Define What Makes You Tick – Your Personal Manifesto

in Forum: Advice, Smarts and Warnings
Source of this discusssion: /articles/1654/1/manifesto-life-plan.asp Page description: Learn why a defining creed, your personal manifesto, is key to creating a fulfilling, successful startup. Don�t leave your cubicle without one.
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Dec. 07 2006 at 1:35 PM
CraigL Posted by: CraigL

"Work as Freedom. Work as Family. Work as Fulfillment. That’s the Sloan brothers’ manifesto, the core of their life plan, and it’s the bedrock of every endeavor taken up by the founders of StartupNation.

"They define it as “your personal mission, your values, what drives you forward,” the flag that flies above an entrepreneur’s career. At least it should. To borrow a phrase, it works if you work it."

I work so I can do whatever I want and not have to worry about how to pay for it. To me, work isn't a cause, it's an effect. So I see work as creativity. If what I'm doing isn't interesting and creative, I do what it takes to walk away from it.

Why do you work? :-)

Craig Landes
---
Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don't." - Unknown
---
Success = Passion, Patience, Persistence!
Dec. 07 2006 at 2:59 PM
theswaynester Posted by: theswaynester Sunbassador

I actually did this exercise and found it really worthwhile.
When I thought through this, I always came back to defining work as a way to freedom and a means to express myself. (Note: I did not say "expose myself.")
At the present time, there's what I do... and what I am. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But, my goal is to move away from doing and try to find a livelihood that ties in with freedom and expression.

Dec. 07 2006 at 4:06 PM
CraigL Posted by: CraigL
LOL! Some courts would say that "exposing yourself" IS a freedom of expression, guaranteed under the Constitution. :-D

Another question for people interested in this thread:

If making money doesn't seem to bring with it creative expression, then which is more important---changing jobs, or developing a hobby in that creative area of yours?
Craig Landes
---
Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don't." - Unknown
---
Success = Passion, Patience, Persistence!
Dec. 07 2006 at 5:09 PM
Kathy Posted by: Kathy
Thank you Sway for not exposing yourself...LOL

I think that developing a hobby and creating a business through that is the way to go. I am probably partial though since that is what I am doing. I want to have the freedom to develop the business.

Now if only the bills would get lost or something I would be fine. Oh well can't have everything.

Kathy
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Dec. 07 2006 at 7:57 PM
CraigL Posted by: CraigL
Okay, so you have a hobby and it begins to make some money. Soon it starts to feel like work. :-) Why keep doing it?
Craig Landes
---
Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don't." - Unknown
---
Success = Passion, Patience, Persistence!
Dec. 07 2006 at 8:11 PM
Kathy Posted by: Kathy
Even though it might feel like work at times you are still making money. And when you work for 'the man' he pays you a fixed amount either hourly or salaried.

There is always the wild card when you work for yourself that it could open up wide.
 
Also when it start to feel like work think back to when it didn't feel like work and change your mindset to that time. Analyze why did it change.

Kathy
Navy Signal Flag Gifts....
Made to Order Navy Signal Flag Banners...
"Anything you can Spell we can Make!"......IB Designs,USA-Merchant Circle

Visit IB Designs Blog


Dec. 07 2006 at 9:15 PM
CheerDirector Posted by: CheerDirector

I get a real kick out of being a cheerleader.  This is a personal mentality of mine, not a sideline sport.  The rush I get after teaching a class is invaluable to me.  I teach cheerleading, dance, kids' church and adult classes.  I am known as a "hard" teacher.  I do not accept excuses.  I require each of my students to grow - start at A and get to B, clawing, scraping, however - JUST DO IT.  Sometimes we don't know what we are capable of until someone encourages us to try.

The students in one of my classes jokingly referred to me as Master Sargent behind my back.  I was not offended in any way. 

I work so that at the end of my life I will KNOW that I fulfilled that which I was put on this earth to do.  Who knows what's next, maybe life coaching? 

Kindra Beauprey Director Liberty Bell Spirit Squad www.libertybells.net
Dec. 08 2006 at 4:36 AM
CraigL Posted by: CraigL
Kindra brings up a neat twist to an old exercise---the one about the tombstone.

Couldn't we say that our personal mission is also what we'd want put on that tombstone, with maybe some slight rephrasing? So, for example, if I work so I can do what I want and not worry about how to pay for it, my tombstone could say:

   "He did what he wanted to, and paid his way."

I'm just wondering if a personal mission could have a "cross-check" for accuracy or validity if we were to see how it worked on that tombstone.

Now consider the Sloan brothers' mission, transcribed to a tombstone:

"They lived for Freedom, Family, and Fulfillment."

Hmm...maybe I need to re-examine my own personal mission!

:-D



Edited by: CraigL - Dec. 08 2006 at 4:38 AM
Craig Landes
---
Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don't." - Unknown
---
Success = Passion, Patience, Persistence!
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