Rup Jolly

On our highest possibilities - Maslow said it best!

We fear the highest possibilities.We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments, under conditions of great courage.  

We enjoy the thrill to the godlike possibilities we see in ourselves in such peak moments.  And yet we simultaneously shiver with weakness, awe, and fear before these very same possibilities.

Obviously the most beautiful fate, the most wonderful good fortune that can happen to any human being, is to be paid for that which he passionately loves to do.

- Abraham Maslow

Your Calling…

I’ve been reading Peak and an interesting story came up between the author and his friend. His friend was asking him:

“What’s really most important to you in your work life?”

The author responded his mission and vision of the company (something he truly believed in).

His friends response blew him away:

“Get it through your thick skull.  Your calling in life is to be an artist posing as a businessman.  You’re probably the best paid ‘artist’ I know. You are rich, just in a different way than most of America defines that word.”

Got me thinking about a few things:

1. I think a lot of us are artists and we use Business as our canvas. Sounds pretty sexy no? I think that’s always been the reason I’ve been fascinated with entrepreneurs and why I love reading non-fiction books. Anything that can help me become a better ‘artist’ always feels good.
2. Who’s scorecard are we using to define our success? Are we using someone else’s scorecard? or ours? I know that I myself am guilty of not truly owning what my definition of success is.
3. What really important in your work life? And are you living your calling?

All heavy deep questions that I sit with everyday…Thanks for listening :)

Rup

Experiment: 1 Book per Week

Hi Guys,

I was reading a post last week of a famous technology blogger who had read 1 book a week for the last year - In total he read about 60 books. 60 books!!!! That’s more than what some people read in their lives…lol

And I thought, if I read even 50 books this year, what kind of man would I be today? How different would I be? And could this habit of one book a week have a huge positive impact on my life?

No point thinking about it! :)

Starting today - I will read 1 book a week until Dec 31, 2011. So, I’ll need to complete a minimum of 15 books in 3.5 months.

One book per week until the end of 2011

I’ll re-assess and share my thoughts in a blog post with you all.

In case you’re wondering how I will do it? I’ll need to read a minimum of 40 pages per day to make this work. Most books are 250-300 pages long, so I may need extra time on weekends to play catch up!

I’ll also be reading on my train ride to and from work - books to start off for now and eventually move to reading 100% on the ipad. I have too many physical books that I’ve been meaning to read.

Wish me luck! :)

P.S. Would you like me to share what I read?

Your Story - For the Entrepreneur Within

I’m reading Awakening the Entrepreneur Within by Michael E. Gerber right now and wanted to share a section that really spoke to me on the power of stories - let me know what you think??? :)

I want to create a world of meaning. I want to contribute to that by inventing a new business prototype that will exceed anything I have ever done. It will do exactly as I perceive it. It will be a business of meaning. It will produce cash flow from the ver beginning in excess of what it costs to produce that cash flow.

This business I am inventing will make a demonstrable difference in people’s lives. I will make that difference the point of my “Story”. My Story will describe that business to a T.  People will say when they hear my Story “Wow, how do you do that?” And I will tell them exactly how we do it.  But even more important, I will tell them why we do it.

My Story will get better and better each time I tell it. It will become the passion that fuels my life.  I will see myself as a leader in the world of people making a difference in the world.  I will seek out those people who make a difference in the world to tell them my Story, and to ask them to tell me theirs. I will seek out great Stories ever day and in every way possible. I will build a personal library of great Stories and read one of them at the beginning of every day and at the end of every day to fuel my life with their passion.

I am a writer of great Stories. I believe in the power of great Stories.  I believe in the power of great Stories as they are told by great teachers of great Stories.  I am dedicated to becoming a great author of my great Story and a great teacher of great Stories, mine and every other teacher’s great Story.

I live to inspire human beings to live great lives. I am committed to the Path of Greatness not for myself, but for those who will be profoundly affected by it. For those who will follow me on that path.  For those who are hurting for want of a great Story, a great path, a great calling.  I will create such a great path, such a great Story, such a great calling as I write my great Story, as I invent my great path.

I envision a world full of great warriors.  Inner warriors, not outer warriors.  Inner warriors who are equally committed to the Great Path. Inner warriors who are committed to leading the Great Life. Inner warriors who are committed to write their great Story, to tell their great Story, to create their great path, to live the great live, the life of a great warrior.

What did you think? I liked it! :)

Rup

Random Thoughts: Are all problems bad? Fire Fighting 101

I fight fires.

Not literal ones, but the kind that frustrate you at work ;)

There are many kinds of fires at work:

1. Slow burns   - the kind that just linger and get accepted as the status quo
2. Raging fires  - Uncontrollable and out of control

Slow fires, if leave unchecked can take down an entire building by slowly destroying the foundation of a company. You usually don’t notice these until it’s too late. 

Raging fires get the most attention, because they are the loudest. You should never have too many raging fires and if the come often enough, you might have a slow burn that’s causing them ;)

Problems. Are problems really problems? (Or are they the stuff that makes life worth living?)

No problems = major lack of opportunities to make things better

I’m not trying to make you feel good about your problems or even tell you that everything is going to be ok. That’s ok and not the point. The point is, in every problem is a chance to make things so much better. Better for everyone.

Problems will frustrate you, maybe make you lose a little hair? (Don’t have a full head of hair like in the University days). But you know what, it also makes work a place where good change and innovation can happen.

We need problems.

Problems are the sign posts of what needs to change. Problems can tell us where we need to focus and lead us if we get lost.

We also need solutions ;)

• The trick is to not get rooted or fixated on the problems. It’s only a sign post. Only a pointer of where to look. Switching gears quickly is key if you want to get to the next level.

Don’t get stuck at the level of problems.

Welcome them, then get to the task of solving them. Those who solve problems are the business heroes. Yup, I used the word ‘Heroes’, because the world needs more of them and business is the best way we can make a large change in this world.

Let me know what you think?

~Rup Jolly

Random Thoughts: Construction – Why is everyone so fascinated by it?

(New series of blogs based off my random thoughts)

Every morning on my way to work, I walk by two large condo’s getting built from scratch.

From scratch…

Every morning I walk by and see if I can notice anything new from the day before. It’s fun. I also notice others (pretty much every day) who stop and look at all the construction taking place. (more like gawk! Lol)

Why are people so fascinated by this? What makes people stop and just look?

In a world full of ideas, things that get built are rare. Even rarer is the average person doesn’t get to see this process with their own eyes. (In North America, we generally purchase things complete and ready to use) 

Think about it, when is the last time you’ve seen anything complex being built from scratch?

Being a construction worker isn’t highest on the totem pole in our society (or prestigious). Yet, these are the men that are building a sky scraper that we might marvel over. Should all the credit go to the architecture firm or to the men that carefully built it brick by brick with their own hands – I personally feel it stands as a testament to both of them. Both should feel proud.

Looks like I have more questions than answers here…hehe

Let me know why you think people are fascinated by construction sites? (Maybe it’s the big tonka trucks?)

Thanks,

Rup