Though I announced my 2010 ThemeWord a few weeks ago, I’ve just realized tonight that I didn’t mention my 2010 ThemeSong.
Last month, I was particularly moved by an episode of Glee featuring the immensely talented Chris Colfer and Lea Michele in a duet of Defying Gravity (from Wicked). The song’s soaring determination resonates deeply on my journey of transformation.
Incidentally, if you haven’t watched Glee, yes, it is definitely the best show you’re not watching. Huge congratulations on your Screen Actor’s Guild Award tonight, Glee! So well deserved!
Defying Gravity
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!
It’s time to try
Defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I am defying gravity
And you won’t bring me down!
I’m through accepting limits
’cause someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know!
Too long I’ve been afraid of
Losing love I guess I’ve lost
Well, if that’s love
It comes at much too high a cost!
I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you won’t bring me down!
I’d sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I’m defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you won’t bring me down!
bring me down!
ohh ohhh ohhhh!
Last night, my friend Erica O’Grady and I had a wonderful long phone conversation about life, goals, the past year, what lies ahead, what we want to improve, and our ThemeWords for 2009 and 2010. Like Erica, I’ve been picking ThemeWords since 2008, and it’s been fun seeing this idea from LifeCamp2007 inspire so many people!
In 2009, I began with the ThemeWord FLOURISH. Throughout the year, I met amazing people, completed important projects, and grew tremendously, but it was also the toughest year to date in every aspect of my life. While I kept my sights on flourishing, a more appropriate ThemeWord might have been SURVIVE because, miraculously, I did.
Like so many other people, I am excited and relieved to see a glimmer of hope for the new year. My 2010 ThemeWord is TRANSFORM. In these last few days of 2009, I am preparing by tying up loose ends, setting goals, decluttering my computer, seeking advice, and exploring new tools.
How will you check in, stay on track, and measure progress?
What strategies and methods do you use to get things done? How have you developed – and stayed with – a system of follow through that you trust?
What tools do you use to manage information overload, keep resources organized (especially links and digital files!), follow through, connect with people, and interact more efficiently with your world?
Are you still searching for tools and techniques? What has – or hasn’t – worked for you and why?
I can’t wait to hear your ideas and suggestions!
My housing search ended last week in a surprising way. While I was so determined to move to reduce rent (and had several nice options available), I ended up using that market research (47+ properties!) to negotiate my existing lease.
The search was invigorating and exhausting. I met amazing people, joined new communities, and enjoyed the adventure. But, the process was physically demanding and emotionally draining, so it was also a relief to reach the end.
I’m continuing to downsize and reorganize my space, but now I am channeling all of that search energy into connecting with new clients, creating awesome web and print design work, and pursuing my passions in food and wine.
Sometimes it’s hard to know when to stop and change direction, instead of feverishly pushing forward on something that is no longer taking us toward our goals. Sure, I’ve made some compromises in this choice, but I know on a gut level that this was the right decision at this time.
I later discovered that this advice can also be found in The Dip by Seth Godin, whom I had the pleasure of meeting with Hugh McLeod at the Purple Cow print party on the very day I ended my search. The event was wonderfully intimate and inspiring, particularly on a day of moving forward in a new direction. (Thank you, Hugh and Seth!)
It turns out that the place I mentioned yesterday is only available for at most a month or two. I’d prefer to only move once and wrap up this search ASAP, so that I can bring all this energy back into my professional life without having to move again in a month. I’m looking for a roommate to share a great 3 bedroom with parking (found yesterday) or a place of my own. Who do you know?
Tonight, I am 99% sure I know where I am moving. While the process has been all-consuming and exhausting on every level, my housing search has actually only lasted 12 days.
On this journey, I have made new friends, met potential clients, practiced Chinese, connected with a spiritual community, and walked all over Philadelphia to see the insides of about 40 properties – and to hunt for phone numbers to many more.
This winding path has provided new experiences and clarified the answer. Remarkably, though, I discovered today that one phone call 12 days ago probably would have revealed the same destination! For many reasons, it was clearly necessary to take the journey and to go deeper within myself, rather than to know immediately. I needed to immerse myself fully in the uncertainty and reach out to anyone and everyone for leads every day. That may be one of the biggest lessons of the past 12 days.
Two years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa Haneberg, author of Two Weeks to a Breakthrough. One of the techniques she talked about in her presentation, and encouraged me personally to practice, was to zero in on your goal and share it with two new people each day.
I shared this goal with dozens more than two people each day and received helpful suggestions and introductions from strangers all over town. It got easier all the time to strike up conversations about my goal anywhere – on street corners, in shops, at a festival, etc. – and the adventure unfolded in unexpected directions as new clues were revealed.
I haven’t thought about my conversation with Lisa or her book in a long time, but as I watched myself pounding the pavement and talking to anyone and everyone about my quest, I grinned as I suddenly remembered her advice. Thanks, Lisa, you were right!
It’s easy to find excuses not to reach out and ask, but unless we put ourselves out there, how can we get what we want?
How important it is to appreciate the journey and serendipity, even when we just want answers and certainty!
At the moment, I am pursuing a specific deadlined goal of finding a new home. The search is exhausting, with many twists and turns, hopes and disappointments, and miles of walking neighborhoods I didn’t even know existed.
Along the way, surprising new opportunities and friendships have appeared, revealing meaning in the journey itself. By being present to meet this goal, I am in exactly the right place for serendipitous encounters… a big blinking sign that I’m on the right path!
How often do we allow the journey itself to be meaningful? How often do we talk to strangers, striking up new friendships in unfamiliar spaces? How often do we focus on what isn’t done, while missing the beauty and opportunity of what would never have been discovered if we had already accomplished the goal?
If this housing search had been resolved with the first place I visited, I would have missed so many amazing connections and discoveries that have appeared since. While there have been frustrations, my life is richer for the journey. My community and inspirations have grown.
These moments (and encouraging friends!) help me continue taking steps forward with optimism, trusting that things will work out – which they always do, when I allow myself to embrace synchronicity.
Sometimes I just need to be reminded of that simple truth. Don’t we all?
My first scribbles on Odosketch, a digital sketchpad that lets you save and replay the entire creative process when you’re finished. A good quick way to get those creative juices flowing. Since Odosketch has animated playback, I’ve been experimenting with how sketches can develop into stories. See more of my ideas here.
I love celebrating new beginnings, hope, and possibility. This holiday speaks to me of mindfulness and transformation as we leave the past behind and move forward with new intentions. As crisp cool temperatures replace summer heat waves and students begin a new school year, fall always feels like a good time for a fresh start.
Apples and honey are traditional Rosh Hashanah symbols for a sweet new year. While they are tasty together, I like getting creative with my fruit salads. This holiday is no exception!
The measurements below produced about 8 cups of salad. Please experiment with more or less of each ingredient to taste. (You might even add cinnamon or lemon!)
Ingredients
apples (4 medium – tart crisp varieties – I used 2 Granny Smith, 1 Gala, 1 Fuji)
strawberries (1 pound, about 20 medium berries)
fresh basil (~6-8 large leaves – I used basil I’d dried, but fresh is prettier and more flavorful)
fresh ginger (I used 1/4 teaspoon dried, but would prefer ~1/2 teaspoon fresh)
honey (5 Tablespoons)
Instructions
Slice strawberries into serving bowl.
Cut basil over strawberries. Cutting tip: lay the clean leaves flat on top of each other, roll the stack of leaves into a tube, and snip first lengthwise and then crosswise to create small pieces that will blend into your salad. (If using dried, tear dried leaves and then rub vigorously between hands.)
Add dried ginger OR chop fresh ginger into ~1 mm cubes. (I don’t bother peeling ginger; washing is enough.)
Add honey and mix ingredients together gently with a wooden spoon.
Peel apples. Cut into ~1/4 inch slices and cut slices in half lengthwise. Stir apples into mixture to coat with the strawberry-honey-basil-ginger glaze.
While my video soared in just 10 days to rank as high as #38 of nearly 2,000 total applications, this was only one of many considerations that went into selecting the Top 50 candidates. Unfortunately, I am no longer in the running.
The pursuit of my dream job has been a tremendous experience. I logged more than 200 hours on this project, as did many other applicants. I still have some videos to watch, but the Top 50 are impressive so far. I have met excellent people and look forward to getting to know the remaining candidates better over the coming weeks. Selected or not, there were so many talented and inspiring people in this race. Thank you for sharing yourselves with the world and encouraging me to to do my best. (And, of course, thank you Murphy-Goode for challenging us in the first place!)
Personally, I had the support of a phenomenal community, dozens of people who provided advice, encouragement, time, and equipment while preparing my video application. Many resources (near and far) came through my connections in the coworking community, particularly Philadelphia’s Independents Hall. I asked people for help in their areas of expertise, and they contributed enthusiastically. I asked friends, family, and diverse community networks to vote, and my video rapidly went viral internationally. There are too many to name in this post, but you have each touched my life and I thank you.
During the two months that I have pursued this opportunity, I learned a lot about my strengths, passions, and ability to overcome life’s challenges. I produced my first video, built a newly redesigned web site, started a blog, and contacted tens of thousands of people. I worked hard to translate what my friends and family know about my personality and experience into something publicly visible and measurable for the recruiter to evaluate my candidacy. I did the best that I could with the time and resources available, and I am better prepared for what’s next.
This process has been inspiring, not only for myself, but for so many others who dreamed with me. We all envisioned something magical together. Thank you for sharing that vision.  I am now eager to pursue similar opportunities elsewhere. I am excited about connecting with new people on a larger scale, making a difference in more people’s lives, and immersing myself in the wonders of a new adventure. Thank you for reminding me that I am perfect for this type of work. Thank you for believing in me!
I’m not sure what’s next, but I have dared to dream big and am open to new ideas. Please leave a comment or send a message from my contact page if you have suggestions! Thanks!
Two years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting 
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