Wishing all of you for the best year yet 2013!
The Window is open so i smell the fresh air of forest and Fireplace is on So i am enjoying and feeling the warmth of winter in Bangalore.
And
I write. And I write.
I’m away from the world. I needed it.
Which brings me to you. And my devotion to helping me and all my
associates to do the best work we’ve ever done. And create a life that is no
less than epic. And iconic. And uncommonly excellent.
One of the best ideas I’ve learned in a long time is this one:
WE GET THE BRAINS WE’VE EARNED
I know that’s an unusual line. Maybe it irritates you a little
(good–I’m here to disrupt your normal beliefs and behaviors so you make the
changes that will change your world). Perhaps it scares you (even better–our
greatest fears deliver our finest growth). Or maybe you totally get what I
mean.
What I’m suggesting to you–with that line–(and with the awesome
respect I have for you as a reader of my blog) is that the brains we currently
have are far less the result of genetics and luck and FAR more the result of
our daily habits and the routine influences we expose our minds to.
Brain scientists have been making large leaps in their
understanding of the concept of neuroplasticity. They’ve realized that–contrary
to common belief–the brains we’re born with are not the brains we’re stuck with
for life. No. Our brains are plastic. They can be shaped, grown and sculpted
into things of beauty (that serve our excellence brilliantly). By the way we
use them.
Which
brings me to Darwin. And Picasso. And Michelangelo.
Not one of these people were born into genius. The whole idea of
natural born talent is mostly a lie we sell ourselves so we don’t have to rise
up and feel the fear of doing something great in our work and with our lives.
In truth, you can walk with the giants and play amongst the gifted–if you start
making the different choices that will yield different results.
These people were pure ordinary-ness (ok–so I made up a word).
But here’s what they did to make themselves "special". They followed
their "inclinations". In other words, they pursued the work that made
their hearts sing rather than doing the things others wanted them to do. And
they had the audacity to become the people they wanted to be versus the people
others wished they’d become.
BONUS TIP: one of the biggest
ways we limit our potential and deny our genius is following The Herd and
modeling The Crowd. If you want to win in 2013 and transform the way you work +
live, you absolutely MUST break free of The Cult of Mediocrity. You absolutely
must stop listening to the chattering voices of the cynics around you. You
absolutely must trust yourself–and your instincts.
And that’s what EVERY Master does. They trust their gut. They
follow their "inclinations"–those things that when they do them,
their work doesn’t feel like work. Instead, it’s joy. Bliss. And LOVE.
And because it feels so good when you have the guts to pursue
these activities, you do them a lot. You "work" really really hard at
your "work". You no longer see your job as a job but as your craft
and your calling and your devotion.
And because of this, your devotion eventually becomes your BEAUTIFUL
OBSESSION.
You practice it daily. Constantly. Consistently.
You have no time for TV and Call of Duty video games and Twitter
or gossip. You need and hunger to do that thing that fills you. That inspires
you. That gives you precious glimpses of your greatest self.
And as you do this, you stop living society’s life. You step
into YOUR life. The life meant for you. The days of your destiny. This is how
genius unfolds. No magic. Just trusting your passion. And putting in the work.
I so hope I’m not boring you. These words just poured out of me.
As the cold wind cascade. As the mountain air moves. As this fireplace
flickers.
So please allow me to finish this post with A STATEMENT OF MY 6
UNUSUAL OBSESSIONS. These are the unusual commitments that govern my life. They
are not so popular in this world we live in but they mean a lot to me. And my
guess is they mean a lot to you.
MY 6 UNUSUAL OBSESSIONS
#1. THE
MASTERY OBSESSION.
Commit–TODAY–to becoming a master. Ask yourself what are you
best at? What things do you do that when you do them you feel happy + at
peace–and sense your creativity and gifts pouring out of you. We get the life
we’ve settled for. We get the brains we’ve earned. Start looking for those
things in your work (and life) that you can become a Picasso at. Life shifts
once you do.
#2. THE
PROGRESS OBSESSION.
Yes, I’m obsessed with progress. With making every day better
than yesterday. With making this year 1000X better than last year. Drives my
team crazy. Sometimes irritates the people around me. But I fiercely believe we
are built for growth (not stagnation). For expansion (not contraction). Good
enough just isn’t very good as far as I can tell. The whole nature of the game
is to see how far we can go–and to express our potential so we create the lives
of our dreams. And elevate the world in the process. (Failing to realize your
gifts makes the world less of a great place to be, no?).
#3. THE
EXCELLENCE OBSESSION.
My Guru Mr. Robin has made this word even more
famous in the circles we work in. But here’s my take on it: leave everything
you touch better than you find it. Surround yourself with excellent people. Use
excellent words. Drink excellent coffee. Read excellent books. Wear excellent
shoes. Create excellent projects. Be an excellent parent. Think excellent
thoughts. You deserve no less.
#4. THE
HAPPINESS OBSESSION.
Yes, I’m obsessed with being happy. No, I’m not happy all the
time (I’m human after all). Sometimes people tell me "you don’t live in
the real world". My reply: "Who wants to live in the real
world?" A world with negativity and wars and greed and chaos. I want to
create a world of my own making–while living in this very real world. I want to
do work that matters and live with the people I love and pursue my highest
ideals and live the life I have envisioned. I want to be happy–and so I block
out the noise. So I can do so.
#5. THE
CREATIVITY OBSESSION.
We are designed to create. We are all Artists. Each of us is a
Creative (not just the people in advertising and design). Accountants and
firefighters, math teachers and breakfast servers. We are all meant to innovate
+ ideate and use our brains to birth our best ideas into the world. I write and
record ideas everywhere. On flight sickness bags on airplanes. On paper napkins
in restaurants. In my journal that follows me much of where I go. Yes, I’m
obsessed with creativity. And that’s my encouragement for you too.
#6. THE
CONTRIBUTION OBSESSION.
This one’s my oxygen. I’m revealing it to you here. My Dad
instilled this value in me. Deeply. As I grew up, he spoke of Gandhi. And
Mandela. And Martin Luther King Jr. And Mother Teresa. And other Saints of
Humanity who on my best days I acutely remember. My father told me that the
real purpose of life is to serve. To be of use. To uplift those around us. To
be helpful. And for this ideal–I owe my Dad the greatest debt of gratitude.
Yes, I run a organization. Yes I want to win. But above all else, I want to serve.
It’s my obsession. And I make zero apologies for it. Ever.
I really hope this post has moved something within you. To stop
playing small with your gifts, talents and Dreams. Think about what I’ve
shared. Talk about this post with your team + friends + family. Share it with every one. And then go out and change the world. Please.
Your Trually,
RK.
