Shiny Objects Steal Your Best From You

Shiny objects are simply dressed up distractions, designed to sabotage you and your success. They often arrive in your inbox appearing as “good” opportunities sent by sincere people.

Unfortunately, pursuing them demands a hefty price tag—measured in dollars and hours. If you’re not careful, they’ll suck you in. You’ll emerge months or years later bankrupt of energy and enthusiasm. They’ll rob you of your best ideas and leave you footing the bill.

In today’s podcast episode I share how to say no to these distractions.

(Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher)

Clarity Steers You Away From Shiny Objects

Can anyone resist shiny objects? After all, their “pull” is so strong. Besides distractions are a common coping mechanism we use when we feel overwhelmed with life. No wonder why so many of us crave them.

A life of distraction will never produce a life of meaning.

If you want your time to count then you must count your time. You must wake up to the fact that life is too short to chase shiny objects for too long.

Over a decade ago, I sought out distractions on a regular basis. Truth be told, I used them to numb my pain. Thankfully, I woke up to the fact that numbing my pain was also numbing my potential.

At that same time, I met a man named Chet Scott who helped me break free from my addiction to shiny objects. He showed me a process in which I authored my OPUS.

O = Over-arching Vision

P = Purpose

U = Unifying Strategies

S = Scorecard for Significance

I took that Deeper Path and put pen to paper. I emerged with clarity for the first time in my life. (Read my OPUS by clicking the image.)

Courage Helps You Say No to Shiny Objects

Visibility?

What would you give in exchange for more of it? Your reputation? Bank account? Friends or family? Your soul?

The quality of your soul is much more valuable than the quantity of your followers.

Your book, brand, and business doesn’t need more visibility. Rather, it needs more vision. When we lose our way—which we all do—we’re tempted to go after a quick fix…visibility. However, in these moments, what we truly need is something else…vision.

Vision over Visibility!

Bono, frontman for the band U2, tells his faith journey in a song called Moment of Surrender. Recently, my friend Chet Scott founder of Built to Lead, turned me on to the song and the meaning behind it. In the song he says:

At the moment of surrender. Of vision over visibility

Bono had a choice between vision OR visibility. Early in his career Bono chose vision over visibility. Let’s be honest. Most rock stars would do anything for more friends, fans, followers, and finances. The reality?  They “sell out.”

Ready for some more honesty? We’re not that different. Are we? As bloggers, authors, speakers, coaches, entrepreneurs, and humans…we have this same choice every single day of our lives.

In today’s podcast episode I share a proven strategy to help speakers, coaches, and authors regain their vision. (Listen to this episode via itunes, audioboom, or stitcher)

 

Vision.

“When we lose our way, it’s because we’ve lost our why.” —Gail Hyatt

We may start out incredibly clear, but then life happens. You get that call. Or that email shows up in your inbox. Or your proposal gets rejected. And in a matter of minutes, your vision suffers.

I call this a hack. Just like phones and computers get hacked, people do too. I call it a hack attack, and losing your vision is just 1 of the 8 negative results of getting hacked.

 

 

What’s your CHIEF desire?

Sex? Money? Fame? Nope…not even close.

I agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson:

Our chief want in life is someone who will make us do what we can. (Tweet This)

So now the bigger question…what CAN you do?

Without a doubt, I know you CAN be a better and stronger version of yourself. You’re soft. And you’re playing too safe and too small. I know you’re not putting in your best effort. I know you default toward laziness, cutting the corners, and mediocrity.

WHY?

Because I know what’s inside me…and I know what’s inside you. Last time I checked it’s called human nature. Our default has always been self-preservation. When we were being chased by lions in the jungle this was a good thing. But today our threats don’t have four legs and razor sharp teeth.

Today our threats look like complacency, settling, consuming, chronic pain, and going through the motions.

 

How do we wake up to the better version inside ourselves?

Two words: TRUTH TELLER.

You need one and so do I. Providentially, in 2001 I met a TRUTH TELLER who called me out and shut me up. He leaned into me and forced me to look at my own blindspots.

Chet Scott of Built to Lead, coached me through a powerful process that literally shifted my entire life. I realized by numbing my pain I was also numbing my potential. Sure the experience wasn’t always fun. But by inviting acute pain, I overcame a life of chronic pain. And in the process, I discovered my purpose…IGNITING SOULS.

The majority of people invest more time designing a 2-week vacation, than designing their entire lives. But without a plan, we coast through life, feeling lost and directionless. The result? We’re dead….we just haven’t made it official. It’s easy to ignore these costs.

But according to Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung:

The most damaging thing in the life of child, is the unlived life of the parent.

Your perspective matters because you don’t see things the way they are, but the way you are. If you feel defeated, discouraged, and disengaged…the world reflects a similar image right back at you. And although you were meant for more, the world isn’t going to hand you your purpose on a silver platter. It’s your responsibility to become a master in the art of living:

Master in the art of living: Someone who draws no sharp distinction between work and play; labor and leisure; mind and body; education and recreation. They hardly knows which is which. They simply pursues their vision of excellence through whatever they’re doing, and leave others to determine whether they’re working or playing. To themselves, they always appears to be doing both.

In episode 69, I set up the interview with Chet. I talk about the benefits of becoming Built to Lead. Then, for the next 30 minutes, I ask Chet to let it rip. It’s not sexy. It’s not polished or plastic. It’s the real “steak and potatoes” of what it takes to become a high performer.

I believe in you.

I know it’s time you became a better version of yourself. And here’s a little secret. Our loved ones love us—don’t get me wrong. But they wish we could become better versions of ourselves too.

Why?

Because they’re waiting for someone to show them the way. They want you to help them become better. But they don’t want to hear it…they want to see it. And your transformation will wake them up to the idea of their own transformation.

So what are you waiting for? Get busy building…yourself!

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QUESTION: Do you think people want to hear the truth?

(Please comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you know someone who needs to read this, please encourage them by sharing this post) 

LINKS:

Chet Scott of Built to Lead
Igniting Souls Conference
Kary Oberbrunner Author FB Page 

I believe you have what it takes. You may just not have the tools…at least not yet. Click on the pic below to discover more about Becoming Unhackable. We have multiple sessions on how to become a better version of yourself.