I enjoyed reading this post because of its elemental truth. As a career coach, now facilitating true calling events, it’s essential that I present plenty of options for folks because you nailed it. Everyone’s path is different as are their circumstances. So in finding our own path each of us must also do it in our own way. I used to think that methods produced results. Not anymore. Ten folks can use the same method and get wildly varying results. That’s why we also have to pay attention to the energy we have for what we are doing. I’ve learned that everything counts, not just what we do.

1. Beware of the opinions of others: Lou Holtz tells us that he is the only man that ever wrote more books than he read. Personally, I have always been this way myself. While I value the opinions of others I am always aware of my own goals and even more so my values. (I do not mean this to sound selfish)

2. Intentions: I believe your intentions must be clear to move forward with anything. Joe, in his first comment related this article to success in career while I relate it to overall success. Overall success to me is about not dying with my music left in me. I would say Joe’s music is in family and being able to explore his passions. Good for Joe! Remember you are where you are because of the things that you think, For better or for worse.

3. There is no beginning and no end: Sure you can create goals that have a beginning middle and end, but time is an illusion. Real success comes in how you conduct yourself in each moment, not how much money they bury you with.

Sue, thank you for writing this. I am really enlivened right now to carry forward. Sometimes we need a little reminding.
-keith

You picked a great focus, too. When the ambient becomes what we are attending to, we are in trouble. I need to actually be doing something other than watching what everyone is doing, otherwise I bring no value to anyone else.

thanks.

I find myself coming at this from a different direction. I’m still not entirely sure what my ultimate goal is, at least from a career perspective. I’ve got a general path in mind but I’ve never been good at answering the “where do you see yourself in ten years” question.

What matters more to me is the other stuff. Family. Friends. Hobbies. I went and married my best friend, surrounded myself with awesome people and let the chips fall where they may. In a few weeks I’ll be a father (something I’ve always looked forward to), I’ve got a great and lovable dog, I coach hockey (well, not this year), curl and play a bit of golf… I’m happy with life.

That’s not to say I’m not thinking about my career. It’s just not what defines me. I’m sure one day I’ll have a more clear direction but for now I’m chasing interesting opportunities as they come and building a good breadth of experience in the general areas that interest me.

My best man told a great story on my wedding day; something I’d totally forgotten. When we lived together during university, we’d often have a few drinks and lounge around our living room, talking about our plans etc. He said he remembered me saying that all I really wanted out of life was to come home from coaching kids hockey (at the time I probably assumed it was my own kids), kiss my wife and flop on the couch with my dog.

Then, a few years after that (and a year or so before the wedding), he and his partner were staying with Amy and I when they were up from Toronto for our engagement party. I left the house early to coach hockey, then came home, kissed my fiancee and flopped on the couch with my dog. He said it struck him that I got just what I wanted.