Fearless Fabulous Project

Okay, I’d accept an invitation to the White house…even from the current host. Don’t know what we’d talk about (if you haven’t got anything nice to say…), but I’d sure love to get a close up view of the The West Wing.

Recently, I was having lunch with a good friend and we were discussing favorite or influential books read during childhood. In passing I mentioned, “How to Get Invited to the White House” by James C. Humes, as a possible reference for my attitude of “why not?” when confronted with a seemingly impossible or probable idea or action. [Note: I couldn’t remember the author’s name at the time, but this friend researched it and then tracked down a copy to send to me a few weeks later. Lucky me to have such a friend!]

This collection of more than 100 essays is designed for those who desire more fun and adventure in their lives, but need illustration of practiced bravado to get going. I read it as a teenager and it made an impact. “Get Elected to Congress,” “Keep Hostile Audiences from Throwing Tomatoes at You,” and “Pick up a Last Minute Date” have not been motivating factors over the years. However, there is clear evidence that advice proffered in how to “Win Fame as Bachelor Gourmet Chef,” “Dine in Style as a Woman Alone,” and “Chair Meetings like a Railroad Engineer” have featured prominently in my life experiences to date.

I can’t point to this volume as a seminal work of any kind, yet I smirk realizing that it may have been a harbinger of what was to come with me and my ideas about how to move through the world world. Pawing through the pages takes me back to how I was in my teens, but I see clearly that I am the same today.

A bit short on natural élan many days, I believe that pretended and then practiced movement toward new experiences and challenges is one of the most fulfilling and entertaining approaches to life.

One of my recent epiphanies revolves around technology. I love it.

I am surprised, as I never wouldhave imagined saying tha about myself.

At the beginning of my work life, I was one of the “early adopters” with personal computers and often in a position to teach and mentor others in how to best use them. I felt challenged, and as a result smart, every day.

I learned many skills over the next twenty years, but never anything as satisfying as learning how to effectively learn how to use my tools. This may be surprising to those who know me predominantly as a writer and editor.

There was often a duel between the soft skill of composing words and the hard skill of getting them to behave/perform as intended. For a long time, there was been a lack of respect between those responsible for their creation and then their ultimate manipulation and presentation.
?Mastery of most things is an illusion, and never more the case than with technology…especially when it changes daily. The idea of lifelong learning has never been more relevant or necessary than when trying to conduct an online business.

Every day I am challenged to learn new programs and applications to make it possible to show up in the world the way I want and to get my work done most efficiently. Honestly, I haven’t had to work so hard to learn this much so fast since I first entered the work force. Yet, this is probably the most exciting time in my work life to date.

I’m trying to pace myself and limit the distractions to achieving my major tasks. It’s hard. But it’s fun–when I’m on track and when I’ve gone down another “rabbit hole.”

Technorati Tags:
lifelong learning, Early Adopter, technology

I’m going to share fun stuff like this I find along my journey.
These short vignettes at Eric Lerner’s website–some with original music–are a kick!

My favorites are Dreamer and Fortune, filled with exuberance and glee.
Deja and Scared are good reminders about why I returned to self-employment.

June 5, 2006 was my 45th birthday. I consider that about half-cooked in human terms. Thinking that I probably shouldn’t assume that I’ll live beyond the age of 90 (although good health would keep me interested for as long as I get), it struck me that it was way past time to get it together.

If I’m now in the “second half,” I better get to whatever it is that’s been on the back burner…dreamed about but not enacted, planned but not executed.

I had an eventful and varied summer that nudged me bumpily, emotionally, but steadfastly in the direction of my intentions. Although it’s now four months beyond the promise I made to myself, I can see that I am finally incorporating the changes that will make my life better all around.

So, today I formally launch the “Fearless & Fabulous Project: Creative Maneuvers at Midlife.” I do this for my own amusement and gratification certainly, but I believe I am not alone in my view of life at this arbitrary mid-section. If I could help others to create lives filled with passion, fun and fulfillment, I would have honored deep wishes harbored for more than seven years.

I believe many of us hold our collective breath waiting for the perfect moment for our true and bright lives to begin. Today I exhale….

I invite you to play along with me…this is going to be fun.