Every one of us should have something. Something driving us forward in life.
Yours might be desire or fear. Narcissism or morality.
I've found that in life this motivating pressure has ebbed and flowed. Sometime I am driven in ways I cannot slow. Other times? Not so much. Life slows to a somewhat uncomfortable pace.
Of course, I know I should get comfortable with slow. I should get comfortable with it all.
For me, many of these motivators are experience driven. For example, back in elementary school I got into a scrap and had no idea what to do. So I flailed around, backed off and ran. Tough guy, right?
That motivated me to be prepared for a similar encounter in the future and, perhaps, to find ways to avoid the scrap in the first place.
In high school, my parents divorced. And as the oldest living at home, I had new responsibilities. I was, in fact required to be "responsible".
In college, 6 months in, my dad lost his job and I lost my college funding. So I got two jobs and made it on my own until, two years later, he got back on his feet. I learned that I can make it on my own. That "if it is to be, it will often be up to me". I became independent after those two years. I learned that I have a strong survivor instinct and that, if backed into a corner, I have the strength and confidence to find a way out.
This college experience was the most influencing of all. But you combine it with the high school experience and I now see a pattern. A pattern that explains one of the reasons why I did not launch any of my ideas up until now.
I was trained by these experiences to be conservative. To not take big risks.
During the first 20 years of my career, I have largely played it safe. Did what I had to do. Late hours and long commutes (I had two separate jobs early in my career where driving 1.5 hours each way was common).
Why did I do it?
Well, I need to take care of my family of course. They need primarily as a source of income, right? Well, no, of course not. They wanted me around most of all!
Now, looking back, I see my motivators being a bit twisted. And as a good friend suggested recently, those motivators from high school and college served their purpose. They got me through my hunting an gathering stage. I made it! A successful Vice President!
Now, as I head into my second half, I want to be less driven by conservative guarantees and more by the drivers in my heart.
So it makes total sense that I am launching my ideas or letting them go. Releasing them to the world.
There's a great book out there about this time in life. You will find something in this book by Bob Buford. It's called Halftime - Changing Your Game Plan From Success To Significance.
It doesn't mean that you can't be successful. Just that your reasons for wanting to succeed get adjusted (my conclusion, not necessarily the author's).
So what I am asking you to do today is: think about what has been your driving force over the past years. And take some time to see if that force is still relevant. Still positive. Still correct.
Through my own discovery process, I've found a new motivating force. One that is far less conservative and survival-focused.
I am taking more risks. And that is a good thing.
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