Accomplishing Adventure

With the impending release of the new Indiana Jones flick coming up, I've been thinking a lot about adventure.  You know, the stuff you dream about when you're staring at the umpteenth spreadsheet in your gray cubicle.  What is your fantasy adventure?  OK, now what is your REAL adventure?  Your career adventure?  Your life blood adventure?

This past year has been an adventure for me.  I've traveled across the US speaking to some outstanding audiences and meeting some amazing people.  I've embedded myself into a SWAT team to research a book.  And I've helped launch the adventures of my students (which is what prompted this post).

In the leadership class I've taught this year at Drake, between 20-25% of my students have initiated a job change of some kind.  Some of them have quit their jobs outright, not quite knowing what their next step is but knowing that the current one was dead wrong for them.  I recently received an email from a student who came to the realization that she was not in love with her job.  Now, you may think that's an unrealistic expectation for anybody to have, but I would disagree with you wholeheartedly.

For the past three years, I've been haunted by the words of Steve Farber:  "Do what you love in the service of those who love what you do."  I can't seem to get those words out of my head.  It's the main reason I assigned his books to my leadership students (and probably the real reason why many of them are seeking their own great adventures).  When I create my task list in the morning, those are the words that serve as my Litmus Test for accomplishment... for love... for adventure.  I'm no longer "Tim Johnson - Consultant"; I'm the explorer in "Iowa Johnson and the Project of Doom"!  Numerous people have come up to me this past year with one common statement:  "It's so obvious that you love what you do."  Yeah, I do.  And it's a romance that I hope carries me to my dying day.

What about you?  Are you in love with your job?  Are you having an adventure?

Comments

[Pete]

Tim
As a member of that class who has still not taken the leap to find the job of my life, I have been able to start working towards that end. I don't have that answer yet, but the process has started and the chase is nearly as good as what I have to assume the answer will be. I to have used Farber's words as my inspiration. I cannot wait until his next book come out.

[Timothy L Johnson]

Pete - you'll get there, buddy. Just acknowledging that you want an advanture is a big step to moving in that direction. I have full confidence that your star is going to shine very brightly.

[Mother Earth]

I have to say I love my work - tremendously. In the trenches with a client I feel charged up, fueled, useful. I have always strived to work part time with a full time income bang, so I can single parent and have time for other interests...and then came blogging. Lo and behold blogging fills me up exactly like my work does. It's actually rather intoxicating My adventure now is to connect the two so that blogging can also be income producing. I'm quite excited about that

[Timothy Johnson]

Hi Karen - thanks for stopping by. When I met you last weekend, I could tell that you were a person with a passion for your personal mission, and I think it's awesome what you are doing. Keep pursuing that adventure... you won't regret it.