Even With Lots of Plates Spinning, Focus on One Thing at a Time
Remember that reaching your Mountaintop means doing what works for you. I’m going to offer author Nick Thacker’s input here as interesting additional input to what we heard from Randy Gage and Dave Wheeler, because one of the goals of reaching your Mountaintop is to get you to look at things from different angles, question everything, and find the right mix that works for you.
The following input does not, in any way, detract from what we’ve discussed in previous posts. Rather, it adds in some additional thoughts from someone who is sharing what works for him:
“I sometimes wish I could devote my entire pool of energy to just one thing, but I don’t think I was wired that way,” Nick said. “I usually have a thousand proverbial plates spinning and I like it that way.
“I wouldn’t advise that people only focus on one thing. However, knowing what type of person you are can change that answer. If you love having a very structured, set system every day, then focusing on one passion until you see it through can be a great strategy.
“Still, I don’t think passions are the same as projects. A passion for me, for example, is writing. So while I might focus on five different projects during a week, they all might be within that one passion. I do believe there’s power in seeing things through. Quitting isn’t always a bad thing, but I believe it takes practice to learn our own ‘quitting parameters’. If you’ve never tried writing a book, you’re probably going to want to quit.
“But most writers I know (myself included) want to quit at least once during the process – even after we’ve written ten books. So if it’s your first book, you’d probably be wise to commit to it and see it through, and then learn more about yourself and when it’s right or not right for you to quit. Then, after you’ve made it through the process, you’ll have a much better understanding of whether or not writing books is your thing.
“The challenge we all face is in designing life to be a perfect balance of things we’re passionate about, that we have the freedom to become experts in, without needing to worry about money,” Nick continued. “Many people assume that means their passion should become their job and vice versa, but that isn’t the best combination for everyone.
“Realize that your passion and your job aren’t always the same thing, but it’s a mistake to think you should quit the passion side of things because it doesn’t make as much as your job. It’s also a mistake, often, to think you should quit the job because it’s not providing you the passion you desire/deserve,” Nick emphasized.
To add to Nick’s input here, you can absolutely switch to a new job or career if your current situation is making you completely miserable (something I’ve done several times). Nick is saying that it’s good to have steady income while you grow your passion and become a big enough expert in it to someday make substantial money from it.
“The answer to this equation, Jeff,” Nick said, “is different for everyone. Figure out what the balance is for you and then put up with the consequences. If you can’t put up with it, change the equation or change the solution. It takes time and it’s not always easy.”
Notice that Nick is not dictating a certain way of living, acting, or doing. He is merely suggesting for you to find what works for you. While his thoughts do offer a bit of juxtaposition to the commentary earlier on in chapter six of Reach Your Mountaintop, he also is in agreement in the sense that even when he has a lot going on he can only really focus on one thing at a time. While he has a lot going at the same time, he still becomes the expert by having a general grouping for his projects.
What works for you? What is your balance point? Do what makes sense for your current situation. I emphasize this because I always get annoyed when I read books where the author says their conclusion is the set way of doing something. Their input may be great, but it doesn’t always apply to my situation. Pull into your life what you feel is most beneficial.
Nick Thacker was featured in several chapters of the award-winning book Reach Your Mountaintop. You can learn more about Nick on his website.
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