value proposition Archives

Value

5 September 2013September 5, 2013Eric

I've been thinking a lot about value lately. Specifically, the conversations and presence with my kids. In the last seven years my core has been fully engaged with them. Not because I'm some rock star at parenting or a nominee for father of the year. Believe me, I've tripped and blown it more times than I care to remember. It has been a God-induced form of luck, struggles and on-purpose effort.

I didn't always find real value in my kids. I loved them and many times justified my career chasing as a benefit they'd reap from. I was afraid and self-absorbed. Always thinking I would get the time, find the time or that time would send me a relationship wrapped in red ribbons. It is about prioritizing and being deliberate about pouring yourself into the relationship. I was humbled by that truth. And, yes, it carries tremendous risk. Living always presents this and there is no living without it.

I'm now at a place where I understand true value and I am learning the art of living it out. Living it out means seeing, in the arena of my family, my relationship with them as equally valuable as a financial pursuit or a social engagement.

Here's the potential rub for you and me. If we're not careful we'll allow our career to dominate the other 7/8ths of life. Like a drug, we'll want (not need) that fix. You know, the feeling of importance, fake significance and most dangerously, identity. Don't fall for this, don't buy into your employer who tries to convince you that their most important should be your most important. Like Steven Pressfield's Resistance, in the book, The War of Art, there is something fighting against your best intentions.

A few years ago a friend of mine told me he thought I was courageous to walk away from a career that had taken over much of my life. I wasn't, but I did see (sometimes not clearly) value in life and living. That truth remains.

The Value Proposition

3 January 2013January 3, 2013Eric

Welcome to 2013! In today's post I'm focusing on the value proposition. Not in relation to your investments or sales process, but your epic life. Don't turn away. Reading this may be the most important thing you do all year. Not because I'm such a great thinker or writer, but because your life is worth more than you can imagine. Sounds cliche doesn't it. Your awkward smile and feeling of embarrassment that you haven't paid enough attention to life's rhythm is hanging on your sleeve.

I watch people intently-live and written. I gauge their behavior and their words. I want to see if they really are as "whole" as they portray themselves to be. My review isn't to judge or make light, but to see if I've been given the opportunity to focus on helping them move to a place of Epic (their movie, their symphony, their happiness) Living. In many ways my blood runs with a sense of how their story unfolds.

We are in great danger.

I told a friend and fellow-pilgrim some time ago, that I've seen this recurring vision of a large building with an office full of people. On any given day I see a band of mercenaries planting bombs and traps for the people going in and out everyday. I have some experience with bombs and traps. I used to set them. How's that for irony? If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know my story. In the end, my calling and mission is to save as many as possible. And, yes, I've been called and construed as one of the "crazy ones."

At this point in your story, I would like you to consider how the value proposition can create great odds for success. It will not be easy and it will create a crossroads, just a friendly warning.

Here's how to do it:

Turn off the world (the marketing, the people, the employers, etc.) before you begin this process. By the way, the world will not like this. If you ignore my warning here, you'll go into a form of mental slavery. Someone or something else will sieze control.
I'm giving you 5 diamonds worth millions, the rarest of the rare. Each one represents what you value most in life. Things like God, family, a cause, friends, career, etc. Choose wisely here.
Now, the condition of me giving you the diamonds is you must take care of and keep the value of the diamonds growing at an annual 10% clip each year. Every day in the given year will be the measuring stick. The take-away is, you must take care of your diamonds every day.
If you fail in number 3, you lose your life.
As an added bonus, I will stay with you during the year to help you with perspective and give feedback. I will only do this when you ask. It's your life after-all.

Intersted in this value proposition? You should be, you're already invested.

Matching Your Values to Your Words

6 May 2011May 6, 2011Eric

Do your words match your values? Not to perfection, but do you live out what you tell the world? Is your story verifiable? This is important because if they don't match-up, your wasting time. And time is a gift.

I had a conversation with my wife last night about a couple we know that is heading for trouble. The irony is they know it. But being unsure of what to do, they just keep going. The husband is very successful in the career and money sphere. And his pursuits are steering the ship. I consider him deluded. If you asked him he'd say he values his family. Huh?

Now the deal is this. Everybody has been given the management role in regards to their life. So I'm not in charge-except in my own life. That said, I don't think the couple I mentioned desires the negative outcomes of their actions. I see them like so many others when it comes to their circumstances. Many people feel like they have no options. But We do have options, and a lot of them. But are we willing to do the work that will leave us vulnerable, in pain or afraid?

This is the Rubicon.

I know it's a harder road to be focused on your words matching up to your values, but think about the following:

Who or what deceived us into believing that relationships, missions, careers, etc., are supposed to be a breeze to deal with?
The life you want will never be handed to you in a box wrapped in red ribbon.
Maybe others are watching you for the inspiration to go forward.
As hard as it may be to hear, often we spend way too much time trying capture the butterfly of happiness. Maybe we should be still for a second or two and let the butterfly come to us.
Our values are who we are. This is true even if you try to deny it.
Voices from the past are a part of history, leave them there. Stop trying to resurrect what is, and should be, dead.
You are responsible-fully.