Fortune Cookie Thoughts

“The real essence of work is concentrated energy”

Most of us are too fractured.

Our days are divided into little bits and pieces of trying to get too many things done and never completing anything to any great degree.

Why do we have so many things going?

A lot reasons.

Fear.

Fear that one thing alone won’t work, so we get a bunch of irons in the fire in the hopes that one will work out really well.

Excitement.

Lots to choose from. Don’t want to miss out on a great opportunity.

Lack of purpose.

We don’t have a clearly defined purpose, so we fall prey to the whims of others, or fate, or circumstance.

Whatever the reason, if you’re fractured, you’re screwed.

The way to succeed is to find the one thing you can really wrap your head around AND, more importantly, wrap your heart around.

If you love it (whatever “it” is), you’ll experience more joy, more excitement, more satisfaction, more focus, and more success than you will by any other means.

The real essence of work is concentrated energy” and the only way to concentrate your energy consistently in your work is to LOVE your work.

If you don’t love it, do something else.

Life is too short to live any other way. 😉

————-

What do you think?

Share your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

arrow

26 Comments

  • Bob Picha

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    Great ideas Jim,

    Ater forty years of profiling people, I believe that energy flows
    where attention goes (Deepak) and people with low stability, like
    myself, naturally spread their energies everywhere, which is good
    for multitasking, but not so good for follow-through.

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Bob,

      Great point 🙂

      I think we all do that

      Jim

  • Jenny

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    Well how timely is your email comment – my ‘excitement’ over too much to choose from is definitely screwing with my ability to focus on a few things that would really benefit me to complete.

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Jenny,

      One thing at a time… I’m dealing with the same thing right now… this little article is as much a reminder for me as anyone

      Jim

  • Margy

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    The cookie manufacturer distributing to your local Chinese restaurant offers “fortunes” with far greater wisdom than the “fortunes” I receive at my local Chinese place! Thanks for sharing your insights, Jim. So true… achievement and a truly love-filled life occur by capturing and savoring the yummy sauce of focused energy.

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Margy,

      You made me hungry and motivated at the same time!

      Jim

  • Emma

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    I published 2 e-books in Amazon…… while working on those e-books, I found out that focusing on what I want to share and when I want to publish made the “work” fun and exciting. Thank you for this reminder…. I love your article.

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Emma,

      Good for you!!! Congrats on the book… now apply the same focus to marketing them and let me know how you do

      Jim

  • Rohi Shetty

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    Thanks, Jim.

    I needed to read this today. I’ve been focusing on three major goals every week and today is the time to set my three goals for the next week.

    So true, focus and love are interdependent.

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Rohi,

      Good for you… 3 can be ambitious… way to go!

      Jim

  • Julie Hunger

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    After a horrible year with 6 deaths in my family you sparked my happiness and make me want to try again.
    Problem is I can’t find my program I bought from you on writing an e book in 7 days.
    How can I get that?
    Thank you

    Julie

  • Sheila LyonHall

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    Excellent! All that from a fortune cookie! 🙂 Clearly, the message of the cookie was the stimulus for acknowledging what you already know is true. Looking back, I would characterize my experience like this:

    I was working with a “disjointed” floor plan that prevented me from seeing how each “necessary step” would actually lead to the next “logical/purposeful” step, leading to my goal. This brings me back to your word – “Fractured!”

    Thanks, Jim. As with all your posts, this was is amusing and highly instructive. Shalom!

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Sheila,

      All that from a fortune cookie 🙂

      Jim

  • virginia forsythe

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    Jim that is so true of all things in life. I share the same opinion. Imagine that, You getting that fortune cookie, that was awesome. I am glad you are always sharing. In the good days and bad days that we all have, you always have that sparkle of joy to share with us.

    Thanks a bunch Jim.
    Happy Holidays
    Virginia

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Hi Virginia,

      Thank YOU – Happy Holidays 🙂

      Jim

  • Virginia

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    We never know where we will discover ‘words of wisdom’ that trigger a deeper response in us. I am fighting this ‘doing too many things’ syndrome right now – and it’s not due to the holiday season. It’s of my own making wanting to ‘catch-up’ on what I’ve been putting off doing for years. Good reminder to quit diluting my energy and tackle two (at the most) things and complete them before moving on. Sigh….you’d think I would know better at 64!

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Virginia,

      It’s never too late… pick the #1 thing and work that… that’s what I’m trying to do 😉

      Jim

  • Wolfgang

    Reply Reply December 5, 2014

    So true! I have heard it so many times, but shining objects are all round me. Big companies spend millions to distract us and suck us into their sphere of influence.
    I will copy your fortune cookie and hang it up over my work area.

    Thanks for staying in touch and BTW – I like the Genius Factor!

    Wolfgang

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 5, 2014

      Wolfgang,

      That is definitely part of the challenge!! That’s another reason why you have to really tune in and commit to what you’re doing daily.

      Jim

  • Marjo Potec

    Reply Reply December 6, 2014

    Thank you for sharing Jim, you’re always an inspiration.

    I always find it easier to stay focus when I have a deadline to meet – as in, get that house ready, a new tenant is moving in (add date).

    I create a plan of action, and I follow through with necessary adjustments as things develop.

    Happy Holidays!
    Marjo

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 9, 2014

      Happy Holidays to my best friend in “Thunder Bay!” Marjo, I hope you have a great holiday 🙂

      Jim

  • Patricia

    Reply Reply December 6, 2014

    As I deleted 517 emails a few days ago (many of them seasonal ads), at first I felt motivated to sever relationships with most of the companies, people, ideas. BUT … as I watched them disappear with a click I began thinking that perhaps I should check them out first JUST IN CASE ….

    Fear, yeah, of losing opportunities. Silly but often compelling, and such a time-waster (money-waster). And the internet amps it up many-fold. No boundaries.

    I laughed reading your story, thinking “visions of sugarplums dance in our heads!”

    ‘Tis the season. Thanks for the friendly reminder! Sever I shall.

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 9, 2014

      Patricia,

      When you’re 100% clear on where you’re going, the right people appear / stay and the ones you don’t need just fade away.

      Jim

  • Madeline

    Reply Reply December 7, 2014

    “Do what you love” is the message coming from so many thought influencers right now and, having finally decided on my passion after three score years and xxxx, I am clearing my clutter and information overload in preparation for moving home by looking at each piece of clutter and asking “does this fit in with my passion?” If it doesn’t, out it goes. Thanks, Jim – I’m hanging on to you!

    • BigJim

      Reply Reply December 9, 2014

      Madeline,

      I think it’s more than flavor of the month… I hope this really is a shift for people to do what they love and follow their passion 🙂

      Jim

Leave A Response

* Denotes Required Field