Gulliver and I were rewatching the Netflix series “The Chefs Table” – in particular, the Dan Barber episode. I adore that guy. He’s not just a chef – he’s a real food activist. His interests go beyond what he’s cooking, beyond even the producers he’s buying from – he’s interested in the farming systems. In the soil.
One of my favourite quotes from the entire series is in this episode:
“If your vision can be achieved within your lifetime –
you’re not thinking big enough.”
Gulliver got a bit frustrated,
“There are so many cool things to be interested in, to be passionate about, and not enough life to do all of the things!”
And I was like,
“That’s what’s so AWESOME about what we’re doing! We get to be involved in all of the things by supporting people like Dan with their Great Work – then they go out and be the change.”
Fuck Lifestyle
I’m not interested in working with people in “Lifestyle” businesses.
If that’s what you’re looking to build, there’s hundreds of people in the mentoring space who want to show you how to make millions working part-time.
You know them – the Lifestyle Business Cult. Their ads are always accompanied by pictures of happy looking women working with laptops on the beach. I’ve tried working with my laptop on a beach. I didn’t look happy. Squinty and covered in sand, yes. Happy, not so much.
I’m sure it must be possible to make millions living the “Four Hour Work Week” dream – but it’s not possible to have a huge and lasting impact without being truly committed to your cause. And no one who’s committed is interested in working four hours a week.
Building the perfect machine that returns you money with minimal human interference? I totally get it. I understand why that would be appealing.
But it’s not where my heart lies.
Me, I’m interested in artistic endeavors. Passionate pursuits. Industry Disruptors. Status quo destroyers.
The 8 Percent.
I was born to lead rampaging armies.
I want to shake the world.
I want to be around people who want to do the same.
And I want to do it in ALL OF THE WAYS.
Because I care about food. And the environment. And women’s issues. And animals. And art. And fashion. And music. And business. And social issues.
Because all of these things change the world in their own way.
The thing is, when you’re engaged in what you really care about – when you’re engaged in your Great Work – you’re not worried about lifestyle. Because The Work IS your lifestyle.
I see people quoting the old,
“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!”
NO! When you do your Great Work – you’ll work EVERY day of your life. Every hour. Every minute.
Thinking about it is as natural to you as breathing. Your biggest issue will become learning how to switch off and take necessary downtime for recuperation (my upper limit is about 3 days, then I’m scribbling in a Moleskine, plotting my next move while Gulliver’s all like – “Can we PLEASE leave the hotel room?!?!”).
The Price of Your Great Work
I’m in Tokyo right now and as I was going to bed at midnight, an opening line to a piece I wanted to write came into my brain. So I stayed up for 3 hours writing it because I wanted to capture it while it was there and fresh.
That’s the price.
Scribbling articles out at 3am in a hotel room in Tokyo.
Spending most of your two week holiday in Fiji with your head firmly stuck in a notebook – because the ideas are here, now and you’re not going to waste them.
Never being able to really turn off, because you’re obsessed with your topic.
One of my 8 percent clients just worked for 30 hours straight while on a holiday in Thailand with his soon-to-be wife.
I used to think I was a workaholic – but that’s really not true. Workaholics are caught up in the need for constant movement. They’re addicted to the adrenaline high of doing things. Even if those things aren’t particularly important.
I like taking time off. I’m happy to go away somewhere without my computer.
But I always have a notebook.
Because I have to capture the ideas when they come.
If I’m composing an opening line of a piece of content I know I have to write it down or risk losing it forever. And once that first line is down, the rest tends to flow out of me pretty easily. Then, all of a sudden, it’s 3am and I haven’t gone to bed yet.
I don’t do lifestyle.
I also don’t do mindless hustle.
I do engagement. When I feel the spirit of my Great Work move within me, I’ve learned to answer the call. My muse is a jealous mistress and the more I ignore her, the less often she visits.
And I work with people who do the same.
For many of my clients, their biggest struggle is – how do I honour my Great Work, honour myself and honour my family? How do I not become completely consumed with what I do and neglect the people I love? But how do I also ensure that I respect my work and not neglect it out of guilt?
“Lifestyle” and your Great Work don’t live in peace, side by side. They never will. Choosing to go all in with your 8 Percent work means accepting that. You’ll do your best. But it won’t be good enough for everyone.
You have to decide what you want.
I say – fuck lifestyle.
I say – I was not born for balance and mediocrity.
I say – I can think of no greater honour than to sacrifice my life to my Great Work.