BlueCapra

Using Technology To Solve Problems and Create Solutions

Things which matter most…

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Papercut family“…must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, nineteenth-century dramatist, poet, and polymath

I like quotes by famous people (and some by not so famous people).  I happened upon this one while reading The Personal MBA: Master The Art of Business by Josh Kaufman (A really, really great book by the way; truly a MUST read).  As I read this and many other quotes, I reflect on my own life and how I can apply this little bit of wisdom to make me a better person.  Am I focusing on the things that matter most to me?

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Waiting for the windfall

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What is the next big thing?  When will that breakthrough moment happen?  How can we prepare?  We can’t…

Success is built one step at a time.  Some of those steps are big, some are small.  I believe what Seth Godin says in this post, that we spend too much time preparing for a moment that rarely if ever happens.  We can never prepare, but we can get started.  We can do the little things that make success.  We can satisfy one customer at a time.  We can ship the next product.  You can be remarkable one day at a time.

So, the next time you find yourself preparing for that breakthrough, consider what you can do to create your own moment. 

The enemy of great

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I am good at many things.  No, I am not bragging, but I am good at a number of things.  I am good at woodturning, fixing computers, computer programming, creating designs for laser engraving, cooking, making bread, catching llamas (long story…) and a number of other tasks.  What about you?  If you think about it, you are good at many things.  Your list is most likely different (any other llama wranglers out there?) but you should be able to name a good number of them.  But how many of those are you great at?

I want to be great at something.  I want it to be something I really enjoy, but I want to be great at something.  I want that thing to support me and my family financially more than my current job or any other job I can find.  Not only that, I want my work, my creations, my life to be remarkable.  No one can be remarkable by being good…. but great, now that is getting closer to remarkable.

What about being good?  Being good gets in the way of being great.  I don’t want to be good at many things, I want to be great at only one or a very small few.  You will have to stop being good at some things so you can be great at others.  You must make the choice. It is a choice you should only make after you have identified your life purpose, passion, and priorities. There will be sacrifices.

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Failure is not an option

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Failure is not an option. There are ultra competitive people out there who believe that failure is not an option.  They work hard, doing whatever they can to chase success.  They sacrifice their relationships, their physical health, their spiritual health, all in pursuit of perfection.  Failure is not an option … except when it is.

I want my share of failure.  Not only do I want failure, I demand it.  Without failure, there is no progress.  Without failure, there is mediocrity.  Without failure, you can NEVER be remarkable.  I know I will pass through failure on my way to success, that I MUST pass through failure.

What are you doing to fail?

How is that failure setting you up for success?

If you are not failing, what are you missing out on?