Reading Goal-Free Living for the First Time…Again

One of the book’s early reviewers recently had a change of circumstances in her life. She was contemplating a career change.
Rereading Goal-Free Living, when in this new situation, gave the book new meaning. Here’s what she wrote….

I was fortunate to be one of the early reviewers of Goal-Free Living manuscript. I read it several times and gave top of mind thoughts as the book evolved. I recall smiling periodically at the sections that resonated with me. But, for the most part, I had intellectualized the book and approached it from an editor’s perspective. Frankly, by the “umpteenth” time reading it, I could barely bring myself to look at the book cover that sat atop my living room coffee table. But then an interesting phenomenon occurred.

The company I have been working with for the past 5 years was making changes. My role evolved to support the needs of the business. Unfortunately this evolution did not support my own needs. The new role was driving me toward activities that I felt unfit to do. More importantly, they were activities I loathed!
Although I wanted to share my concerns with my boss, I was concerned that doing so might put my job at risk. The uncertainty of a jobless future was daunting. However, after several hours of discussing this with my husband, we agreed that my happiness was more important and we could make ends meet. With that settled, I went to cook dinner.

Then, from the other room I heard a voice – a voice like that of a preacher at his pulpit.

“Trust that you are never lost. I once gave a presentation on Goal-Free Living, and a woman in the audience asked a question: “I work in a cubicle in a well-known technology firm and I am unhappy….”

I instantly recognized the words. It was from the second secret in Goal-Free Living. I put down my spatula and headed back into the living room where my husband continued reading. For the next 20 minutes I sat on the floor as he read to me the very same words I had read so many times before. But this time, as I listened – I wept. Before, what were merely words on a page, now reached down to the core of my heart. Every word had meaning given my circumstances. It was as if I were hearing it for the first time.
And in all honesty, I was! I was in a different place in my life.
The words danced from my husbands lips and gave me renewed inspiration and hope.

If you read Goal-Free Living today and you find it to be an interesting concept that does not completely resonate…hang onto it. As your life evolves, the deepness of this book’s meaning will give you a whole new book to read again, for the first time, in the future!

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Making an Impact

My theme for 2006 is “impact.” It makes me feel incredible when I receive emails, like this one…

FINALLY!

Stephen,

Thank you so much. I could never put my finger on it, but the high pressure of all the goal setting made me anxious, and I felt like I was missing the boat half the time.

I’ve spent thousands of dollars on life coaches to help me reach goals prematurely which only stressed me out. Turns out, I was right on track all along, and just needed to enjoy the journey.

Goal free, stress free! This is not to say that I don’t have dreams I work toward. Of course I do. But now, I enjoy the process and don’t put unnecessary and counter-productive pressure on myself.

I can’t express how much lighter I feel after reading just a little bit of your book! It was like you were speaking right to me.

So, will I reach my goals? I don’t know. But I do know I’ll keep growing and enjoy the unique journey that is….my life.

I could just hug you!

Thank you, thank you.

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Business Plans = Bankruptcy?

I recently received the following email…

I appreciated your blog entry on goal-free business. My experience with start-ups has taught me that it is the journey, because the destination isn’t always what you originally intended. The first start-up company I was with managed to sell for profit in the midst of the telco bust (we were a telco). Why were we able to to this? Because we adapted and managed to do it fast–this involved a major change to our business plan. We had our hands in the business as well as on the business. I feel this balance kept us from having tunnel vision.

The president of the second company I was with wrote an excellent business plan. It looked great on paper and he proceeded to execute his plan without examining how it was impacting the business. He didn’t understand why things didn’t work out they way they were supposed to. Within 8 months, the company went bankrupt.

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Funny Email

Here’s an email I received last night…

I just got your book yesterday and started reading it. My 7 year old 1st grader came over and slowly spelled out the title: goal-free-li-ving. He then remarked “I didn’t know there was a book about our soccer team!???” – his poor team hasn’t scored one single goal yet this season.

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The Secrets of Staying Young

Over Labor Day weekend I met a wonderful woman, Susan Silver, at a conference in California. Susan, a successful television writer for shows including the Mary Tyler Moore Show, the Bob Newhart Show, Maude, and many others, is now writing a column entitled “The Search for Mr. Adequate.” It is the entertaining chronicles of her search for the perfect – well, adequate – man. This week she talks about the secret to staying young. You may recognize one of the people mentioned in the article. Click here to enjoy this article.

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