As the new Acton class ventures into their first weeks of Pre-Matriculation, we are once again pulling the all-important Acton notes for them to read. My favorite: “Stars & Steppingstones: Some choices only come around once.” Consider this excerpt from the note:
Life is a journey, not a destination. But this does not mean that life should be an aimless journey. The most successful and fulfilled entrepreneurs are always advancing toward a vision that gives meaning to their lives. It is this relentless pursuit where persistence transforms ideals into a lifelong mission.
Life is more than just changing the world. How will your mission involve your personal life and your family? Will the difficult choices be worth the inevitable trade offs? If not, you may not have found your calling yet.
Visualize yourself at age seventy (or one hundred if you are an optimist). The setting can be an awards dinner, or if your tastes are slightly more morbid, your own funeral. Which role from your life do you want the speaker to mention first? Second? Third? What do you want them to say? How do you feel about the areas that have been left out? In this exercise are the sparks of a calling.
A frequent response to the above is: “I just don’t know. I wish I were one of those people who had my entire life planned, but I just don’t work that way.” This is a cop-out, an avoidance of the realities and responsibilities of life.
Beginning with the end in mind is not about planning every detail of your life. In fact, the entrepreneurial philosophy is based on dealing with uncertainty, not certainty. Beginning with the end in mind is about examining why life is worth living and being true to your own values and dreams. If you have trouble uncovering these fundamental goals and values, it is time to go back to your basic foundations. Query people you trust and admire. Read great literary works and books on philosophy. Spend time alone in a quiet place. If you are religious, reexamine the fundamentals of your religion. Question, examine assumptions, reflect, and question again.
Advice the class of 2010 needs. Advice we ALL need.
Photo courtesy of kevinw84.
[...] road. And we accept that you have to leave and we accept that you are going to go on this hero’s journey where you’re going to change the world. But I have to tell you it’s not easy on all of us or [...]