You don't need permission to do great things!
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 2:56PM One of my favorite podcasts is 'Back to work' with Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin. Merlin has one of the most creative (and distracted) minds I have ever encountered! I am inspired and challenged by how he things about creativity, productivity and the courage to do things!
I have been asked a few times over the years how I've managed to publish books, or speak at certain events, or have an input into certain processes. The simple answer is that at times I have just chosen to act! You've heard me say it before "the difference between people who write and those who don't is that people who write, well, they just write". The same goes for studies, action, and just about every other thing I've done. I choose to act. I act in spite of fears of failure, I act in spite of fearing that I may be missunderstood. I act in spite of feeling tired, or overworked, or not adequite. I just act... It makes a difference.
Here is a video podcast I did reflecting on this process... I am of the mind that far too many great things don't happen because good people are waiting for 'permission' form someone else to do them!
Let me just say that I often fail. I make more mistakes than getting things right! But, every now and then, on that rare occassion when things just fall into place, I am so glad that I've chosen to act rather than waiting for the permission of others.
I'd love to hear your thoughts
Reader Comments (3)
Hey Dion - I needed to hear this! Just how do you make sure that your mistakes aren't so bad that they mess up your life or someone else's? Or is that just part of the adventure . . . ? I'm getting myself paralysed!
Jenny
Ok -answer to my own question from Seth Godin's blog:
When you are truly living on the edge, walking on the moon, perhaps, or caught in the grip of extreme poverty--there's no room at all for error. It's a luxury you can't afford.
For the rest of us, though, there's a cushion. Being wrong isn't fatal, it's merely something we'd prefer to avoid. We have the privilege of being wrong. Not being wrong on purpose, of course, but wrong as a cost on the way to being right.
(http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/05/the-privilege-of-being-wrong.html)
So, choose the places where there is at least a little cushioning!
Thanks for the post!
Wow, I think that is spot on in so many ways! However, I would disagree that you need to have some 'wealth' to have choices. I have seen numerous people in our poorest communities choose to do incredible things with people instead of resources. Read Nelson Mandela's "Long walk to freedom" to see what can be done with almost nothing except the courage and the power to choose.
I guess what I am saying is that I have far too frequently thought that I am a victim, sadly I also know others who suffer from the same affliction. Methodist ministers seem to be prone to 'waiting for permission' and believing that we're victims until we get it. There are consequences to choices - that's life, but there are almost always a variety of possible choices that can be made in any given situation, regardless of the availability of 'permission' and resources.
Alan Storey is a wonderful example of someone who chooses a particular way of living, it has consequences within our denomination and within his life, but it stems from a position of deep faith and integrity.
I try to live my life that way. I seek to understand and know God's will, and then try to live according to what I believe, regardless of what people say and think.
I hope that makes some sense?
Blessings!
D