Motivation 3.0 Eddie Colbeth Motivation 3.0 Eddie Colbeth

It’s The Doing That Matters

When we think about doing something to make a positive change or to be helpful, it’s nice, but it doesn’t make a difference. It doesn’t really matter what the thing is that we do, it could be shoveling snow from a neighbor’s walkway or starting an afterschool program for at risk kids. It’s the doing that matters. It’s also more important to finish something small than to leave something significant incomplete. It’s what Seth Godin calls “shipping.”

When we think about doing something to make a positive change or to be helpful, it’s nice, but it doesn’t make a difference.  It doesn’t matter what the thing is that we do. It could be shoveling snow from a neighbor’s walkway or starting an after-school program for at-risk kids.  It’s the doing that matters. It’s also more important to finish something small than to leave something significant incomplete.  It’s what Seth Godin calls “shipping.”

I get stuck, frustrated, and uncertain about my life's direction, and that’s all fine as long as I keep doing it.  So I keep reading, researching, and writing because the one thing I’m certain about is that if I don’t do it, then nothing will happen. 

I saw a new TED video by Clay Shirky today. He talked about harnessing people’s spare time.  He says whether we’re creating LOL Cats or open-source technology that changes the world, as long as we’re creating something, we’re making a contribution that the gap between doing and not doing is much larger than the gap between doing something sort of lame and doing something great. 

Less thinking and more action!  Go help somebody or make something! 

“Give me a lever long enough … and single-handed I can move the world” Archimedes


Read More
Motivation 3.0 Eddie Colbeth Motivation 3.0 Eddie Colbeth

Flow, Mastery and the League of Extraordinary Dancers

The League of Extraordinary Dancers performance at the February 2010 TED is the most amazing performance I’ve ever seen. Have you ever watched the TED videos? How about the performances? I’ve overlooked the performances until last week. I recently stumbled upon The LXD (League of Extraordinary Dancers) performance at this year’s TED. LXD is an example of taking optimal experience to its outer limits. These dancers are fully engaged in their art, they have to be extremely dedicated to develop this level of skill.

The League of Extraordinary Dancers performance at the February 2010 TED is the most amazing performance I’ve ever seen.  Have you ever watched the TED videos?  How about the performances?  I’ve overlooked the performances until last week.  I recently stumbled upon The LXD (League of Extraordinary Dancers) performance at this year’s TED.  LXD is an example of taking optimal experience to its outer limits.  

These dancers are fully engaged in their art, they have to be extremely dedicated to develop this level of skill.  Michalyi  Csikszentmihalyi’s research on Flow, the science of optimal performance, says that anyone in just about any line of work can experience flow and develop mastery.  His research spans fields from science and the arts to factory workers.  How would you like to look forward to going to work, to get lost in your work and feel great about what you’re doing?  Giving our workers the freedom to define their work and how they do it is the the way to start down this path. 

Gallup has done extensive research on the engagement of the US workforce, it’s estimated that about 50% of US workers are not engaged and that 20% are actively unengaged with their work.  The estimated cost to US companies for employees that aren’t into their work: 300 billion dollars a year.  In some parts of the world only 3% of employees are engaged.  It’s time we focused on letting our workers do work in ways they find engaging, lets put command and control to rest permanently!  Are you listening managers and CEO’s?

Read More