Ready to Fly Higher? Let's Go!

When I decided to open up a music store in my little town I went to my bank. After a quick chat that was more catching up than discussion of my business plan, I signed a note, shook hands with the bank manager, and left with a larger loan than I'd asked.

In the financial world this kind of transaction is called a character loan. Money leant more or less entirely based on a person's reputation and standing in the community.

Character is who you really are and reputation is who other people think you are. Character and reputation don't always align. However, if you consistently show up and act with the intention and integrity you talk about, your character can strongly influence your reputation.

Character may matter more than reputation, but it's nice when they rhyme.

Who are you? Does it match with what others think? What can you do today to help ensure it does?

Let's keep flying higher together!

Scott

BTW, an endeavor is a great way to develop character and...

• Michael OBrien is the Chief Shift Officer at Peloton Executive Coaching. He helps people prevent bad moments from turning into bad days.
• Agnieszka Szóstek is in the business of empowering creative leaders through her podcast Catching The Next Wave.
• Louise Karch's book, Word Glue: Find Your Million Dollar Brand Name, gets you noticed above the noise.
• Colin Steele is an Akimbo coach and blogger who helps...

If you're like me, you spent some time with family and friends last weekend. You probably spent some money as well.

Time spent with the right people is an investment. So is money well spent. You enhance your life and the lives of others through investments made with intention and integrity.

What about time and money wasted? I did some of that last weekend too. How about you? Sadly, that time and money is a sunk cost. You and I can't get that time and money back.

But learning from poor spending decisions sets the stage for making better decisions next time. You can endeavor better through better investment of your time and money.

So, where are you spending your time and money today? What about your attention? Is this time, money, and attention spent being wasted or invested?

Let's keep flying higher together!

Scott

Ready to better serve those you care about? Invest some time in learning to endeavor better. Visit CreativeOnPurpose.com and enroll in...

Aspiration matters. It matters a lot.

Things could be better. Your potential can be developed. Endeavors that enhance the lives of others and ourselves are worthy pursuits.

And...

At the same time, remember that everything, including yourself, is alright as it is right now.

Count your blessings as you step into possibility.

You are sufficient even as you strive.

Scott

Let's fly higher together in endeavors that make a difference. Visit CreativeOnPurpose.com and join us inside Endeavor Basics!

It's no secret, setting intentions alone does not manifest change. Sending your intentions out into the universe is a one way conversation.

Good things may come to those who wait, but those things taste like Guinness or ketchup.

Intentions matter, of course. Set them with care and integrity. But destiny rewards pursuit. You must step into possibility to make change happen.

Here are three questions you can ask yourself after you set you intention that will encourage you to lean in and leap into worthwhile efforts.

• "What's it for?" What are you aiming at and why?
• "What's now?" Frame yourself and your situation in a way that creates choices.
• "What's next?" Assess your choices and decide which next small step will move you the furthest and fastest into the difference you wish to make.

And then... Take that step.

Rinse and repeat.

Let's keep flying higher together!

Scott

Ready to make change happen? Join us in Endeavor Basics!

Legacy isn't what you leave behind, it's the impact you're making now.

“While we wait for life, life passes.” - Seneca

It’s Time to Make a Difference

You are enough. Yet, capable of more. We need you. 

It’s time to make a difference. It’s time to fly higher. 

You have choices to make. 

Ready?

Haven’t you wasted enough time traveling the well-worn path of what’s expected? 

Are you done with following the map drawn by the status quo and leading to where everyone else is headed?

Do you want to settle for the tried and true, the ordinary, and the unremarkable?

Or are you ready to chart a course and draw a map of your own?

It’s time to embark on a voyage of discovery. Who are you? What are you good at? Where do you belong? 

You’ve answered these questions before. But you’re not the same person, nor in the same situation, and not surrounded by the same people now as you were then. 

Answers to these...

The bridge pictured above runs across the New River Gorge in Fayetteville, WV. 

The New River is one of the oldest on earth and one of the very few that runs North instead of South. Old and contrary, remind you of anyone. ;)

The bridge is one of the longest and highest ever constructed. It connects people and places that were disconnected before it existed. It took thousands of people and several years to build a bridge that made things better. 

No wonder it's one of my favorite places!

I've been developing Creative on Purpose for as many years as it took to build the bridge across the New River Gorge. I value the time and attention of everyone who lends this endeavor some of their valuable time and attention.

If you haven’t visited Creative on Purpose recently and go there now, you might not recognize it. The branding, promise, and offerings are clearer and more intentional than ever before.

We're on a mission to help others connect with meaningful...

"Character is fate." - Heraclitus

What if character is fate?

What if to live a good life you must be a good person?

What if the path to better living goes through character?

What if destiny is determined not by what you do is defined by who you are?

What if instead of answering these questions, you acted on them instead?

Step into possibility with intention and integrity. Be creative on purpose.

Let's keep flying higher in endeavors that make a difference together!

Scott

It’s in looking back and reflecting that a life journey is sorted and makes sense. Marcus Aurelius knew this. Marcus Aurelius was the last of what are known as the Roman Empire's Good Emperors. Meditations is a printed collection of what remains from Marcus' private journals.

What Is Creativity?

Creativity is a fundamental human impulse. Along with our capacity for reason and social instinct, it’s a defining characteristic of human beings. Creativity is the simple human act of making change happen. You employ your creative inclination every time you send a message, prepare a meal, make a mess, or make amends.

What Is Stoicism?

Stoicism is an ancient philosophy of life that, like any worthwhile metaphysical pursuit, answers the questions, “What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be happy? And, how can I be more of both?” 

Stoicism suggests that our rational and social nature are defining human traits and that developing and employing both...

"The thing ordained for you – teach yourself to be at one with those. And the people who share them with you – treat them with love. With real love." – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Fate

Fate is who you are and where you're at now. You can't change what brought you to this moment.

But if you acknowledge and accept fate, you can frame yourself, your situation, and the possibilities and potential ahead.

Destiny

Destiny is what's ahead. You can't know exactly what opportunities and obstacles await. But you can choose and take your next steps into them with intention and integrity.

Those choices and actions inform who you are and inspire your perception and posture as you continue stepping into your destiny.

Life doesn't happen to you. It happens through you.

Legacy

Legacy isn't the money and monuments you leave behind. Legacy is about living fully and well with what fate has bought you in this moment.

Legacy is the difference you're making right now....