Expert in the Rough, Brian Monahan

Last week I had the honor to interview my dear old Dad about his path and his views on passion.  Being the smart “arse” that he is he won’t mind the “old” jab, but kidding aside, my Dad had some great insights when it comes to passion.

I have referenced my Dad – Mike Monahan in numerous posts but for my new readers, my father has been teaching Personal Growth Seminars for over 15 years.  His path is an unlikely one with a poor upbringing, limited education and a career on the opposite end of the personal growth spectrum.  He transitioned from Pipefitter (construction trade), to Executive Director for Life Success Seminars and later their Basic seminar facilitator.

I have done a little career research and I have found no documentation on bridging the gap between Pipefitting and Personal Growth Guru.

I can say that is probably the case for most great success stories.  There is not documentation out there to bridge the gap between your reality and your dreams.

I have learned that Passion often can serve as that bridge.

I must be honest last week when I was interviewing my Dad, I was not expecting to learn anything new during the teleconference.  I was pretty focused on sharing a little information for my upcoming Personal Passion Project teleclass series and hoping to inspire those who joined the call with my Dad’s story.

I hadn’t even considered theremight be something for me to learn during the interview.

My final question for my Dad (excuse my Dad instead of Father reference Dad feels more loving and personal); “What have your learned about Passion, teaching at Life Success Seminars over the last 15 years?”

His answer heavily paraphrased, “most people want to start out with the “Big Show”, and skip the “Little Show” available today.”  Meaning often times people skip over the daily opportunities to engage in their passion and dreams and the “Big Show” never arrives.  Passion is not somewhere to arrive but something to engage and integrate.

Over the next few months I am going to be digging deeper into the topic of Passion.  I hope you can join my class starting on August 4th.  Event Details Click Here

If you are not interested in the class just put your blinders on and ignore my promotion and enjoy the content and insights I am gathering about Passion.

If you are interested in listening to the full Introduction to the Personal Passion Project and Interview with Mike Monahan you can visit http://tinyurl.com/pppintro

Image Credit – Link to Kay82

It’s almost Momentum Monday and I have been doing the BeachBody.com Insanity DVD workout and diet for 1 week.

I think a “WAHOO!” is in order.

My wife and I were chatting on the way to dinner with my parents tonight about what I was going to eat. We were going to one of Cincinnati’s classic pizza joints, “Larosa’s.” Larosa’s has great food but lets get real pizza is the only reason to go to Larosa’s.

I had a dilemma, “pizza or a grilled chicken hoagie,” I asked my wife.  She said; “Today is your cheat day, right.” I had an out, even though I chose for Saturday to be my cheat day, I had decided to eat healthy on Saturday any way and my wife was giving me an out to cheat on Sunday. Let’s get honest, “I HAVE BEEN FAT FOR TOO LONG!!”,

I DON”T need a cheat day, and oh, by the way, I am not sure there is even such a thing listed for this workout and diet plan.

I hope to inspire you to amp it up in the pursuit of some goal you are chasing.

Jim Quinn a mentor from my past always said, “99% commitment is a bitch, 100% commitment is a cinch!”

The “Insanity” workout plan I have committed to is over a 9 week period but I am realizing it is really just one day, one hour and one choice at a time.

I choose thin and healthy!

I choose thin and healthy again!

I choose thin and healthy again and again!

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Register for the Free Introduction to the Personal Passion Project Today - Click Here for Details!

or visit http://www.personalpassionproject.com

Most of you have probably heard of the “Take Your Daughter or Son to Work Days,” it is a noble program aimed at introducing our next generation to the workplace.   There are numerous benefits to both the parents and their children around participating in this program but I wanted to share another concept.

I am calling it “Take Yourself to Work Day.”  You are probably thinking that sounds a little stupid.  “How can you not take yourself to work?”, you say and that is exactly the question I have for you.

How can you not take yourself to work?

I can only say I see it every day.  Wonderful people leaving their spirit at the door, scared and frightened to show up with all their glory in the workplace.

This is a cunning concept.  You might raise issues of keeping your personal and professional life separate or that you are different than your coworkers.  Maybe they just wouldn’t understand.  I think this is one of the biggest tragedies of our time but their has been a shift.  Facebook and Twitter have opened up a can of worms and “Our Worlds are Colliding.”

Our personal and professional lives have become blurred and that is a great thing.

I have a question for you.  Is there really any place you can go that is not personal?  If you are a person then everywhere you go it is personal.  I am not saying that work does not have its customs and rules but checking your spirit at the door is doing no one any good.

A few years ago I came to the conclusion that there was no guarantee in life that I would be able to create a personal utopia with the perfect job with the perfect people.  A place where I would be able to be myself and live out my unique calling in life.  What is interesting is when I came to this realization it actually opened up the floodgates of this becoming a reality.

Because I realized their was never going to be a magical day to start being myself and sharing my unique gifts I decided I better start right away.  When I came to this conclusion I decided to completely integrate my spirit, dreams and talents at work and in all circles of my life.

You might be thinking you could never share your true passions with co-workers but I am telling you there is “Gold in Them There Fields.”  There is a treasure for those who decide to share themselves fully.  You will be surprised should you decide to “Take Yourself to Work” that others have the same dreams, goals and passions as you do.  Everyone is looking for that one hero who might inspire them to live their dreams.  You can be that person.

A big mantra in todays society is being transparent.  I think transparency is a great concept but being transparent is only part of the equation of “Taking Yourself to Work,”  connecting and engaging is where you start to gain energy.  Notice, I said “Gain Energy,” most people would think the opposite might happen or a loss of energy.  Sharing yourself is like kindling for your dreams.  It is a spark.  When others become aware of your true desires they become a resource or “source” for new energy.  They provide encouragement and ideas and referrals.

I started this journey for myself by joining a Toastmasters group to develop my public speaking skills.  A number of co-workers were aware of my new hobby since I was not able to join them for lunch periodically when I had Toastmasters meetings.  I shared with them I was developing my speaking skills in pursuit of my dream of being a keynote speaker.  Within a month of sharing this dream with my coworker he approached me with an opportunity to present to an industry group in another city.

I must say I was a bit frightened my dream was showing up so fast.  I spoke to 50 people in another city and I was on my way.

Other opportunities started to show up as well.  Our company was growing fast and the frequency of company meetings grew.  The owner of my company was aware of my public speaking goals and often came to me to develop the agenda and run our company meetings.  Another opportunity to live out my dream.  I have numerous other examples of public speaking opportunities that have arisen as well as other areas of interest but they all have a common thread of taking the risk of being myself.

Some ideas for how you can “Take Yourself to Work.”

• Host a book club related to one of your passions.
• Ask a coworker to lunch and get to know them.
• Display examples of your passion in your office or cubicle.
• Express your opinion on a controversial subject.
• Host a happy hour or potluck lunch.
• Create a company social media community on Facebook (if your employer permits).
• Create an employee newsletter highlighting personal interests.
• Be yourself.
• Remember everything you do is Personal (no separation o state when it comes to you)

I look forward to meeting “You” at work someday!

I must be approaching my mid-life crisis as I have decided a convertible is in my future.  I had been considering a motorcycle but a good friend reminded me that until my daughter is 18 a motorcycle is not an option.  I had to agree and I am sure Ella will too.

I have been researching various convertible options over the last few months from MGB’s to Miata’s and have settled in on a Mini Cooper.  Being financially responsible I have decided to put it on the back burner until I have my current cars payed off in early 2012.

I must admit I am having fun looking up Mini Coopers on the Internet and seeing them on the streets.  I must admit I haven’t purchased too many toys in my life but I am finding this really fun putting off something fun until a future date.

In the mean time I purchased a die cast replica version of a Mini Cooper to further engage in the anticipation of when I get to pick out my answer to my mid-life crisis.

After I bought the “Mini” Mini Cooper it reminded me of a technique I used when I was competing for meritorious promotion in the Marine Corps.  After I was nominated for the meritorious promotion I decided I would go out and purchase all of the chevrons I needed for my next rank in the Marine Corps.  Chevrons are the insignias that represent your rank and are worn on the collars or sleeves of the various uniforms of Marines.

For those unfamiliar with the Marines they tend to instill just a bit of “confidence” I mean “arrogance” into their persona.  With this being said when I displayed my Corporal Chevrons on the shelf at my work bench I kind of stirred things up a bit.  My seargeant informed me that very rarely do you get promoted on your first “meritorious promotion” competition.  I told him, “I was OK with that, I was just taking a visualization technique I had learned a step further.”

I thought it would be a good to have a symbol

or reminder to help me prepare for the competition.  “Corporal Monahan” knew what he was talking about getting promoted at his first meritorious promotion competition.  The symbol worked beautifully.

Over the years I have used numerous “Mini Place Holders” for other goals and dreams.

What dreams or goals do you have that could use a “place holder” or symbol until it becomes a reality?

As a project manager in the audio visual production industry I am often faced with hundreds of decisions on each and every project.

Often times I am faced with nuanced decisions.  A decision that might have both positive and negative consequences.  Some examples include;  A larger screen is better for viewing but might reduce the available space for seating.  A smaller crew might lower the budget but jeopardize the timeliness of the set up.  I might need to rent a certain piece of equipment versus utilizing my inventory costing me money.  After completing a set up I might realize the delay speakers are now an obstruction for the last row of seating requiring a late night revision and overtime labor.

Using the basketball analogy a Slam Dunk is when you stuff the ball into the basketball rim with near 100% accuracy.  Wouldn’t be great if you could find a way to have nearly 100% accuracy for your decisions?

Over the years I have learned to use a technique I call the “Slam Dunk” when faced with a nuanced decision.  I take a step back and ask myself what decision is going to be a “Slam Dunk” win for everyone.  The funny thing is when I ask myself this question I usually find I already know the answer.  Usually there is a best decision but I am afraid to make it.  I am afraid to justify my decision.  I am afraid to break the bad news.  I am afraid to face reality.

Luckily over the years I have learned to overcome the fear of making decisions using the Slam Dunk approach.  Funny thing is every time I have ever used this approach all has turned out well.

What decision are you afraid to make?  What is the Slam Dunk solution you have for it (that you fear to make)?

Happy Dunks!

Last night I was playing with my daughter Ella.  Ella joined the world in October 2008 and she is pure joy.

Ella loves to dance and play peek-a-boo.  Ella’s favorite game is playing chase.  I get on the floor and crawl around chasing her around the house.  She gets so excited she is beside herself her legs shake and she screams at the top of her lungs.  When I finally catch her she turns around and gives me a great big kiss.

I have been on a journey to find more joy in my life.  This game of chase got me thinking, and that is the problem.

I am always thinking instead of enjoying the moment fully.  Even though I am chasing Ella and she is completely in the moment I am holding back.  I am not letting myself fully engage in the moment and be ecstatic with joy.  I am having fun but I am not all in like Ella.

If I look a little deeper I realize;  “I can never expect to find true joy in life if I can’t fully let go and experience true joy with my daughter.”  Ella is a pure bundle of joy.  I have not experienced the essence of fun and joy in years.  I have engaged in fun experiences but I have not let my guard down fully.

I see how this plays out in my other relationships.  If I don’t let my guards down I can never truly experience other peoples essence.  It is a tiny shift.  It is about letting my essence out.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

Have an Ecstatic Weekend!