My yoga instructor Claudia always says this when we have to do a challenging kriya (set of exercises): “The US Olympic Team uses visualization as part of their training towards victory.  If it is good enough for them to use, then it’s good enough for us.”  Take it from me that visualization does in fact work especially when I am holding a plank pose for two minutes or longer- I see myself completing said task.  The same goes for creating the kind of life I want: I sat with it for a while before I ever put the pen to the paper.

    My second suggestion is to take a page out of Zac Brown’s book and spend only time on things that matter.  Search inside your soul for something that is near and dear to your heart, it could be a cause, or a personal mission for making this world a better place to live.  For example, Zac used to go to summer camp and eventually became a counselor. This, Zac said, had a profound influence on his life.  He translated this experience into an organization he created called Camp Southern Ground.  Each year a camp is held for developmentally disabled children, those with autism, etc. The rest of the year is spent on research and development activities.  For each ticket sold for his concerts, he donates one dollar towards this worthy cause.  The end result of this fund raising will create a camp that is over 400 acres large, and I invite you to click on the link above to find out what this buzz is all about.

     Finally, once you have sat with your life awhile, visualized it, and decided what you want to be most remembered for- put the pen to the paper.  This is your story for you and you alone.  Once completed, go back and read Michael Gerber’s suggestions as found in my 9/11 post.  The epilogue to your life is what I call the third act, which I feel is the best act, and one that can have the greatest impact on humanity-at-large.  Write away my friends, write away.

 

 

This is Zac’s Visualization of his life:

 

 

 

 

In health and wellness,

 

Tim

How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

   Today marks the 14^th anniversary in what was one of the darkest days in American history.  On September 11^th, 2001, the United States was attacked on its own soil and thousands of lives perished within less than a couple of hours.  The death toll continues to rise as each first responder or citizen who worked the pile, dies from either a respiratory disease or cancer.  With so many countless lives lost, I began to ask the question: What lasting impression did they leave on this world?

     When asking this question, I am not referring to their actions on that horrific day, but rather to the body of work or example they left behind for us to follow. Without having personal knowledge about those who perished, one is left to ponder what was or might have been. This begs the question: How do you or I want to be remembered while we can still make a difference in this world?

      I just finished reading the book The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber who touches on this very subject.  Mr. Gerber is a small business guru who has guided both start-ups and existing entities down the path to entrepreneurial success.  Mr. Gerber relates that in order to know what direction to take your business, you need to have a Primary Aim for your business development program (1995).  The Primary Aim is not about the business at all-it is about you the person.  In this exercise, the author asks us to tell our own life story by asking the following questions:

·         What kind of life do I want?

·         What do I want my life to look like, to feel like?

·         Who do I wish to be? (Gerber, p. 136)

 

     Gerber goes on to say that when you write this life story, do so as if it were your own eulogy because that is your Primary Aim- “Once you’ve created the script, all you need to do is make it come true.  All you need to do is begin living your life as if it were important.  All you need to do is take your life seriously.  To actively make your life into the life you wish it to be.” (Gerber, pp. 137-38).  It took me three days to write my own script where I described it as the three acts in life we pass through, and it was a very cathartic experience to say the least.  I envisioned what the third act in life (post-retirement) would be like, and that is the driving force behind my new business venture.

     Not everyone is going to open their own shop, but that shouldn’t deter one from doing this exercise for his/her own personal enrichment.  I don’t care whether you are (15, 50, or 80), it is never too late to take your life from where you are now, to how you want to be remembered for time and eternity.  On this solemn Patriot Day let us reflect on the lives lost, and envision how they were eulogized because that was their Primary Aim.  They did not have the time to thoughtfully craft their own-but we can.  Please try as this will make the world a much better place to live.

In Health and Wellness,

Tim

References

Gerber, M. (1995).  The E Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It.  New York: HarperCollins.