Issue #6 - The Pursuit of Next

402,960...

What would you do if you were given over 400K of something you couldn't buy even if you wanted to? What kind of steward would you be with that gift? Would you save it, use it or give it away? Would you be able to recognize the opportunity before it’s too late?

Last week I celebrated my 46th birthday with a small group of close friends and family. It was a meaningful evening, that after winding down and having a few moments of reflection, left me pensive about how I spent those 402,960 hours of my life leading up to my day. More importantly I got to thinking that if I'm lucky enough, what am I going to do with the next 400,000 hours? Entering the chat is The Pursuit of Next...

The Pursuit of Next is as much about intention as it is intensity. Passion and focus towards your goals matter, but those concepts are unmatched when compared to making deliberate decisions and consistently sticking to a rhythm of execution. In life, my missed opportunities, and consequently lessons learned, have been mostly due to making uneven commitments and finding a way to redefine what was ‘good’ or ‘complete’. We can simply translate this as “it got hard, and I gave up.”

This missive isn’t meant to be one about living with regret (I don’t, and neither should you), but it is a reminder of our power to be change agents. The busyness of life has a way of engulfing us to where we get caught up in the moment rather than embracing opportunities to create moments. Time is the unrecoverable equalizing asset for which we all get the same amount – 24 daily hours – and we get to choose how we spend it.

So what’s the plan, Jermon?

• It starts with (re)defining your core purpose and what you value. Be ready to articulate what truly matters to you and those you want to impact.
• Dream Big but close the deal. Building the bridge from idea to reality is a substantial exercise that requires thoughtfulness, respect and execution.
• Embrace Imperfection. The assignment is to live on purpose, not to live perfectly. Know the difference and embrace the former.
• Create Room by prioritizing your energy and creating boundaries so you can be present and mindful for the decisions you need to make.
• Take Action. I’ll use a Teddy Roosevelt quote here: “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

Let’s remember that The Pursuit of Next?is never about reaching a final destination, but rather the journey itself and the?purposeful actions?we take. Your next 400,000 hours are not just a measure of time, but a canvas of possibility. Fill that canvas with bold strokes of intentionality, with colors of?passion and perseverance. How will you use those hours? Counting the passing days or making the days count?

The Pursuit of Next?is calling.

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