Pulled that quote from Steve Martin’s autobiography, “Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life”.
Johnny Carson said it to Steve right after Johnny’d done a Goofy impersonation.
I am assuming that a gag of that type was sort of lame and an easy way to a guaranteed laugh to keep the audience engaged.
It made me realize I am doing the same.
Partly for the same reason; keeping the audience engaged.
But also to make sure my approach is sure to encompass every part of my experience, in order to be of best use to those who come my way.
I want to know that all of me is engaged
This ensures that I serve you best.
But it also means my life will be one of fulfillment and that no part of my experience, good or bad, will have been in vain.
It also makes sure that I am setting the stage for potential growth options that will only exist after the foundation’s been made to support their arrival.
My work will become a self sustaining generator of further workâwork that becomes ever more deeply rewarding, based on the very nature of the work itself.
I don’t want to just work. That’s called a “job”.
Something antithetical to my soul’s survival.
I want work that I look forward to
And I want it to have the property of guaranteed, ongoing evolution toward increasing levels of interest.
In simpler terms, I never want my work to feel boring.
Of course, as soon as a thing becomes easy or rote, boredom can’t be far behind.
That can actually be a positive.
Easy means you’re good at it. The resulting boredom means you’re ready for a new challenge and that you’ve mastered yet another level of growth.
These are the sensations you feel as your experience increases in value!
That’s another critical lesson I often have to be forced to remember.
Once you’re good at doing something, you forget how it felt when you weren’t.
This creates a worldview that makes you think “everyone knows that!”, when in fact, many do not.
Those folks are the ones who most need your help in understanding the same thing that was kicking your ass not too long ago.
These are your people
Your people want the chance to accidentally, or if appropriate, directly consider you a peer too!
So let them!
Share, like I do here.
Help, as I’m doing with my various pro bono projects of interest.
Show, don’t tell, how you are helping your people get to where they’d like to be. (I am doing it now.)
You’ll know you’re nailing it when you feel both elated and spent, at the same time.
I used to strive to “leave it all on the floor” at the end of each lifting day in the gym.
If I did it right, I’d be physically dead; wiped out; fatigued; exhausted; either in great pain or completely numb; yet emotionally and spiritually exhilarated!
I’d left it all on the floor, which meant 100% mission accomplished.
I don’t wish to do that in the gym anymore, even though I still love lifting. It no longer brings me what I need, spiritually, to give my all to that cause.
You guys are now my cause.
And I want to make sure I am leaving it all on the floor in every corner of this site and in every interaction with you, my people, as we work to develop your gig.