Two Kinds of Days That Change Your Life

By ---=XEON=---  [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

     There are two kinds of days that change your life (in a good way).  The first is when you wake up in the morning, and you 'know' that something is coming; maybe it's your graduation or wedding day, or maybe there's just a feeling in the air.  The other kind of day that changes your life in a good way is one where you don't know the day is any different from any other day.  Then something sparks and your day goes from mundane to miraculous.

     I had just such a day about a week ago (the started-out-mundane kind of day).

     A big brown truck (you know the kind) pulled up in our driveway and was enthusiastically greeted by several of the family dogs.  The nice driver handed me a package while I tried to explain to the oldest canine that she could not accompany the man in his truck.  (Personally, I think she is sweet on him!)

   So why am I making such a big deal about that day, that truck and that package?  Because inside that package was my launch team copy of Jeff Goins' new book:

(Oh, BTW, I was having trouble with a full drive, so I *ahem* 'stole' this image from a post made by KC Proctor in the Launch Team Facebook Group.)

It is not uncommon for me to receive books via UPS.  But when I saw it was this particular book, I raised my hands in one of those 'touchdown' signals (book in one hand, envelope in the other) and cheered, loudly.  I was almost embarrassed for myself, but so happy to have gotten the book.  (That was for dang sure the highest note I've hit in a.g.e.s!)

You see, I started out college in Musical Theatre.  By the end of the first  year, one of the professors told me I should find something else to do, that I would never be able to earn a living in theatre. (Yeah, I know..., "OUCH!")  And I switched to a Business major - which pleased my mother to no end.  But my heart wasn't in it.  So I dropped out in the middle of my sophomore year.  Ten years later I went to a different college and started acting in plays.  Over the next several  years, I was doing at least 5 plays a year ... and some of them were even paid roles!

I eventually got a 'magna cum laude' degree in finance and had various jobs, including tutoring other students in statistics and calculus, graduate students and undergrads alike.  But I still didn't care for 'business'.

It wasn't until round about 2015 that I came upon a book that business was not just a greedy rat race:  a little book titled, "The Art of Work".  Want to guess who wrote it?  (And you better get it right!) LOL  It literally restored my faith in business and commerce, that they could be worthy pursuits for reasons other than the pursuit of wealth.  (Not that that would  hurt, though, am I right?")

Real Artists Don't Starve is an exciting flip side to The Art of Work, especially for those whose lifework leans toward the creative side of things.  Now this can be a physical art, or a performing art, or just about anything really.  Whatever your contribution to the world is supposed to be.  Which reminds me of something Eric Liddle's father said in the movie "Chariots of Fire":  "You can praise the Lord by peeling a spud, if you peel it to perfection."

So many of the voices creatives hear (including their own) tell us that we should work at something with better future prospects.  Something that has a steady income, and insurance.  Now those are good things, but it's like the time my aunt made me eggs sunny side up for breakfast.  I despise fried eggs, but I ate them with a smile on my face, and thanks to her afterwards.  If your work doesn't make your heart sing ... maybe you're in the wrong job!

Jeff tells us that it is possible to earn a good living as a creative ... and then he describes just how to do that in the pages of RADS.

In 2015, The Art of Work changed my life; now in 2017, Real Artists Don't Starve is going to change it again.  It might not be easy, but it will be worth it.

Have you read one or more of Jeff Goins' books?  If so, which one(s)?  Let me know in the comments!  If Jeff is a new-to-you author, give yourself a gift, and buy Real Artists Don't Starve!

#Review: The Art of Work by Jeff Goins

Jeff Goins, a brilliant new voice counting Seth Godin and Jon Acuff among his fans, explains how to abandon the status quo and live a life that matters with true passion and purpose.

The path to your life's work is difficult and risky, even scary, which is why few finish the journey. This is a book about discovering your life's work, that treasure of immeasurable worth we all long for. Its about the task you were born to do.

As Jeff Goins explains, the search begins with passion but does not end there. Only when our interests connect with the needs of the world do we begin living for a larger purpose. Those who experience this intersection experience something exceptional and enviable. Though it is rare, such a life is attainable by anyone brave enough to try.

Through personal experience, compelling case studies, and current research on the mysteries of motivation and talent, Jeff shows readers how to find their vocation and what to expect along the way. 

GoodReads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

BAM * iBooks * CBD

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REVIEW

I do not give many 5-star reviews.  When I do, it is because a book has something extra.  A book has to have that certain, "Je ne sais quoi", a broad appeal across genres, and lift us out of our ordinary lives to become something better.  The Art of Work by Jeff Goins is one such book.

Giving a little of my background: 

My father passed away during my senior year in high school.  He was 47 and had a stroke, passing a week later.  He was the first of his family to graduate college.  He had a PhD in Chemical Engineering.  He worked his entire adult life at a defense contractor, because he was good at what he did and it was a responsible job that put food on the table and kept a roof over our heads.  And he hated it.

I started out in college as a Musical Theatre major.  That's a heck of a field of study for a painfully shy introvert.  Due to a disastrous end-of-year audition in the program and a steady pressure from my mother, I switched in my sophomore year to "Business".  That was respectable.  That was something you could tell people without having them go, "tsk, tsk, tsk," and asking you how you were going to make a living.  And I hated it.

Reading The Art of Work was like having a personally-guided tour to the nobility of purpose.  It clearly brought out the difference between a 'job' (what you do to pay the bills) and a career or purpose - which I will define as your best contribution towards making the world a better place to live.

Somewhere along the line, society has pounded it into our skulls that we should keep our noses to the grindstone, our eyes downcast to the job at hand, to maintain the status quo.  Don't look up, don't dare to dream, fulfill the role someone else has decided is your niche.  Oh, and don't ask questions.

Bull cookies!

If you are having trouble seeing your dream or making it happen, you would do well to read The Art of Work.  If you are working on your dream, Jeff Goins's book can be an umbrella to help you hold onto your dreams during the storms of 'real life'.  And if you have achieved your dream?  CONGRATULATIONS!  Read the book anyway.  It's that good.

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MEET THE AUTHOR

Website * Blog * Twitter

Facebook * LinkedIn * Google +

Originally from Chicago, Jeff moved to Nashville after graduating from college and spending a year traveling with CTI Music Ministries.

In college, he studied Spanish and Religion. He spent part of his Junior year in Spain, which unlocked a passion for missions, travel, and other cultures.

After a long year of letter-writing and long-distance phone calls, Jeff moved to Tennessee to “see about a girl.” In 2008, he married her.

Jeff lives with his wife Ashley and their dog Lyric and has been working from home for a nonprofit called Adventures in Missions since 2006.

He has written and guest-blogged for a number of publications and blogs. Jeff also helps organizations with their marketing, communications, and creativity. 

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(Disclosure:  I received, well, actually two copies of this print book from Jeff Goins and the publishers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.)

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This post represents my first day's entry for the 30 Day Blogging Challenge, hosted by Sarah Arrow at Sark Emedia.