What Do I Want to Be?

This is the second of three articles as described in an earlier post inspired by Dave Gamache. Dave posed three questions:

  • What are three things I want to do?
  • What are three things I want to be?
  • What are three things I want to have?

This my response to the second question.

My respect for those who immediately speak their mind is tremendous. Sometimes they sound stupid or arrogant. Sometimes they hurt people’s feelings. Sometimes they’re just plain wrong.

Other times, their boldness leads the way to new ground. Sometimes, being brutally honest is the only way to reach your destination. And there is a clear distinction, in my opinion, between brutal honesty and just plain meanness.

Examples are everywhere and often earn labels. Eccentric. Entrepreneur. Icon. Iconoclast. Bombastic. You don’t have to think too hard to pick them out. Hunter S. Thompson (You can still buy top-notch Gonzo gear to support his beloved Owl Farm). Seth Godin. Anne Lamott. The late Steve Jobs. Duh! Jim Henson, Salvador Dali, and Walt Disney.

All capable of creating amazing art that stays locked in your brain for good or ill, holding sway over generations of fans and pundits alike. These examples I hold up here for you (and for me, too) obviously excel at what they do, but all of us are capable of the same influence in our own particular areas of expertise. The fact is the Internet has democratized the ability for anyone to publish and share their craft in a global market and it’s practically free.

Approach life as a craft, and be bold about it.

The examples I provided above and my mindset in this response reminds me of the commercial Apple introduced in 1997 to launch its powerful Think Different advertising campaign.

Independence was one of the three things I wrote about in my first of three articles in this series and I feel it’s worth mentioning again in this second response. My indendence won’t become fully realized until am able to embrace boldness. This yoke of political correctness around my neck has prevented me from being as bold as I would like, and I’m struggling to shake free of that harness.

The constant worry of who I might offend has made me timid, which ipso facto prevents me from being bold. Sometimes, a verbal whack on the head is what the doctor ordered and I need to sack up and start dealing out the right medicine when I know I should.

Happiness is crucial. Some say happiness makes you live longer. Happiness makes you worry less (or maybe worrying less makes you happy?) Hey, let’s take a break for a shiny diversion!

Happiness comes in many packages. Happiness can be wild and out of control and it can be quiet and peaceful. You can find happiness in your work or at the beach. Happiness can be found in the early morning hours, in being the first one awake, in the solitude of just being while the aroma of fresh-ground coffee brewing in the French press tickles your nose before the sun has a chance to rise.

Being bold and independent may lead to happiness, but they aren’t necessary ingredients. You can pull happiness out of a top hat just like a white rabbit if you know where to look, just like magic.