Just out of reach
Many barely make it through the day. They’re dominated by the tyranny of the urgent, exhausted and frustrated.
You may need something just out of reach for inspiration. Not another goal or problem to solve. Something that infuses the mundane with meaning.
Here’s an illustration of reaching toward meaning.
He said, “I want to become a better leader.” He wants to develop leadership-behaviors that enhance his positive influence within his own style and personality. However, the goal is still a bit nebulous and uninspiring.
Becoming a better leader is within reach. Progress is easily attainable. He’s living within his grasp. To me, it feels something like a project, one more straw on the camels tired back.
Something more?
I said, “What if your vision becomes helping others become better leaders?”
He’d never thought of his life in those terms.
Reaching for something just out of reach means you’re:
- Inspired by mission rather than achieving goals.
- Working toward something bigger than immediate need.
- Infused with higher purpose.
Some just-out-of-reach ideas:
- Stepping out rather than stepping in.
- Shifting from being asked to asking.
- I’m not resting. I’m finding joy.
- Enriching the whole person rather than solving isolated situations, struggles or problems.
- Acting rather than reacting.
- Enabling others to meet their own needs rather than meeting them yourself. “Let me show you how.”
How to:
You can reach for something just out of reach by looking through the things you do and asking why you do them.
Reconnect with your inner drive and find something just out of reach that fulfills you.
*****
What blocks people from reaching for meaning?
How can people identify something “just out of reach” that infuses the mundane with meaning?
Do you have some “just out of reach” ideas?
Love the list and challenges Dan, especially, “Stepping Out rather than stepping in.”
I’ll Remember that one!
Artie,
I can think of several people that would have richer lives if they taught others how to step in while they stepped out. hmmmm maybe even me. 🙂
Best,
Dan
For those of us who get caught up in our tasks list, this is a great reminder. It needs to be about the mission sometimes and not just the goals. Thank you for sharing.
Rochelle,
Thanks for your note… Yup, I’m thinking many Leadership Freak readers can be encouraged by this one. I hope …
Best,
Dan
Hi Dan,
I’m going to share this post with my team. As professionals in the fitness industry, this post really speaks to how we should be thinking about what we do and where we are going. We actually talk about the action steps you laid out quite a bit, so this will be very reinforcing!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Tab
Tab,
Thanks for reinforcing these powerful ideas. It’s so cool to read about people and organizations that are working to make a difference.
Keep coming back,
Dan
A rut is a place where other’s choices have gotten you, whereas a groove is where you have proactively chosen to operate so get out of the ruts and into your groove.
Love that distinction. Thanks Shaun.
Thanks for reminding me to focus on what is important.
wow
It’s interesting how hard it is to keep in balance the two things we need to feel fulfilled: accomplishments and meaning. As Rochelle said, the easier of the two is the task list; finding the larger purpose takes some time and thought, and maybe changes in behavior.
Excellent post Dan. You made me think. To answer your questions…
Q. What blocks people from reaching for meaning?
A. It can be the many demands of the day or the fear of not finding an answer that keep us from reaching for the ‘why’ behind our actions.
Q. How can people identify something “just out of reach” that infuses the mundane with meaning?
A. Schedule time to go away by yourself and just think about your ‘why’. Why do I do what I do? Why does it matter to me…to others. If asking yourself does not work for you, find a coach or someone who is trained to ask these questions and help you find answers.
Q. Do you have some “just out of reach” ideas?
A. I think we all do. Luckily I have wonderful friends to challenge me to reach farther and stretch out to attain them.
This is a terrific post, Dan.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you write, “You can reach for something just out of reach by looking through the things you do and asking why you do them.” For leaders, this is especially true. The “why” behind what we do can give us the power, stamina, and courage to keep stretching ourselves. It is also the fuel to keep us from getting exhausted and frustrated.
I agree with Joan, too, that it’s important to make time specifically for the purpose of re-examining our “why.” The busyness of the day-to-day can clutter our vision.
Here’s a “just out of reach” idea:
Learn to say no to those things that don’t align with or further your mission.
Thanks for your inspiration!!
Jennifer
Dear Dan,
Connecting with inner compass is very challenging, but when it is connected, it transforms and provide true meaning of life and purpose.
I think selfishenss, narrowness, and our interest block us from reaching for meaning. These three blocks create greed and fear. If We change our focus from us to others, we win over greed and fear. And that is the moments, when we start progressing. The very simple approach to identify just out of reach is to broaden our focus. We can think putting ourselves in others position. That will provide broader view.
I believe when you want others to have “just out of reach” ideas, provide them into various situations, where they could see themselves internally. Usually, in charity organisaitons, where they can see the sufferings of people and also they can see the life very closely, then they can connect to inner compass.
Absolutely timely. Thank you.
Mission vs. goals, thrive vs. survive, inspire vs. provoke.
What tends to block us from the more fulfilling side of these I think most often tends to be fear and exhaustion, whether physical or mental/emotional. Two subjects you have written on previously Dan.
If we’re getting too tired to reach for the more substantive, ie the proverbial junk food to tide us over vs. a sustaining meal, then something needs to be adjusted.
Likewise, if we are holding back from reaching due to fears of any kind, it’s time to face and put those fears to rest.
I do want to qualify about the kind of fear meant though, because logical concern is one thing. It’s good to know what you’re up against and not be blind to risks, etc.. However, it should be the tool for information that it is, not the driving force behind our actions. And fears can often be resolved by forming a direction and at least a skeletal plan A/B/C to address whatever concerns there are. More often fears are really about unknowns, not knowns.
“Mission vs. goals,” is the phrase I take away with me this morning! Thanks Dan, have a good week!
~ Julia
I enjoyed today’s post. It is very easy for all of us “grownups” to give up on reaching for meaning and allow ourselves to be muted by the demands of finances, time stresses, and people in our lives who want something from us even if we have to allow our energy to dip into the negative to provide it.
I really enjoyed this “Work Stew” essay about one person who managed to get back in touch with her “out of reach” passions, in a route that took her through Taiwan, several traditional offices, and a home restoration project: http://workstew.com/2011/03/07/why-i-don%e2%80%99t-work-in-an-office/
For me, one of the “out of reach” goals is to teach short term (i.e., 2 hour or so) grammar workshops to adults. In a world full of people who think they kow how to teach grammar, I ask what I could do that would stand out, and I think it has to do with measurability — have some type of “check in” on my website where an attendee could do some type of pre-workshop assessment then submit instances where something they learned in my workshop proved useful in the real world, etc. My husband said “that could be hard.” What isn’t that really matters?
Hi Dan,
This is a really inspirational post. You have given me something to think about with respect to my company & personal vision statement. “Helping others become better leaders” is simple, commendable, and motivational.
Thank you for sharing.
Chris
Probably most people are just afraid to have too ambitious goals, to change too much. Enabling others to succeed is psychologically harder than striving to reach it yourself, as most people are selfish beings. It takes a lot of guts to aim for just-out-of-reach ideas.
Great post. I think first one would have to have a good sense of reality to know that they can improve. It takes a big person to admit that there are things they can improve upon when it comes to how they lead. Many get into that role & forget that there is so much more to learn & that they can continue to grow if they are open to it.
Powerful posts all, thank you!
I am remembering a post a while back where there was some word play…
Having ‘whys’ eyes or ‘real’ eyes maybe it is morphs to wise eyes realize. (thnx Joan & Jennifer!)
Reluctantly holding up our LF community mirror, is it ‘what’ blocks us from reaching or ‘who’?
We get so busy herding the metaphorical cats that we forget that we need to run with them too. Part of the joy and passion of vision is bein in the moment.
Really like the finding joy reframe Dan…I need more o’ that.
Again props and gratitude to the community here!!
Paul, just now getting to your post (my accountability network is keeping my feet to the fire on the use of my time 😉 )
If we can outlive our cause, our cause isn’t worth living out.
The times when I am most fulfilled is when I witness others becoming fulfilled. Self service is a flash-in-the-pan enjoyment that leaves me feeling hollow. Serving others, though – now there’s something just outside my reach.
btw, for all you LF community members, I will be posting an interview Dan graciously participated in with me. He shares how he serves strong. It will air March 23, 2011 at 6:15am EST.
You’ll find the interview at http://servingstrong.com
Dan,
Much the inspiration of entrepreneurs who often say they are blessed to do something that doesn’t feel like work.
When we reach beyond the mundane we discover:
-True creativity
-The whole that’s greater than the sum
-Absolutely (previously) invisible opportunities
To do this requires comfort with ambiguity. That may be a place to start for those who find the undefined a scary place.
Kate
There is something powerful around helping leaders see that the actual goal is not as valuable and important as the journey/process of the ‘reaching’.
I’ve found that helping leaders ‘get present’, really GET PRESENT… in the moment they are in RIGHT NOW – vision opens up, they suddenly become more expansive and more accessible – and their blood pressure goes down, too! LoL!
Thank you for the free passes to the Bill Taylor event this morning. It was a fantastic use of time and I was impressed. Thank you for sharing the passes with us all.
Katie
Katie,
You are most welcomed. I loved the presentation.
Any others interested in FREE online presentations and training by G5leadership go here… http://www.g5leadership.com/pricing . The “All Access” column is in the middle of the page.. cost is $129 for a year of full access. Use the promo code leadershipfreak and it’s free. (uncompensated endorsement…for the good of the community)
This is good encouragement.
Q. What blocks people from reaching for meaning?
A. Apathy, Path of least resistance, “Not really necessary,”
Confusion between:
1) Inspiration and action. Quotes are nice in a nice book on the shelf, but what are we doing?
2) Thinking and doing.
3) Being excited and doing
4) Giving a speech and moving people to action
5) Writing a book for myself and making sure it is in plain action language that sets a person in motion
5) Using clever language and plain and simple truth in English (for example, the question below…)
Q. How can people identify something “just out of reach” that infuses the mundane with meaning?
A. What if I would skip “just out of reach” and focus on what needs to be done? If I know in my bones that something needs to be done ,and I can do it, I will do it. Does anyone put off going to the washroom? Having a smoke (as long as we’re being honest)? Some things just NEED to be done and we do them. Maybe by action we expand our reach.
Q. Do you have some “just out of reach” ideas?
A. I don’t want to relate to “just out of reach”. It takes me away from doing what needs to be done.
HI Chavah,
Great comment.. Love the last line!
Cheers,
Dan
Went food shopping and thought of one more
Q. What blocks people from reaching for meaning?
Above, I listed 5 “Confusion between.” Here’s a 6th:
6) Excuses, Lies andReasons. Wow! That takes incredible vigilance and self-awareness.
Chavah,
I’m thankful you took time to expand the conversation.
Best,
Dan