Archive for April, 2009
Mark this moment!
Thursday the 9th of April. This is a day to remember.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, I put enjoyment, satisfaction, happiness ahead of money and business. A business partner and I had a significant amount of money on the table from a new client and we chose not to take it!
Given the circumstances (one of the senior managers of this new client warned us to “cover your ass in your contract” and “this is going to be very difficult for you.”), we turned down the project. Whew! In the midst of running on the ‘hamster wheel,’ my partner and I had just the briefest of window of clarity. And in that tiny, tiny space of clarity, we woke up and said “wait! Is this really what we want?”
That’s all it took for us to take a step back and say to ourselves, this is a really bad situation and it’s not going to be good for neither our new client nor us. We thought, “wow, what did we just almost do to ourselves? That was close! We almost threw ourselves into a situation where we would sacrifice our own personal well being along with our client’s.” That like a lifeguard jumping into the water to save a panicked swimmer that’s going to drown them both!
All of a sudden, I feel much better. I feel alive again. I feel like I actually can influence the direction of my life instead of just having the past repeat itself.
Anyway, just wanted to share with those that might read this.
April 9th, 2009
Awareness is everything.
It’s Tuesday the 7th of April. I realized that I enjoy work when I’m doing the work that I enjoy.
I know a big duh but I’m a human being and humans often do not see what’s right in front of them. The work I enjoy is teaching, writing and moving the discipline of Software Development Leadership forward. And a lot of the time- ok, most of the time, I’m not doing that. I’m doing the things that make me money.
Today was shaping out to be one of those days… you know, one of those days where you think to yourself, ‘What the hell I am I doing with my life? Why am I in this business? This sucks…’ But then I had a great conversation with an Information Marketer who’s going to help get my Info Biz off the ground. I went into that meeting beaten down and discouraged from interacting with… well, challenging situations.
But during this meeting with the Information Marketer, I came alive and thought to myself WOW, I actually am happy and feel alive when… I’M DOING THE THINGS THAT I LIKE TO DO!! (duh).
For me at least, these realizations are BIG. Not necessarily big in terms of me knowing that I’m happy when I’m doing the things that make me happy but me actually experiencing it.
And not only experiencing it but actually causing it to happen. I understood that I actually dragged myself into a meeting that I could have easily canceled or re-scheduled because ‘I wasn’t feeling well’ or made some other excuse. But I didn’t.
“I” (you know that other “I” that’s in you… well, that’s another conversation) knew that I had to go do something that was going to make me happy. And the “me” inside me reluctantly went along.
And look what happened! I’m back writing and feeling good. Such a duh.
April 7th, 2009
Make Everyday a Day at the Beach!
Digital Onion is looking for tenants to share our exclusive beachfront office property in the popular Marina Del Rey/Venice Beach area. We have up to 5 desks for rent in a shared space.
For only $850 a month, you get a desk, all utilities paid, cleaning staff, full kitchen, bathroom, conference room for meeting with clients and access to 10 great restaurants and bars surrounding us.
And a clear view of the pacific ocean every day! Street parking is available plus there’s a large public parking lot for just a few dollars per day.
This space RARELY comes up for lease! So don’t wait or someone will beat you to it! Email us at tony.wong@digitalonioninc.com for further details.
April 5th, 2009
