Category Archives: Quest

A different Quest today

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I spent the day on another Quest today. This quest was in keeping with my day yesterday: a break from my search for a great opportunity. A lot of time and energy has been put into this quest, and to be honest, it was good to extend the break from it!

We did a one-day cottage close today. It encompassed a mad dash by car and boat, then many tasks to close the cottage and boathouse. It was a bit wild, as I spent a good part of the day outdoors.

We had growing winds, lots of rain and cool temperatures in a pretty isolated place, the eastern shore of Georgian Bay.

In a way, I felt like I was in a medieval myth – battling the elements and working against time. We had to finish before darkness set in, as we had a 30-minute boat ride in rough water.

It was a more primitive version of quest than I’ve been on in a while. And, due to the elements, it was also pretty raw. When we finally finished the day, we were cold, wet and tired. And, happy that we’d accomplished our goal, and shut down the cottage.

A take-away for me today was the satisfaction that comes from being able to start and finish this quest in one day. My main Quest is so big, and so important, and so long that progress is steady, but slow.

Today was about getting things done and crossing them off the list. That felt great!

And, opportunity expands. Or was it me?

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Today, I was fortunate to meet – to interview and be interviewed by – six leaders at an industry-leading company with a great mission.

Everyone I met was a smart, savvy, engaged professional. They all saw golden opportunity for me at the company.

This Quest has been very important to me. In it, I’ve evaluated every opportunity as a chance to further my efforts to answer the Call. The Call to be all that I can be, to take risks and make a difference in my life, and hopefully the world.

My concern going into these meetings was that I’d be a cog in a wheel at this company. Not a great way to answer the Call!

However, after 11 – yes 11 – meetings, I now see an opportunity to add value. I can’t quantify where that will happen yet. I don’t know the industry, company or customers well enough. But, I perceive an environment in which I can bring my best to the table, and make a difference.

No offers on the table yet, and I’ve got some thinking to do to compare this opportunity to the other one I have in play.

But, by going in and asking lots of good questions, I see a possible home here for me. You can’t imagine how that feels – amazing really.

An end to a wonderful, blessed day. Once again, I am a very grateful man.

A conundrum

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I think I’m about to be faced with a conundrum on this Quest for a great, new opportunity.

This week, I’ll be in final interviews with one of two firms I’m evaluating. However, I’ve only started the process with the second firm. I may be faced with an offer from one before I’ve had a chance to fully evaluate the other. Both are great companies and they both offer great opportunity.

Believe me, I’m not complaining about this situation. However, I was really hoping to be able to fully evaluate both, before being asked to make a choice for either.

I’d like to think that this is where my intuition has a role to play in selecting the right opportunity.

My strategy will be to go to that still, quiet place and to seek answers there. This decision is about more than a job or money. It’s about fully answering the Call, and being an active participant in that flow.

There’s risk in following the Call, but I have to believe that’s what makes the reward all the sweeter.

It’s getting interesting, this Quest

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Progress on a couple fronts today. I now have a second meeting planned with the company I met yesterday. And, next week I have a day of meetings planned with the other folks, at their head office.

This Quest, I think, will be resolved in the next two or three weeks, if we can jointly keep the momentum going.

So, what’s the experience been like these past few days?

Well, some anxiety due to my commitment to ensure I perform this Quest as a Hero. It’s about being brave, and making this decision based on what’s right, true and authentic for me.

I’ve committed myself to finding a great opportunity to be my best, versus just getting a job or chasing money. I’ve played that game far too often in the past, and it is not a very rewarding way to live life.

A big decision is looming

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Today, I had a first meeting with a company here in Toronto.  They are an excellent firm, and have a great mission, which is to help entrepreneurs find freedom in their businesses.

I was very impressed with the company, and how it operates.  By no means is it a guarantee that I’ll be working with this company, but I’m intrigued to the point of wanting to learn more.

What’s interesting is that the Quest this opportunity represents is a major challenge, and would require some big goal-setting, and thinking on my part, and excellent execution, too.  The rewards would be there, too, if I pulled it off.

The interesting part for me is that I am not feeling daunted by this challenge.  No, in fact, I find it liberating and wonderful to have the possibility of a big goal to work towards.  It gets my creativity going, and I’m enjoying this rush.

The decision I refer to relates to the fact I am pursuing two opportunities at this time.  Both are excellent, and represent fine opportunity for me.

The trick will be to apply intuition to making the decision, as well as seek out the hard facts for each opportunity.

Another step closer and some insight

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Today, I had a face-to-face interview with a manager, and the person I would report to at the company in question, should we decide we want to work together.  It was a useful meeting, as I was able to gain an appreciation for the expectations of the role, and also how it roughly fits into the corporate strategy for growth.  And, I also gained some insight into a unique ability I can claim as my own.

There’s one thing I often think about when pursuing a project, a goal or a Quest.  For those who have been following for a while, you know that I see this search as a quest, as part of the myth of my life.  It’s an opportunity to be all I can be – it’s an intention that I have for my life going forward, as I’ve never had before.

So, what’s the insight?  It’s my innate desire to deliver an “elegant solution” to the challenge at hand.  Sometimes the elegant solution is very subtle, but it defines me as a different person when I’m in these situations.  Not better, just different.  Good different.

My next step with this company is a series of interviews at their head office.

Once I knew these meetings were happening, I immediately started to apply my creativity to determine how I could leave them with a lasting impression.  I want to do more than just go down, and recite what I learned from reading their last annual report.

As I go through this creative process, and the wheels start turning, I find that time stands still, and that I operate in a stream of hope, faith and abundance.  There is no fear, there is no doubt.  This is the “real” me.

I have come to realize that one of my goals going forward is to find opportunities to place myself in this state of flow as often as I can.  It’s where I do my best work, and effortlessly create amazing results in my life.  Pretty cool!

It’s a spiritual quest

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Today, while on a long walk with my dog, I realized that my quest to find the perfect opportunity is really a spiritual quest.  For me, now, it is anyway.

I have a deep and burning desire to bring meaning to my next venture.  I can feel the truth of that need in every fibre of my being.  It is not to be shunned or overlooked.  Not any more!

This feeling I’m describing is something that I just know has to be true for me on this next venture.  No substitutions, no excuses, no accepting less than I can be.

I know that when I see it, I’ll know it to be my right choice – the way to bring me to the Call.

That’s really what happened on the walk today.  I received a complete image of that right choice, with positive feelings that told me the choice would be whole and right.

I’m getting closer to this truth.

Another small step forward

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Today, I moved forward a bit more on my opportunity search.  I did an informational interview with a client of the firm with whom I’m meeting next week.

Although this may sound mundane, it is important for me. I’m moving in the right direction, and gaining momentum. That counts, and it matters. That’s where the hope comes from for me.

Small steps on an epic quest are also the stuff of life.

And, another door opened

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Yesterday, I mentioned that I was going to decline to further pursue an opportunity because I knew it was not right for me.  You’ll recall I felt the very real fear that I was giving up on this opportunity too soon, even though my intuition was telling me to let it go.

I realize now that fear came from a lack mentality towards life.  And, it was.  It’s something I’ve struggled with most of my life.

An hour after I wrote yesterday’s post, and mentally turned down the opportunity, a wonderful thing happened.  Another door opened – only one hour later.

Next week, I’m meeting with an organization that I feel – based on what I know today – could be the right opportunity for me.  What’s also interesting is that I’m also engaged in evaluating a second opportunity, for which I had two great meetings today.  There are an abundance of paths and doors just waiting to open, once we announce our intention to move in one direction – or not.

It’s not always easy for me, but the more I do it, the more I’m beginning to trust these leaps of faith, these Quests to find my place in this life.  Another grateful man, on a great day!

We have to know when to say “No”

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I had my business meeting today, and it was a fruitful meeting. I learned about the opportunity from someone who’s got feet on the street.

The opportunity is a very good one. There’s no doubt about it. However, the role would require me to be someone I’m not. And, I question whether I’d really enjoy the work day in, and day out.

So, I’m at a bit of a crossroads, once again. Am I strong enough to follow my intuition, and trust that by saying “No” to this opportunity, that’ll I’ll be able to say “Yes” to one that will follow?

In the past, the answer would probably have been that I took the opportunity because it was there. I don’t feel comfortable making those decisions any longer.

But, there’s the fear that something else will not come along, too.

When I go to my still, quiet place inside, my sense is that I should walk away. Leave it for someone who’s better suited to the role.

OK, done. I’m saying “No”, and with gratitude for the chance to evaluate this opportunity.

And, the Quest continues.