Outsourcing My Way to a Better Life

About a year ago I read two books that have stayed with me. Though neither was literary or particularly creative in style (usually big draws for me), their messages have had lasting impacts. One book was The 4-Hour Workweek, by Tim Ferriss. The other was How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read, by Pierre Bayard.

The push of The 4-Hour Workweek was how to delegate and outsource the details of your life so you can spend more time, well...living. The author left out nothing: Everything from mowing your lawn, to managing your email, to creating automated income for yourself, to collecting and synthesizing information should, according to Ferriss, be systematized and then delegated to other people. It was a book remarkable in its simplicity and execution. And to anyone who can actually pull off everything Ferriss suggests, you are my hero.

The main message of How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read was similar: Let other people do your reading for you. As someone who loves to read, I was intrigued (and perhaps a little troubled) by Bayard's recommendation. But as I read the book, I quickly discovered that the author was NOT suggesting that you don't read, but that because it is impossible to read everything, it becomes imperative that you leverage your network to become better read and informed about what matters to you.

What was most striking to me about both books is that though the authors appeared to shun work (at least on the surface), what they were really going for was capacity building. And to build capacity, one must have solid, well-articulated, and healthy relationships with other people. There is no way one could do what Ferriss and Bayard suggest without good relationships.

I sometimes get sidetracked by personal progress and achievements, but really what matters most to me in this life are relationships. In my moments of clarity, everything else becomes incidental. For me, those two books were evidence that I'm on the right track.

I Chose Death

The Death Card

I had an interesting experience last night with my deck of tarot cards. I had just attended a presentation by Phil Powers at the American Mountaineering Museum. Phil's presentation was about his life during the time he was climbing some of the world's most challenging and dangerous mountains. Phil discussed not only his climbing adventures, but how those adventures affected and altered his perceptions of his own life. It was quite powerful.

When I got home, I thought about what Phil had shared. As I was doing so, I picked up my deck of tarot cards. I like tarot as a tool for meditation and introspection. It helps me to think creatively about problems and opportunities. The cards are often startlingly accurate in the way that they deal out and what they tell me. Tarot creeps me out, but it's part of what I like about it.

As I shuffled the cards, I asked the tarot, "OK, Tarot, if you're going to tell me one thing tonight, what is it? Lay it on me, baby." I picked one card. That card was "Death."

Of the 78 cards in the tarot deck, Death is the most loaded. Death is described as "a major transformation," which can mean a lot of things. Actual death is only one of the interpretations.

It was funny, because just before I pulled the card, I had wondered if I was going to choose Death. Strange thing, that tarot is.

The card resonated with me because I feel like I AM going through a major transformation. Specifically, letting go of fear. For a number of reasons, fear is becoming less and less of an issue in my life. I'm much more adept (and happier) than I used to be about taking risks.

There are a number of things in my life that could very easily blow up in my face right now. I've deliberately taken some big chances. But I'm at complete peace with whatever happens as a result. I just want to live. And if living means getting my brains splattered across the front of a bus or at the bottom of a crag, I'm OK with that.

That doesn't mean I'm not careful about what I do, because I am. It just means that I'm ready to take on whatever life brings. I cannot tell you what a wonderful feeling that is.

I'm not sure I would have really heard Phil's meaning if I was not in this place in my life. True awareness is beautiful. I seek it out more and more every day.

Wants and Lifestyles

I've found it curious that a few people have asked me recently about why I want certain things. Things I've talked about on my blog and on Facebook. Stuff that smacks of mid-life crisis. Stuff like Corvettes, motorcycles, and climbing.

Perhaps no one really cares, but I'll try to explain. I've come to a point in my life in which I've realized that life shouldn't be boring. A gentleman who frequents the library once described a climbing route to me as "like life: Exciting in the beginning, boring in the middle, and scary at the end." His comment made me laugh, but I also found something troubling in what he said. That I didn't want my own life to follow the course of that climbing route.

For a long time, my own progress through life was hampered by various factors. But in spite of them, I managed to build a satisfying career, own a beautiful house, maintain my health, marry a remarkable woman, and developed some of the best friendships I could ever hope for.

But I'm not ready to settle down. In fact, I feel the years peeling off me. I feel younger and younger.

So, I want some exciting stuff! Is that so bad? Some people want children, I want hot rods and to hang from 200-foot cliffs. Does that mean I'm superficial and lack depth? No, people. I just want some zip in my life, OK? I'm cutting loose, so lay off.

What I will tell you is that I don't personally subscribe to the lifestyles that often accompany the things I want. Do I want a powerful Corvette to see how many gears I can get rubber in and to push the car to its limits? Absolutely. Am I going to join a car club or hang posters in my office of women draped over exotic cars? Hell no. Do I want to ride a wheelie on a crotch rocket at 60mph? You bet. Am I going to hang out with my biking buddies at the bar in our leathers? Nope.

I don't have anything at all against those other lifestyles. It's just that they're not for me.

I love my quiet life; I love my books, I love birds and nature, and I love all that I've ever loved. I just want to add a bit of ruckus to my everyday living. A little noise and chaos makes those quiet moments even richer. That's all.

Does that help?

Since Yesterday

I went for a run. My hands got cold.

Discovered that I want a motorcycle.

Became more married to my work. I love it, but I need to keep a balance with Erin and the rest of my life.

Felt good.

Ice!

Me on "Mickey's Big Mouth," a Grade II waterfall ice formation

I went out with some friends (including Bill) yesterday to do some ice climbing in Clear Creek Canyon. We had an awesome time! Check out my photo album on Facebook.

A New World

Yesterday, I went to an continuing education seminar in downtown Denver. It was one of the best I had ever attended; not because the content was excellent (it wasn't), but because how well the seminar integrated technology. It was the first time I was in a classroom setting and wished I had more than just my pen and paper. In fact, I felt silly for not having my laptop with me.

There was free WiFi everywhere. And it was fast WiFi, even with 200 people logged on. A backchannel had been set up for the conference and I saw people using it to ask panelists questions. People were tweeting their notes, sharing content on Google docs, and checking their email during the seminar's slow points. I saw people networking and meeting each other while the seminar was going on. There was so much energy going on online! I desperately wished I had my laptop with me.

I thought I could catch up on the conference's online fun once I got back to the office, but by then my buzz had worn off. So had everyone else's, it seems. It was all over by then. It was a classic example of "you just had to be there."

I love the age we live in. I love how much easier it is to meet people with my specific interests. I love how much smaller the world seems because of technology, at least in some respects.

Next time I'll bring my laptop.

A Different Way of Thinking

Just wanted to briefly tag onto my last post about goals, personal mission statements, etc. In some of my work reading, I stumbled upon a blog about "futures" methodology. As I understand it, "futures thinking" forces us to really pull away from our natural inclination to plan for the future by using our past as a guide.

Futures thinking implies that because our past is limited in scope, time, and often colored by our own bad experiences, using the past to plan for the future can prove to be a severe liability. Theoretically, futures thinking helps you to clearly envision the success you would like to achieve, rather than limiting yourself to the choices you think you have or believe you are stuck with.

It's an interesting idea. Take a look at this. I found it helpful and hopeful.