Comments on: Winter musings

By: Laura Click

Laura Click — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:22:49 +0000

Thanks for the thoughts, Pam. It’s refreshing to know that we’re not the only ones asking these questions!

I’ve told several people this today – I think adults need spring break like students do! I don’t know about you, but with the warmer weather coming, it feels like the world is full of possibilities and newness. I just want time to soak it all up, refresh and work on the things that really invigorate me. Just think of all the things we could do with a little more time…

That said, maybe you need a break to refocus and let your ideas surface. It’s amazing what a little R&R can do! Whatever happens, if anyone can figure it out, I’m sure you can!

By: Kimmoy

Kimmoy — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:04:27 +0000

I think you are experiencing growing pains Pam. You are doing amazing work and have joint ventures and partnerships that many would envy! While you have found great success in leveraging other resources through collaboration, maybe it’s time for you to run the Escape from Cubicle empire in a way that doesn’t require your every ounce of presence and energy? Maybe more products? Just a thought.

Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with wanting some calm and quiet in your life, when that time comes you’ll definitely cherish it. Thanks for sharing this moment with us…can’t wait to see what the new body of work is

By: Collin

Collin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:37:27 +0000

An eternal trap. Drucker wrote about it (he used the word “operating”, as distinct from focusing on contribution) probably in THE EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE. It is really hard to avoid, because “operating” is responding to what’s right in front of us. It’s what we know how to do, and we do it well.

Finding our “true work” takes real work: self-discipline, ruthlessly cutting stuff out if it doesn’t contribute but just keeps the wheels moving. Sometimes my own sense of importance causes me to keep my fingers in stuff I can just let go of.

And our true work doesn’t elude us; we are unindicted co-conspirators because we don’t look for it; we are willing prisoners of the known

By: Pam McAllister

Pam McAllister — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:58:37 +0000

Ahh …

Several folks I read regularly have written something like this in the past week or so.

That bit of reinforcement is giving me more courage to focus on my larger work and deeper relationships — and limit the superficial distractions.

I may even forget completely that I have a Twitter account, which has started to feel like a “should” to me (even though I mostly ignore it, it’s still in the back of my mind as something I’m “supposed” to be doing). Hey, that might free up time to reconnect face-to-face with “real world” friends I haven’t seen in a while. Or just to take a long walk in the woods.

And I think I’ll give myself the gift of a real retreat, something I’ve been denying myself in my busy-ness but actually would be the best possible use of my time. I know that taking time for awareness makes the action that follows more energized, more bold, and more truly me.

Thanks for the boost, Pam.

By: Nicole | Blue Bicicletta

Nicole | Blue Bicicletta — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:08:10 +0000

I also feel like sometimes I get so wrapped up in doing little everyday management things that my real work eludes me: I end up doing more business than making art. It’s a funny thing, and sometimes it is easier to hide in the business than to go boldly forward with new projects. I also crave silence and space to think about new things. I hope to make room for some this weekend.

By: Karyn Greenstreet

Karyn Greenstreet — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:15:56 +0000

“A new body of work waiting to be born.” I can really resonate with that message! It’s like we hear this deep rumbling in our heart and intuition, but we can’t quite hear the words. I’ll be excited to hear how you find the time for your quiet time and your walks in nature, Pamela.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:08:05 +0000

Beautiful. I can’t wait to see what’s next for you, for all of us. It feels like a very fertile time.

I just returned from a week visiting family in Tucson and not a lot of email/Twitter. Something began bubbling up – something emerging for me around hearing and telling stories, mine and others. I don’t know what’s coming yet, so I can really relate to your musings.

It’s so hard to heed the call of the internal voice and to try turning off all of the noise. Naomi (IttyBiz) just wrote about the unsustainable nature of all these demands on our time and attention in our new Social Media Universe. Like we’re at a 24-hour cocktail party. It’s fun, but exhausting. Time to step out of the party for some fresh air and some real life.

By: Dana@Common Cents Coach

Dana@Common Cents Coach — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:37:13 +0000

This post and the comments were very thought-provoking for me around the concept of life’s purpose. It almost seems that purpose is a label that people use to sum up the great works of one’s life. But it doesn’t seem fair or accurate because people have many purposes in their lives–maybe one is to be a great mother, a caretaker for others, and a champion for the rights of the homeless. But you won’t know all that until that person is at the end of their life. The label of “purpose” seems so limiting. How do you handle purpose while you are in the midst of living? My thought is that you can find your purpose in the moment by making sure that you stay true to your own values and listen to your gut while you do whatever it is that you are doing. When you look back on what you have done, then you can actually label your purpose for that time. So maybe stressing about finding your purpose before you do anything isn’t going to serve you. Thank you for letting me put that into words. It feels really good!

By: Hulbert

Hulbert — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:54:44 +0000

Nice post Pamela. Sometimes I’ll write posts on my blog to say what’s on my mind. Lately, I went through some writer’s block on what to write about. After thinking about it for about 5 hours, I took a break and went to go take a shower. An idea of writing on my writer’s block came up and I wrote about it in my blog. Sometimes when we go outside or just take a break from what we are doing, ideas just naturally come to us. What’s on my mind is trying to develop good ideas for the next month so I can develop a steady and consistent flow of writing.

By: Irishfan

Irishfan — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:40:52 +0000

Actually, been reading your book and on the part about ‘getting out of our mental ghetto.’ I am trapped in ‘cubicle nation’ and have been thinking a lot about the questions you pose but many others as well.

Perhaps the most important concept is the need to initiate the action in order to achieve my desired future state. Working 60 hours a week in a comfortable corporate job and great title makes it so hard.

So just thinking about ways to continue to initiate the action and not being complacent or passive.