Good Life vs Great Life

A mentor of mine once asked me what kind of life I would like to have. Where did I want to be? What did I want to do? etc... I didnt have a concrete answer at the time but rather an abstract idea of optimism and hope.

He went on to explain the very real and subtle difference between what he called the Good Life and the Great Life. The Good Life is that of security, routine, and being comfortable. Its best exemplified with the idea of getting a good job, working hard at it, and ultimately climbing the corporate ladder. Im sure along with this comes the American Dream of the 2.5 kids, the white picket fence, house, and car. This is truly a good life, things are secure, established,  and that path is directed and focused. For the most part the ups and downs of this kind of life are not that exaggerated and life is comfortable.

The Great Life he described is a different animal entirely. It is made from the stuff poets write about and the dreamers envision. Its to discard the orthodox notions of lifestyles and follow the untraveled path. In less abstract terms its veering away from the stable and the safe, taking a risk in hopes of the extraordinary. Climbing up the corporate ladder is one thing but how about the idea of starting your own company. The high and lows can be quite high and the lows could be very low but its the price to pay for such a lifestyle. It may or may not be worth it depending on your wants/need/circumstances.

Taking vacation once a year is good, but taking vacation when/where you want is great. I personally do not want to be limited by the Good Life. It is a starting point to take me to the Great Life. I would risk my life's time pursuing the Great Life because I think its something to be treasured and sought after. The ability to follow my dreams and make my life the way I dream it to be is of greater importance then the ease of the secure life. Its more appealing because I will not have to answer to anyone else but myself. I become the ultimate artist to my own canvas and get to live out my own dreams.

 

Why Most People Dream and Only Some Do: The Go-Getter Theory by Davy Kestens

Credits from the Davy Kesten Web Page.
I found this article quite interesting and insightful.

Why Most People Dream and Only Some Do: The Go-Getter Theory by Davy Kestens

I remember it like it was yesterday. I just won the biggest marble from a boy three years younger than me, and my “best buddy” back then was talking to me on how much he liked his new moped. (He wasn’t legally old enough to drive it on the street, yet he did).
He got it from his father who, I believe, up till now still has a bicycle shop.
We used to talk about things we’d like to do. He was going to have his own motor-shop one day, while all I could think about at that time was my new marble. (It was huge!) I wanted to win more marbles, get rich and …
Now let’s fast forward to present tense. My best friend isn’t my friend anymore since we went our separate ways towards different schools and places. Recently, I saw a different classmate from back then and he told me my friend is now working eight to five at the assembly line of a car factory, doing the most repetitive job possible, for no specific reason whatsoever.
Not really what he had hoped for at first.
What differs those who are naturally set to succeed, from others who are not?
Why does one “just do it” and complete a job, while the other never even gets to it, or quits at the first speed bump?
It boggles my mind why some entrepreneurs make it big while others settle for mediocre or close to nothing results!
What differentiates each of them?
Lately, I’ve met a lot of business men and students set to create a startup, and I started noticing a few differences…
It’s not education, skills or talent; It’s passion, drive and motivation. Go-getters are passionate about what they do. They wake up in the morning fired up with enthusiasm coupled with unshakeable belief that they will make life work the way they want.

People who get stuff done strive for “good enough” and go on to the next. Quit being a perfectionist…

I believe that perfectionism is a bad “quality” to have and shouldn’t be in the dictionary of any entrepreneur. If you are a perfectionist, you will try to turn every detail into a Sistine chapel and burn out. Good enough is key in getting things done. If you try to deliver “perfection”, you’ll never reach your goal.

People who do things that are good enough end up accomplishing much more than those who chase after the illusion of perfection.

Coincidentally, most successful entrepreneurs I’ve met so far are the ones who didn’t pass school with flying colours but are the ones who barely or didn’t get through. The ones who had just enough grades to go on to the next year. Why would you want to put in all this effort to obtain an excess of grades that are useless to you? Just get enough and spend the rest of your time on stuff you enjoy.

The Go-Getter is the person who acts now, not tomorrow, and thinks in short-terms.

They are proactive, not reactive. They shape their own destiny and never allow themselves to fall prey to the so-called external circumstances.
Always be asking yourself: “What is the smallest next step”, “What do I need to do now, to get things going”
People who can think of the next actionable task and are able to be specific about it, are the ones who will get to it and deal with it.
They act now and execute specific steps.

The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago.
The second best time is now.

Example: Don’t think “I need to market my product to bloggers” but think in multiple specific steps:

1. I need to get 10 names of bloggers relevant to my subject
2. I’m going to get the names at website x
3. What are the top 2 specific key features of my startup?
4. Write 3 custom mails about those features
5. Send it to them TODAY

Achievers hate to let themselves down

I’m not talking about failing. Fail big & fast. Fail forward. Don’t sweat it.
I’m talking about the mental state of those people who’d rather die trying, than give up half way. The main motivation of achievers comes from within and is not nourished from the outside. For most people, it’s easy to give up promises you make to yourself (look at all the failed new year’s resolutions) but for achievers, that’s the hardest thing to do. Walking around with the feeling that they didn’t give it all they’ve got. The feeling of “what if I went all the way”, “what if…”

The Go-Getter loves what he does (and delegates the rest)

Key to getting off your feet and kicking some ass is simply doing what you’re good at and what you love. Dump/outsource/delegate the rest. Be able to set your ego aside and let someone better than you take over the parts you suck at.
For example, if you want to build an online business and you discovered that marketing is your true passion but writing is not your cup of tea, buy content and spend all your time on marketing. Similarly, if you dread web design, then yours truly will be happy to help out :).

It is not education, skills nor talent; It is passion, drive and motivation.

Go-getters are passionate about what they do. They wake up in the morning fired up with enthusiasm coupled with an unshakable belief that they will make life work the way they want.
Are you a go-getter or a star-gazer? Are you going all the way or already preparing a plan B? Are you constantly talking about your idea, your exit strategy or why something just won’t work, or are you the one kicking it and working it out?
Either way, whatever is happening to you, your business, your life or your idea, whether good or bad, most likely…
It’s all your fault.

MINDSET

Here is something I stumbled upon that I really liked.