The greatest gift we can ever give to another person is a piece of our selves. This gift can take many forms, including our time, our talents, our ideas, or even our resources.
As I grow older, I find myself concerned with my own affairs less and less. My urge for consumption—particularly material possessions—has decreased overall. I'm simply less enthralled by stuff these days. I am more content and grateful for what I already have.
I now find myself compelled to 'spread the love' and 'share the wealth' and regularly pass along freelance design projects to fellow colleagues—especially when a project doesn't light me up creatively. I love recommending people and businesses. Being 'social glue' has its own rewards, more often internal than external. And I am fine with that.
I also find myself being much more generous with my compliments. It feels great to share credit or speak highly of someone. It just feels better to build people up than to tear them down. Not that I was ever intentionally cruel or hurtful, just disinterested and preoccupied.
I never understood the heart's capacity for expansion until the birth of my children. Just when I thought I wasn't capable of loving more, I suddenly discovered a new level of feeling. And from what I understand, these nurturing instincts expand ever more when a person becomes a grandparent.
Hopefully in the future, I will get to experience that next level of love. Until then, I will seek to expand my nurturing extincts to include many people.
To your good fortune!
Friday, February 13, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
We Need Your Light
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| Original photo by Dustin Scarpitti. Quote by me. |
A common trait among creatives and would-be entrepreneurs is a feeling of unworthiness. We look at our sketches or novel outline or business idea and think, "What's the point. I can't make a difference. It's all been done before."
We think we have nothing worth saying or at the very least nothing new to add that hasn't already been done before.
And to a degree, this is true.
But that is not what is important. What is important is casting more light on the world, even if our light closely resembles that of someone else.
We all go through a learning curve and we are all at different points on our pathway through life. In the beginning it is okay to lean on the shoulders of others until we are able to stand on our own. It is perfectly fine to reconfigure, regurgitate, and repurpose what you see and hear—so long as you give proper credit where credit is due—until you find your voice.
In college, my design professors encouraged us to copy and mimic our artistic heroes. To grow and learn from them until our style—our personal artistic voice—emerged.
You unique voice can be a light to the world. Our world can feel like a dark, cruel, and unrelenting place sometimes. If we focus on this darkness, it will weigh us down, weaken our resolve to follow our dreams, and, eventually, crush our souls.
Don't let that happen. Don't give in to the noise and the voices that would tell you that what you do won't matter. To paraphrase a line from The Help, you are kind, you are smart, you are important.
We need your art. We need your voice. We need your innovative product and life-changing services. We need (and value) your unique perspective.
We need your light. Shine bright.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Fortune Friday: "A friend asks only for your time not your money."
Time is a finite resource. No matter who we are, we all have the same 24-hours in a day. Rich, poor, famous, obscure, smart, stupid, black, white—it doesn't matter.
Money, on the other hand, is a comparatively infinite resource—although we tend to ascribe it more value that is really has. We see it as all-powerful and difficult to obtain. In western culture, we put money on a pedestal. Certainly, money is a useful tool for day-to-day living and expediting progress, but it is not the be-all, end-all.
By this comparison, our time is actually more valuable than our money. We can always earn more money, but none of us can create more minutes in a day.
When someone, then, asks for our time, they are asking of us our most precious commodity. How we spend our time and who we spend it with should not be taken lightly or treated casually.
When you give a friend "only" your time, you are giving them a gift greater than any sum of mere money.
Your time is priceless. Use it well.
To your good fortune!
Money, on the other hand, is a comparatively infinite resource—although we tend to ascribe it more value that is really has. We see it as all-powerful and difficult to obtain. In western culture, we put money on a pedestal. Certainly, money is a useful tool for day-to-day living and expediting progress, but it is not the be-all, end-all.
By this comparison, our time is actually more valuable than our money. We can always earn more money, but none of us can create more minutes in a day.
When someone, then, asks for our time, they are asking of us our most precious commodity. How we spend our time and who we spend it with should not be taken lightly or treated casually.
When you give a friend "only" your time, you are giving them a gift greater than any sum of mere money.
Your time is priceless. Use it well.
To your good fortune!
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
How To Improve Your Value In The Marketplace
As a followup to my earlier article about confusing worth with value, I wanted to share a simple formula I learned from supercoach Michael Neill on how to analyze—and thereby increase—your value in the marketplace.
He called it Scope, Scale, and Scarcity.
The formula is easy. Determine where, on a scale of 1 to 10, you rate in each category. Then multiply those numbers times each other. The higher the product, the more likely you are to be well paid.
But first we need to define the terms.
SCOPE refers to the relative impact you have on an individual or industry. Low impact, like flipping burgers, rates a lower score. High impact, like brain surgery—literally a life and death situation—rates a higher score.
SCALE relates to the quantity of people you affect or reach. Fewer people, lower score. Many people, higher score.
SCARCITY describes relative level of uniqueness of what you do. Common, pedestrian, or ubiquitous jobs rate low. Unique or one-of-a-kind jobs rate high.
Here are some examples:
1. Fast Food Worker
Scope: 1 - impacts people very little
Scale: 3 - helps a fair amount of people each day
Scarcity: 1 - pretty much anyone can do this job
Overall score: 3
2. Brain Surgeon
Scope: 10 - high personal impact; literally saves lives
Scale: 1 - directly helps a small number of people
Scarcity: 8 - not a common job, but not uncommon either
Overall score: 80
3. LeBron James, NBA basketball superstar
Scope: 2 - provides entertainment, but usually not (although possible) life-altering
Scale: 10 - potentially reaching millions of people
Scarcity 10 - There is only one LeBron James
Overall Score: 200
Using the formula, we can see in the examples why some people are well paid and others are not. Note, these overall scores are not a directly-correlating, dollar-for-dollar scale. They merely indicate the relative reason why one person may be compensated more (or less) than another.
If you want to increase your earnings, look for ways to improve your scope, scale, or scarcity. If you want to launch your income into the stratosphere, upgrade all three.
He called it Scope, Scale, and Scarcity.
The formula is easy. Determine where, on a scale of 1 to 10, you rate in each category. Then multiply those numbers times each other. The higher the product, the more likely you are to be well paid.
But first we need to define the terms.
SCOPE refers to the relative impact you have on an individual or industry. Low impact, like flipping burgers, rates a lower score. High impact, like brain surgery—literally a life and death situation—rates a higher score.
SCALE relates to the quantity of people you affect or reach. Fewer people, lower score. Many people, higher score.
SCARCITY describes relative level of uniqueness of what you do. Common, pedestrian, or ubiquitous jobs rate low. Unique or one-of-a-kind jobs rate high.
Here are some examples:
1. Fast Food Worker
Scope: 1 - impacts people very little
Scale: 3 - helps a fair amount of people each day
Scarcity: 1 - pretty much anyone can do this job
Overall score: 3
2. Brain Surgeon
Scope: 10 - high personal impact; literally saves lives
Scale: 1 - directly helps a small number of people
Scarcity: 8 - not a common job, but not uncommon either
Overall score: 80
3. LeBron James, NBA basketball superstar
Scope: 2 - provides entertainment, but usually not (although possible) life-altering
Scale: 10 - potentially reaching millions of people
Scarcity 10 - There is only one LeBron James
Overall Score: 200
Using the formula, we can see in the examples why some people are well paid and others are not. Note, these overall scores are not a directly-correlating, dollar-for-dollar scale. They merely indicate the relative reason why one person may be compensated more (or less) than another.
If you want to increase your earnings, look for ways to improve your scope, scale, or scarcity. If you want to launch your income into the stratosphere, upgrade all three.
Friday, January 30, 2015
Fortune Friday: "Listen these next few days to your friends to get answers you seek."
Western society—particularly the United States—has long elevated the status of the so-called self-made man. The idea of the lone ranger combing the fertile plains of opportunity, is a long-held and highly-valued myth; as if to say a person is somehow better for having succeeded without help from anyone.
Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, if you really dig deep you will find that nothing of consequence in the history of mankind was created alone.
Sure, the idea of the maverick sounds appealing, but logistically it isn't feasible. Our world is too full of interconnecting parts to make a solely solitary endeavor possible.
Everyone depends on everyone. It takes a village, literally.
One of our most valuable sources of assistance is our circle of friends. But friends can be a blessing or a curse.
Good and true friends will encourage you to greatness. They will lift you and hold you to a higher standard. They will often draw out of you what you yourself cannot see. These types of friends can help make all the difference in whether you succeed or fail.
However, bad and weak-minded friends can spell your doom. They will tear you down and mire you in mediocrity. They will seek to ease their guilt or lack of ambition by discouraging you. After all, misery loves company.
Your friends can be a priceless source of inspiration, input, suggestions, or answers to difficult questions. So choose the best friends you can. And if your current friends drain your energy with their constant pessimism or apathy, consider finding new friends.
As Joshua Fields Millburn says, "You can't change the people around you, but you can change the people around you."
To your good fortune!
Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, if you really dig deep you will find that nothing of consequence in the history of mankind was created alone.
Sure, the idea of the maverick sounds appealing, but logistically it isn't feasible. Our world is too full of interconnecting parts to make a solely solitary endeavor possible.
Everyone depends on everyone. It takes a village, literally.
One of our most valuable sources of assistance is our circle of friends. But friends can be a blessing or a curse.
Good and true friends will encourage you to greatness. They will lift you and hold you to a higher standard. They will often draw out of you what you yourself cannot see. These types of friends can help make all the difference in whether you succeed or fail.
However, bad and weak-minded friends can spell your doom. They will tear you down and mire you in mediocrity. They will seek to ease their guilt or lack of ambition by discouraging you. After all, misery loves company.
Your friends can be a priceless source of inspiration, input, suggestions, or answers to difficult questions. So choose the best friends you can. And if your current friends drain your energy with their constant pessimism or apathy, consider finding new friends.
As Joshua Fields Millburn says, "You can't change the people around you, but you can change the people around you."
To your good fortune!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Confusing Worth With Value
Personal net worth is a common measuring stick for success—or at least how the world typically defines it. And people associate themselves (and their esteem) in parallel with these numbers.
In fact, when people are considering a job position, they often weigh it in terms of what they think they're worth. "I can't believe those jerks only offered me $50,000 per year. I'm worth twice that!"
Sad, but true.
And completely false. Not to mention completely irrelevant.
Worth has nothing to do with it.
Every single person—at the core level—has infinite personal worth. We're not worth millions or even billions. Our worth as individuals is infinite, priceless.
Value, on the other hand, is a different story altogether. Value—the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or usefulness of something—is what we create and share with the world.
When we create and share something that is important or useful to someone, that thing has value. If it solves a problem or resolves an issue a business or individual is facing, it most likely can be exchanged for money.
Renowned British author, speaker, and investor, Richard Koch said:
"Every company is a set of answers to a set of questions, or often, at a more fundamental level, a single answer to a single question."
Substitute 'person' for 'company' and it is easy to analyze how we can increase our value in the marketplace. Simply ask yourself what question(s) your particular skill set is answering. What problems can you fix for others?
Can I increase my ability to answer greater questions (i.e. find solutions to bigger problems) and thereby reap greater rewards?
Remember, your worth is infinite but your value can be measured.
In fact, when people are considering a job position, they often weigh it in terms of what they think they're worth. "I can't believe those jerks only offered me $50,000 per year. I'm worth twice that!"
Sad, but true.
And completely false. Not to mention completely irrelevant.
Worth has nothing to do with it.
Every single person—at the core level—has infinite personal worth. We're not worth millions or even billions. Our worth as individuals is infinite, priceless.
Value, on the other hand, is a different story altogether. Value—the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or usefulness of something—is what we create and share with the world.
When we create and share something that is important or useful to someone, that thing has value. If it solves a problem or resolves an issue a business or individual is facing, it most likely can be exchanged for money.
Renowned British author, speaker, and investor, Richard Koch said:
"Every company is a set of answers to a set of questions, or often, at a more fundamental level, a single answer to a single question."
Substitute 'person' for 'company' and it is easy to analyze how we can increase our value in the marketplace. Simply ask yourself what question(s) your particular skill set is answering. What problems can you fix for others?
Can I increase my ability to answer greater questions (i.e. find solutions to bigger problems) and thereby reap greater rewards?
Remember, your worth is infinite but your value can be measured.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Fortune Friday: "Perhaps you've been focusing too much on that one thing."
In business, particularly creative freelancing, we are advised to focus. Specialize, pick a niche. Develop your signature look or style. Zero in on your goals and pursue them with laser-like gusto. And it makes good sense. Since we can't possibly please everyone we are better off delighting those who respond to our work.
But too much focus can turn into blinders. Racehorses are fitted with blinders to block their peripheral vision. By eliminating distractions, they are free to channel their attention down the track and ultimately the finish line.
In the context of a closed track, this kind of focus is beneficial.
But in the real world where we are presented with thousands of potential opportunities, this kind of focus can be harmful.
I was once presented with an incredible career opportunity. It was a leadership position with bigger responsibilities and an even bigger paycheck. A real career changer.
It was the big break I had always hoped for, and when they offered it to me I was all in. Like 300% all in. I was committed to the long hours and the added pressures. I was even ready to relocate if asked.
I was totally focused.
And then came delays. Weeks turning into months. Trying to raise capital. Meetings and proposals and phone calls with investors. And a mountain of emails.
But still more delays. Always the well-intended promise of "We're almost there" and "The bankers say two more weeks."
Yet I remained focused.
And I waited. And I waited some more. And some more. A whole year went by. I ignored and passed on other opportunities, ever hopeful this new position would materialize.
But then, I started getting frustrated—and so did my wife. And my friends grew weary of my explanations. I began to feel foolish and berated myself for not taking a stand sooner. I had so wanted this deal to work out that I couldn't see the blinders I had on. I had blocked my peripheral vision. I had closed myself off.
For eighteen long months.
Finally, I took the blinders off. The opportunity cost of continuing to wait had grown too large. And it was cankering my soul. I gave them my notice and walked away.
It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from off my shoulders and it is was lesson I will not soon forget: Perhaps I had been focusing too much on that one thing.
To your good fortune!
But too much focus can turn into blinders. Racehorses are fitted with blinders to block their peripheral vision. By eliminating distractions, they are free to channel their attention down the track and ultimately the finish line.
In the context of a closed track, this kind of focus is beneficial.
But in the real world where we are presented with thousands of potential opportunities, this kind of focus can be harmful.
I was once presented with an incredible career opportunity. It was a leadership position with bigger responsibilities and an even bigger paycheck. A real career changer.
It was the big break I had always hoped for, and when they offered it to me I was all in. Like 300% all in. I was committed to the long hours and the added pressures. I was even ready to relocate if asked.
I was totally focused.
And then came delays. Weeks turning into months. Trying to raise capital. Meetings and proposals and phone calls with investors. And a mountain of emails.
But still more delays. Always the well-intended promise of "We're almost there" and "The bankers say two more weeks."
Yet I remained focused.
And I waited. And I waited some more. And some more. A whole year went by. I ignored and passed on other opportunities, ever hopeful this new position would materialize.
But then, I started getting frustrated—and so did my wife. And my friends grew weary of my explanations. I began to feel foolish and berated myself for not taking a stand sooner. I had so wanted this deal to work out that I couldn't see the blinders I had on. I had blocked my peripheral vision. I had closed myself off.
For eighteen long months.
Finally, I took the blinders off. The opportunity cost of continuing to wait had grown too large. And it was cankering my soul. I gave them my notice and walked away.
It felt like a huge weight had been lifted from off my shoulders and it is was lesson I will not soon forget: Perhaps I had been focusing too much on that one thing.
To your good fortune!
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