525,600 Minutes...

One year ago I took the risk that many people dream of – quitting the day job. I understand that not everyone is financially able to do it and that that is usually the overriding reason why they abstain. I had (and still do have) a very unique and rare opportunity staring me in the face and if I didn’t jump at it then, I Never would have.

I walked out the door of my office building and started a great trek into the unknown with dreams of finding more direction and fulfillment in my life. I imagined myself finding that purpose for which I was meant, and I had some half-baked idea that it would mostly come from a single job. If you had asked me where I thought I’d be in a year, I probably would have said, “I’m not sure. But I bet I’ll be a whole lot closer to finding what I’m looking for than I am now.”

I was right.

And dead wrong.

The past year has been an amazing ride of jobs, travel, introspection, feelings, and decisions; in a word: growth. I have ventured into areas in which I had zero experience and feel further developed in areas where I am a natural fit. I am much clearer around where I want to apply my energy and how that will look. I have a much more honed sense of mission and action. I still have fear, but it’s less paralyzing – that in and of itself is huge for me.

And I’m still staring at as much of a blank slate as I was last August; almost more so. I can still go in Any direction I choose and given the recent string of events, I am less tethered to my location than before. It’s a paradoxical feeling: internally knowing that I am much closer to that fulfillment and knowing that I have No Idea of what is next.

One of the biggest things I have learned about fulfillment is that it does not come from just one thing. I harbored under the delusion that a job would bring it to me and that once I found that magical job, everything else would take care of itself. Ho ho! What a misconception that turned out to be.

Friends, it comes from everything I choose it to. The job alone doesn’t bring fulfillment or happiness – that idea surrenders too much power and leaves it in the hands of something external. I bring fulfillment and happiness to whatever I do; it is up to me. It is intrinsic and the more aware I am in choosing the venues that are in line with my values and vision, the more fulfilled I feel.

It only took me a year to learn that. Some of you may have figured it out way before I did and I thank you for not sharing it with me sooner. You would have done me a great disservice. I have no idea what lesson I will learn in the next 365 days but if it’s as powerful is this first one… Giddy Up!

(btw - if you happen to have figured this one out too, don’t tell me but do feel free to offer hints)