See that?

That thing we just whizzed by was the first mile-marker on this twelve-mile trip.

Don’t snooze, it’s going quickly.

I’ve lost track of the number of things that get measured during the first few years of a kid’s life. In addition to the height and weight stuff, there is a new battery of questions that must be answered at each checkup. “How’s his pincer grip?” “Is he cruising?” “How many words can he say?” “Can he draw a circle?” Having been asked these sort of things so much, it’s embarrassing how quickly we forget the quality of a child’s health extends beyond a single dimension.

Lately our oldest daughter has been conducting experiments to prove the existence of fairies. She’ll leave bits of snacks or tiny beds she makes for them on her bookshelf. She is desperate to believe they’re real so the slightest disturbance in the positioning of the bed or snack is taken as definitive proof that a fairy happened by. Given that our labrador’s scratching is enough to shake everything in our hundred-year-old house, she’s yet to have an experiment end inconclusively.

This is not good.

It’s a cold, hard world out there. If I don’t prepare my daughter for the realities of life, who will? And yet, what could be more tragic than a child who’s lost their sense of wonder? Isn’t the ideal to foster my daughter’s imagination and her ability to interact with the rest of the world?

Child-rearing is not the only situation in which we encounter this dynamic. In his bestseller “Built To Last”, author Jim Collins says the most successful businesses are those that embrace the “genius of the AND”. Rather than view their work as a responsibility to produce a profit or accomplish some other good in the world, the leaders of great businesses believe they can accomplish both profitability and more.

How does one accomplish such a trick? Surprisingly, the answer comes from those dreamers of fairies! It just so happens, what makes for a good story, makes for a good business. The principles of story design provide a framework that will make a business both profitable and meaningful. To learn how to harness the power of story in your business, join me August 23rd for The Work Story Premise.

Why is it we all understand the stereotype of the kid who threatens to take his ball and go home if he doesn’t get to pick the game? It resonates with me because I knew kids like that growing up. And if I’m completely honest with myself, I understand it because a version of that kid still lives inside me. He’s not all bad, he means well. Sometimes he just gets a little carried away.

In the excitement of preparing for next week’s event, my focus has been on squeezing everything I know about the subject matter into one seminar. As I’ve spoken with the people who are interested in attending, many of them simply can’t afford to invest a full day.

What’s a kid to do? On the playground we usually had the most fun when we all helped shape the game.

Instead of presenting the full Work Story Seminar next week, I’m offering what may be even better. The Work Story Premise is a two-hour event that delivers the four central concepts of the seminar in a TED-style, condensed format. The event will take place 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 23rd. Lunch will be provided and a Q&A session will follow for those who can stay. More information is available here.

I hope you’ll come out and play!

Photo Credit: Raúl Hernández González

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the end of a chapter for me. Three years ago my family loaded a moving van and said goodbye to Mississippi. I also said goodbye to what I had once thought was my dream job and the industry in which I expected to spend my entire career.

That day also marked the beginning of a new chapter. We were starting a new life, in a new house, in a new town, in a new state, with a new job, in a new industry. Like any good story this chapter has had it’s ups and downs. We’ve celebrated the arrival of our fourth child. We’ve enjoyed increased time together as a family. We’ve made friendships that are dear to us. We also struggled with sickness. We mourned the death of a friend. We wrestled with the disappointment of unmet expectations. This chapter has been about transition and transitions can be hard.

Nevertheless, transition continues and with it come new lessons, new insight and new opportunities. The past three years have helped me better understand my strengths and desires. Benefiting from the wisdom of others, my understanding of the principles of business and human relationships has grown significantly. Along the way I’ve had the privilege of applying the things I’m learning. I served on the team of a restaurant whose performance ranked at the top of their national chain last year. I also worked as a consultant to the county’s largest employer, a hospital whose staff work selflessly to bring the healing ministry of Jesus to life through compassionate care and exceptional service.

Now I have the opportunity to share the things I’ve learned. I have developed a seminar titled “Work Story: The Surprising Method To Improving Motivation, Effectiveness and Satisfaction”. This event is meant for people who believe that work can be both meaningful and profitable.

To learn more about the seminar and view upcoming dates, visit stepmorgan.com/workstory.

I’m a sucker for the idea of a silver bullet. I long for a magical solution, the one elusive key to resolving whatever problem I’m currently facing. Sure, sure – I could just dig in and do the slow work of moving things forward bit by bit, but there’s got to be a better way. If I search diligently and never lose heart, eventually I’ll find my miracle. Right?

I’ll admit, it’s been a discouraging journey to this point. For some time I’ve teetered on the brink of despair. But just when my hope was all but gone, my miracle day arrived! With three quick reads my life’s greatest needs were met.

First was the helpful book review from Don Miller that led to Spiritual Insight. Next came Technological Mastery with a post describing the new product the genius engineers at Google put together. And last, but definitely not least, I am confident of my future Business Success utilizing a creative strategy Seth Godin unveiled.

If you appreciate a silver bullet as much as I do, I’m sure April 1st is the best day of your life too. Leave a comment and share the good news you heard today.

Or

If you’re serious about doing work that leads to effectiveness and satisfaction, give me a call and let’s discuss how I can help.

Seriously. It appears you hate your job. You certainly seem loathe to serve us. No doubt someone has given you too many things to do. Stop torturing yourself. Quit. It really is ok. You have permission.

OR

Answer the question. Remind yourself why this job is worth the effort. Find a good reason to endure the pain. Write it down somewhere so it’s easier to remember next time. Because you will forget again. Lots of times. You’re human and life hurts. So write it down. Then do the work. It matters.

Twenty years ago this month, I sat terrified in the office of a small summer camp. I was interviewing for a seasonal position as an assistant counselor. The camp’s program featured activities that built real skills, emphasized appreciation for the outdoors and shared the hope that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was noble stuff! It was exactly the sort of thing I would enjoy being a part of, yet I doubted my ability to actually make a contribution. Perhaps my ineptitude would go unnoticed and the director would offer me a position.

I received an opportunity to work at the camp that summer. Over the seven summers that followed I was given positions of increased responsibility. Each time I accepted a new role I faced a larger amount of doubt and fear. Each accomplishment made the next step scarier. I assumed it was because I lacked the maturity of my peers. A little age would do the trick. Surely I wouldn’t struggle with such uncertainty once I was older.

Time passed. I took on full-time roles in camp leadership. Pursuing my dreams became harder and harder. Someone was bound to find out I’m really just an average guy. What made me think I have what it takes? I began to assume a reactive posture to the pressures I faced. Eventually it became clear I would not be able to adequately fulfill all my responsibilities. Either my young family or the camp I directed would suffer if I remained in my role. I looked for a job outside camping.

Failing to accomplish my goals felt awful. I began to long for the emotional equivalent of a Volvo. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to give up adventure if I could just have safety. Who really needs the exotic? Just don’t make me face discomfort. Life happened. Dissatisfaction set in.

Scratching around for something that would satisfy, I read A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. Don reminded me I am in the middle of an incredible story. He challenged me to be intentional again. He helped me see that avoiding life’s conflicts was depriving me of reminders my life has meaning.

Oftentimes we limit our effectiveness by trying to avoid failure. Instead of taking on the challenges that really matter, we go for the safety of a sure bet. We deprive the world of our best contribution and we keep ourselves from that which satisfies. Chances are you are in the middle of a great story. Take a minute to watch the video below and be reminded.

What story are you telling? from Rhetorik Creative on Vimeo.

Want more? You can find the book here. Or leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy.

Tell me about a business or organization that is doing work that matters. On March 14th each person who’s commented on this post will be entered in a random drawing. The winner will receive two copies of A Million Miles In A Thousand Years, one to keep and one to give to someone inside the organization mentioned in their comment.

When I was a boy my grandfathers told me stories.  They had great stories.  They’re gone now and I’m making my own stories.  Some stories I start and others I join.  Today I joined another story.

Don Miller is a regular guy.  He has a dog.  He drinks beer.  Some people think Don is special because he’s a good writer.  Don is a very gifted writer but that’s not what makes him special.  Don is special because he cares about things that matter and he pursues those things.  Nope, Don’s not perfect.  He’s a regular guy.  But that doesn’t stop him from doing big things.  Don wrote a book called Blue Like Jazz.  Next week filming will begin on Blue Like Jazz the movie.  The project is dramatically underfunded.  A fundraising campaign is underway to ensure the filmmakers have what is needed to produce a quality product.  Today I gave $10 to save Blue Like Jazz.  It’s a measly amount but if you’d put your $10 with mine we’d have something.

Growing up I heard stories about weekend matinées. Someday I’ll tell the story about the weekend I helped make a movie.  You can join the story too.  Go to kickstarter.com to contribute.  Together we can do something that matters.

Recently I announced a project I’ve launched to help organizations clarify their purpose.  I was surprised by the number of responses from individuals communicating their desire to know that what they do matters.  Tonight, those of us who live in the Hot Springs area can do something that really matters.  The great news is it won’t take much time and each of us already has the required expertise!

Here’s the scoop: Tonight from 5pm-7pm Dianne Morrison is hosting an open house at the Transportation Depot to present the current draft of a transportation development plan for the Hot Springs region. For the handful of you who are passionate about these kind of things, this is your chance to give feedback.  If you’re like me and need to entrust these things to smarter, more passionate people, here’s why it’s critical we attend.  At some point the work of executing this plan will seem impossible.  When Dianne wonders if it’s worth the fight, she’ll remember our faces and know her work matters.

Spend 15 minutes this evening and do something that matters.  Show up, hear what’s going on and let someone know they’re appreciated.  It will only take a few minutes but the payoff will last!

That’s me! Actually, I’m behind the camera but that is so me.  My friends would say the same.  They see me in the features of my oldest son’s face but I see me in the nervousness.  You know the feeling don’t you? It’s the feeling you get on the brink of a big change.  It’s the what-have-I-done, did-I-make-the-right-decision feeling.  It’s an emotion so powerful it keeps us from embarking on adventure just as we’re stepping out the door.  Sam felt it this morning as he began his first day at a new school.  Now its my turn.

For the last several years I’ve wrestled with questions related to my work.  Does my work really matter? How does it make a difference in the world?  Is it possible for me to be passionate about my work?  In the struggle I’ve learned a thing or two about purpose:

• Purpose inspires – it brings meaning to our work.
• Purpose attracts – a sense of shared purpose draws people together.
• Purpose motivates – when the lizard brain tells us to run away, purpose calls us back to the work.

Today I’m launching a new project.  Over the next twelve months I am going to partner with six organizations that are trying to make a difference in the world.  Together we will clarify their purpose and articulate it in a way that resonates with people who care.  Today marks the beginning of a great new adventure.  This is your invitation to come along.  It won’t be easy.  In addition to the time and effort it will take just to do the work, we’ll also contend with naysayers and the lizard brain along the way.  Together we can do it.  If you’d like your organization to be included, email step [at] stepmorgan.com.  I’d love to talk to you about what we can do to make your work more effective.

Taking the first step can feel really scary but it’s that first step that gets us moving toward a purpose fulfilled.  I’m headed there now.  Are you coming?

Note: The writings of Seth Godin and Donald Miller have provided much needed encouragement over the past two years.  In particular, Don’s thoughts on story and a life well-lived have been very helpful.  Check out his latest book A Million Miles In A Thousand Years (yep, it’s an affiliate link) or better yet, make plans to attend his upcoming seminar on living a better story.  Learn more in the video below.  Maybe I’ll see you there!

Living a Better Story Seminar from All Things Converge Podcast on Vimeo.