Imagining lots of tedious steps? Or one fun step?

Nice! A Litmus test for life decisions!

Wow, you're really in my head these days but you say things so much better:)

"The sun come up
the sun go down
the hands on the clock
go round and round
and I just get up
it's time to lay back down
life gets teejus don't it"
Doc Watson

i love your thoughtful, eloquent posts. thank you, derek!

whitney

hello ..sir Sivers...In this universe you came here for a mission ...to teach every one of us ..your first foot steps was
you loved your music and creating fun staff..God the creator was there with you in the long hours...
i think you are humble too ..

Yep.

i bet you used to watch Kung Fu didn't you grasshopper?

Cool Derek!

You're absolutely right. People say that to me about opera singing all the time. "Boy that must be soooo difficult. All those foreign languages, etc.! I just tell them that everybody can sing "something" just "Nike" that turkey and the how will reveal itself to you!!!

I couldn't agree more.I used to put on music/art events in L.A. (still do once in a while) People would say wow this is so great how do you do it?

I would tell them its easy.
I booked the room and called some artists to play & display art.

What I was never sure of is if they really didn't know that, thats pretty much all it took or didn't want to make the effort.

That one and only step, if decided could change our life’s.
Often myself, if I have a big project, I just do it!!!
If I had to think, about everything that goes into it.
I would be wearing blue slippers with my custom made straight jacket

When you have a passion to do something,
it's as though you've established an instant connection to some force that makes all
resistance fall away. And you're left.... with success.

That's a fun way to think of things. You don't get lost in the details and forget why you started something in the first place. But sometimes you have to face all the little detailed steps. I have so many projects going on at once it can be daunting. I do break things into small steps. But rather than be frozen by a huge "to do" list, I say "it doesn't matter what I do, as long as I'm doing something." Sometimes priorities will push things to the top if the list, but I don't get that "deer in the headlights" feeling about having so many things to get done.

That is so true. No matter if it is a work of art, a new song, or a whole CD, a short story or a complete novel, whatever I choose to create, they all seems like they took one simple step to finish because they were all labors of pure love.

As an engineer I understand that in reality, every creation consists of hundreds of small and often tedious steps to get from point A to point B.

As you said, if we started a creation and thought of journey ahead of us we might all just give up.

But when every step of the journey is fun and done from the heart, the steps all flow together in one joyous undertaking.

Good post Derek,

I like the post that was made by:
J. Milazzo

______________________________________________________________________

J. Milazzo (2009-09-12) #
When you have a passion to do something,
it's as though you've established an instant connection to some force that makes all
resistance fall away. And you're left.... with success.
___________________________________
___________________________________


It's true, Over the years of me performing and recording, I too have always had that instant connection to some force that makes all resistance fall away.

The applause from the audiences over the years had made me appreciate all those steps I had to take in order to learn the most inportant step "FOR FUN."

Keep cranking out your posts Derek, I'm sure most everyone else who reads your blogs "Posts" will agree with me when I say we appceiate your insights, they make us all think.


Peace

~Mark~

I started my first step in 1959,playing oat meal boxes to peter gunn , Its been a blast man.

In order to make a fantastic award winning Cherry pie you need to slowly follow every step. If you miss one step, then you just wasted your time. I don't waste time.....Everything I touch turns to gold. Thats my plan..

HI Derek..I have always said that success is when you wake up in the morning and you simply look really forward to doing whatever it may be during the day.. there are no self-doubts, you get up and off you go..Carpa diem so to speak. When you are happy one asks very few questions but when life is a big struggle then we ask ourselves questions about what is going on with our lives..I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to do what I love..work on my music and see what's going on in the music industry online. Once we find inside ourselves what mission we are on then the slogan of NIke "just do it" begins. LIfe is so very precious so why waste it doing something that is against your own flow..stop, take the time to self-examine, listen to that deep inner voice inside that says loud and clear "this makes me feel good and I want to keep growing in this direction." It doesn't matter what others think or tell you.. you should do this or you're crazy doing that etc..The answers like Derek said and told us are not found on the outside somewhere. We need to find the courage to say no or yes to our existential situations. It is not easy to make a dream come true. But there is nothing more exciting that taking the steps towards a dream or two. Life is about taking risks sometimes but when you don't like doing what you are doing that's a painful place to be. It takes once again courage to say to oneself, "this is not working out and I don't relate to this." The lucky ones are on a mission.. the mission my friends is the journey not the achievement. Achievements have an end but the journey keeps going. It is never too late to change directions and to say no to something that is not vibing with your inner song..I"ll leave you with a quote that is a fine fit for this topic..:He who kisses joy as it flies, lives in eternity's sunrise." written by William Blake.. Thank you Derek for waking these subjects within us. YOu help us realize more and more if we are awake or sleeping life away. I want to be one of those that is widely awake don't you? Peace to you all, Mark

That was the most timely post I've ever read! :-)

I was sitting here about to undertake something new, feeling crushed by the weight of all the steps I had to take to get to the end goal when..... bing!

My blackberry goes off, and there you are again to save the day.

Thanks man

Derek, everyday your insights teach us all so much...I find myself thinking and approaching life differently as a result, thanks.

It's all worth it if u really really want to get out there and perform! It takes work anything takes work if u really want to do what u like doing!!! Music!!

I love it!!! I'm a Pastor's wife and love to do other music as well I love it!!! I made a music video too!! I will do it and do it and do it and do it again!!! It's fun!!

When I sing, I imagine connecting with my listeners.
When I focus on the moment,
I am real--so imagining what
might be the responses of
others to what is real for
me helps me to connect and
Co-create "reality."

I remember my first homework assignment in psychology from Dr. Wong, back in the day he said " Your first assignment is to do what you're doing", everyone including myself looked at him like he was crazy. He repeated the assignment smiling and the proceeded to explain the same concept you described above. I've seen the wisdom in that for decades. Oh, Derek, you shared with us not too long ago about when you started your biz and how you slept on the couch at the office for weeks at a time and the tedious programming you went through. That sounds a little more ambitious than just starting a website and people liking it. Undertakings like yours take Passion and Drive...

I found it interesting you would choose an image of a wonder-filled, very young boy just HAVING FUN!
I remember when I couldn't wait to get in the studio and compose, compose, compose.
I must admit, after 20+ years of doing this, many times it IS a drudgery. When the thought of writing and producing come to mind the steps soon follow STOPPING me from having fun (as I once did).
Being a one man show, I know that after my songs are written, I must then track, mix, and master time and time again.
I WANT THAT LITTLE BOY BACK AGAIN--
So I will be reading answers to this issue closely. Maybe I can beckon him home.

Those little steps are always there, just waiting around the corner to be noticed when the going gets rough. It's been fun for 18 months in Shanghai. I was waking up happy every day. Then I got back in August, ready to dive back in, jetlagged, hot and annoyed. There is just so much here to be annoyed with--pollution, being an outsider, crazy dangerous traffic, spitting, noise and smells, taking care of & developing my US business from overseas. So f---ing annoyed I think my language skills degenerated from English to "F"lish. I was starting to get worried about my mental health. And then I put myself out there again looking for a gig. At the same time one of the finest restaurants started looking for a violinist. Now I have a meeting coming up...I really think you have to put yourself in an environment where the universe is able to work with you, or you are able to connect with that harmonious energy that is actually all around. You have to risk and sometimes that best risk is that exhilirating leap down the stairs.

99% perspiration to 1% ...

Yeah. I agree with the above comment and the guy on the ATV was awesome too. This was an amazing article and a great week. Here we are having fun doing over-time, studying life on a Saturday...

I was going to write back, but first I had to boot up, then wait for the virus program to update. THEN, I had to sign in, and check all the mail. THEN.....

Nice take - thanks.

peace - f

Thaks for the idea. I have a lot of projects to manage in the next few months, I'll make shure to be attentive to that line of thought.

:)

Do you think this can be used backwards to enjoy things you have to do? Try to get yourself to think of a project as only the steps you enjoy, and maybe not disliking it as much?

True, when you love to do something you don't think about it, it's effortless.

But if it's something that you have to do but you've been avoiding I don't think imagining it in one big step helps. It feels overwhelming, how to get to there from here.

Like doing my taxes, I always wait till the last minute and I stress and fret and end up doing it all in one crazy day at the last minute. This last year I changed my ways and broke it down into tiny steps. Every day I gave myself something really easy to do, something that I would definitely be able to accomplish. First all I had to do was go through every month of bank statements and highlight stuff I could deduct. When that was done I had a feeling of great accomplishment, it was silly but I felt so good! Then I used that good feeling to move me through to the next easy step and they all added up to the goal that had seemed so overwhelming.

Or with yoga. My big goal is that I'd like to do it every day for 90 minutes (like a proper class) but I usually put it off because that seems like such a big chunk of time. Then I feel bad that I haven't done any and feeling bad about it doesn't make me want to do it. Instead I started saying "just get on the mat for 5 minutes". I think, that's easy, all I have to do is 5 minutes. Invariably I'm there for 40. And 40 minutes a day is better than 90 minutes every once in a while.

There's a great book about writing that illustrates this, 'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott.

Thanks, Derek!

Great post! A good way to view a lot of things in life. I like the photo at the end for that extra visual effect. Ditto that brittlestar.

Sometimes I forget to apply this, but you're right its a much better way to think about what you're doing. Thanks for reminding me.

ok i got my album on a C.D. but
dont have no money to do the desing
of the album or to get the copyies
what do i do.

Sounds straight from "THE SECRET!"

According to 'The Secret'; if what you are doing does not put you in a state of bliss; baby 'ya ain't on right path, period!'

Luv ya photo..beautiful.

I'm nearly 60 and the older i get, the more it seems that Life itself was just one big step...

Thought-provoking reading Derek! My first thought back in time was when I used to live in T.O. in the 80's and remembering taking those steps down the stairway and counting them down to the subway...thinking aaah...82 steps (the number of CD's I will sell in my first week of my very first CD Release:) and then seeing the look on passersby's faces with countless expressions, some happy, some sad, some excited, some mad! I knew I could dredge up something from that and use it to my advantage as a songwriter for some interesting lyrics on my future CD's. As I am also an Actor and Singer-Songwriter, being a people-watcher gives me that advantage to write about my story of their lives and just to imagine that. If they hear one of my songs one day, they may even identify with it, and I know perhaps maybe I have touched someone's life in some way. At least I like to think so! Have a wonderful musical day!

Baran

I'm Running Out Of White Make up. I Must Leave Paris, France and Europe!!!!!!!

AIN'T IT FUNNY HOW LIFEWORKZ!!! AZ SOON AZ YOU QUIT LOOKIN FOR IT...YOU'LL FIND IT!!!

Interesting...there's another way of looking at small steps - as a positive. Huge projects can be simply overwhelming ('where do I start?') and that can lead to paralysis. In those cases breaking a project down into tiny bite-sized chunks (as Simone above did with her taxes) can actually make it not only seem suddenly feasible, but also actually make it seem *fun*, because each time you tick off a tiny task you feel the same sense of accomplishment someone playing a video game gets for killing a zombie/wiping out a line in tetris etc..our reward systems are our friend here if we work with them.

There's a Chinese proverb about this: 'The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.'. It's also one of the core aspects of the Getting Things Done system (a project management system and book by David Allen which I'd heartily recommend to anyone feeling overwhelmed..).

This is a wonderful piece. Thank you Derek for your Art, your Life! This resonates on my own life. You see, I teach and mentor many of the most respected people in the music industry including Los Angeles Talk Radio's Sheena Metal, a Los Angeles entertainment icon. Along with keynote speakers Bobby Borg [also from Los Angeles] as well as Bronson Herrmuth from Nashville. And many more.

How did this happen?

At the age of five, I faced a tragic event. My father was killed in a potash
accident. By the age of thirteen I had been kicked, beaten, and robbed of my
self-esteem. I was bullied mercilessly thru elementary school. Only my
mother and my two older brothers had any faith in me. Nobody else saw much
hope for me. I had a learning disability that made it almost impossible to read and write. Although through these events I became very grateful. As it's made me a homo-sapient. And one with great sentiment. It's given me a vortex of emotions involving vulnerability, pain, anger, hope, love, and a lust for life. It's made me a prize-fighter! Still wide-eyed like an infant. Ever curious, ever seeking.

I find myself excited to share this because if I can do this anyone can.
Each one of us beholds a beautiful story to be told. Each one of us can have the life of our choice. We just need to choose.

A piece I hope you enjoy. Thank you for reading.

D.U.N.C.A.N.2.0.
By Miles Patrick Yohnke
© 2009 All Rights Reserved.

The people that know me well know that I love cycling and train most days
for four hours. My personal record time was finally achieved at 57 minutes in the 42.5km time trial on July 24th. For the past month in my training I've placed white tape on each of my four fingers, on both hands. Each piece of tape has a letter, spelling D.U.N.C.A.N.2.0. This is a tribute to my friend Duncan MacPherson. On Aug 9th, 2009 it will be twenty years since his passing on.

Duncan's parents' lived across the street from my grandparents. As kids
from time to time we would play. In our early twenties as young adults we
would start hanging out again. He too loved cycling and in his off-season from playing professional hockey would cycle as part of his conditioning. Both of us would often train together.

Duncan had a passion for excellence in everything he did, particularly in
his sport of choice. Hockey. He was drafted by the N.Y. Islanders in the first round in 1984. He loved a challenge. He loved trying something new. He gave his best to each day.

I learned so much from him during those summers. The commitment. The level of training one needed to do. He made me appreciate every new day in a way
I hadn't before. The bike frame that I use today is the same one I used
then. Sure, the one's now are one-third the weight and far superior. But
this frame has a history and in part I use it to remember his life.

Since his death some people have remarked how sad it was that he was just
twenty-three when he died. But the way I look at it Duncan was alot like the
"morning glory" flower. Morning glories, if you look closely at them, will
show you how extraordinary they are both in colour and texture. And that in their center, is a kind of golden light that shines from within. At the end of the day they turn a most beautiful shade of lavender and then close up, wither, and die. They live for only one day and then they are gone. You see, it doesn't matter how long your life is. It only matters that you were here in all your glory, and that you opened up completely and let your light
shine. And that you brought joy to those who came into contact with you. That's what matters to the morning glory, and that's what should really matter to all of us.

Aug 2nd, 1989 was the last day I saw my friend Duncan. His last words were:
"Miles, I don't know when I'll see you again." I remember his face and those words as if it were yesterday. So, I place the white tape and the letters to give thanks for all his glory. For his extraordinary life. To keep challenging myself and others as he did.

Dedicated to my friend: Duncan MacPherson
(February 3, 1966 – August 9, 1989).

For more on the life of Duncan MacPherson, click
here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_MacPherson

Widely recognized and award-nominated engineer, producer, writer, poet and
founder and C.E.O. of 5 Star Productions, Miles Patrick Yohnke brings many
years of experience to the music industry; including many awards in sales
and marketing. If you are looking at developing your career, Yohnke offers
consulting in person, by phone or via email. For more info, please contact
him directly at: 306.227.6379 or email at: miles@5-starproductions.com.

so true, when i have a project i dont really want to do but i want the result, i just use it as a meditation, i concentrate wholly on it and get rid of everything else on my mind, i find by focusing totally on it I get it done, without thinking of all the other steps that need to be done which would bum me out and make me say f it. sort of a zen; chop wood, carry water type approach, I use it on mundane, boring, and repetitive projects..it actually makes it rewarding in a strange way..its like i overcame my needy ego..whatever works I guess:-)

Oh, Derek, you know you're just a big altruistic natural genius. And as Clarence Day would say in LIFE WITH FATHER, " Let's not have any more nonsense about that!"

you know when you truely love to do something,,,,,there is no justification,,,,just zen,,k.sokol

Looks like you are going to be doing one step in each project Derek, with all your planning. But there are others out there that may need six to twenty steps to complete their tasks.

Everything one does in life can be broken down into 3 steps: preparation, execution, and mop up. Or preproduction, production,and postproduction for us recording types. If all you're interested in is the execution/production, life will be very tedious indeed.

just do it! oh oops, nike or somebody copyrighted that phrase, but it works none the less 8-)

It is true. The things I know I 'have to do' are often things I'd rather someone else do for me. The things I think are 'fun' never seem like a chore. I have to balance the two if all of what needs done is to be completed. I hold the 'fun' stuff out like a carrot in front of myself while finishing the chores. Music to housework - it applies universally...

I always say I don't like vacations.
Why would I want to vacate my life that I love so much? I'd rather keep living big steps!

A very interesting perspective. It goes along with the idea that you can either tell your life story with yourself as the hero or the victim.

So perfectly said Derek. Thank you...

Thanks, Derek. This is great to keep in mind.

I'd like to add something related, which is; if anyone is struggling with tasks that they have to do, that they don't want to do, such as at a 'day job', I recently discovered I needed to simply make peace with the process and the whole thing became more enjoyable, and I had completed them well faster than I expected.

But I'd much rather 'take the leap' into doing only what I love to do all the time.

-Steven

Call me Froggie!

(Just one big leap)

Just like Chopra puts it... a little tiny, magickal pebble of intention, dropped into a still pool of water... the item of intention gently introduced into the pool of the silence of the Universe... that is all that is sometimes needed. ;-) The Universe knows the hows and the ways and the whys to get us there. All we sometimes have to *know* are the... desires. Thank you for posts like these. Very... serendipitous. Beltana

It goes with the flow. If I have a huge agenda, and a list of things to do before I get there, I may be awhile...But if I just go 'cause I want to, I wont even notice how I got there.

Thank you! Even though I am excited about my new projects, I was feeling overwhelmed, this reminder is a great antidote to that :-)

Fear, especially fear of the unknown, is what keeps people from doing things. Being in the process, or "taking steps," isn't nearly as hard.

Ask anybody who has ever been in a plane crash, skydived, etc...

I sent you an email once about starting a little website and label and was asking about where to get web space and how much was needed or something like that and you said before getting into big web space and big investment to let the idea just happen ,if the the idea was good everything would happen or fall in place and take off on its own.Most of the time for me thats the way it is. Good bands, good ideas, good songs many times just take off on their own, you can't force it.

78. Well at least I'm getting closer. Kind of like the cover of the Rolling Stone, I want to be the first post in a thread. Just on step to it, me number one.

This missive is quite accurate and enjoyable. Though when doing some enormous things that you love which are daunting you run into your moments of "Wow, that's going to take quite an effort! I've got to do this then that then this and that then this for a long time." Often it is hard work but the big high comes when your back breaking work is done and you get to enjoy what you made. That makes you want to get right back to the this and that again!

I like Richy's quote above.....I think sometimes how we are feeling when we are about to take on a task or project are good indicators for us. When our minds sense drudgery and our bodies get heavy, or sick, this is usually a sign that we are barking up the wrong tree. Sometimes we spend years going round in circles because we are doing the things we think we "should" be doing. If someone tells us you "should" run to stay fit or take a job because that is what you "should" do, it can create a lot of pain and conflict for us. Although sometimes it is good to try things we are not comfortable at or good at to grow as people, we should also go with the flow and what seems easy for us and we love doing.....the things we would do for free- even if nobody was paying us to do them......now I have to go and write some music!

I'll bet that when Neil Armstrong made his 'one small step'... he didn't think of all the years of sweat and tears getting him there, or all the things that could of, or might still go wrong. Rather, he thought...
'there, mission achieved!'

If you love what you're doing, it does make things so much easier. Wise words again Derek

The journey of a thousand years begins with a SINGLE step.... chines prover.

If you wanna climb a mountain don't look at the peak. you very next step matters more than the ultimate goal.

And that single step to me is the hardest. but the other option open to me is not to do anything and end up as a poor miserable fool.

It's all about doing what you love. A labor of love involves a lot of work but it seems like fun!

Thanks for keeping me thinking, Derek!

I Love Cold Calling!
I approach the phone call as a fun performance, to share what I have to offer with people who want to be in my audience.

Remember that song? "Birth! School! Work! Death!" I guess he was sort of ambivalent about it.
;-)

This brings to mind something that irritates me greatly, and I am sure some of my fellow artists may agree.
I have had some minor successes throughout my thirty year music career, and my favorite is when I claim one of these victories, such as a song in a movie or a review in a major publication, and someone will ask, "Wow, how did you do that?"
Which translated means, "You had to have gotten lucky somehow."
So I totally mess with their head, even pissing them off by replying, "Well, I did it by making a consious decision three decades ago to work very hard and make a lot of sacrifises so that I may realize my dreams and passion."
If stupid looks could kill I'd be long dead.

Well stated, Derek! You're waaaaaay above the curb!

Nice topic. Although I teach music and when a student looks at a piece as very challenging, I slice it into little chunks and give him the toughest part first then in order of challenge each part and in no time he is saying that was not bad after all.

Love it & it's soo true!

Like someone else here said, some people are natural whiners and everything is a drama.

Me? I don't even remember writing songs sometimes. They are just there.
My partner is the one who tells me stories about how he remembers when I wrote this or that song.

When you are doing something you love I think it is natural for many of us to not quite remember getting there.

PS: That is a great photo

Remembering the steps and little details is something I like. I keep a scrap book of things that I have enjoyed to remember the little details. Planning and going through the details is fun.

A part of me agrees with this post and a part does not. Many little steps give order and keep me focused. It makes it easier to find reasons not to, however, it does not keep me from doing it nor does it mean I love it any less. I've described to people in great detail some things I have done; not because I am trying to discourage anyone, but to make them realise a lot of hard work goes into working on/for something you love. As fun as it may be, it is a lot of work.

Here is an example of what one person can do to change the world.

You (Derek) started posting your thoughts, people enjoyed your thoughts, you touched the hearts of others who shared similar thoughts, they come back every time you have a thought.

Simple.

How does that change the world? One thought, one heart, one mind being touched at one time makes this world a better place to be.

You make it seem so simple D.

Kellie Frazier dot com

These days, I am a street performer singing and playing guitar on street corners sometimes around midnight up north in England UK. I started at the age of eleven and am the wrong side of sixty so I've been getting about OK at it now.
People say 'How can I play guitar like you?'I tell 'em 'Practise 15 minutes a day and you will.'
I know they'll pick up the guitar and probably practise for an hour.
If I said pick up the guitar and do it for that long they'd never do it at all! It's often a mind game for many people and if you love it like I do, you can't let life pass you by. I still write songs and was in the studio last week because my life is my music.
Regards to the great Joe Pug from Chicago who was kind to me at a recent Steve Earle performance. Joe was his excellent backup artist over here in Derby UK. Keep smiling, Dennis Derby

Keep it fun and the journey will always be like the first step....

Bill

I think some people ask how some task is done to find out your secret or some exclusive tip that they can use to avoid the work,(the tedious steps) to get to the end product.

Great observation! And it is so true! Thank you!
Max

I would say that personality would have to come into play a bit as well. Some people are just more analyzers. Some are those who 'just do it'. We also have to realize that the details must be kept up with (for legal/tax reasons)...so I guess my question now is: Were you ever audited? (If so...you know that SOME ONE had to be keeping up with the details...ha-ha.)

In life, all the steps we image should be that of fun. And in some cases, however, it's a must to image some steps before getting yours that you find fun doing.

A real success at whatever, is a product of imaging many steps, even at times, the steps in one's mind that should be fun, becomes unlike.

The question becomes:How does one find fun imaging other steps?

PASSION PASSION PASSION. Whatever steps we are imaging, to find fun in it, must be backed by passion. No doubt if you're passionate about it, you will find fun doing it.

Each life step is fun. As I recover from surgery on both feet, I really hold true to this assertion. And, I'm able to generalize it into all aspects of my life. Life is fun!

Today I played alto sax for a food bank. It was an older crowd, so I chose slower music. To keep the volume down and tone dark, I used a rubber mouthpiece. Those changes made it so much easier to play, I just loved it! I came home to a rainbow just 20 feet away from me. Tomorrow I will use the wide metal mouthpiece and rehearse with faster music. It will be harder. I will get better. I'll embrace the hard steps.

I haven't gotten a rainbow on the hard steps...yet.

Work is a lot of little steps...JOY is one big leap after another!!!

Derek, I better try and remember that. When I first started my business I was overwhelmed with whether I had made the right choice. I was frighten that I was going to be too successful. I continue the progress, but I could have avoided the stresss if I had had fun. Now, this is a must I need to remember that its more fun loving what I do. (singing) With ups and down I could be an accountant wishing I was a full time singing.

ONE BIG FUN STEP!

Easy, hmmm, that is a word that does not fit a bastard child, a dialysis patient, an artist with a life of hard knocks, some would say choices , I say live it and, be refine!!! I love every aspect of what I do with the music I make and what I try to do with it!!! It all makes me happy!!! But none of it has been created without blood, seat, and tears.... Never has anything been easy or without sacrifice of self at some point, the only easy is loving something without condition..... Art is struggle, creativity is the burning of self energy, brain or heart matter...., so what is all this said for? Simply that what is easy to one many may be a terrible struggle for the next, and knowledge is the power. Learning is key! So helping someone is better than boasting a triumph of self accomplishment.... Reinvest in others ... End of philosophy, except that love covers a multitude of sin!!!!!!!!! Be Charitable!

bro. i FEEL you on that..
its all about how you tackle things, or your mindstate so to speak. think possitivly and possitive things will follow. we wont tolerate nuthin short of that!
i got tons of respect for you fam. keep grindin out!

I'm attracted to people who are ambitious, focused, and postive. They fuel my fire. Maybe this is the reason I enjoy your site so much.
Cheers,
Kelly

Derek highlights a very important point. I've noticed for years in Japan while in the company of people studying Japanese and/or English. Some seem to really enjoy learning a new language, never really speak about the difficulty and progress rather quickly. Others are always talking about how hard it is to learn the language and how much time it takes. Consequently, they never seem to make much headway.
http://neilstalnaker007-brainchow.blogspot.com

I disagree, Derek! So rare! But I often find myself overwhelmed and immobile if everything is in "one step". I find things so much easier and more tolerable and exciting when I know I can handle each little step along the way-- instead of saying 'Oh god i have to redesign my website' I think, "let me put up a couple links... let me change a picture, let me add my schedule..." and before you know it, I'm deep into the project and enjoying it.

Another great article, Derek. Thanks, as always!

It varies. It also depends where you are mentally, physically and emotionally. Sometimes the joy is there and other times it is not, but I do not believe that there is a formula. We are complex beings, after all. There are overcast days and there are sunny ones. And sometimes you come out of the gate raring to go, and other times you are slow and unwilling, but warm up later. Does that mean you are doing the wrong thing? Hardly.

It's all in how we perceive something. If we enjoy giving back to others, then whatever we do will be fun. It will make our day and boost our confidence!

Thanks,

Robert

It's funny, if something is difficult yet you enjoy doing it, it's really not that hard. But when you look back, you can't believe how hard it was actually to do :)

I took my first step in san Juan, puerto Rico, around 1965, when I first heard the Beatles, on a record that a classmate (Candice) had brought to school. I immediately went home and took apart some of my father´s wooden suit-hangers and made a pair of drumsticks. I would then play Ringo's rhythms on the living room sofa, every afternoon, while grooving to the tunes!

Since then, I've performed and recorded all over the world and I'm still having tons of fun!!!

But, besides the focus needed to hone one's craft, I've learned (through Buddhism, meditation and martial arts)that when one is rested and healthy, obstacles don't seem as large as when one is tired or sick. When one feels fatigued, everything seems difficult, doesn't it?

Derek,
Thank you for all that you do.

You would have to be tediously anal or self-conscious if, when planning or starting a trip (to Disneyland, for example), you considered every single step, movement, adjustment, turn, intersection, and bump in the road. No fun at all!

I understand ! I hated math college so I just made sure I did "all" math requierments first. Then I could do what I wanted
Aleee

At the same time obvious and not so obvious, I love it!

Yup! I was playing my guitar so enjoyably at work that they had to come and remind me that my break was over now...I get so much joyfulness from music!! and when I start to see results it's just this happy place I carry with me through all the other stuff called life...!!
Rachel

nice post and great comments, sive.rs is becoming a really important site, here I am every post :)

and that imagining really wears us down especially if it's something we hate and have to do.

I agree with your overall point. I currently work in retail and pretty much hated going to work everyday because I wasn’t doing what I loved or even near. However, I’d remind myself of a lot of what I was learning in preparation for the real world: team work, acting professional and knowing how to handle difficult situations…which is almost every time I work.

I attended a conference (for my own education in the music industry) last month and learned from one of the panelists that it was ok to have a day job. Even if we weren’t doing what we loved or it had nothing to do with what we love; it was ok.

I was recently promoted to a lead (similar to a manager) position for the holiday season and believe it or not, I don’t mind. I actually like it and want to do a great job at it. I will still be involved in music though. I’m starting to help a local artist with all I know to help her get a label and get her career off the ground. I’m not an expert but I’m learning.

I believe that sometimes we need to stop and see objects, ideas, etc., in a whole new perspective in order to see the “big idea” or how we’re going to get there.

Realy good subject to talk about. Reminds me of what the Bible says.. who begins something without first counting the cost?

Good point. When I first "became" a singer, I didn't have any plan at all. I just got up and sat in at a jam session. After that the steps took care of themselves. All I had to do was not stop. But there does come a point where continuing and fulfilling resulting commitments of those initial steps requires more of a plan. Maybe do a post on keeping going? Or am I missing something.

I'm imagining myself making a living at music someday...Almost two years ago I decided to try making that a reality. After much protest, and much resistance (I'm not a manager! I can't book tours!" ect..), Out of sheer necessity (and with encouragement) I finally relented. After three months, that spring I booked my first tour in Europe. A second and third small tours followed that next spring and summer. Some money was made, more than I'd ever made before for sure, and the word CAN'T was replaced by COULD. I still have to keep reminding myself of that lately..old habits are hard to break huh?

Honestly,

This is a load of crap. No matter how great the idea or how psyched you are about it, there are always "tedious" steps to accomplish a dream. Derek you are full of shit if you're telling people that if you don't love every step of the pursuit of your dream then it isn't right. Take some responsibility for what you're putting out there. Read Howard Schultz's book on building Starbucks jackass. It's not all angels and butterflies.

Hey Derek,

Simple, yet poignant thought. I find that even with things I LOVE to do, when I do start thinking too much about the details, the little steps, I'm usually on the wrong path, mentally, spiritually, emotionally--just not on--so to speak. A song heads the wrong way while writing, a recording session gets bogged down, or a live performance is no fun, uninspired...

When I let go and do what I was born to do, let it flow, it's back to fun and ease and in the end, all of the above turn out as they should--reaching their highest potential, whatever that is.

I may not respond every time, but I love your posts...
Thanks,
Peace, Michael

People always say this to me about touring..... like it's the most difficult thing in the world -- all the driving, being away from your family, sleeping in strange places... and I just think- I get to see all of my far-off friends at least once a year, I get to play music all the time, I'm doing something I actually care about, and I get to see the country.

The long drives and bad food and floor sleeping and being away from home all take a backseat when you love something so much.

Derek, This is an inspiring message today as it was back in 2009?
Have you plans for your next book - we are all waiting ;))

Hi folks,
I would have quickly read just once, or even skimmed, Derek's post, but not now.
No, because I want to reply to a Jackass (his word) Bobby Fingeroth, at comment #144.

Fingeroth can say "This is a load of crap" only because he merely skimmed or read just once.

No, Fingeroth, no. If you are going to crap on the day of other readers, and Derek, then you have what Doctor Who calls "a duty of care" to read carefully first.

Fingeroth and other members of the community: Even if, and especially if, you have a vested interest in being negative and nasty, then, fully knowing your default tendency, you have an extra duty to achieve reading comprehension before you comment.

Hi Derek,
Very glad to write to you after listening to your some articles by John. I really enjoy your deep and important points of everything You always can express them by these simple words!
Thank you very much and have a good day!
Linda Sun

hi, this is my first comment to your articles. what if there is one thing I think with many tedious steps but I have to do it? is there a fun way to do it?
There are many things we just have to do whether we love them or not. It's good to separate the actions from the emotions. — Derek

It is in my head!

I will know if I think of many steps or one fun step.

What struck me was the idea that when people do things they dislike, they feel that way and start thinking in detail about the steps involved, while things they like feel relatively simple and easy.

And in that story, it seemed as if I saw my blind spot. My innate temperament is, by nature, closer to being spontaneous rather than planned, and to being the kind of person who gets absorbed in whatever they want to do at the moment. For example, if I suddenly feel like singing, I take out the microphone, play some backing tracks, and just start singing. When I feel like drawing, I immediately take out the canvas, spread out the materials, and start painting. So I was partly sympathetic to this story, yet I hesitated.

Because I have always wanted to fix these patterns within myself. My behavior patterns made my room and the surroundings too messy, and after doing things my own way, I would later blame myself for making everything a mess again by acting thoughtlessly when cleaning up afterward. So rather, even the things we were able to start very easily and lightly at first because they were good and enjoyable, let’s do them this way when we do them again. And so I began putting together a routine.

1. I want to draw a painting.
2. You just need to take out all the materials and draw.

Break this simple process

1. I started wanting to painting.
2. First, unfold the plastic sheet you ordered so it won’t dirty the surroundings and stick it to the space.
3. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. i bought aprons or arm sleeves, so let’s have wear.
4. Last time you spilled water on the bed, so now make sure the water container is on the desk; work must be done there.
5. Handling putty with bare hands is too difficult to remove later, so wear latex gloves.
6. Take out only the materials you will use and be sure to put them back in their place.
7. Put away what you’ve written right away.
8. Don’t stay up all night absentmindedly, and know when to stop.

It's like this.

In a way, it’s a neat and conventional sequence. I should have done that, of course, but since I couldn’t, I was proud of myself for making this plan. But… After reading this story, I came to understand what I had been doing to myself.

I wanted to create a routine that could make doing what I like more enjoyable, but. I was imposing a constraint that made me dislike what I liked instead. This That's really true. Because, being this thorough, let’s do it this way from now on. I thought that once I’d bought the things that were part of the plan and the supplies, I’d be able to do it without any worries. For some reason, I end up not drawing for quite a long time. Picture I’ve got it ready to grill Shall we grill it? Hmm With this feeling, I scan the prepared materials and my gaze drifts away.

I want to painting! It was because that process came to mind first, rather than the thought itself. Now that I think about it, that's true.

And chillingly, it’s not just that in the Painting Every one of my things, even the smallest things in daily life. While making this kind of routine for myself Even if you go to such lengths to make a kind plan, I still can’t do it, can I? I was doing it.

Of course, when it comes to things I dislike, I might naturally think of the process first because I dislike it. But in the end

My desire to control my variables was so strong that I often found myself going over the process in detail, even for things I didn’t really need to do.

I want to do it. But To do that, do this first, then like this It makes me realize just how exhausting that thought is.

Do you want to? Then do it. I want to tell myself that it’s okay to be a little simpler, that this is truly the moment to enjoy what you love.


P.s - I used a translator to change this text from Korean to English. So this sentence may seem strange to you. I think you just need to understand the context and sense the meaning 🙂

Korean original text : iria.tistory.com/10

Hello I'm Korean.
I came across your book through an app called Millie’s Library.
I’m someone who genuinely wants to find something that I truly enjoy doing.
This part reminded me of when I was preparing to try real estate auctions after reading a book about them. The more I read, the more I realized how much I had to do, and eventually, I never even made it to an auction. It felt like I kept coming up against so many obstacles just trying to get started.
If I felt overwhelmed by all the things I had to do, does that mean real estate auctions were never something I truly wanted to pursue?
I’m leaving this comment because I’d really like to hear your opinion on this.