Until

Do it until.

I recently got to thinking about this loaded little phrase. I’ve coached some folks and been coached by others and this particular line comes up a lot. I actually didn’t realize how much I heard it until I started tracking it.

In my line of work, I meet a number of people, either on the phone, video chat or in person, each day. I’m always interested in learning what people do because it helps me figure out what makes them tick. I can always tell if someone loves what they do based on how they answer the question, “So what do you do for work?” People that love their work get all sparkly eyed, smiley and speak passionately about it. You can feel it. Those guys usually render my follow-up question of “Do you love it?” pretty useless because the answer is crystal clear. For the ones that aren’t loving their current career path, their answers are short and to the point. Then, when I pose my follow-up question, I’m usually met with a sigh that leads to a “No not really, but it pays the bills. And I’m only doing it until…” Until what? Something better comes along? Your needs change? You decide you’re no longer satisfied with living a status quo existence? What then? You move on to something else that you only do it until. The decisions about the good ‘ol J.O.B. aren’t made from a place of want, but rather out of a need.

What I’ve realized with those that fall into the second category is that their “do it until” isn’t really a moving target of aspiration. It’s born out of desperation. And it makes me sad. Maybe they’ve been laughed at when they’ve shared their hopes and dreams, maybe they’ve been told they’re not good enough and they started believing that was true. You are not born into circumstance. Each and everything you choose to do (or subsequently not do) creates that circumstance. Every moment of every day provides opportunity for you to alter your course and do something different. What I wish I could help people understand is that if they opened their mind to the possibility of abundance, they could truly find meaning. Saying yes to something different isn’t risky. Living an unfulfilled life is.

Do it until. I love it, but to me it’s more of a symbol. It helps me to continue pushing and striving for the next goal. I will do IT until I master it. A skill, a life lesson, whatever the IT is, it’s always challenging me. For me, the status quo will never be okay. Being comfortable is risky to me because with comfort comes complacency and who wants to live a barely lived life? As I expand that comfort zone one until at a time, I fear less. I’m braver in more areas of my life, although that doesn’t mean I’ll be racing off to go skydiving any time soon. I have a hard enough time getting on a plane, why on earth would I jump from a perfectly well-functioning one?? Each until is a stepping stone to unlocking my truest potential, all the things I was put here to share with the world. What I know for sure is that you don’t have to go fast, you just have to go.

What I still find surprising after all these years is even when someone isn’t happy with their plan, they refuse to make a move of any sort. Maybe it’s because they’re not quite hurting enough or because they’re just so used to the ho-hum feeling that it’s become normal. I have a ton of respect for people that just want more. More out of life and their experiences, more time to get more of their time. A lot even want more money (although most are afraid to vocalize it), not necessarily for what they can buy with it, but for what they can do with it and what it would mean to them. Money may not be everything to everyone, but I’ll tell you that it sure makes some things easier. These are the people I LIVE to celebrate.

Take the class. Read the book. Write a book. Have that conversation you’ve been putting off for longer than you should have. Do the thing. Seriously, just get it done. It’ll feel weird and maybe a little awkward at first, but I promise that it’s how all great things begin.

And don’t you dare be afraid to be great. You were born for it.