"What exactly is the POINT of all this work you're doing for the Aquin Yoga site?" I asked Erin last Sunday.
It was a sunny afternoon, but all I wanted to do was sit inside brainstorming with Erin about her business and website. Even though this is what I do all week-long for my day job at HubSpot, my enthusiasm for the project overpowered my desire to relax that day.
"I mean, let's say more and more people come to the site and check out your posts and audios, what's the ultimate GOAL with all of this?" I continued.
"Well, I want to help people… help the people I know and care about to live healthier, more inspired lives."
oto by Me & Her Photography "Good, and…"
"And I want to start with people here in Hamilton who are doing amazing work and need a community and support to develop their bodies, minds and spirits."
Now we were getting somewhere.
I had an idea. "Look, what if we create a program that does exactly that? It brings together people who are 'fighting the good fight,' doing amazing things in their local communities and lives but just need some more wind in their sails."
The energy started to build. Erin added, "We could start with a weekend retreat here in the area and teach yoga, meditation, nutrition…"
"Yes, and goal setting, enlightened dialogue… and outdoor activities!" I added.
"Okay, maybe not the outdoor activities, but we'll see." Erin replied. :)
As the day went on, we realized that this program could have implications far beyond just Hamilton, Ontario, but could potentially be applied to other "cities in transition."
And as the possibilities for the program grew beyond just the weekend, or even a year-long program, but into offering trainings for people in other cities, writing a book based on the materials we develop for the program, and more, we realized that we had cracked some kind of code.
We had turned Erin's side project into something that really mattered. Something that we both were thrilled about, and that we could see working on for a long time to come without ever getting bored or wondering why we were doing it.
We felt like we had struck gold. And we wanted to share it with the world (which we will. More on that later).
So in considering how you can apply our "aha" moment to your side project and turn it into a motivating mission or big goal, I have five suggestions:
It was a sunny afternoon, but all I wanted to do was sit inside brainstorming with Erin about her business and website. Even though this is what I do all week-long for my day job at HubSpot, my enthusiasm for the project overpowered my desire to relax that day.
"I mean, let's say more and more people come to the site and check out your posts and audios, what's the ultimate GOAL with all of this?" I continued.
"Well, I want to help people… help the people I know and care about to live healthier, more inspired lives."
oto by Me & Her Photography "Good, and…""And I want to start with people here in Hamilton who are doing amazing work and need a community and support to develop their bodies, minds and spirits."
Now we were getting somewhere.
I had an idea. "Look, what if we create a program that does exactly that? It brings together people who are 'fighting the good fight,' doing amazing things in their local communities and lives but just need some more wind in their sails."
The energy started to build. Erin added, "We could start with a weekend retreat here in the area and teach yoga, meditation, nutrition…"
"Yes, and goal setting, enlightened dialogue… and outdoor activities!" I added.
"Okay, maybe not the outdoor activities, but we'll see." Erin replied. :)
As the day went on, we realized that this program could have implications far beyond just Hamilton, Ontario, but could potentially be applied to other "cities in transition."
And as the possibilities for the program grew beyond just the weekend, or even a year-long program, but into offering trainings for people in other cities, writing a book based on the materials we develop for the program, and more, we realized that we had cracked some kind of code.
We had turned Erin's side project into something that really mattered. Something that we both were thrilled about, and that we could see working on for a long time to come without ever getting bored or wondering why we were doing it.
We felt like we had struck gold. And we wanted to share it with the world (which we will. More on that later).
So in considering how you can apply our "aha" moment to your side project and turn it into a motivating mission or big goal, I have five suggestions:
- Have something tangible that you can see. People in a room for a weekend, coming together for the purpose of becoming more effective in the work they're doing and the change they're making, is tangible. Increasing visitors to your website is not. Your website can (and should) play a role in the realization of your dreams, but if the end goal doesn't come down to real live HUMAN beings, it won't be enough to motivate you for the long-term.
- Have a big dream that goes far beyond the limited implications of your next activity. You have to take small steps, but make sure to have big outcomes in mind! That will help your small steps be more conscious and deliberate, because you have a picture of where you're going. You know that each step matters.
- A big dream that is real should scare you a bit, and fear can be a good motivating factor. I know that I need to develop in order to be the kind of person that could actually pull off something like what we're proposing, especially as the scale grows beyond the first project. And that little bit of fear keeps my mind sharp and not dull.
- A big dream will inspire others to join you. If the dream is big enough and inspiring enough, then others will find room for themselves in your dream. Resources and serendipity will come to your aid that would otherwise be hidden from you. Remember, fortune favors the bold!
- Don't worry about failure. If your dream is worth pursuing then every single "failure" is merely a learning opportunity, another free lesson from life about what works and what doesn't. As Eugene Hutz of the gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello wisely said, "Lack of failure is a sign of lack of talent." So show off your talent! So what have we been busy creating?
Project One is happening October 2013. Find out more about our motivating mission here.
Finally, tell us what have you found broadens your vision and expands your projects into big dreams and motivating missions?
