"Do" is a great word. Only two letters, but what power they elicit in the mind! I love the power of simplicity; two letters are put together and they suddenly create great mental energy! Just ask Nike about the simple approach - "Go ahead. Just do it!"
Funny how an entire generation of people - athletes and non-athletes alike - viewed their athletic performance in a new way from only three words - "Just Do It." These three words have changed the way an entire generation thinks about sport and being an athlete. Nike believes that every person is an athlete, regardless of their level of performance. Every man, woman and child has the power to DO something athletic that can change the world…their world!
The key word of the three is DO. It requires action. Granted, the power of thought itself is amazing! Without first a thought, there is nothing. But let’s be honest, a thought will not change our lives unless we act on it. Nike didn’t choose to say "Just Think It" or "Just Believe It." Although those are powerful taglines in their own right, they do not convey the awesome power of "Just Do It!"
Albert Einstein once said, “Nothing happens until something moves.” Nothing changes in life without action. Action is the causation of change. A thought may be the trigger that initiates the emotional charge that precedes action, but without action a thought is only an intention. And we all know what the proverbial road to hell is paved with, right?
Maybe you're saying, “Yeah, Scott, this is all well and good, but what about motivation? Doesn’t action require motivation? When I am motivated, I will DO something."
But the fact is, you don’t have to be motivated to take action. Believe me, as a runner, I know this to be true. There are days when the last thing I feel like doing is running. But once I lace up my running shoes, turn on my iPod and take my first few strides, the run begins. The act of running came first and the motivation to keep going and finish followed.
When I talk to people about how I run 4 or 5 days a week, they ask me, “What is your favorite part about running? Is it the runner’s high or that euphoric feeling they talk about?” My answer is usually the same. I tell them my favorite part of running is the end! I will go on to tell them that I love the energy and the physical strength I derive from running, the mental clarity and emotional stability that I feel running provides. But, seriously, the actual running itself is tiring, painful and often the last thing I feel like doing! When I am on the east coast for meetings and the wake-up call comes through at 5am (that’s 2am west-coast time for me), the last thing I am motivated to do is get up and exercise. But once I have a sip or two of coffee and hit the treadmill, I then feel the motivation I need to finish. On those days, I subsequently have the energy and enthusiasm to accomplish the work ahead of me. I feel great when I am done, but the act of starting was the most difficult part.
Joseph Addison’s first Grand Essential for Happiness - something to do - may mean something different to each individual, but essentially it means that we must have something that keeps us busy and engaged. First of all, we need a job that uses our skills and God-given abilities to the utmost. Additionally, we need some form of hobby and/or physical activity that gets our blood flowing. It is having something to do, professionally and personally, that brings meaning to our lives. We have to find the desires of our hearts; those activities in life that are part of our bigger plan for being on this planet.
It is critical to have something meaningful to do for that 8 hours a day which we call "work." There is something to do in the workaday world that will utilize your talents to the utmost. When you find it, although you will still have frustrations and setbacks, your days will speed by because your mind and heart will be engaged in your work.
There are some fairly easy steps to discover how to find the right “something to do” -
1) Make a list of your skills, abilities and passions. Start back from childhood. What classes did you like or do well in? What are some areas of interest that have never gone away?
2) Determine if there are any careers that utilize your gifts and passions. Using the internet and searching on Google can be very helpful for this.
3) Determine what you are willing to sacrifice to pursue your dream. For example, maybe you would need to find an entry-level position in your new field, but you are at a higher level in your current role. Determine if you can make a shift based on your current income and what income this new field will yield. If it doesn’t make sense from a financial standpoint right now, see if you can volunteer or get training in your free time to get the necessary experience to break in. You may find you need to go to school in the evening.
I have gone through this process a few times in my career. When I went through it after years of wandering from job to job, I finally discovered I had a passion for sports, footwear and business. The athletic footwear industry made all the sense in the world once I made my list and saw it in black and white. Recently, I was assessing my career goals again. For some time now, I have wanted to fulfill another lifelong passion - the desire to write, speak and teach. But with two kids, a wife, a dog and a mortgage, it is not feasible to give up my day job. Hence, the blog and a start toward a career in writing, speaking and teaching. If you find the right something, it is worth pursuing. It is worth making some short-term sacrifices for long-term happiness.
As important as it is to do something and find the right “something to do,” that is not the be all, end all. How often do you hear the story of a man who retires at the age of 65, only to die a year or two later? Some people stop working and lose purpose. Their job was so important to them, such a major part of their identity, that when they no longer had it, they essentially died from lack of purpose. We need to find something to do that fulfills us. But wait, there is more to the story...
The DO is only a part of the equation for happiness. Remember, there is also something to LOVE and something to HOPE for. We will explore LOVE next time.
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