#1414 Pro Tip from Picasso

In our last couple +1s, we spent some time with my Yoda Phil and some creative exemplars: Picasso and Pressfield.

Today I want to chat about another Picasso quote on how he approached his work.

Picasso tells us: “Look for a situation in which your work will give you as much happiness as your spare time.”

When I read that, I thought of a number of things.

First, I thought of Abraham Maslow’s wisdom (see Notes on Motivation and Personality) on the self-actualizing human being. He tells us that we want to reach a point where the apparent dichotomy between our work and our play (and, I would add: our love!) has dissolved.

Then I thought of this Lawrence Pearsall Jacks wisdom: “A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labour and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both. Enough for him that he does it well.”

Then I thought of a text exchange I recently had with a friend who was concerned about my commitment to showing up EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!! at 1:01pm CT to support our Heroic Masters and Heroic Coaches in getting their Soul Force to 101.

Here’s the exchange:

Friend: The Mastery looks amazing! I’m sure the team has asked you this before, but are you sure you can do a session every single day moving forward! Weekdays/weekends/holidays/vacation days, etc.! That’s intense.

Me: Yes and yes and my daimon and Phil and wifey say… YES!
Me: It’s crazy. And that’s perfect.
Me: I kiss my wife and hug my kids every day. I’ll do the same with our community. 🙏
Me: The dichotomy between work and play has dissolved.

Friend: Love it!!!

In Purpose 101 (and Purpose 102!), I talk about finding something you love to do so much that you would PAY to do it.

That was inspired by a journaling exercise I did over 20 years ago (!) while reading How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci.

In that great book, Michael Gelb tells us that da Vinci was intensely curious and encourages us to do a 100 Questions Exercise to channel some of that curiosity.

Then he tells us to focus our attention on some “Power Questions.”

I chose to focus on this one: “How can you get paid to do what you love to do?”

At the time, I was absolutely passionate about understanding how to live optimally so I could actualize my potential and help others do the same. I still am.

I spent decades crafting a life in which I could do that for a living.

And now…

I would LITERALLY (!) PAY to hang out with amazing human beings chatting about how to show up as our best, most Heroic selves so we can change the world together.

I brush my teeth every day. I meditate every day. I kiss my wife and hug my kids every day.

And…

I am blessed to connect with some of my dearest friends and most inspired and inspiring human beings on the planet every.single.day!

Deo volente I have the Energy to Focus on this WIN for as Consistently and as long as I can and bless all of you with whom I get to hang out.

Day 1. All in.

LET’S GO, HERO!!!

P.S. Want to join us?