The pre-birthday funk appears to have shifted and, although the birthday is a few more hours away, your boy is feeling AAAAAAMPED!
There are a great many reasons why this is the case, and I look forward to detailing them all in no particular order throughout this post.
First, and totally superficial, I ordered some Indian clubs. Check em out here. Have I ever used such a thing before? No. Do I think they’re going to be absolutely wicked? Shit yes. Happy birthday to me (Thanks mum and dad!)
Second, and a bit more embodied, since moving to the country (it’s OK, I’ve eaten peaches now) I have been going through a variety of phases, but my commitment to the new physical routine has been strong. And the rewards are showing up quick-smart.
I am a runner now. That’s a weird development in my life, but I got a pair of barefoot shoes a few months ago and they’re a total gamechanger. Gone is the temptation to land on my heels, it’s purely a light feeling, and I’m nudging 10km rounds.
When I’m not running, I am listening to STICMAN of Dead Prez to get energised for push-ups and squats (a deal between a friend and myself – shoutout Flothehobo. Check it out for very nice hike videos).
These things may sound pretty insignificant, but it represents a RADICAL departure from my previous morning routine and, for those of you who know me well, my morning routine is the fundament of my entire existence!
Rather than bring an old system with me, a system that has done nothing but great things I might add, I decided that the time was right to inject a little bit of spice into things. And the dish has been a tasty one.
But all of these things are still scratching the surface of the big one.
Purpose and work.
Partnerships are appearing, opportunities are finding me, and I am RIDICULOUSLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES. I’ve been dipping my toes in a few different ponds over the last year or so, and they’ve all been lukewarm, but I’m finally getting into the sort of ponds that feel exactly right.
How do I know if a pond feels right? There are other people involved in it, and they’re interested in taking things in a similar direction. The values align, the priorities align, and the desire to do something bigger for the world is there.
This has been the main thorn in my side until now. Everything I start for and by myself is all well and good, but very quickly I get bored with it because it’s bringing nobody else anything. If I have the choice between making $10m dollars for myself or $100m for myself and 49 other people, I’ll take the second option every day of the week.
That’s right. I’ll gladly walk away from the extra $8m because a) even $1m is a stack and b) the extra $8m isn’t going to make me reflect on my days and say, ‘gee that was such a lovely time I had, looking into the computer screen ALL BY MYSELF WITH NOBODY TO SHARE THE SUCCESS WITH’.
Sidenote: I’m measuring things by the millions and hundreds of millions, meanwhile I’m grateful to save a couple of bucks on muesli, so it’s definitely the early stages!
I think back, even to video games I played as a kid. There was a specific map in Warcraft 3 where everyone could choose a hero, and I would often go the empath. She had literally no attack, but she was such a badass healer that you would go so much further in the game. I am literally a walking cliché of an 80s office induction video: ‘because Together Everyone Achieves More’.
I gotta admit though, it’s a damn tricky path to walk in this day and age when everyone around you is driven by personal gain. I spend a lot of time standing on the sidelines, building up the arsenal of skills and ability, waiting for the right moment to strike.
On more than one occasion I’ve had the ‘yeah, but what are you going to do when…’ discussion. It’s always an interesting talk, because it makes me think about what I would do when… but somehow, it’s always been hypothetical because I have big trust in the process. I’ve been taking my time, but I haven’t been lazy.
Waiting for the right moment is not to be confused with procrastination, though of course that’s been in the mix reasonably often too. (Again STICMAN: ‘If you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready’)
It’s more like, when all the offers that are available are going to be chasing a shiny object just so I have something to do, then I’d rather either do nothing, or do something that is more in alignment with delayed gratification.
Learn German, anyone?
The years and years of meditation practice has been super helpful in that regard. Sit with reality as it is, and don’t do anything to get away from it. For example, chasing a shiny object because you can’t sit with the boredom.
But now its go time. A crew is assembling, the vision is there, the tools are accessible and – finally – it feels right at every level. And it’s going to be legit.
I have the feeling these posts may suffer as a result, at least in length. I will do my best to keep the posting schedule consistent, but I see that I’m being pulled towards other things really powerfully and they are deserving of the energy.
So, keep your eyes peeled, stay tuned, and get ready for the next big project to come out of your boy. It should be tip-top, and it could be a gamechanger.
Or it could be a shitload of hot air and another illusive shiny object that I’ve created in my mind. Time will tell!
All the best for the week ahead, look after yourselves, and happy birthday to me! Speak to you all soon.
Much love
Nick
P.S No audio this week, but I haven’t forgotten it!!
