We live in a society that is obsessed with quick outcomes. The idea that every action must have a clear and rapidly attainable return on investment has permeated almost every aspect of our lives. Even things that are meant to help us step outside of this immediacy mindset have been corrupted by this ROI mindset.

We all know this quick fix mindset isn't effective, but it's very, very hard to let go of.

So in this episode of the Stop Hating Mondays Podcast, we're talking about how to let go of this passion-blocking mindset and instead live your life with vision.

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TRANSCRIPT

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Caanan

Well, goals are great. Especially when they are aligned with and in service to a vision you have for your life.

But goals are not a vision.

Here's how we described vision in the Stop Hating Mondays guidebook – A vision is a constantly unfolding path you walk deliberately to go deeper into purpose.

Well, we live in a society that is obsessed with quick outcomes. The idea that every action must have a clear and rapidly attainable return on investment has permeated almost every aspect of our lives. Even things that are meant to help us step outside of this immediacy mindset – because, let’s be honest, we've all recognized that it isn't healthy – well, those have been corrupted by this ROI mindset. I mean, for example, we've got mindfulness apps that gamify meditation like it's a competitive sport.

We all know this quick fix mindset isn't effective, but it's very, very hard to let go of.

So in today's episode, we're talking about how to let go of this passion-blocking mindset and instead live your life with vision. I'm Caanan. This is Kent. And this is the Stop Hating Mondays Podcast.

Kent

We've arrived, this is what it's all about.

Living with vision.

Yeah, and we got into this a bit in the last episode in particular. Once you're on this road of passion, the vision kind of starts unfolding before you. We talked about the road kind of turning into a never-ending path, which is a great thing… Because you're living your passion and the journey is the most magical part of it so. You have this vision, but it's kind of never ending.

This is the ultimate goal on the road. First, doing that deep work to figure out your strengths and values. Applying that knowledge to your life wheel – figuring out what those strengths and values as they relate to your life will what it means. Learning how to stay the course, how not to go back to those hits of joy from starting over and starting over and listening to this person and following beliefs etc.

So now here we are. You've done all that. Your firm on the road and you're living with vision. So our tip number one is to have a vision.

Caanan

You said there that the goal of all of this work is to have a life with vision. Yeah, well, it's funny because, as we've discussed, vision is the opposite, essentially, of a goal mindset. And this is so important because this goal mindset can be really debilitating when we're trying to build a passion filled – a more fulfilled – life. We've all seen it. You and I see it all the time with the people we work with. They're trying very hard to live their life with passion, but they're not letting go of this goal mindset, yeah, and so they achieve something that they've worked really hard for and it essentially becomes meaningless. You know…

Kent

Yeah, 'cause they find that the hard work, the success, the accolades, they don't necessarily translate into fulfillment. Think of every Academy Award worthy movie that you've seen, right?

Caanan

This is Oscar bait material.

Kent

Yeah, and it's always right because all of that stuff doesn't matter. All that kind of goal oriented – I'm going to get the certificate, I'm going to get the Presidents club trip to Puerto Rico – it doesn’t really matters.

Caanan

No, it's great. It's a quick hit though, and it disappears. And you're left feeling unfulfilled. So you've got to let go of this goal mindset and instead and replace it with a vision mindset. Have a vision.

Kent

A real vision.

Kent

So I always found myself asking “what if the goal what we've just been talking about the overused word goal? What if the goal is to find fulfillment and joy?”

What if you replaced “I want to win the President’s club trip” or “I want to be the top at this” or “I want to get this accolade,” what if your measure of success becomes replaced with a measure of your feeling of fulfillment and joy? So our tip number two; Stop worrying about outcomes.

Caanan

We talked earlier about – I think you said in maybe the last episode – you said intention without expectation, and it's so apropos here because the idea is to let go of the outcome mindset and instead set an intention for your life – “I want to be fulfilled. I want to live with passion” – and move yourself closer and closer to your intention, which could also be called your vision.

Kent

Yeah, and once again I mean you're noticing common themes here that we so often apply across seasons and episodes within a season.

You're focused on your journey, your path, without worrying about outcomes along the way.

Caanan

Yeah, and if you let go of the outcome mindset, you're allowed to do the informed doing. And that allows you to test ideas you have about what might move you closer to your vision. It doesn't mean things you do will be easy or they won't feel like work, but you will find things that make you lose all track of time.

That's kind of what you're going for.

And things that really capture your attention and bring you joy. And if you have a goal mindset, you're not going to find those things because they are unforecastable.

Kent

Yeah, and that's the that's the mark. I mean, we're going to… I'm going to dip a toe… Here's this kind of semi-introductory season on passion and I'm going to dip a toe in the high level - you know, the four hundred, five hundred level stuff that is the true mark of somebody living their passion – it's somebody who not only tinkers and experiments, and leans into the uncertainty that we've been talking about, but somebody who then finds the buzz when that tinkering produces a new little subroute on the path or a new extension of the path.

And it's just it just fuels movement toward this vision and the person at this level. This graduate level, master level is not getting thrown off. They're not looking at what other people are doing. They're not worried about roadblocks.

They are completely self-sufficient and in the zone because they're informed doing, and it's just an informed doing sort of snowball toward this vision. But the joke and the joy is that that vision, because of all this momentum, keeps getting pushed further and further out, but it doesn't matter 'cause you're humming along, you're ideally pushing your organization forward because of the great work you're doing, or if you're entrepreneurial, you're pushing your own business forward. You are clearly fulfilled and on purpose, and it is the *chef's kiss* perfect, perfect combination of things.

Kent

So, there's been a lot we've discussed in the six episodes of this season. And you know a lot of good coaching - a lot of good career development work – is centered around asking good questions. A good career development / personal development professional if they're not asking you a lot of questions, they're not a good career / personal development professional.

A quality professional is asking a lot of the right questions along the way so that you have time to examine and consider. A good coach is nudging you with the right comments and questions and wisdom. They are not giving you answers. So we ask a lot of questions along the way. And one of the questions we always ask is our third and final tip for this episode.

Caanan

This is kind of the question.

Kent

Yeah, the tip is: ask yourself, does this move things forward?

Caanan

The great thing about this question is that there are only two answers.

There's not actually a lot to say here.

There are two answers. If you answered yes, that can be your sole measure of success. Yeah, and if you answered no to the question, let it be an indicator that it's time to evaluate your decisions. Look at what got you to this point and then pivot.

Kent

Yeah, because the big thing here is some people are saying no and we delve further into examining that. And that's when you find.

Well, well, no, it's not moving things forward, but.

It's important because I need this goal, or others are expecting. This or my boss thinks I should do this or whatever, and it doesn't mean it's not important and it doesn't mean a way that you don't have to find a way to make it all work. But asking that question “does this move things forward?” when you're contemplating what road should I take here? I’m at a fork in my path, which route should I take? Asking which moves things forward. And most of the time there's a clear answer of the one that's moving things forward. And you know what? It's probably the more involved – the one that has more uncertainty, the one that has more bumps.

But you know, it's like we talked about early in this series in this season, how you may not know if you're on purpose, if you're on the path to passion, but you know if you're not.

Here too. You know. You know if something will be moved forward or not at that pivotal fork in the road, all right.

Caanan

Wrapping up six episodes on passion. I'm actually kind of sad about it. I think we're gonna have to revisit them. And I'm sure we will.

But let's recap those tips. First, have a vision. Second, stop worrying about outcomes. And third, always ask yourself, does this move things forward?