I always like when someone suggests, "I won't be able to do it".

The other day I was in the middle of something and overheard someone say, "He won't be able to finish it tonight" — I was so energized by it!

And here comes the context...

I have acquired some property and building anything permanent is a few years off; in the meantime I want to set up a "Glamping" site so we can enjoy the call of nature in relative comfort, as well as have many of the amenities that make up modern life.

Glamping /ˈglæmpɪŋ/ :

noun: a form of camping in which participants enjoy physical comforts associated with more luxurious types of holiday.  Word Origin — blend of glamorous + camping.

This will involve a large festival tent, queen sized bed, a wood stove, bathroom facilities (including a shower with hot water), an outdoor kitchen and sitting area, as well as available solar power. The only thing that will be lacking is running water  — I suppose I will have to rough it.

As with everything you have to start at the beginning, and in this case the beginning is a platform for the festival tent to rest on. In this particular case the whole thing is meant to be semi- permanent, so the plan is to make the platform out of nine 6' by 6' sections, bolt them together, and put decking on top... this offers the option of dismantling the platform to move at a later date — It was a conscious decision to compromise some stability for portability. I needed 54 (2" x 4" x 6') pieces of pressure treated wood, a bunch of wood screws, a chop saw, and a drill to build what would make up the frame of the 324 square foot platform. Each section would consist of two 2" x 4" x 6' pieces and four 2" x 4" x 69" pieces (3" cut off a 6' piece).

The assembly process started at about six o'clock on a Friday night.

As you can appreciate the first couple of sections took time to assemble as we worked out optimizing the process; overall it wasn't a difficult activity but rather repetitive and definitely tedious. As my helpers began to fade into the background and as talk of having dinner started, I overheard someone utter the words, "He won't be able to finish it tonight". Ultimately, after a quick dinner, I found myself alone in the garage finishing the remaining sections. By ten o'clock all nine sections were complete, the person who suggested that I wouldn't be able to finish all the sections was long gone, and I was now ahead of schedule; attaching the nine sections the next day would be a relaxing activity.

Was any of this difficult? Not really, but it was an exercise in advanced planning, having the right tools, and the desire to get it done. What was said became the motivator to "get it done ahead of schedule".   

In the end, my little project offered up the components for getting something done —

• Planning (this includes a time and event schedule).
• The right tools (or resources).
• The desire to do it. 
• The motivation to get it done.

It seems motivation is the fuel that makes something happen, and for me, when someone suggests, "I can't do something", it seems to be motivation of the high-octane variety.

Don't ask me why.

iamgpe

At first I didn't understand it... but then I thought about it.

Recently I had a conversation with an engineer who owned a small business; our conversation was about having a road entrance widened to bring it up to code. Having an entrance up to code meant I could get a civic address, and then I could get building permits... I then could "build stuff" if I wanted to. All part of the process of creating something from nothing it seems, and a nice reminder you always have to start at the very beginning.

As we settled on final quotes and timeframes I happened to ask him how business was going; he went on to say it was going well, he continued to get more and more jobs, and he really didn't want to get big. As I listened to him my thought process went something like this... "Great, GREAT... WHAT?".

Wait a second, doesn't everyone want to start a business, grow it to be big and influential, make a bunch of money, and spend the rest of your life on easy street? It didn't seem to be the case for this particular business owner.

Days later I found myself reflecting on what he said and why he would say such a thing — Was it a result of not wanting the "headaches" that can come with a larger more complicated business? Maybe he was a great engineer but not really a good businessperson and didn't have the skills to run a bigger business? Maybe he wanted a good work-life balance and getting bigger would disrupt that balance? Maybe he loved what he was currently doing, and he knew a bigger company would take him away from what he loved to do?

Although I will probably never know the reason, I couldn't stop wondering about it; what's even more curious was it really wasn't any of my business. All that really mattered, and the only real concern for me, was that my new entrance would be "up to code". In the end there are reasons why he said what he said, and if it really mattered to my new entrance I would have asked what they were so I could better understand — Why he didn't want to get bigger really didn't matter to me and I didn't need to understand.

As I thought about this I was reminded that your objective determines your need to understand.

In this particular case, my objective was to secure someone who could widen my entrance up to code, and I needed to understand if he could do it... my objective was not to help him expand his business, so it really didn't matter if I understood why he said what he said. This became a nice reminder that objectives govern everything you do, and if you are doing something not in-line with your objective, you need to ask yourself why you are doing what you're doing — It definitely was worth spending the time thinking about it.

I am quite confident my new entrance will be up to code when he's finished. And that is all that matters.

iamgpe  

That which inspires...

It is that time of the year when a young man's thoughts turn to the next 365 days, the plans needed to get you where you want to go, and that which inspires. I just finished updating and reposting a blog entitled "Write something down... anything!" on the social media platform beBee which offers a perspective on the importance of having a plan and writing it down.

I will admit I have a soft spot for inspirational and motivational memes, and although I know that sometimes who actually "penned them" can be suspect, it doesn't make them any less impactful. I happen to have a fairly large collection of these memes, and as part of my 2017 planning process, I thought I would review them to see which (if any) would align nicely with my 2017 activities. And sure enough, I found some that did.

A reminder that I have to "own it"; in whatever I do and whatever happens. And although there will be many people that will help me on the way, I am the one who has to take responsibility through the good times and the bad. 

A reminder to push the boundaries and look past what people say I can do and can not do. Search out people who look at the world differently than myself and who have ideas that are different than mine.

Go outside my comfort zone, learn to be "comfortable with being uncomfortable", look to that which I don't understand, and break my habits. Work to see things I have not seen before.  

Anything worthwhile is not easy... I will be challenged, tested, and some days all there will be is my conviction and belief to keep going. There will always be the next day.

As the Tragically Hip said, "No dress rehearsal, this is our life". Just do it, embrace life, and enjoy the journey.

A reminder to move with conscious thought and design, have an understanding as to why I'm in the moment, and what I am doing. And with that said, this is what my 2017 Guiding Principles and plan look like.

 

The Vision for a fulfilled Life

Self confidence with myself and the world through mindful action and presence. (self)

Self awareness and knowledge through activity & travel, learning, knowledge and wisdom. (self)

Deep emotional connection with a “Life Companion”. (relationship/spirit)

Deep connection and Legacy for my Daughter. (relationship/spirit)

Satisfying circle of friends with personal and professional connections. (relationship/spirit)

A safe, comfortable and tranquil living space (environment)

Intimate work with a company or small circle of clients to help them grow into their goals. (environment)

2017 Goals and Objectives (Guiding Principles in Bold)

Self Confidence: Maintain an uninterrupted physical lifestyle. Study mindfulness. Expand networks and formal association membership.  

Self Awareness and Knowledge: Travel internationally at least once in 2017. Take at least one academic courses. Read one non fiction book each quarter.

Deep Emotional Connection: Develop a soulful “Life Companion” relationship. Continue to build an adult relationship with my daughter.

Satisfying Circle of Friends:  Continue initiating quarterly get-togethers. Assess toxic friendships and develop positive new friendships. 

Legacy: Continue activity to move Family Legacy plan forward.

A Safe, comfortable, tranquil living space: Maintain current situation until 2018.

Intimate work:  Continue GPE Stratagem as an income generator (> $XXXXX K). Continue Blogging activity (no less than twice a week). Expand social networking. Develop one entrepreneurial opportunity. Write a book.  

So there you have it. Have a wonderful 2017 wherever you plan to go.

iamgpe