The Next Big Thing (For Me At Least)
As I’m writing this, it means the week has rolled around quickly and it is Sunday again. I do love Sundays.
But I do find it strange…
That each Monday morning, we are almost counting down the days until Friday, so that it is the weekend again. Are we wishing our weeks (& with it lives?!) away?
I’m not going to get all philosophical on you here, but it did make me wonder if this is the best way to look at life.
One for another day I reckon…
Lightbulb Moment
This is less of a lightbulb moment and more of a sledgehammer to the face.
The kind of realisation that is makes you feel a bit wobbly.
A real smack between the eyes.
The proverbial equivalent of Mike Tyson’s infamous quote:
“Everyone has a plan until they’re punched in the face”
Kind a way.
Without explaining why that will sound a little melodramatic.
Put this way, this week, I signed up for my next big challenge.
I’ve been thinking about it for a while now (read 18+ months) and thanks to COVID, it is finally here.
Although I knew what I was going to do for quite some time, it didn’t mean that upon signing up, it didn’t make me feel a little queasy.
The act of paying for your entry ticket means it becomes real. Well at least in my mind.
The next stage is to tell people (like your good selves) so there is external accountability.
Add these both together and you have a compelling reason why I can’t back out.
The 3rd reason, and quite possibly the strongest of all for me, is that I can’t come home and tell all my friends that I didn’t finish (the race, event or whatever the ridiculous thing it is I’m doing).
You may be wondering what the event is, so let me give you a one liner:
It is a standup paddle event over 80 miles crossing the Gulf from Bimini (Bahamas) to Miami (Florida) in one day.
Yes, one day.
Across the ocean.
With sharks.
This is why my lightbulb moment is focused on this event, it reminds me that I am nervous, terrified and uncertain as to whether it is possible.
Yes, of course it’s technically possible, people have done the event before. But can I do it?
I need to learn how to standup paddle in the ocean, I need to be comfortable paddling for hours.
Oh and I need to buy a paddle board too!
So there is lots to do.
And that’s why my lightbulb moment is more of a sledgehammer. One which hits home hard, that I do these things to see what I’m capable of.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not nervous now, 12 months out from starting…
Book Of The Week
Link to buy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/37ql8J1
I’ve been thinking more and more about how I can detach my time from my earnings.
In normal language, that means how do I earn whilst not working?
It’s not simple, but being able to escape the #RatRace is something I am very much focused on. I will not be catching the Tube to work when I’m 50, that’s for sure!
That’s why I would recommend reading MJ DeMarco’s new book, Escaping the Rat Race.
Very easy listening filled with 100’s of knowledge bombs, I would suggest getting a copy (even if you use Audible like me) and scribble notes all over it.
It’s time we got off the treadmill of being an employee, or least knew what else was out there.
Quote Of The Week
“They say you are what you eat, but I don’t remember eating a f*cking legend.” ~ Meme
This Week’s YouTube Video
As Simon Sinek expertly explains in the Infinite Game, we are not playing by definitive rules. There is no end game.
We don’t get to the end of 90 mins and say, job well done. The same goes with your career.
We are merely trying to make the world a better place for the next generation.
Quite a thought.
#LFG
Bren
PS — Let’s not talk about the Lion’s Rugby Tour to South Africa…
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