When I was at
drama school in London, a number of successful actors and actresses came
to speak with us about what life was like "in the real world".
One of the most profound memories I carry from that time was when award-winning
actress Rosemary Harris (best known for either Steel Magnolias or
being Jennifer Ehle's mom, depending on your generation) took the stage.
When asked what sort of steps she had taken to build her career, one which
has spanned theatre, film, television, and more decades than she cares to
remember), she said "I've never had a career - or rather, I've only
ever had a career backwards."
When we asked her to elucidate, she explained that, rather like climbing
a mountain, she only ever paid attention to what was in front of her, making
her decisions according to her highest passions, values, and desires. It
was only when she paused to look back at where she had come from that she
realised she was having what most people would call "a career",
and that that career seemed to be following a path of progressive and logical
development...
I gave up my acting career recently to focus on living my passion; since
that time, I have got a great agent, gone on multiple auditions, and been
cast in a play I will be performing over the coming weekend - in short,
I have worked more continuously and more passionately than I ever did when
pursuing my so-called career.
Today's Experiment:
Just for today, imagine giving up your career and refocusing your life on
your passions. Try answering the following questions to get insights into
how this might change your life for the better....
1. If you gave up your career today, what would you want to do with your
time over the next month? The next year? (Remember, it's OK if what you
would want to do is in the same area as your former career!)
2. If you weren't trying to get anywhere, what would you want to do with
your time?
3. If you decided to make your working decisions based on your highest passions,
values, and desires, what would you choose to work on next?
Already recognised as one of the outstanding trainers and coaches of his generation, and after nearly a decade at the forefront of human performance technologies research and development in the UK, Michael helped found Quantum5 to create an outlet and forum for further developing and implementing his wide-range of existing and future innovations. Since 1990, he has been teaching and training NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), one of the first human performance technologies to win widespread acceptance in the corporate sector.
Michael is perhaps best known in the field for developing models of "Conversational Change", user-friendly ways of creating pervasive personal and organisational change. He has coached and trained a diverse range of senior-level people ranging from chief executives of multinational companies to members of the Saudi Royal family. He has also been working as a professional actor throughout that time, most notably as "new-age American" Randy in the BAFTA award winning BBC sitcom Satellite City and as Hamlet in the Reduced Shakespeare Company's The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). For more info check out his website at www.successmadefun.com