I love thinking about a lateral movement that will allow me to enjoy a leap forward. For example I wanted to be able to nurse my children longer than six weeks when I had them in the 80s. My job as a teacher required me to return to work after six weeks and switch to bottle feeding. I knew my first son had too much trouble with digestion and allergies to do that. My breast milk was giving him a chance to strengthen his immune system. So I quit my job.
But I never quit teaching. Within a month I had my first students that I helped learn to write well enough that they aced their university courses. After that I began taking on individual students who just found their way to my door and helping them maximize the hours they spent learning at school so each became fluent writers and confident in their own ability to excel at what they chose to focus on. I taught each of them to become flexible and responsive to change but make sure you are competent, capable, and consistent at any work you choose to do. If you do that the employer or person who hires you to make a specific product will get a return they love but don’t often get from other people. I believe you can do many things in life and embrace lifelong learning while gathering people who trust you because you deliver when you makes commitment to do so. I have had a successful home renovation business but we were too dependent on capital to handle losing 50% of our clients when the 2008 recession hit. I had to take on personal debt to pay out my employees salaries and then declare bankruptcy. We had been growing and investing for over five years when people just started to walk away from the homes we had been renovating, I learned that there was just too many people making unpredictable decisions for me to be willing to give my all to a business like that again.
It’s the biggest loss I weathered but I also learned how to come back and make sure I don’t have to keep so many plates in the air at any work I want to be creative at again.
Strangely having to call it quits before even more got drug down and lost kept my family unit intact and I had a lot less baggage.
Time to move laterally and start learning something new again.
It eventually lead me to believe I needed to invest in sharing stories about what I have learned by living a life that is built on attracting likeminded individuals to my dedication.
The best way to get people interested is to keep your head down and look happy while you’re shopping or working. Suddenly everyone is checking out what you are up to. Always learn more about better ways to communicate because it helps you learn more about yourself and others. Good questions help people share what they need to learn from you.
Most of what I learned is something I practice not just talk about.
The next step for me always has to be the choice that best fits me at that moment. I can’t limit it more than that because what is wholly possible always has an indefinable amount of luck in it. For example it is over 30 degrees Celsius every day this week. I have atrial fibrillation which increases when my body gets warmer because it increases my heart rate. The higher my resting heart rate the more it flutters rather than beats.
I have an area that is cooled by fans and was catching night breezes off the creek to drop my body temp and let me deeply rest, but smoke from wild fires far North has moved in and having a window open has become dangerous for me because the smoke causes my lungs and heart to struggle. So I have more and more activity I am switching to the night and less and less time I can be awake right now. This will probably only effect my life for two or three more weeks if they get the fires under control but I have health issues that need to be addressed in order for me to write.
I don’t feel bad for myself. I just change the range of what is possible for me to fit the needs of supporting my heart. I have this heart condition because as a kid I had Rheumatic Fever. Doctors thought I would die, but I lived and only now in my years after menopause I find that my heart is showing symptoms of the lifelong struggle it is to just keep beating instead of fluttering.
I don’t take a moment for granted but I can’t step forward and sign up for one of your courses or challenges either. I don’t know which day the wind will blow the smoke closer or the sun raises the temp higher. I just make the next best choice I can.
I write from my heart when I am able. Sometimes like now I bother to tell someone what I am about, mostly because I think you need to know that some of us out here love what you write but we can’t take up your baton today. God, I used to love to run relay races when I was in my teens.
We grow older and sometimes our range of options narrows by necessity but our minds are still capable of ranging fat and linking with others who are running with the wind right now. I guess that reaching out is what I do the most now That’s what happens next.
May your heart be well, when you play with your one year old Tim🌹
Your story is incredibly inspiring! It’s amazing how you navigated such significant changes in your life with resilience and adaptability. From prioritizing your children’s health to pivoting your career and even weathering the financial crisis, you’ve shown the power of lifelong learning and flexibility.
I must say that your dedication to teaching and helping others is truly admirable, and your insights into attracting like-minded individuals and maintaining a positive outlook are valuable lessons for us all. Living your own Renaissance is a powerful testament to embracing change and continuous growth.
I appreciate your kind words and finding people to network with is quite natural when you are connected to what you’re trying to accomplish most people are trying to do the same thing. I found our trajectories just intersected and each person was willing to share opportunities to do work collaboratively while being accountable for all of their own choices as well. People get lost into addiction or compulsion when they are trying to resist recognizing and feeling their own pain. That’s one of the most important signals you can waste your life resisting.
Setbacks hurt but watch out if you’re pounding sand. Doing something every moment of every day so you don’t slow down enough to truly feel and reckon with what is causing you pain.
I find your perspective on networking and collaboration so insightful. When we are clear about our goals, we naturally attract like-minded individuals. It's true that shared opportunities and accountability can lead to meaningful connections and productive partnerships.
Your thoughts on addiction and compulsion as ways to avoid pain are powerful. Recognizing and addressing our pain is crucial to personal growth. Setbacks are part of the journey, but constantly staying busy to avoid feeling can be detrimental. It's important to take the time to truly understand and process our emotions. Agree, Jocelyn?
Yes Tim, a lot of times. But realizing most are self-made labels (e.g. I can only do IT jobs with my skills, I’m a GenX mom and there are so many references I can’t relate anymore to my GenAlpha son, etc.) - it’s also up to me to break free from labels, to be undefined.
Good to evolve, change limiting beliefs and transform.
This perfect little girl that has to act a certain way or What would people think 🤔 I believe you just have to be yourself ❤️ I’m not for everyone 🤣🤣🤣Leaving with a smile 😁
Some very similar things to what I read in this post of yours. :) Derek's a legend. I got the most from Your Music and People, for sure, despite not being a practicing musician. But the essay on parenting is masterful too.
I find that LinkedIn mindset limiting. It's fine if you maybe want a job forever, but if you seek creativity then defining yourself is limiting. Agree?
You're right, it is limiting. In contrast to LinkedIn, there was a platform competing with LinkedIn by encouraging people to express their multi-faceted interests and personalities. It was a great place to be yourself without worrying how you'd look to a recruiter.
I don't just love the idea. I am and have been undefinable my entire life. I can't stand joining a group and taking on their beliefs, tiptoeing around their sacred cows. It feels like a denial of conscious awareness. You do you. It's the only gift anyone really has to offer.
I knocked around, accepted what they told me, that I would not amount to anything, I taught, I wrote, I traveled, I was a musician, I was a researcher - finally in my late 40s I became a therapist and found that all my experiences gave me the ability to sit with almost anyone talking about almost anything. I almost feel guilty that I get paid to do this, it is what I was doing my whole life anyway.
Thank you so much, Tim. I discovered that the ones who make a difference all create their own category. I'm writing online, having clients with an agency, selling ceremonial cacao and Portuguese ceramics online, offering meditation and breathwork sessions, and working closely 1-1 with several individuals as a mentor. I tried my whole life to fit in o n e category until I realized that sucks. I'm more than that. And I know a lot of people who are the same. I wrote about it on medium.com, and you inspired me to create a new one for my brand-new publication, The Hedonist Life.
Thank you. Once again... You're a brutal resource...
For your self education: plant based food isn't healthy. It's poison your body. Research on Carnivore diet. Best regards and thanks for the great article!
I just tell people I still work in banking because the real explanation is too long.<--- Same here, I just tell people I'm doing administrative work. Lol 🤣
I'm semi-retired. Doing some administrative work but mostly I travel around. Visiting friends n making new friends everywhere, learning new cultures, seeing new places, going on new adventure. Simply enjoying my minimalist lifestyle with less work more play.🙏😊
Best article I’ve read in a while. Becoming or daring to be undefinable is quite the job in today’s society, but so worth it!!
Would you put yourself in that category Lena?
Yes! What step have you taken in that direction, Lena?
Keen to know too Sol
Totally agree. Really loved the ideas about generalists ruling the world.
What did you like about it Jonathan?
I love thinking about a lateral movement that will allow me to enjoy a leap forward. For example I wanted to be able to nurse my children longer than six weeks when I had them in the 80s. My job as a teacher required me to return to work after six weeks and switch to bottle feeding. I knew my first son had too much trouble with digestion and allergies to do that. My breast milk was giving him a chance to strengthen his immune system. So I quit my job.
But I never quit teaching. Within a month I had my first students that I helped learn to write well enough that they aced their university courses. After that I began taking on individual students who just found their way to my door and helping them maximize the hours they spent learning at school so each became fluent writers and confident in their own ability to excel at what they chose to focus on. I taught each of them to become flexible and responsive to change but make sure you are competent, capable, and consistent at any work you choose to do. If you do that the employer or person who hires you to make a specific product will get a return they love but don’t often get from other people. I believe you can do many things in life and embrace lifelong learning while gathering people who trust you because you deliver when you makes commitment to do so. I have had a successful home renovation business but we were too dependent on capital to handle losing 50% of our clients when the 2008 recession hit. I had to take on personal debt to pay out my employees salaries and then declare bankruptcy. We had been growing and investing for over five years when people just started to walk away from the homes we had been renovating, I learned that there was just too many people making unpredictable decisions for me to be willing to give my all to a business like that again.
It’s the biggest loss I weathered but I also learned how to come back and make sure I don’t have to keep so many plates in the air at any work I want to be creative at again.
Strangely having to call it quits before even more got drug down and lost kept my family unit intact and I had a lot less baggage.
Time to move laterally and start learning something new again.
It eventually lead me to believe I needed to invest in sharing stories about what I have learned by living a life that is built on attracting likeminded individuals to my dedication.
The best way to get people interested is to keep your head down and look happy while you’re shopping or working. Suddenly everyone is checking out what you are up to. Always learn more about better ways to communicate because it helps you learn more about yourself and others. Good questions help people share what they need to learn from you.
Most of what I learned is something I practice not just talk about.
I live my own Renaissance.
So what's the next step then?
The next step for me always has to be the choice that best fits me at that moment. I can’t limit it more than that because what is wholly possible always has an indefinable amount of luck in it. For example it is over 30 degrees Celsius every day this week. I have atrial fibrillation which increases when my body gets warmer because it increases my heart rate. The higher my resting heart rate the more it flutters rather than beats.
I have an area that is cooled by fans and was catching night breezes off the creek to drop my body temp and let me deeply rest, but smoke from wild fires far North has moved in and having a window open has become dangerous for me because the smoke causes my lungs and heart to struggle. So I have more and more activity I am switching to the night and less and less time I can be awake right now. This will probably only effect my life for two or three more weeks if they get the fires under control but I have health issues that need to be addressed in order for me to write.
I don’t feel bad for myself. I just change the range of what is possible for me to fit the needs of supporting my heart. I have this heart condition because as a kid I had Rheumatic Fever. Doctors thought I would die, but I lived and only now in my years after menopause I find that my heart is showing symptoms of the lifelong struggle it is to just keep beating instead of fluttering.
I don’t take a moment for granted but I can’t step forward and sign up for one of your courses or challenges either. I don’t know which day the wind will blow the smoke closer or the sun raises the temp higher. I just make the next best choice I can.
I write from my heart when I am able. Sometimes like now I bother to tell someone what I am about, mostly because I think you need to know that some of us out here love what you write but we can’t take up your baton today. God, I used to love to run relay races when I was in my teens.
We grow older and sometimes our range of options narrows by necessity but our minds are still capable of ranging fat and linking with others who are running with the wind right now. I guess that reaching out is what I do the most now That’s what happens next.
May your heart be well, when you play with your one year old Tim🌹
Wow Jocelyn...
Your story is incredibly inspiring! It’s amazing how you navigated such significant changes in your life with resilience and adaptability. From prioritizing your children’s health to pivoting your career and even weathering the financial crisis, you’ve shown the power of lifelong learning and flexibility.
I must say that your dedication to teaching and helping others is truly admirable, and your insights into attracting like-minded individuals and maintaining a positive outlook are valuable lessons for us all. Living your own Renaissance is a powerful testament to embracing change and continuous growth.
Thank you for sharing your journey, Jocelyn!
I appreciate your kind words and finding people to network with is quite natural when you are connected to what you’re trying to accomplish most people are trying to do the same thing. I found our trajectories just intersected and each person was willing to share opportunities to do work collaboratively while being accountable for all of their own choices as well. People get lost into addiction or compulsion when they are trying to resist recognizing and feeling their own pain. That’s one of the most important signals you can waste your life resisting.
Setbacks hurt but watch out if you’re pounding sand. Doing something every moment of every day so you don’t slow down enough to truly feel and reckon with what is causing you pain.
I find your perspective on networking and collaboration so insightful. When we are clear about our goals, we naturally attract like-minded individuals. It's true that shared opportunities and accountability can lead to meaningful connections and productive partnerships.
Your thoughts on addiction and compulsion as ways to avoid pain are powerful. Recognizing and addressing our pain is crucial to personal growth. Setbacks are part of the journey, but constantly staying busy to avoid feeling can be detrimental. It's important to take the time to truly understand and process our emotions. Agree, Jocelyn?
The math-lover in me thought of any number divided zero: undefined! Agree that we're ever evolving, and one label isn't true anymore.
Are you held back by labels sometimes Mae?
Yes Tim, a lot of times. But realizing most are self-made labels (e.g. I can only do IT jobs with my skills, I’m a GenX mom and there are so many references I can’t relate anymore to my GenAlpha son, etc.) - it’s also up to me to break free from labels, to be undefined.
Good to evolve, change limiting beliefs and transform.
nobody’s ever been able to define me so I think I’m good. Great article.♥️
What have they tried to define you as Lisa?
This perfect little girl that has to act a certain way or What would people think 🤔 I believe you just have to be yourself ❤️ I’m not for everyone 🤣🤣🤣Leaving with a smile 😁
Agree Lisa, to define is to limit oneself.
And no one likes to limit him/herself.
This happened when I ripped off the lawyer label. I am way more intriguing now 😎
So what do you do now?
If it can be defined - creative problem solver.
Virginia, as fellow lawyer who is a polymath and does not like labels, I'm curious to learn more about your path.
Lovely to meet you here Ilona. I’ll send you a direct message.
Hell yeah Virginia!
Woo hoo!
https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Live-conflicting-answers-conclusion-ebook/dp/B09Y7P4DR6/ you read this?
I have read it. I email Derek every now and then. What did this book teach you?
Some very similar things to what I read in this post of yours. :) Derek's a legend. I got the most from Your Music and People, for sure, despite not being a practicing musician. But the essay on parenting is masterful too.
Great article, Tim. This is the conversation we had in a mastermind group today.
The common advice is that on LinkedIn you want define yourself as one thing because it makes you easy, safe and predictable for employers.
However, as we get older and we get to do different things fitting into this one category becomes limiting and disingenuine.
So, I guess it comes down to striking a balance.
I find that LinkedIn mindset limiting. It's fine if you maybe want a job forever, but if you seek creativity then defining yourself is limiting. Agree?
You're right, it is limiting. In contrast to LinkedIn, there was a platform competing with LinkedIn by encouraging people to express their multi-faceted interests and personalities. It was a great place to be yourself without worrying how you'd look to a recruiter.
"To define is to limit" - Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Any other good quotes on this topic Jonathan?
Loved the contrast between a label and a story. Reminds me of Austin Kleon who says "don't be the noun, do the verb."
Have you read his book Diana?
All three of them have star billing on my book shelf!
Thank you for making me feel good about myself, Tim! Being a multifaceted human is a strength! Yes! 🙌
Would you say that's you? Or not yet?
100% and been trying to put a one-layered label on myself, fit in the box, pick a lane, specialize, for so many years.
This article kicks ass, Tim.
I read them all.
but, these concepts are El Supremo.
You Badass, undefinable you.
Means a lot. Are you undefinable?
Of course.
I'm 58, and no one has ever figured me out yet.
Not even me.
All through school kids spat at me that I was different.
They said it like it was the f or c word.
Now, I like it.
Kind of a badge of honour.
Agreed. Being unique and having that mindset is crucial to success
I expect nothing less from a contrarian haha :)
I don't just love the idea. I am and have been undefinable my entire life. I can't stand joining a group and taking on their beliefs, tiptoeing around their sacred cows. It feels like a denial of conscious awareness. You do you. It's the only gift anyone really has to offer.
What has that led you to do in life, Jon?
I knocked around, accepted what they told me, that I would not amount to anything, I taught, I wrote, I traveled, I was a musician, I was a researcher - finally in my late 40s I became a therapist and found that all my experiences gave me the ability to sit with almost anyone talking about almost anything. I almost feel guilty that I get paid to do this, it is what I was doing my whole life anyway.
Thank you so much, Tim. I discovered that the ones who make a difference all create their own category. I'm writing online, having clients with an agency, selling ceremonial cacao and Portuguese ceramics online, offering meditation and breathwork sessions, and working closely 1-1 with several individuals as a mentor. I tried my whole life to fit in o n e category until I realized that sucks. I'm more than that. And I know a lot of people who are the same. I wrote about it on medium.com, and you inspired me to create a new one for my brand-new publication, The Hedonist Life.
Thank you. Once again... You're a brutal resource...
For your self education: plant based food isn't healthy. It's poison your body. Research on Carnivore diet. Best regards and thanks for the great article!
I disagree. Read the China Study. Or watch the gamechangers movie.
I just tell people I still work in banking because the real explanation is too long.<--- Same here, I just tell people I'm doing administrative work. Lol 🤣
What do you really do Janet?
I'm semi-retired. Doing some administrative work but mostly I travel around. Visiting friends n making new friends everywhere, learning new cultures, seeing new places, going on new adventure. Simply enjoying my minimalist lifestyle with less work more play.🙏😊