Like most of us, I have a number of websites I like to peruse and Entrepreneur.com is one of them. I don't fancy myself an entrepreneur, I just find the material interesting and often find things that can inspire the normal cube dweller.
One day an article appears titled "Steve Jobs' 13 Most Inspiring Quotes". Sounds like an interesting read. Here was the second of the 13 quotes:
"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." Steve Jobs - Entrepreneur.com
As soon as I read that my brain immediately said "Its true....you really have nothing to lose. What's the worst that could happen?".
So what's the point of all this. Well, like many who carve wood I dream of being more than a weekend whittler. I dream of carving really nice pieces that are of value. I dream of people wanting to own and display my carvings. I don't expect to support myself or my family carving wood, but possibly someday in retirement adding a little bit extra to the nest egg.
Most of all, maybe I just dream of there being value in my work.
So what's to stop me from accomplishing any of the above. Mostly....me.
What that quote said loud and clear to me that day is that many of us hold ourselves back. Why? What is there to lose? Nothing.
Many of us have this irrational fear of failing so we don't try or we play it safe. We don't fail, but we don't succeed.
If I want to be a better carver, then I need to carve. Get better. If I want people to value my work, then put my work out there. People will not value something they cannot see.
So today I have a new perspective. A re-dedication to the idea of being a woodcarver. A new commitment to the process of becoming a real woodcarver. There is nothing to lose, and everything to gain...or as Mr. Jobs would say, "There is no reason not to follow your heart".
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