047 | Transcending Your Potential
February 1, 2021
Minute of Transparency: Distance Improves Your Vision
This Week's Topic: Transcending Your Potential
In this episode:
You Do You Better than Anyone Else
Moving from Consumer to Contributor
Finding Your "Big Idea"
The Shadow Career
// 1. YOU DO YOU BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE
Do you understand how special you are? How unique you are in the grand scheme of things? You - as an individual?
Not you as a man, or woman
Not you as a white person, a Native American or person of color
Not you as an American citizen
I'm talking you as you - just you
It probably has a nice ring to it when I say it that way. But my guess is that we don't typically think in these terms. We don't typically think just about ourselves - without trying to use others things for context.
But we come by it honestly. We're social beings. We group up. We form attachments. First to our families, then to others around us based on commonalities like gender, color, race, ethnicity, age, and interest.
For me - that means the following:
I'm connected to my immediate family first and foremost
Next, I have extended family
After that I have people I work with
Then I have acquaintances based on people my wife and kids know
And finally, I feel a connection to people like me:
Christians
People from Canada
People who like hockey
People who care about nature and the environment
Clinicians
Creatives
Writers
Podcasters
People with an interest in the End of Time
And the list goes on...
But that's a good example of how we typically view the world. Right? Based on our relationships and our network.
And there is nothing wrong with that! As long as you understand one thing:
““You are special, valued and important even without those relationships, or that network of people you identify with.””
It's when you forget this, that things can get a little crazy.
What do I mean by that? Well, let's just take the events of January 6, 2021 as an example. For some reason, on this day, a group of people thought it would be a good idea to storm the Capitol of the United States of America. Break through barriers, destroy property, threaten to harm people, and basically interfere with the continuance of an otherwise peaceful government proceeding.
This event took many off guard. But it really shouldn't have. The past 2-4 years have been building to this. An increase in partisan politics, a polarization in our country. And though this wasn't the required outcome, it isn't hard to see how fringe groups latched on to this growing trend in order to come out of the woodwork and test their ideas on the world stage.
But what does this have to do with "You doing you better than anyone else?"
Well, Transcend Human would suggest that these people lost sight of that truth. That they gave up their value and worth in order to hand it over to a group ideal. Now I know - in some circumstances this is considered heroic - right? Those of you who saw the movie 300 understand this. 300 Spartans gave up their lives to slow the advance of a massive Persian army attempting to invade Greece in the Battle of Thermopylae.
We look at these 300 soldiers as heroes. Because they gave up their uniqueness - their individual, personal value - for the greater good of Greece.
But! And this is a very big but... That's the way they are viewed in retrospect. After the fact, history decided that these men were heroes. But only because history made it obvious, and we were able to see the big picture - what they gave their lives for. We saw the event, we saw why it happened and we saw how it all played out.
The people who stormed the Capitol won't get that same review by history. Instead, they will be viewed as domestic terrorists - people who blindly gave up their individual beliefs, morals and values at the request of some ambiguous, anti-government rhetoric they subscribed to on the Internet. .
It was almost immediate - in that both political parties parties - the two parties that represent the bulk of our country - condemned the attack.
Sure - there are people in our country that these domestic terrorists spoke for - but they are definitely not the majority. In fact they are a small, fringe group that is barely a blip on the radar.
There were many unfortunate outcomes on that day - and one of them is what the future will look like for those involved. I believe some of them will be sitting in prison a few months from now asking themselves questions like:
Why did I so easily give up my individuality for this group of people?
Why was I not able to think through that day logically - and choose a better option?
How can I make the rest of my life count for something after this?
Psychologists refer to this dynamic as "Group Think."
Here are a couple definitions:
"The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility."
"A psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome."
Pretty crazy definitions when you apply it to January 6 right? I mean that's exactly what happened. A group of people choosing not to be creative, and not to think for themselves. And hoping that in some way there would be no individual responsibility placed on them for their dysfunctional decision-making.
We also refer to this using terms like "Mob Mentality" or "Gang Mentality" where being part of a group where anger or tension is high, leads to behavior that an individual may not typically be part of.
And that's really the point in all of this.
There is nothing wrong with being part of something bigger than yourself. But before you join that club, community or small group of people trying to fire you up. Make sure you know who you are.
You, just you.
Understand your beliefs, your values and your personal worth. See your uniqueness, and what you bring to the world. And don't give it all away so easily.
If the group you're joining is asking you to give all of this up to adopt only their unique set of values. You might want to run the other way...
// 2. MOVING FROM CONSUMER TO CONTRIBUTOR
This is a concept we talk a lot about on the podcast. In fact it's written into Transcend Human's Core Values.
We live in a consumer friendly society. We have become mass consumers of products, services, resources, content and entertainment just to name a few things...
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this. Walk down any aisle in a supermarket and you can tell they aren't providing for our needs - they're providing for our wants and desires.
Sure they sell staples like milk, flour, bread and cheese. But now there are 20 different kinds of milk from traditional to rice, almond and oat milks. And don't get me started on the cheese...
Then there are products. I love photography - and believe me - there is no end to the options we have. Camera brands and styles, stock lens options, third party lens options, flash and lighting accessories, shotgun mics and off camera audio options, bags for travel, camera straps and the list never ends...
Next up are the services we access - things like Amazon, Uber Eats and Door Dash.
Then there is content. Things like social media that we sit and consume for hours on end.
And finally - we now have unlimited entertainment options. From music options like Spotify and Apple Music to TV show and movie options like YouTube TV, Netflix and HBO Max.
The world definitely understand our bent toward consuming - and it is right there willing to fulfill our order - however strange or exorbitant it is...
Now the funny thing is this: In order for there to live in a consumer friendly society - there have to be contributors - right?
Stands to reason - if someone wasn't contributing or creating - there would be nothing for us to consume.
So that begs the question: Is all contributing the same? Are all contributions the same?
Transcend Human suggests no - that there is a continuum upon which contributions live. A spectrum from good to evil or positive to negative - just as there is with everything else.
There are contributions that are evil, and only cause problems in the world. For example, the development of chemical weapons for militant militia groups. That never ends well
Then, there are benign contributions that are neither good or bad - they simply add to the number of things people can consume. Example: One more type of shampoo. A documentary on the way cars are built, etc.
And then there are virtuous or altruistic contributions - ones that make an obvious difference in the lives of others. Example: Tom's Shoes. Charity Water. things like this - where the contribution was founded first and foremost to help others
Given these categories - Transcend Human would suggest you NOT contribute bad, or negative things. Stick with the benign things and work your way up to altruistic if at all possible.
// 3. FINDING YOUR "BIG IDEA"
So if it is true that we're each unique, we each have value and we each have something important we can contribute to the world.
What is your thing? What is the one thing you can offer, that nobody else on the planet can offer?
What is your "Big Idea?"
The "Big Idea" is a marketing term. According to Wikipedia:
"Big Idea is a term used to symbolize the foundation for a major undertaking in the areas of marketing or advertising. An attempt to communicate a brand, product, or concept to the general public by creating a strong message that pushes brand boundaries and resonates with consumers."
So on that level we get it. Nike had a Big Idea - which was "Just Do It" and they've sold billions of dollars worth of sneakers and athletic equipment under that Big Idea.
But it's less obvious when we're trying to figure out what our "Big Idea" could be.
Wikipedia goes on to explain that these ideas typically come in one of two ways:
Spontaneous Ideas:
Brainstorming
Living your life and seeing possibilities
Dreams (both conscious and subconscious)
Researched Ideas:
Doing actual research, or Internet searches to find ideas
Taking half baked ideas and making them your own
Data assessment
Asking other people what questions they have
In my lifetime I've uncovered Big Ideas in both ways - but typically they have been spontaneous first.
Controversy Theory and Transcend Human:
Both of these ideas just came to me - randomly - though loosely based on my career and field of study
They started with a thought, or idea
I then fleshed out the idea into an outline or framework
This led to actual research in order to flesh out the framework
And this led to the completion of a manuscript and this podcast
Another spontaneous "Big Idea" I acquired is something I refer to as "The Trilogy:"
It came to me in the most spontaneous way I can think of
Through a dream
However, it was like no other dream I had ever experienced
This was back when I was drinking on a regular basis
I remember having a few too many that night
Because of this - going to bed wasn't a conscious decision - more a state of existence I found myself in (if you know what I mean...)
I just hope I brushed my teeth and washed my face before it happened...though I can't be sure...
At any rate - I went to bed - and at some point began to dream my way through an entire story arc - one that easily held enough information to create a trilogy of novels
The dream held a level of detail and specificity I hadn't experienced in my lifetime
There were characters, plot twists, locations and settings that stood out in perfect clarity
But the strangest part was what happened when I woke up
I think we've all had those dreams that seemed so real - then you wake up and you can hardly piece it together
But for me, the opposite happened
I woke up and it was all in my head still - every piece - every detail - as if I'd studied it all for a final exam
I immediately got a journal and began writing down everything:
I made lists of characters
I defined the main plot and additional subplots
I documented locations and settings for major scenes
I noted details about certain elements of the world the story took place in
I listed new technologies I had seen - and how they worked
I listed elements that bordered on science fiction and how in my dream they were presented as scientific fact
And I even outlined the way this story could be broken out into a trilogy
How's that for a spontaneous "Big Idea"?
Now unfortunately - I haven't been able to fully act on this "Big Idea." I started writing and have about 4 Chapters in the can.
But a novel is a major undertaking, and the idea that it would become a trilogy even that much more daunting.
And so - at some point I decided to attack Transcend Human first - to start the podcast and begin getting ideas out there as fast as possible.
Hopefully you're benefiting from that decision. However, I still long to go back and finish the trilogy someday!
// 4. THE SHADOW CAREER
Inevitably - one of the things that happens when you find your "Big Idea" - is that you can't immediately go for it. You can't just stop what you're doing and put all your energy into this new thing.
Some are lucky enough to do so. Maybe their "Big Idea" is an offshoot of what they're doing for a living and it simply means taking a new job, or learning a new skill in their current situation.
But for most - their new "Big Idea" involves doing something completely different. Maybe it's writing, or poetry, or painting, or a different field all together.
Whatever the case - they have a job that is paying the bills, and the "Big Idea" isn't able to step in and do the same. Yet...
Steven Pressfield refers to the job paying the bills as your "Shadow Career." It may be what you went to school for. It may even be what you're good at. But it isn't your "Big Idea." It isn't the thing you believe you're supposed to do in life. It's only a shadow of that thing.
For me - my "Shadow Career" is working in the field of web design and development. I'm good at it. And on good days I love what I'm doing.
But it isn't my "Big Idea." It's only a shadow of the thing I believe I'm supposed to do in life.
So what is that thing? Well, for now it's Transcend Human. And I'm lucky that I'm getting to do it in my spare time. It doesn't pay the bills. And I have no idea if it ever would. But when I'm doing this - I can feel that I'm out from under my shadow. I'm doing what I'm meant to do. And there is no better feeling than that. Being in alignment with your destiny - your true purpose in life.
Doing the thing that only you can do.
Let’s Land the Plane:
So the obvious question is this: What is your "Big Idea?" Or do you have one?
What is that thing you could give back to the world?
What could you contribute vs. consume moving forward?
And what could the ripple effect of your decision to chase it down be?
This week my hope for you is this:
If you have your "Big Idea" - what are a couple steps you could take to keep it moving forward?
If you don't have your "Big Idea" yet - take some time away from consuming and just think about it:
Meditate
Think back to some of the "frivolous" things you liked to do as a child (these are often indicators of the way God wired you)
Dream
Research new things
Ask a few close friends what they think
Explore areas where you find yourself getting excited
Then - when you feel like you've found something - chase it down and figure out what part of it is your "Big Idea"
Until next time everyone, have a great week, and keep Transcending Human!