This post begins a series of posts that goes to the basis of everything I do as a podcaster and business owner. At first glance you may wonder why I’m sharing them on a blog about online content creation, but I guarantee they will help you produce better content, connect more effectively with your audience, make more money and have more fun!
Let’s talk about something that too many business owners either have too much of, have to little of or are controlled by when they don’t have any of it at all…
Purpose
I’m going to start with a story to give this word more context. It’s a personal story which means talking more about me than usual. I prefer like to focus on what things mean for YOU so that YOU can accomplish YOUR objectives. I share this story in the spirit of helping you achieve your objectives as a business owner and online content creator (OCC).
The Purpose Society Prescribed
Several years ago I finished my studies in Electrical Engineering-a very practical and marketable degree. I even landed one of the highest paying jobs of my graduating class and was employed by a company that made audio gear for guitarists. This was a dream job for a wannabe rock star like me.
I‘d fulfilled one of the big milestones of life-get a good degree and start a solid career. I was fulfilling the purpose that society had prescribed for me. Things were right on track…or so it seemed.
I soon started feeling like something was missing. It was a sinking feeling. “Is this it? Is this the rest of my life?” Even though I had a steady job and steady pay in an industry that many would die to work in, it just didn’t fulfill me.
Stuck in the Daily Grind
After a short while I began to dread waking up and going to work. My passion and creativity were being snuffed out. I was trapped in a daily grind…the rat race! I could not remain like that for the rest of my life. I knew I had to figure something else out.
I spent the next couple years searching for options. I considered being a full-time musician, a university professor and even at one point a National Parks ranger (it’s true). But none of these would provide a lifestyle I wanted.
Maybe an MBA would give me more options. I took the GMAT. Wait! That just puts back into the rat race with more debt. But I loved being in school.
The Fulfillment Factors
I thought back to my time in college (some of the best years of my life) and considered what it was that had made that lifestyle so enjoyable.
- Variety – New opportunities were varied and abundant at university
- Control/Freedom – The power of choice over my time (i.e. what classes I took and whether or not I went to class).
- Constant Learning – No shortage of knowledge to absorb. Everyone was there for that purpose (well, except for maybe that one roommate with the samurai swords).
- Teaching – During my studies I was the opportunity to teach a class on digital audio and electronic music. I had a knack for teaching and found this incredibly fulfilling.
These were the things that fulfilled me most. I call them my “fulfillment factors” (FFs).
SIDEBAR: I want to take just a moment to comment on relationships and family as a fulfillment factor. Relationships are of utmost importance in life. Everything I do is filtered by considering what impact it would have on the relationships I value most whether with family, friends, colleagues, clients or I’d even say…my blog/podcast audience.
Escape From the Rate Race
I had to get these fulfillment factors back into my life. Three years after starting my career (for which I had studied five years) I quit my job. I’ve never looked back. In fact, I’m now self-proclaimed chronically unemployable.
My path led from being a real estate investor, to a marketing coach and finally to internet entrepreneur. I discovered that you could run a very profitable businesses online by publishing valuable information for niche target markets (a.k.a. information marketing).
This excited me because it allowed me to:
- Constantly learn new things in a fast-paced industry and a variety of topics.
- Teach others
- Enjoy freedom to pursue my own ideas and live wherever I wanted in the world.
- Control my own time
It had been a long few years, but I had learned some valuable lessons.
- You deserve to do what fulfills you most in life.
- It’s important to clearly identify your fulfillment factors.
- There are opportunities out there that will provide these factors. It may take some time, but pursue them with tenacity and they will be yours.
FFs Are Not EnuFF
Fulfillment factors serve as a yard stick to measure the decisions I make and opportunities I pursue. However, on their own they only get you so far.
The next step is to use these factors to define a specific purpose. That’s the topic of the next post.
What are your fulfillment factors? How have you (or are you) pursuing them? Does podcasting contribute to finding your fulfillment factors?
April 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Great journey you are on!
This is a good exercise for me too:
FF:
creativity
autonomy
exploration
adventure
variety
contribution.
Thanks for making me pause.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
This is a really crucial point for people who want to follow the 80/20 principle, too (that 20% of what you do gives you 80% of your results or value, so you should do more of that 20%). It works only if you can figure out a way for that 20% to also be the part of your efforts that meet your fufillment factors.
April 26th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Well stated Jason. I need to be reminded of these “truths” because it is easy to loose our perspective on what really counts. “The Rat Race” makes a person very weary and confused.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Hi Jason,
Of all the many postings you have published over the past couple of years (since you introduced me to the art of Podcasting on your excellent web site) this has been the most meaningful for me. I must be one of your oldest followers (a young 73) so I feel I can bring a little life experience to your blog.
Having also started in a career (CPA) which I soon realized was totally unfulfilling I started a travel agency (didn’t know the first thing about the business but I was single and gave me a cheap way to enjoy the many travel benefits it provided!). Well after forty years of successful ownership the tragedy of 9/11 left me with a strong incentive to accept a good offer to sell. Never having learned to play golf and needing to find new use for my ever young desire to learn new things I came across you web site which set me on a new “career” from Podcasting to Videocasting and now the creation of a web site which will be a resource and marketing tool for travel agency managers and employees. Having tackled Adobe CS3 Premiere Pro and now completing a course in After Effects I am determined to produce a product even you will approve.
As far as your desire for fulfillment is concerned I am totally convinced that you are truly on the right track to attain this desire. Like myself so many years ago you have taken the plunge and got yourself out of the rut of doing what other people think is best for us rather than what we feel is best for ourselves. Sure breaking the mold has its share of risks but that just adds to the excitement of a truly fulfilled life.Incidentally, the company of a loving spouse perfects the picture.
Thank you for all your hard work on our behalf and please continued to keep us so well informed—you are a great teacher.
Regards
Stanley
April 29th, 2008 at 1:30 am
@Harmony,
Great FFs. Thanks for sharing them. Autonomy is such a great word. I also like creativity. That is one for me as well. I use to get that more from music. But for me podcasting is even creative which is another thing that attracted me to it.
@Jurgen,
The 80/20 principle definitely applies here. I’m glad you brought that up.
@Daniel,
And when something makes you “weary and confused,” I consider that an alarm that something needs to change.
@Stanley,
Wow. Thanks for your kind words and wisdom. Sometimes it takes a crazy turn of events to instigate change in our lives. When that happens in can be painful, but we often realize it was the best thing ever once things settle.
I’m glad things are progressing so well for you.