As December was coming to a close, I began to think of how I might help inspire you in the new year. I knew I would write something and post it on January 1st.
But it didn\’t happen.
In fact, January first found me uninspired. I was enjoying hanging out at home with my family and doing absolutely nothing.
I thought to myself, I\’ll just write something on the second instead.
Guess what? It didn\’t happen.
What did I do instead?
I stayed at home and hung out with my family.
Fine, I\’ll write it on the third of January.
Didn\’t happen.
By now you may be asking, \”Joel, what\’s wrong? Where\’s the inspiration?\”
I\’ll tell you where it is.
It\’s somewhere tropical that I am longing to visit.
And that\’s when it hit me.
I\’m toast. In fact, I\’m burnt toast.
For fifteen years, I have been building websites, creating products, speaking publicly, writing books, mentoring students and running a business.
And while the past few years have seen some of my greatest successes, they have also been amongst the most difficult.
Growing pains, employee problems, legal issues, and a changing marketplace have all contributed to stress levels that would affect any entrepreneur.
I never asked to be positioned as a \”guru.\” In fact, its a title that I don\’t feel comfortable wearing.
I\’ve just sought to create products and services that I would personally enjoy. As a result, I\’ve been able to teach others how to do likewise.
Now I get inundated with email, blog comments, tweets, phone calls and other inquiries for joint ventures, questions about doing business, exploring affiliate relationships, and asking if I would come speak or do a teleseminar or webinar.
Don\’t get me wrong. I am grateful. Truly, I am.
But I\’m just a guy with a wife and kids, living in the suburbs and enjoying the blessings that life has given me.
I can\’t do it all. I don\’t WANT to do it all. There\’s just not enough me to go around.
I\’m not a superhuman. The only superpower I have is the ability to eat too much of a good meal and follow it up with dessert that I don\’t need.
And you know what?
I\’m fine with that.
If I have had the privilege of meeting you at an event, you\’re aware that I\’m a \”what you see is what you get\” kind of guy. I don\’t behave different on stage than I do one-on-one. I value authenticity and find it much easier to just be myself.
If you haven\’t met me but through my videos or my blog, you may have a sense that you know me. I really try to be genuine. I hope that my work has blessed you in some way.
And with all that said, I DO have a point.
So HERE is the inspiration you may be seeking today…
Life is short.
All too often we \”should\” ourselves, burdening our already heavy load with even more responsibilities and tasks.
But sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to slow down, to recharge and to make sure we are not \”shoulding\” ourselves into madness.
I\’m excited about the new year and the new decade, but not for the same reasons as in the past.
Yes, I will still be seeking to create cool products and services.
Yes, I will have new books released this year.
And yes, I will be speaking at select events over the next twelve months.
But I will also be paying more attention to the things (and people) which are most important to me.
It will probably mean that I will be saying no to many proposals that come my way.
It will mean that there is no way I can answer the majority of the questions that are sent to me.
Undoubtedly, someone will be offended.
That\’s life.
How about you?
Are you \”shoulding\” yourself at the cost of your own sanity?
Do you need a break but have been putting it off for one reason or another?
Is your focus in tune with who you are and who you want to be, or have you got caught up in something that isn\’t congruent with your true self?
I encourage you to get back to the basics and make sure you are on the right path for your life.
Take some time to reflect and make sure you are taking care of those who have been entrusted to you.
Am I on the right path?
I believe I am.
But I am taking the rest of the day off and calling it good.
Everything else can wait until tomorrow.
Now about that tropical vacation…
Please leave your comments below. I love to hear your thoughts!