I’m going to make an assumption, based on my experience (so please correct me if I’m wrong), that we all have something in our lives that rings as true today as it did when we were younger – a happy place, a favorite activity, a favorite or meaningful song, a compulsion or habit, or perhaps some other sentimental constant… something (or a collection of things) that has managed to stay with us because it (or they) are at the core of who we are.
For me, these things include indefatigable curiosity, stubborn persistence, a deep care for others, spending a beautiful day in the middle of the woods, loving on my pets (or any animal for that matter), playing music, listening to Beethoven’s “Fur Elise”, or working with my hands. But there is one thing that is stronger and more prominent than all of these, and that constant is – “I’ve got an idea”. My brain is like Donkey from Shrek, “It’s getting him to shut up that’s the trick”. My brain feels like it’s “on” all the time. Comparing and contrasting, seeking connections or patterns, identifying relationships, considering ideas, possibilities, and opportunities, identifying solutions or helpful knowledge, or wondering “what next?”.
There are moments when my thoughts and ideas flow more than others. For example – I get into a meditative or flow state of thought when I’m doing a repetitive, manual task. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been learning how to hand-sharpen my two-bit axe. Most days I slowly and methodically run 100 passes with a file over each side of the bit or edge. Some days I’ll do 200 or more passes per side, but always the same count per side. While I do this I get into a rhythm and my thoughts flow. The thoughts may jump around a bit but stick with me.
Thought Train – All Aboard!
This past week while sharpening the axe, my “springboard thought” was Steven Covey’s recommendation of “sharpening the saw”. I appreciated the literal tie between action and concept. I thought about the skills I’m trying to hone, and which areas are top priority.
My day job is working as the Assistant Manager of the Consumer Lending Department at a Maine-based credit union. This past week our Indirect Lending Department (responsible for answering and processing credit applications for area auto, RV, and other recreational dealerships) which I lead was merged with our Online Lending Department and became the Consumer Lending Team. Our team doubled overnight.
We’re all exploring this new space, so I thought about my role and how to fine tune the training and support I provide. A key component of our knowledge transfer plan is moving collaborations and interactions from ‘occasional and random’ to ‘intentional and planned’. Every interaction between teammates is a pass of the file over the edge of our skill sets. Our friends keep us sharp.
I moved onto a brand-new file a couple days ago (the one on the far right in the photo above), but I had started with an old, worn file (the one next to it). That old, worn file was my grandfather’s… and I got to thinking about him. An award-winning country musician, master carpenter, and meticulous woodworker. He made many things, like this custom Cassette Table for my uncle (a sound engineer). He even had a metal shop so he could build his own tools for the woodshop or for a specific project. We had a saying in our family, “Nothing is broken until Papa says it’s broken”. The man could make or fix anything. This was his art. His passion. His gift.
We all look for places to practice our art, our gifts. We’re drawn to the spaces and times where we can be or express our best selves, and in the ways that bring our inner fire closer to the surface. Or when we can externalize that passion and share it with others. Some people paint, play music, dance, act, knit, build, or any number of things to express themselves. (What are your arts? What are your gifts?)
I enjoy a variety of art, but my favorite version of art is Social Art. I have a not-so-secret desire to be the “Bob Ross of Community Development”. I love to build community-centric relationships and networks that raise the tides which lift all boats. This is the personal purpose in my art. There’s a place for everyone, there’s beauty in those spaces, and a “misplaced stroke” is simply an opportunity for originality.
We’ll pause the Thought Train here for now. If you’ve read this far, I thank you.
As you continue your day, I encourage you to consider one or more of these questions:
How are you sharpening others?
Where do your passions and interests lie?
What are your gifts? How do your passions and interests bring value to your life, family or workplace?
Who have you told about your passions, interests, or goals?
What’s stopping you? How are you sharpening others?
Where do your passions and interests lie?
What are your gifts?
How do your passions and interests bring value to your life, family or workplace?
Who have you told about your passions, interests, or goals?
What’s stopping you?
“The GAP between what your soul loves and the amount of time you spend doing it will be the size of your unhappiness.”
I hope you have a wonderful day!