The Rich Life

Sand Sculptor in London, UK

Lately, I’ve been bogged down with “what’s-the-point-itis”.  Why do I stand in an office eight hours a day?  Why do I drive back and forth in my car that continues to cost more and more money to maintain?  Why am I living in a city that requires driving?  Why is it such a chore to exercise and eat healthy?

I don’t have the answers to a lot of the questions that bother me, but I have found a starting point, and that’s really important.  To figure out what the point of everything is, you have to focus on what you know.  What you love.  What drives you.  What you’re good at.  When you know what you’re good at, you know what you should aim to do on a daily basis.

What Am I Good At?

I don’t like when people keep it all hypothetical, so let’s talk about me.  What am I good at, and how can I use that information to make my life richer?  I’m good at music.  Every time I ask myself, “What should I be doing?” or “What am I really good at?”, the first thing that comes to mind is always music.

Do you ever fantasize about your “dream job”?  The job that’s so much fun, it’s almost not even “work”?  My most recurring fantasy is a combination of composing soundtracks, writing songs, recording artists, and recording my own music.  When I think about doing any combination of those things, I get a surge of happiness through my body.  Everything feels right.

Why ask what I’m good at?  Why not just ask what I like?  The point of this exercise is to find a way to pursue a lifestyle that will make me happy and support myself financially.  If I’m going to be making a living doing something musical, I can’t be a shit musician.  I have to be at least better than average.  The same goes for any entrepreneurial pursuit.  You don’t have to be a professional, but you need to be good.

Where Do I Start?

I’ll tell you where I’m going to start.  I’m going to learn a song on acoustic guitar and record myself playing and singing it.  Once it’s recorded, I’ll upload it to a video sharing service or two (YouTube, etc…) and await the harsh criticism.  You’ll never know if people will like what you have to offer until you offer it.  Once I get feedback, I’ll learn another song and upload it.

After I get the hang of that, I’ll start writing and recording my own music.  Once I get feedback on the things I’m creating, I’ll have a very clear indicator of which direction to head in.  I’m giving myself a deadline of September 30, 2010, to have my first song learned and recorded.

Where Do You Start?

You need to figure out what you’re good at.  Make a list of ten things you’re good at.  It might be hard to come up with ten, and some of them might seem ridiculous, but do it anyway.  Once you have your list, narrow it down to five things that you would also enjoy doing on a regular basis.  When you get those five, narrow it down once again to three things, based on which would be easiest to implement.  Here’s everything I just said in an easy-to-read list format:

1. Make a list of 10 things you’re good at
2. Choose the 5 most enjoyable items from that list
3. Choose the 3 easiest-to-implement items from the “enjoyable” list
4. ???
5. Profit

Just kidding about items 4 and 5.  Once you have chosen your three easy, enjoyable skill sets, try doing something detailed in each one!  If one of them is cooking, try putting together a new recipe.  Cook something you’ve never cooked before, and let others try it.  Implement your skills, and show them off.  You need to get feedback if you want to continue on this journey.

What’s Next?

This is obviously just the beginning of your journey into a life you enjoy.  Once you’ve tested the waters, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what needs to happen next.  However, if you still have trouble, feel free to use me as a guide.  I’ll be posting my progress here as I step outside of my box.

I’m tired of the same old thing, and I won’t accept it any more.  I’m doing something about it.  Are you ready to pursue the life you’ve always wanted?