Seeking Individual Passion

"What are some good paying jobs"

• Kilee Johnson
  

Seeking Individual Passion

There was a faint beeping in my pocket so I reached my hand down toward my pants. The tips of my fingers felt the thick edge of my pocket and then wedged their way deep into the soft cloth in search of my phone. Within seconds I held the phone in my grasp and touched a button so I could see what the alert was.

It was a text message. I touched another button so it would soon be revealed. The communication flashed on my screen and my eyes scanned every detail. At least they read the details of the letters contained in the message.

The message caught me by surprise and I stood bewildered as I read it. "What are some good paying jobs?"

The words were simple enough, but its deeper meaning was the confusing part for me, so I was taken aback. I haven't thought about having a "job" for a long time. Its meaning seemed to elude me. It isn't that I don't know what a job is; it's that the concept of having a job hasn't crossed my mind in quite some time.

As I pondered the message more, I didn't know how to respond right away. I thought the question was foreign; one that wasn't quite right on point. You know how it is, you look at something and know that it's not quite right, but you can't put your finger on why?

On the surface this question seems like a good one, but I knew that when considered, another question, the real question was still to be bared. It was, "What passion will cause me to create the life I dream of; to become the most I can be?"

I know that when this question is answered for an individual it makes all the difference. It's the difference between a life of misery and a life that exceeds all expectation. And, it's all about asking the right questions for all of us!

In this moment of inspiration I didn't text back. I knew this was an important conversation. There were important exchanges that needed to take place; an exchange of ideas, concept, direction and discovery! I know from personal experience that such an exchange with another person will remove hurdles that are almost impossible to remove alone, so there was only one thing I could do.

I touched the pad on my phone and began a conversation. It's a conversation that will be ongoing for quite some time; it's a search for passion, place and meaning. If you'd like to join the conversation about your lifestyle and place in the world just contact me and I'll be there for you too!

Having Something Extra Inside

"I just kind of have a feeling about this place."

• Leidy Cazedessus
  

Having Something Extra Inside

Kevin and I were in a car driving slowly through a winding canyon. It was dark outside and there weren't many other cars around. Kevin was at the wheel.

Not far in the distance was a sharp turn. Since we were heading up the canyon, the road was going to take a sharp jag to the right and there was nothing short of a sheer cliff to welcome us if we didn't take the turn with exactness. As if on cue, "my little voice" gave me a warning.

"Kevin, slow down now!" I said. "There's a car around that corner coming into our lane."

Kevin didn't question what I said. He touched the brake firmly so he could be prepared for whatever may be ahead. And, there it was in less than a second. A car came speedily around the corner half way in our lane! We had avoided instant disaster!

From then on, whenever Kevin and I got in a car to drive anywhere he would look over at me as say, "Do you have any of your feelings?"

That was a long time ago. I was seventeen then. Now I'm a lot older than seventeen and Kevin and I are still friends, but at a distance. You know how it is. Life! We live in different cities, work like crazy and have families to raise. But that doesn't mean I don't think about our life together so many years ago. And this weekend I thought about him when a Client of mine was speaking with me in the yard of an historic Holladay home.

"I just kind of have a feeling about this place!" Leidy said.

Her husband swung his head over toward her, eyes open wide; I would say with disbelief!

She saw his look and then said to me, "I'll talk with him. Last time I felt like this we bought a house in Louisiana and we made ten times on our investment. And, I don't know, I just have a feeling about this place!"

There I stood. I felt a little dazed. Maybe I thought I was the only one who sometimes just had a little feeling. But, now I have a feeling that lots of us may benefit from this kind of experience and I'm wondering if you do. If you do have that little something inside, an inner voice, my experience is that it's a good thing to listen to. And, if you have it, make sure you don't keep it inside. Share it with your friends and family. Who knows, it may save you or provide you with good fortune today.

See Life Through Unbounded Eyes

"All you need to do it turn these upside down."

• Preston Tilby
  

See Life Through Unbounded Eyes

I built my house about thirteen years ago. It was a great adventure since I worked with a draftsman to bring my vision of the house into a form that others could see and then work with me to complete. I tried real hard to create a house that would be perfect for my family; it was going to be a flawless home!

Since I was acting as the General Contractor, I was there day after day to make sure things were proceeding according to the plan. Still, it wasn't long until I found out that things rarely go exactly as drawn. Even with my best efforts, giving it all I had, it was impossible for me to know everything. To make a long story short, the house turned out just fine, but not perfect, and it's been a wonderful place for my family to live.

Now, these many years later, there were some repairs that needed to be made so I called my friend Preston to ask for his help and he was kind enough to come and offer his expertise. We went through everything, with Preston taking notes and make suggestions all the while. After an extensive tour, I thought we were finished, but we weren't! My eyes caught the sight of "THE ONE CABINET."

THE ONE CABINET has been a mental burden to me the whole time I've lived in the house! It's made me crazy because the cabinet maker didn't drill the holes perfectly; so the shelves wobble. I hesitated to say anything to Preston because he's a master cabinet maker and I thought he'd tell me that I needed to tear the whole thing out and redo it. Still, the imperfection nagged and nagged at me until I finally mustered the courage to say something to him.

He opened the door, looked into the cabinet, and saw the problem. I held my breath! He had a puzzled look on his face for just a minute, and then said, "I see, the holes weren't drilled in exactly the right position."

Then, he took the shelf pin on one side, got a twinkle in his eye, and said, smiling, "All you need to do is turn these upside down, on this side, and it'll solve the problem."

There I stood, stunned and amazed at how quickly he saw the issue, thought about it, and then came up with a simple, elegant, and perfect solution in seconds! Then as if delivered through a bolt of lightning the real lesson of the moment exploded though my mind!

I had let a very small part of the whole house torment me for thirteen years because I didn't have the experience and knowledge to see a simple solution. My mind had created its own little prison from which I couldn't escape! It wasn't until I sought help from a trusted advisor that I was able to find elucidation and see the problem and its solution anew.

Have you created any small mental prisons within your own mind? If so, don't fight the battle alone one second longer! Use this simple technique. Surround yourself with people you love and trust. Then ask for their help when you see that they have a talent or experience you don't have. It you will, you'll soon see life through unbounded eyes.

The Pursuit of Happiness

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

• Declaration of Independence
  

The Pursuit of Happiness

There I sat. I was on one side of the table and my coach was on the other side. She's helping me to reach the "next level" in my business and my life. This process always takes commitment. But, this time it's different. She's asking me to abandon at least one of my hard core beliefs; "I have to work hard to be successful."

I've always prided myself on my work ethic. I've even focused on teaching my daughters that if they'll work hard and smart they'll find great success in their lives. Oh-oh! What if they find out their Poppy just thought he knew what is was doing all these years!

Here's the thing, I'm battling with myself here, what if I can have a hugely successful business, lots of leisure time, long vacations and wonderful relationships at the same time? What if?!

Well, I'm entertaining the thought and beginning to see evidence that it's true! Perhaps the greatest inspiration came to me this week as I was contemplating the Declaration of Independence as my guide to personal freedom. I read the words "pursuit of happiness" over and over again. Then I thought, "what if Thomas Jefferson meant me?"

I looked in the mirror and wondered how Thomas Jefferson became the man he was. "We hold these truths to be self-evident." Why weren't they so self-evident to me?

Then it came to me as if in a flash of intelligence, he did mean me. And, he meant you as well! Then I began to contemplate the miracle of the American Dream. It is that each one of us is endowed by our "Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

In this regard, I spoke with a friend of mine from India and she said, "That's why I came here." Her comments gave me new insight.

Another miracle of the American Dream is that it is universal, "equal," to all Americans. It doesn't matter what your background or race is. Up to now, it hasn't even mattered if I understood it fully. It's always applied to me and you. Thank goodness we can pursue our own dreams, in our own way and in our own time!

Self-evident; let's go out today and find evidence that our dreams are still within our grasp. Let's declare independence from the shackles of our old thoughts. Let's pursue happiness in ways that will leave us healthy, wealthy and wise.