Hey guys,
I’m working on a post about everything that’s WRONG with the “normal” plan.
You know…
Study… Work… Retire… DIE!
It will be a long list 
I think we need to recognize what we DON’T want in life so we can really focus in on what we DO want.
For example, I never, ever, ever, EVER want to live in a place where I have to shovel snow!
Being back home in Minnesota for the holidays is nice (even with the 12″ snowstorm on Christmas Eve, as depicted in the video below), but I can guarantee you I’m happier living in sunny Miami.
(That’s my dog Sophie running around in the background… the real reason I visit home! LOL)
So can you help me out with my list? What’s wrong with the “normal” way of doing things?
I look forward to your comments!
All the best,
Brian
PS- This weekend, I’ll be helping 19 information marketers get what THEY want in 2010. Want to join us? Download your invite here.
{ 23 comments }
What's wrong with the “normal” way of doing things?
One, the “normal” way of doing things is to work 'til you drop, then “enjoy” the fruits of your labor… However, if you do THAT, what's left of YOU? How many 70 somethings do you see riding the 'coasters, white-water rafting, sky-diving? Not very many…
There are other things wrong with the “normal” way of doing things, but the above is probably the “most” wrong…
Be Well!
ECS Dave
I would tend to agree Dave… though I imagine I'll be one of those 70 year old sky-divers one day!
Take care,
Brian
The “normal” way of doing things involves following directions, doing as being told, and staying on the path that everyone else is taking. This leaves no room for creativity, spontaneity, and basic freedom.
I envy people that do creative things on a consistent basis. People who write, take photographs, paint, play music must be really happy when the do what they want.
For the rest of us, I actually takes a bit of an effort to try not to be “normal”
I think it doesn't come naturally for most people who have been conditioned by society to follow the norm.
Thanks for your thoughts Al.
I agree that it takes effort, and I think it would be a mistake to pretend that it's easy! If you don't recognize the challenge in front of you, it's difficult to fully prepare yourself for the long road ahead.
-Brian
What happen to having fun and your freedom to do other thing you enjoy, i loving singing in the gospel choir at my church but sometimes i don't get to go because i'm so tired after delivering the sunday papers my other job, i run a snow removal and landscaping business and i want to stop doing it move to miami and run my online business there but unfortunate my online business does not generate the money that i would love to earn full time
Hey Brian – the first problem is that you're removing that snow by HAND – with a SHOVEL (and a plastic one, at that)! You gotta think out of the box – hire a couple of 40 ft. reefers (refrigerated truck) and a dozer. Scoop up all that snow and truck it to Miami. Do a press release that you'll be dumping all that snow at a local park for underprivileged kids, and mention your web site for more info. You win man-of-the-year and you get a zillion free hits on your website.
Plus you are labeled a hero on your home town street in MN because you removed their snow. hey – it could work!
I agree with you about the sunshine, that's why I moved from Northern Italy to Southern Spain.
Right now in Milan it's snowing and in Malaga I have beatiful sunshine
OK, I laughed out loud at that video clip, buddy!
Oh, don't get me started on what's wrong with “normal”!! The main problem is that, if you don't isolate yourself from it and focus on the goals and direction that YOU want, it tends to keep poking at, pestering, and annoying you ALL THE TIME – through other people, media, and so many other ways. Sure, we have to live in and among the “normal” world, but to rise above requires keeping one foot/hand/whatever in the stratosphere that resides just above normal.
Sorry I can't make it down to see you this weekend, Brian. BUT, I now have another friend in Miami, so I have no excuse not to get down there!
- Bill
Hey Brian,
The real problem with normal is … well it's just normal.
Normal is just a boring way to measure how effective
or how ineffective things are.
If you aren't defying the masses, you're probably normal
and that's why normal is normal for most folks,
and absolutely terrifying for the likes of us.
As a kid, my Dad often suggested that I get a job at the
Post Office (as he did) and it was tough because I didn't
want to seem disrespectful, but I REALLY didn't want to
see myself on the evening news as the guy who snapped
and got crazy with an automatic weapon.
Normal, sorry you can keep it whoever you are that embrace ut.
For me, I'm going to get, and stay fired up, and live on the edge,
and fall down then get up and press on until I want to catch my
breath and start all over again on my next quest.
As an aside, (or maybe not), leaders rarely conform to 'Normal”
and when they do, it usually isn't long before they get kicked to
the curb, and passed over for someone who is far from NORMAL.
It's so nice not to be normal isn't it ?
Sounds like a powerful reason to build your online business Omar! Thanks for your thoughts.
Ha! Talk about innovative thinking. I need you on my PR team Maury!
I've traveled a bit in the south of Spain, I absolutely loved it there… I'd be curious to know if you've faced any infrastructure challenges during your time there.
Darn right you have no excuse Bill!
Very insightful comment… *everything* pulls you the other way, so if you don't actively work towards what you want… the default is going back to normal!
Cheers,
Brian
Wow. Those are exactly the kind of ideas I was looking for, Rick. Thank you for your very personal contribution!
-Brian
Happy to help out.
) There's lots more where that came from – feel free to contact me!
OK, I laughed out loud at that video clip, buddy!
Oh, don't get me started on what's wrong with “normal”!! The main problem is that, if you don't isolate yourself from it and focus on the goals and direction that YOU want, it tends to keep poking at, pestering, and annoying you ALL THE TIME – through other people, media, and so many other ways. Sure, we have to live in and among the “normal” world, but to rise above requires keeping one foot/hand/whatever in the stratosphere that resides just above normal.
Sorry I can't make it down to see you this weekend, Brian. BUT, I now have another friend in Miami, so I have no excuse not to get down there!
- Bill
Hey Brian,
The real problem with normal is … well it's just normal.
Normal is just a boring way to measure how effective
or how ineffective things are.
If you aren't defying the masses, you're probably normal
and that's why normal is normal for most folks,
and absolutely terrifying for the likes of us.
As a kid, my Dad often suggested that I get a job at the
Post Office (as he did) and it was tough because I didn't
want to seem disrespectful, but I REALLY didn't want to
see myself on the evening news as the guy who snapped
and got crazy with an automatic weapon.
Normal, sorry you can keep it whoever you are that embrace normal.
For me, I'm going to get, and stay fired up, and live on the edge,
and occasionally fall down, then get up, and press on until I want to catch my
breath and start all over again on my next quest.
As an aside, (or maybe not), leaders rarely conform to 'Normal”
and when they do, it usually isn't long before they get kicked to
the curb, and passed over for someone who is far from NORMAL.
It's so nice not to be normal isn't it ?
Rick Falls
http://www.1stpagelocal.com
Sounds like a powerful reason to build your online business Omar! Thanks for your thoughts.
Ha! Talk about innovative thinking. I need you on my PR team Maury!
I've traveled a bit in the south of Spain, I absolutely loved it there… I'd be curious to know if you've faced any infrastructure challenges during your time there.
Darn right you have no excuse Bill!
Very insightful comment… *everything* pulls you the other way, so if you don't actively work towards what you want… the default is going back to normal!
Cheers,
Brian
Wow. Those are exactly the kind of ideas I was looking for, Rick. Thank you for your very personal contribution!
-Brian
Happy to help out.
) There's lots more where that came from – feel free to contact me!
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