Author: Ricardo

Upon return, I left.

I left and went far, far away. I went deep. I dissolved into shadow. Good reasons for all of it, but none are authentic. The only true answer: slipping away was easier than staying.

Too much work to get way over there, only to find myself right back here where I started. Right back here…

Funny thing about being here is that here follows you everywhere. It never goes away. It’s always exactly wherever you are. There is no going back because here is always here. Just where I left it.

There’s no place to go, no place to be, but here.

HERE.

Wake up, bud. Welcome back. The break was probably necessary, probably too long, maybe exactly as it needed to be. Regardless, come on out of the shadows. We have a mission to fulfill.

Do you know your mission?

There is nothing profound about leaving other than the fact that it reminds you that all time is borrowed. Nothing really belongs to any of us, but I suppose everything really belongs to all of us. Ownership is the ultimate illusion, the Great Lie of our Modern Society.

Most importantly, embracing this “zero ownership” state of being is allowing me to be not-so-subtly reminded that there are no guarantees when it comes to time. In fact, time doesn’t really exist at all. Existence is defined exclusively through the perception of the observer. This observer perceives time to have raced onward at a pace with which I could barely keep up.

Above all else, I am reminded that time should never be wasted. We think we have years, but we really have months. The perception that time runs on forever is flawed when we insert ourselves into the equation. The moment we enter the picture, time is shortened. Our days are numbered, our time finite and minuscule when compared to The Grand Scheme.

That’s the lesson I learned again and share: time is short. Don’t ever believe that tomorrow is guaranteed. Remain optimistic, but always be realistic. If you have something to do, then do it. No waiting until tomorrow. Opportunities are ethereal. Grab hold when you can.

Like I said, nothing profound…

Undoubtedly, there is something in your life that keeps you from making the most of each day. I’m not suggesting that it’s actively thwarting your efforts day in and day out. What I am suggesting is that this thing is always there, just under the covers, waiting for the moment to stop you in your tracks. For some of us, it rarely shows itself; for some of us it rarely lets a day go by without knocking us off track.We are human, so we are flawed. A fact’s a fact. And it is dangerously naive to believe we can ever be anything but flawed. That’s OK. However, acknowledging our flawed nature allows us to seek out our specific, individual flaws with precision. Once we set out in pursuit of those flaws, I think an interesting thing happens: our flaws lose power. So long as our consciousness pulls back the veil of unconsciousness, allowing us to pursue our flaws in earnest, then we have an advantage. Sustaining our advantage and making the most of it are two of the most vital, most important activities we can hope to undertake in our lives.Look for that thing…the thing that is in your way. In can hamper you at work; it can damage your career; it can stall your progress; it can derail a project; it can ruin a relationship; it can interfere with your art. You can easily identify it because it is the thing that keeps you from doing the one thing you absolutely should be doing. Know what you should be doing; learn what is is that you are meant to do. If you can do that, then finding the obstacle is a piece of cake: the minute you start your art, your enemy will have no choice but to stop you. I think this is the key to revealing your enemy.

I found a 10-minute video from the geniuses who put out the excellent RSAnimate series of videos and figured I’d share it.  It’s called “The Empathic Civilisation.”  In the video, Jeremy Rifkin explores the evolution of empathy and how it has helped shape our society.  You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g  I think it’s worth the ten-minute investment.I keep coming back to what I consider one of life’s vital truths: our emotions are a source of great power.  I find building trust and seeking connection to be two of the key ways to tap into my emotions and the emotions of others.  They help bind people together.  People who are bound together can do great things together.Empathy in the workplace can only help build the kind of environment in which most people I know would love to work.  We all experience the same range of emotions.  As leaders, empathy is another vital skill we can develop to help get us where we need to be.That’s what I believe.

An engine’s on Fire. The cabin is filling with smoke. The pilot is wrestling with the controls but remains calm and confident. He’s fighting to keep the plane in the air.

You have a parachute. You strap it on as you assess the situation. The door is already open. You’re not the only one thinking about what the next logical step should be.

Engine on fire. Plane filled with smoke but stabile. Ground below, rushing past so fast your stomach flips just looking down. Parachute on your back. Open door.

What do you do?

Many times, we have to make hard choices. Some of the time, one action is just as risky and as scary as the alternative. Some of the time, Choice A is as undesireable as Choice B. If there’s a Choice C, it’s worse. This is the reality of life.

What’s important is the process of choosing. Lao Tzu taught that non-action is itself action. You can’t escape making choices. What you can do is assess and mitigate risk. You can weigh the impact each option might have on your future. You can figure out which path aligns best with your intended destination.

If the engine is on fire, you can stay in the plane and do what you can to help the pilot recover the aircraft. Maybe he puts it down in a field or in the water or on a lonely stretch of highway. Or maybe you jump, clear the aircraft, and pull the cord, hoping to put yourself down someplace safe. There is no right or wrong answer. Once the choice is made, the only option is to embrace the consequences and brace yourself for the next set of options, the next choice to be made.

I believe in making choices. Some of the time, I chicken out and take the passive path of non-action. Every time, the consequences fail to satisfy. Even if things “work out” there’s little satisfaction in the realization that I froze, that I chose to stay paralyzed. When I take the path of non-action I prefer that decision to be an active, conscious decision. Then, and only then, can the outcome truly satisfy.

The less often you choose to let the current take you where it will, the more often you will find that even the smallest, most seemingly insignificant choices bring pleasure. There is something to be said for being an active participant in your own life.

Derek Sivers is a musician. He loves making music, and he figured out a way to make a living making music. He played gigs all over the world; he primarily toured the US, but he found ways to play for people in different parts of the world. Life was good for Derek. During the late 1990’s, Derek got the brilliant idea of selling his CD’s online. He had a website, so all he needed to do was add a mechanism that allowed for people to place an order which he could then fulfill. Elementary today, not so much back in the day. “buy Now” buttons, e-shopping carts, online credit card processing…all of these things were novel back then. The short version is that Derek ploughed through the obstacles and put a system into place.

Something interesting and unexpected happened: a friend, also a musician, called Derek up and asked if Derek could sell his CD, too. Derek was happy enough to help his friend set up the same mechanism on his website, but the friend didn’t want to go through the hassle or incur the cost. He just wanted Derek to sell his CD…on Derek’s website. Derek agreed. Derek likes to help people. A few weeks later, another friend asked for the same favor. Derek agreed. Then another friend called. Then a complete stranger called. Then another called. Then another. And another. Derek agreed every time. He likes to help people. Derek’s living room became a small warehouse. Derek’s second “client” sent him an e-mail and asked, “How do I sign up for your ‘New Release’ newsletter?” Huh? “What do you mean?” he replied. “I don’t have a newsletter.” “Oh,” the gentleman replied, “I thought you had a store.” Hmm…

More interesting things happened to Derek as he went from one-man show to an 85-employee business called CDBaby.com. He eventually sold his business for $22 million. You can read about Derek’s story in “Anything You Want” which you can buy at Amazon.com.

Here’s what I think is the important part of Derek’s story: love what you do and love the people for whom you do it. If you can manage that, then you’re a step closer to Nirvana than the rest of us. I am far from that sacred place, but I see a path through the wilderness, and the path itself is a sliver of that Nirvana. Derek learned along his path that the journey itself is integral to maintaining presence in Nirvana. Derek lost that, and he sold his company when he understood that. He is back on the path, as I understand it, present, and loving the process.

No matter how you look at it, the path, Nirvana itself, is all about love.

I was ready for a totally different rant today.  Well, not a rant, really.  It was more like a minor tirade.

Anyway, out of the blue, somebody sent me a note letting me know that they’d stumbled across my blog.  I know the gentleman from work.  His note was short, but it’s impact was deep.  He said two simple things.

First, my voice is in my writing.  He said, “You have a real voice as a writer; I know it’s you.” As my friend Jeff and I often discuss, finding and using your voice, your one and true voice, is the most powerful tool any person can hope to find.

Second, he simply offered encouragement.  “I know you don’t need encouragement from me,” he said.  And he’s correct.  I don’t need encouragement, but it sure feels good!  I am human, and I am a human who craves connection.  I appreciate every word of encouragement that is offered.

So, that was it.  A short, simple note from someone who discovered my blog, heard my voice in my writing, and offered words of encouragement.

Words of encouragement…wonderful gift.  Thanks, George*.

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.