You vs. the Cubicle (Blog)

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Or you could simply focus on serving the people you can help the most. Let the rest go.

It's a waste of time (and frustrating) to help people who resist your help. But work with people who are eager to learn from you, and it can be extremely productive and extremely rewarding.

That's what I'm doing with the Conscious Growth Workshops. The people that showed up to the first one were very willing to learn and grow, and they were open and receptive to the assistance I could provide, so together we created a space where lots of breakthroughs occurred in a fairly short period of time. There was virtually no friction in that environment. The workshop was effective largely because of the people it attracted. From talking to many attendees, it seemed like most of them had been reading my blog for at least 3-4 years. They were a very dedicated group. I felt honored to be in a place to serve them.

Instead of trying to attract everyone as a client or visitor, think about how you can attract the ideal ones and subtly filter out the rest.

This year I haven't been trying to grow my web traffic, for instance. Instead I've been doing things to attract more targeted visitors, even if I attract fewer ones. Now and then I write posts to "scare away" visitors who wouldn't be a good match for my message. But the ones who make it through are a better match for whatever help I can provide.

Don't assume you have to serve everyone. Focus on serving the people you can help the most. There should be plenty of them to keep you busy for a lifetime.

I totally agree. I've learned over the last few years that it's important to connect with the right people.

I think my challenge has been that I've been attracting the wrong type of people with my Blog. A lot of them are great people, but most just aren't ready to take their lives to the next level.

I've been working on figuring out what I want to do, and who I want to help. Trying to create a perfect customer profile of who I can help the most and who I would enjoy working with the most.

Being a scanner, that's not as easy as it seems. There are a lot of different things I am good at, and any one of those things I could pick and dive in depth into and create content, courses etc. to teach to others.

Now that I think about it actually, you've kept your topics fairly general and varied. Did you narrow your focus based on working with people at a certain level of consciousness, instead of by topic?

Meaning, you write about all different areas of life (food, relationships, finances etc.) but they all center around a specific level of consciousness. Someone has to be at a certain l level of consciousness, for example, to consider not hurting animals for food, or having the type of relationship you have with your wife, or to understand certain financial concepts.

[Wolfspirit]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

You can't. The two vibrations are incompatible -- unless you want self-employment to drain you too.

You don't need the job. Thinking that you need it is pure delusion, and you're giving it too much power over you. You're stronger than that.

Drop what drains you, and you'll free up a lot more energy to use on your new business.

You can't thrive and prosper unless you remove the shackles.

Awesome advice. I had forgotten about the whole vibration thing, but that statement is so true.

I guess I am just having a hard time letting go of the belief that I need the job. I was raised with the belief that at xx years old, you have to go get a job to make it in the world. And finding something you love that brings in money was only something that happened to the "lucky ones." I'm having to work really hard to change those negative beliefs and know that I CAN be happy and do what I love.

My father passed away a month ago. I am 26 and this has hit me really hard as I was really close to my father. I took some time off from work to be with my father during his final days in Hospice and also help my mother out.

I healed as much I could before I had to go back to work, but I have not been able to work a full week since going back because after this whole experience, everything has changed. While I was out of work, it really gave me the perspective of not working there...and it felt so FREE. I was able to do what really mattered to me. It's really been the push I've needed to move into fully doing what I love.

But since being back at work, it is starting to get harder to feel that feeling of freedom. And that is leading to a stuck vibration. And what makes me feel even more stuck is I don't have a big enough reserve of cash that I can just quit, so I feel like the only thing I can do it find maybe a part time job. But I know even thinking that is very limiting. So, how do I let go? I feel like after this whole experience, it is imperative that I follow my own path and make a difference in the world that makes a difference to me, which is how I've felt with my business.

So that's a little bit where I'm coming from. Any additional advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Vermilion Sparrow

Um, just do what, exactly? That's what I get stuck on. If I had a passion, I might have some idea of what to do, but there's no one thing I'm passionate about. There's not even anything I excel at above everything else (I am, however, very good at most things I've tried -- I just get tired of them rather quickly).

I know, I have to quit my job, but then what? Nobody can answer this for me, and I understand that coming up with the answer myself is something I have to do, but it just hasn't been forthcoming.

I know exactly what you mean. I can offer some help because I am just like you. Few things real quick:

(1) 95-98% of people out there won't understand you, and will give you wrong advice. You are not like them. You are not here to "Major" in anything. Don't even bother trying, you'll die of boredom.

Ignore all advice to "settle down", "focus on one thing", or anyone who makes fun of you for being "jack of all trades, master of none" or "that guy never finishes anything".

(2) You need a totally different set of rules and definitions for projects you get involved in. For example, you will have a different definition of "finishing" a project. I'll give you an example.

Let's say you decide to learn everything about nutrition. So you decide to pay $2,000 for a correspondence course in advanced nutrition. You order the course, and they send you all the books. The books arrive, you devour all the content, get what you need and you put the course aside.

The course does, however, come with some tests you can start taking after 6 months to get your "diploma" or "certificate". Your friends ask you "Have you finished your course yet?" and you say "No, not yet, I still gotta do the tests."

They keep making fun of you because you keep procrastinating taking the tests. You say "I'll take them next month." and that goes on for months and months. By then, of course, you're already taking other courses in cabinet making, the mating habits of African frogs and you just picked up some DVD's on how to play a guitar.

Here's the thing. You took the nutrition course to LEARN about nutrition, not to get some stupid certificate. SO, you FINISHED the course, just not according to the definition of "normal" society. Of course you can get the certificates if you want, but really you already FINISHED the course.

If you buy a book because you need to learn something, and you only read 2 chapters of that book and you GET what you were looking for from it, that means you FINISHED the book by "our" definition. Screw the other 12 chapters. You don't need them.

(3) You need a different way of looking at things to find your "long term passion". Your ability to "scan" through things really quickly, learn and adapt to new situations, to embrace change and rip through stuff very quickly, is an asset, not a liability.

Think of an actor who has to study and take on the role of a whole other person, while filming 3 different movies with 3 different roles in one year.

Or think of the "Jason Bourne" secret agent type operative who gets parachuted into a situation and has to know just enough about the local customs to "blend in", and one day is in Paris and the next day in Africa.

Or think of the business coach who has to come in, and in 4 days, learn everything about their clients business and then put together a whole marketing strategy for them, and then the next day jump on a plane and see another client in a TOTALLY different line of business.

Your ability to gain an understanding of the "surface level" aspects of a subject quickly is an ASSET, not a liability.

Connect with me through my Blog if you'd like to discuss more, but also check out this book:

"Refuse to Choose! : A Revolutionary Program for Doing Everything That You Love"

You're not broken. You're not the only "scanner" in the world.

[cylon]

"Scanner". Cool idea. I always thought those were my worst qualities.

Man, I tell ya, society's expectations of how you should be are so different from how actual human beings think and operate.

[DerekH]

I agree with what you have to Paul but I think people may misinterpret some of what you've wrote.

As you say there is nothing wrong with learning many different skill sets. Learning multiple skill sets is beneficial if they can synthesize together.

I'm sure you have read 'Mastery' by George Leonard. He outlines the three conditions known as the hacker, obsessive and dabbler. The dabbler will start to learn many different skill sets but will not achieve any kind of success since at the first sign of any resistance or at the first plateau will quit and find something new.

So it is true that you can learn multiple different skill sets at once but if you find yourself dabbling then you really aren't learning anything. You are just giving up on something because it got tough lol.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by DerekH

I agree with what you have to Paul but I think people may misinterpret some of what you've wrote.

As you say there is nothing wrong with learning many different skill sets. Learning multiple skill sets is beneficial if they can synthesize together.

I'm sure you have read 'Mastery' by George Leonard. He outlines the three conditions known as the hacker, obsessive and dabbler. The dabbler will start to learn many different skill sets but will not achieve any kind of success since at the first sign of any resistance or at the first plateau will quit and find something new.

So it is true that you can learn multiple different skill sets at once but if you find yourself dabbling then you really aren't learning anything. You are just giving up on something because it got tough lol.

Scanners don't give up because the going gets tough. They just have a different definition of "finished" and a different intent behind learning things.

For example, as the CEO of a company, I can learn the "basics" of how something works and then delegate the nitty gritty details to an employee who's an expert on that topic. I just need to know enough to know if the employee is lying to me as far as how difficult a task is etc.

You're right, dabbling is not good. But there is a difference between Scanners and Dabblers. THe book I quoted above has some good definitions and explanations.

[Anna Conlan]

Hi Paul,

Maybe I should design a course for lightworkers on how to use the Internet to build a local client base? There's gotta be a crapload of psychics, Reiki practitioners, wellness clinics etc., all who provide great value to their clients but who have no clue what they're doing on the Internet.

I know a lot of people who would benefit from a course like that.

Have you tried just being with the fact that you're not sure how to go deeper at the moment, and just release the intention to go deeper and see what you feel drawn to doing? When I "try" to ramp things up and go bigger and use my mind to plan it all, it usually backfires. It's only when I surrender my intention and wait to be guided/drawn towards something that it comes together and works. I know that approach might not work for everyone but it works for me.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Anna Conlan

Hi Paul,

I know a lot of people who would benefit from a course like that.

You've got my email. Maybe we can chat about this. Perhaps we can figure out some kind of joint-venture project on this.

Have you tried just being with the fact that you're not sure how to go deeper at the moment, and just release the intention to go deeper and see what you feel drawn to doing? When I "try" to ramp things up and go bigger and use my mind to plan it all, it usually backfires. It's only when I surrender my intention and wait to be guided/drawn towards something that it comes together and works. I know that approach might not work for everyone but it works for me.

You're absolutely right. I've been doing a lot of meditating the last few days and getting lots of insights along this line of thinking.

See, originally I didn't want to rush myself to figure out my path so that is why I decided to just take on some side projects to kind of keep my finances going while I figure out my next big thing. However, as I expressed in this thread, that seemed to screw me over because the "extra" income I was supposed to be making with these projects just ended up lowering my already existing semi-passive income.

However, today I got some great advice from a psychic friend of mine. She reminded me that I am the creator of my own reality so if I want to create a reality where it's possible and totally OK to take on some side projects just to make some extra money to hold me over while I plan out my next move, then I just have to set that intention.

Just a few minutes after receiving her email and having this realization, things started to come back in line as far as my semi-passive income streams so it looks like I will be able to do both for a period of time until I am guided to my next project.

One other thing I just realized is that I may not be able to see the upcoming project because I'm trying to figure it out with my mind, and the mind never has all the necessary information to make proper decisions. For example, until this message I never even considered that maybe my next project is going to be a collaboration with 2 or more people.

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by Gene

You have a PM.

I wanna PM too !!!


please

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by Dimond

Vermilion (and anyone else struggling), it makes no sense to spend years wanting to make a change and doing nothing. Just do something, anything even small to get yourself away from your current situation. It can be take a class or workshop, it could be join a group, take up a new hobby, anything you can possibly do so you aren't just unhappily thinking about doing something for years. Minor action leads to all kinds of things. It's not necessary to know anything for sure when you make these small choices. Whatever you have a slight interest in, explore until you find something you love. Then eventually you take more action and hopefully you will end up turning your life into one you enjoy. Anything is better then just sitting around being miserable.

wow great advice

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by Gene

Daffy,

I own a motor home and find it one of the best home offices I have ever used. If I want to work five states away to look at mountains out of my windows I just drive there and continue on my project in a different location while sleeping in my own bed and having my own stuff organized just like when the RV was parked outside my house.

that's so cool !!

[lifetimelearner]

Originally Posted by Wolfspirit

Awesome advice. I had forgotten about the whole vibration thing, but that statement is so true.

I guess I am just having a hard time letting go of the belief that I need the job. I was raised with the belief that at xx years old, you have to go get a job to make it in the world. And finding something you love that brings in money was only something that happened to the "lucky ones." I'm having to work really hard to change those negative beliefs and know that I CAN be happy and do what I love.

My father passed away a month ago. I am 26 and this has hit me really hard as I was really close to my father. I took some time off from work to be with my father during his final days in Hospice and also help my mother out.

I healed as much I could before I had to go back to work, but I have not been able to work a full week since going back because after this whole experience, everything has changed. While I was out of work, it really gave me the perspective of not working there...and it felt so FREE. I was able to do what really mattered to me. It's really been the push I've needed to move into fully doing what I love.

But since being back at work, it is starting to get harder to feel that feeling of freedom. And that is leading to a stuck vibration. And what makes me feel even more stuck is I don't have a big enough reserve of cash that I can just quit, so I feel like the only thing I can do it find maybe a part time job. But I know even thinking that is very limiting. So, how do I let go? I feel like after this whole experience, it is imperative that I follow my own path and make a difference in the world that makes a difference to me, which is how I've felt with my business.

So that's a little bit where I'm coming from. Any additional advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I felt the same way after my father passed away
I looked at the world in a totally different way

sorry for your loss

[AdamA]

Originally Posted by Gene

...
I also create audio books from out of copyright books. I began creating the audio books because I wanted an audio book of the work and the works I wanted to listen to were unavailable in that format. After creating the audios I decided to offer them for sale. It was in essence free money as the only real work involved was cashing the checks for product sold.

I try other ideas when they interest me and provide fun and a feeling of being useful to myself and others.

I have spent the majority of my life without a formal job working for other people or companies. I am just not wired for such a life and decline to abuse myself by trying to fit into that world.

I'm not sure how I missed this, but Thank you Gene. this is inspiring!

[PianoManGidley]

I know I'm late to the party, but I'm looking for advice, and I know Steve's site here has been very helpful for me in the past.

Here's my situation (and why I'm digging up this old thread in which to post it): I have no job right now--lost it about a month ago. My roommates are also unemployed. Our income in our household right now is essentially nothing. I donate plasma twice a week to get $55/week, but that's all I have to lean on. We have rent, utilities, and food to think about. Water and electric are about to be shut off due to nonpayment, and I have no idea how we're going to cover rent next month. Our families live in different states, so if we lose this place, we each have to come up with individual money just to move back in with respective family members--and they aren't able to help because our families all are feeling the hurt of this recession as well.

We need income NOW. The problem I personally have is that I feel so limited by jobs. Every time I get a new job, I see it with a bit of stars in my eyes that it's going to be a fun experience, and every time, I end up hating it after a few months. The only exception was working at a music store back down in Texas, which I only left because my roommates and I were moving up here to Colorado. I know that having a regular job is NOT what I should be doing with my life, or how to accomplish developing myself and giving myself as best as I can. It does not lead to ultimate happiness, and I don't see how it ever will.

Now, I'm posting this here because, as I said, I was looking to Steve's site for some sort of insight as to what I could do to make things work. I love the idea of streams of income that Steve has mentioned, but let's face it--that's going to take time and probably some money, whereas I have more immediate concerns to prevent from being homeless. So I wanted to know what Steve's short-term solution was for this sort of issue, which I'm sure so many of his readers must have.

I found this article--You Vs. the Cubicle--and was a bit appalled. I mean, I understand what you're trying to say, Steve, but "you vs. food and shelter"? Really? What about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs? What about what modern medicine as well as basic common sense tells us about what our bodies need to survive? We need fuel. Fuel, like everything else (just about), costs money. Am I "giving my power away to food" just because I recognize that without it, I die? What do I do to support myself in the short term so I can have the resources to generate streams of income in the long run?