The Blog of Dan Oliver

Free Will: Les Miserables and The Story of Onesimus

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:42:00 +0000

Slave. Fugitive. Freedom. Leader. The story of Onesimus has all of the structure and drama of a hit Hollywood movie combining major plot themes from Les Miserables with elements of The Dark Knight and Gladiator. We would never grasp the full capacity of this dramatic plot line from the New Testament chapter within which it is contained, Philemon, without historical context and a little imagination.

For reasons unknown, Onesimus became a slave to a man named Philemon of Colossae. Perhaps, he was born into slavery. Perhaps, he was a prisoner of war. Perhaps, he had become so deep in debt that he sold himself into slavery. We're not discussing whether this is right or wrong. The fact of the matter is that Roman law and culture supported this practice.

After some period of time of service he flees, likely stealing from his master to fund his journey as a man on the run and likely putting the lives of his family on the line. Who could really blame him???

1481 miles later Onesimus finds himself in the underbelly of Rome, broke, branded as slave, and hiding from bounty hunters whose work it is to bring him home where he will most likely be killed. Lost and scared in the empire's largest city, Onesimus hears that Paul, a traveling minister whom his master had established a a friendship with in Colossae, is imprisoned in the city. Having no where to go and no one to trust, Onesimus seeks Paul out and finds him.

What transpires from here is a story of transformational change. Onesimus, who had been characteristically lazy even referred to as useless, has experienced a change of heart. Having been welcomed by Paul, he finds himself eager to learn and serve. Paul, not wanting to take advantage of his friend Philemon, writes a letter on Onesimus' behalf and urges him to travel home to his master.

Imagine how difficult this return would be? Traveling 1481 miles by foot, boat, and pack horse with the full understanding that the man to whom you are returning has legal authority to kill you on the spot. Being a journey of reconciliation, however, Philemon welcomes Onesimus home upon reading the letter from Paul. Years later the slave becomes a leader in the community of Ephesus.

On a personal level, I am most interested in the initial desire to flee. It is this decision that created the situation for Onesimus to find true freedom. Onesimus found freedom by running away...but not in the modern sense that we so commonly understand and identify with. The escape itself was not the freeing experience. It was the return. In running away, Onesimus was forced into a situation that was probably worse than the enslavement he fled from.

In talking through his story with my wife, the idea of free will really stuck out to me. Many, Christians might suggest that this was God's plan for Onesimus, but I object to this idea of a plan. Being omnipresent, God exists outside of time and space. Surely then, being a God interested in relationships, he deeply knows our personal stories, history and future. However, does this mean that he actively plans them? I don't think so. This is the beauty and power of free will. Without free will, it seems that we are merely pawns in a cosmic game of Good vs. Evil chess. With free will we have the ability and power to choose the course of our own lives. Surely, though we don't do this process of free will in isolation. It seems logical to me that your decisions affect my own and vice versa. Therefore, our decisions are shaped and influenced by our family, friends, communities, municipalities, nations, and global interactions.

The web of life is more connected than we think. Even "bad" decisions in our lives can lead to transformational outcomes. Whether or not this extrapolation is theologically sound, I cannot say...but, from Onesimus I find encouragement to reject complacency through decisive action and a reminder that mercy and grace are available at every turn.

Outliers & A Look Back at My 2011 Reading List

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:14:00 +0000

As a punctuation to a year's worth of reading, Outliers has been emphatic, inspiring, and freeing. Gladwell, doing what he does best, has taken incredibly complex and somewhat disparate research and infused it with life through narrative.

Ultimately, Outliers serves as brilliant inspiration that hard-work pays off, however it also serves as a freeing reminder that success also requires opportunity. Indeed, there are forces at play within and influence the outcome of our own story that we exert no control over. We must work and diligently, but we must also practice humility in success...and grace in the face of outcomes we do not desire.

Rather than accept conventional wisdom, particularly of the rags-to-riches order so frequently espoused in Western culture, Gladwell set out to explain the careers of really successful people. In it we find that, perhaps, we have been too focused on the individual. Success, broadly speaking, is influenced by many factors outside of the auspices of the individual.

What I enjoy so much is that Gladwell accepts that his work in Outliers is not about undermining what successful people have accomplished in their lives. Instead, Outliers is more about supplementing individual success stories with broader context and support.

The single common thread that connects each of the stories woven throughout Gladwell's work, you ask? Preparation. In each case highlighted the individual is uniquely prepared for their specific opportunity because he or she has put in the necessary effort/work. Steve Jobs. Bill Gates. The Beatles. Jewish lawyers in New York City. KIPP Academy students. NHL All-Stars. The caveat is that the skill set required to hit this necessary baseline is often available through one or many of the factors uncontrollable to the individual...or as Warren Buffet puts it, winning the "ovarian lottery".

As insightful and freeing the book has been to read, I am still left with questions. For instance, if we can look back at successful individuals and study greater trends taking place politically, economically, technologically, and culturally...can we predict how generations might fare in the future? Read the book and you will learn of the unique conditions created for future business tycoons born around 1830, Jewish lawyers born in Brooklyn around 1931, and future technology entrepreneurs born around 1955. What then will be the story of those born in the U.S. in the mid-1980's?

As Echo-Boomers, children of the Baby Boomers, we were born during a phase of significantly high birth rates. We are used to an amazingly high standard of living and have benefited from some of the greatest technological innovation the world has ever seen. We are a media savvy generation that understands global interconnectedness, and yet we have graduated college into The Great Recession. What will be the story of my generation?

More Reading and Reviews from 2011:

The Four Hour Body

In Defense of Food

The Art of Leadership

The Tipping Point

Spark

The Billionaire's Vinegar

Bird By Bird

Made To Stick

NBA Coaches Playbook

Atlas Shrugged

Modern Meeting Standard

Making It All Work

Your Money or Your Life

Life of The Beloved

The Last Battle

The Millionaire Next Door

The Accounting Game

Slide:ology

Business Model Generation

The Millionaire Fastlane

Managing and Raising Money That Is Not Your Own

The Only Necessary Thing

Designing Your Organization

Drive

Financial Intelligence for HR Professionals

Outliers

Completed: 26/26 (100%)
Reviewed: 16/26 (61.5%)

Group Projects: Maximize The 4 Tools You're Already Using + Bonus Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:54:00 +0000

Group Projects. Two words that make most ~~students~~ people cringe. Inevitably, in a group work situation the power of social loafing takes over...or, at best, some individuals will pull their weight, plus some, while others will coast.

In a world fueled by technology it can be difficult to figure out how to navigate all of the options efficiently. If you're a student or in the general workforce, below is a list of tools (most of which you're already using) with a detailed write-up of how to use them efficiently in a group setting.

Email
Email is a communication tool, not a collaboration tool. When working in a group, it's great to start an email thread for the specific project...and stick to it. Let me repeat. Create one thread and stick to it by using the reply and reply-all features. Gmail users and inbox-zero enthusiasts will understand how useful this is because rather than creating a new line item for each individual email, Gmail updates the thread. This limits the visual appearance of information overload and allows for a much more tidy email experience.

Google Docs

If you're writing anything in a group work scenario start with Google Docs. Select a member of the group to direct the editing process. Divide-and-conquer by establishing firm responsibilities and due dates. Written deliverables should be created separately and then pasted into the single Google Doc, which auto-saves immediately. The entire group can witness the collaboration take place.

As the deadline was nearing and final touches were taking place, it was amazing to sit in Starbucks with a team member while seeing that our three other teammates were also working in the document.

If you're team is tech-savvy, use the comments features to insert questions or changes. Another option that I prefer is to write the document in black-text and insert in-text changes, questions, statements in parentheses and a vibrant color (like this). With this second method, all partners can see clearly where there is an issue and the person(s) in charge can circle back to address the shortcoming.

Finally, the tendency for our group was to over compensate. We created way too many files. Rather than create multiple files, create as few as possible. Less is more. One word document that contains everything related to what is deliverables is way easier to navigate than having to remember what information is located within each document. The final deliverable, as word document in this case, can then be downloaded and reformatted into its final draft. Email out the final draft...or place it in Dropbox.

Dropbox

Dropbox is your friend. More, Dropbox is your team's home base. Trust me. Where you use Google Docs to collaborate, use Dropbox to share. Have an individual create a group folder and share it with each member of the team. Any file worth sharing should be dropped into the Dropbox. You can create a sub-folder structure if you like, but a simple drag-and-drop approach should work fine for most projects.

This step, in combination setting up Google Docs, will dramatically reduce the amount of email associated with the project.

Evernote

Evernote is an amazing tool. Though it has collaborative functionality, I suggest using it for personal research. Create one note for the project, specifically for research, and dump everything relevant that you find into that note. Images, links, quotes, check-lists...Evernote can create and manage it all.

Evernote will help you find it later with its nifty search function. Plus, Evernote has technology that allows text-recognition within pictures and images. Very cool. Try to create some sort of formatting that makes sense to you. I prefer page breaks and bold headers. Copy/Paste is your friend, my friend...there's absolutely no reason for a lost citation.

Bonus Tips:

WorldCat.com

While we're talking about citations...If you're working on a project that requires a reference of resources, I found this nifty site which creates the citation for you. Here's a link to the the book Business Model Generation, a fantastic read for aspiring "game-changers". Enter the name of the book, click the cite/export button, and select the format your prefer and BOOM! Done. Very nice! {silly Borat voice}

Google Hangout

Google Hangout is like Skype for groups. It has proven to be very helpful in collaborating with a small team across the country. You must have a Google Plus account to use the Hangout feature, but if you're project requires face-time then Hangout will prove to be extremely helpful. It's free, too. Thanks, Google.

Thankfully, I just wrapped up several weeks of group projects with intelligent and highly motivated colleagues who made the process so enjoyable. Team, if you're reading this....thank-you for the incredible experience. You have set the bar for group work very high.

Reconciling Expectations With Reality: The NCAA Tournament, A Drug Test, and Becoming A Fan

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Sitting in my locker, reflecting on what had just happened I could not help but smile. I had always thought moments like this culminated in tears, but all I could think about were my teammates, my family, and my goals. I had achieved my dream of playing in this tournament…and, yet at the same time my career was over.

Paul, our team's elder statesmen and Athletic Trainer, approached my locker, extended his hand and nodded in affirmation, leaning over he said…"Dan, you've been randomly selected for a drug test. When all of this is done in here come find me and we'll head that way."

Hmmm. Not exactly expecting to hear those words at a moment like this, I obliged:

"Ok. Thanks, Paul."

Shortly thereafter the coaches walked in and offered their best words considering we had just been destroyed by a team that would make it to the National Championship game. Reporters followed in shortly after that. In the midst of my nostalgic daydream and trying to soak up the moment, I stepped into the only quiet space there was and proceeded to use the restroom. While a few of the guys headed to the press conference, everyone else was in the process of changing and heading to the team bus.

I walked out of the locker room and Paul pulled me aside. "You ready?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah. Let's go." I replied and nodded.

Paul walked me down a long red hallway lined with diamond plate steel and then around the corner into a bathroom patrolled by 3 officials of the NCAA. The representatives sat me down, explained the drug-testing process, had me sign some forms, and opened a stall. Then they explained that one of the monitors must observe the entire specimen collection process.

"Kind of weird….but, whatever." I thought.

I walked into the stall…following protocol…expecting to be headed right back out the same door after no more than 10-15 awkward seconds. And then something very strange happened. Absolutely nothing. I couldn't go...and no, this wasn't stage fright. After our post-game talk, I had used the facilities in the locker room without thinking and hadn't had any fluids after the game. This was a classic case of post game dehydration.

After pounding three 16oz. bottles of water, two Gatorades, and an additional 90 minutes of waiting…and waiting….and waiting; ultimately, the situation took care of itself. By the time I had finished though, unknown to me, the bus left the arena to take my teammates back to their hotel.

Just a few hours earlier, I was right where I had always wanted to be, playing in our nation's greatest basketball tournament affectionately known as March Madness and now in an ironic twist of fate, this meant more basketball for me. I walked back out into the arena where my exit as a player had just occurred, sat down behind press-row, and for the first time in my life enjoyed my an NCAA Tournament game no longer as a player, but as a fan.

Its a strange experience to come to grips with the ending of an athletic career while being blown out by your competitor. The experience of having the entire second half, almost an hours time, to see the proverbial writing on the wall was surreal, to say the least.

Often times, our expectations for certain events and their objective reality don't line-up. However, within this conflict there exists beauty in the unpredictable. This aspect of reconciling our expectations with our reality is what makes life great. We must maintain a perspective of hope and anticipation not knowing what the next moment holds.

The Giving Tree and Entrepreneurs: The Connection Between Stories and Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:11:00 +0000

The Giving Tree was one of my favorite story books as a child. I used to imagine what it was like to be the boy who kept returning to a loving mother who was there for her wayward and wandering son. Now, though, I see more clearly a strong undercurrent of codependence rather than unconditional love, but I digress. Regardless of what the story is actually about, it still holds a special place in my heart because of the simple, powerful, and emotional reaction it evoked.

Stories, though, don't just affect children. We're surrounded by stories competing for our attention: news, media, blogs, television, podcasts, social networks, and more. This is the Age of Information...and, thus, we find ourselves frequently in a state of information overload. So what grabs our attention? Good stories.

Good stories rise above the noise.

The Journal of Management Policy and Practice recently featured an article by Brian McKenzie titled “Study of Oral Narrative Provides Preliminary Evidence of Entrepreneurs' Use of Story Telling”. This qualitative analysis of 32 entrepreneurs explored the use of story telling for individual and organizational purposes with and provided interesting insight.

Though the sample size of 32 participants is fairly small, 72% (23) of participants were male. Statistically, the sample group reflects similar findings of entrepreneurial demographics in in the U.S. (62%) and Canada (67%). Additionally, entrepreneurs ages 27-76 were represented providing a wide spectrum of experiences, backgrounds, social context, industry, and culture.

In analyzing interviews with each of the entrepreneurs, McKenzie identified four common threads in the functional use of storytelling: organizing groups and shaping culture, identifying business opportunities, closing sales, and obtaining financing. A recreational use for storytelling was also identified, but not considered unique as cultures of all kinds use stories for recreation and entertainment.

From the research, McKenzie ultimately implies the classic chicken-and-the-egg scenario. Individuals naturally skilled in storytelling might be more likely to become entrepreneurs because of their ability to organize, identify opportunity, sell, and obtain financing or the process of entrepreneurship may place additional demand on the development of one's storytelling skills. The data is not there to clearly support one stance over the other, yet.

Frankly, not everyone will become an entrepreneur. It's essential to understand that communication and storytelling are skills that can be enhanced (academic and professional settings) over time with intentional practice. Sometimes the meaning of a story is very clear and other times a story requires deep reflection and interpretation. Stories are powerful because they carry a message people can relate to in simple packaging. Understanding the structure of great stories and how to communicate them are essential skills for the 21st Century.

For those of you with the time and money, check out the Story Seminar by Robert McKee. Attendees of this seminar have won 35 Academy Awards, 164 Emmies and published countless books! One day, I hope to attend (preferably, in the not-so-distant future). Another option for exploring story is Donald Miler's A Million Miles and One Thousand Years (reviewed here before)...a book focused on the ideas of narrative and using its structure to live a better story.

Story, is something I plan to continue exploring and learning, particularly here on the blog. In the coming weeks and months expect to see, in addition to topical articles, posts focused on recounting and/or telling of specific stories from my own life. The early ones will likely be rough, but my hope is to see a pattern of improvement. Join me. Let's see where this goes.

Evaluating Graduate School: An Examination of Return on Investment

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:48:00 +0000

Return on Investment (ROI) is an overused term and watered down concept. In terms of evaluating an expenditure like going back to graduate school there are essentially three methods to analyze ROI: payback, net present value, and internal rate of return.

For example, if school costs $50,000 and you expect to make an additional $12,500 each year by having the degree then the payback is 4 years. This however does not take into account many factors that involve going to school, such as: lost/foregone wages, interest rates, variable cash flows, and/or any time frame constraints.

Payback is a very simple concept. It's the total cost divided by the increased benefit of attending school. The formula for calculating payback looks like this:

Net present value, on the other hand, provides a much more thorough evaluation of of the true financial implications of attending graduate school (or buying a car, a rental home, a piece of commercial property, etc.). Although this formula looks considerably more complicated than payback, it actually is quite simple thanks to spreadsheets:

If school costs $50,000 and you expect to make an additional $12,500 each year by having the degree...what other factors are being left out? Well, we're enrolling full-time over a 2 year period and must give up our current salary and benefits in order to do this. We suspect we can pick-up some part-time work to supplement our income. We may take out a loan or work as a research assistant to pay for tuition. Situations with factors of this type are perfect for NPV!

I have created a template for evaluating the NPV of returning to graduate school. The numbers have been changed from my personal situation, so please take a look and use it for yourself. For me, it was important to understand and compare multiple scenarios, such as: not going to graduate school, returning full-time employment, and working full-time while attending school part-time. As long as NPV is greater than zero then it is a viable decision. If comparing multiple options, go with the highest NPV value.

Internal rate of return, though different, is essentially the interest rate at which NPV equals zero. You can set up an IRR calculation separately in a spreadsheet or manipulate an NPV calc until it hits zero to find the IRR.

It is worth noting that only what can be quantified is factored in any ROI calculation. Non-financial factors like goals/dreams, networks, and new relationships are difficult to assess but also worthwhile. Ultimately, the decision to return to school (graduate or undergraduate) is one that has major financial implications, but cannot be driven purely by financial thinking.

Here are some additional helpful links:

NPV vs. Payback: Shaping MBA Career Decisions

The NPV of Business School

Graduate School NPV Calculator on Google Docs

The Question: What Should I Do With My Life?

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:22:00 +0000

If you're like me then variations of The Question are continuously on your mind. Why am I doing this graduate program? What am I good at? What do I like to do? What do I really want? The questions go on and on.

I have read many a book, all of which have been helpful in developing a greater understanding of how I relate with the world around me, but none have resulted in any direct epiphany of sorts. I am coming to realize that rarely, if ever, an epiphany occurs. Maybe, we must just allow ourselves the freedom to choose and evolve over time.

Making that choice is hard. The seemingly abundance of opportunity can sometimes be a stumbling block. Decision science has shown that people faced with a plethora of choices are apt to make no decision at all. Additionally, Gen Y's seemingly carry around an unidentified sense of accomplishment syndrome: a nagging feeling that we must always excel and know the next step. Though this pressure feels real, and is to a certain extent, my own experience tells me that often, the things that don't go so well shape me more powerfully than the things that actually do.

In my quest to continue facing well The Question, my hope is to continually encourage those who take this journey with me. If you find yourself in a place where The Question looms, take a few minutes to explore the excerpted quotes below from the article What Should I Do With My Life? The real meaning of success -- and how to find it by Po Bronson.

"...if you don't like The Inevitable Cocktail-Party Question, maybe it's partly because you don't like your answer." (link)

"Asking "What Should I Do With My Life?" is the modern, secular version of the great timeless questions about our identity. Asking The Question aspires to end the conflict between who you are and what you do. Answering The Question is the way to protect yourself from being lathed into someone you're not. What is freedom for if not the chance to define for yourself who you are?" (link)

"There are far too many smart, educated, talented people operating at quarter speed, unsure of their place in the world, contributing far too little to the productive engine of modern civilization. There are far too many people who look like they have their act together but have yet to make an impact." (link)

"Your calling isn't something you inherently "know," some kind of destiny. Far from it. Almost all of the people I interviewed found their calling after great difficulty. They had made mistakes before getting it right. For instance, the catfish farmer used to be an investment banker, the truck driver had been an entertainment lawyer, a chef had been an academic, and the police officer was a Harvard MBA. Everyone discovered latent talents that weren't in their skill sets at age 25." (link)

"The point is, being smarter doesn't make answering The Question easier. Using the brain to solve this problem usually only leads to answers that make the brain happy and jobs that provide what I call "brain candy." Intense mental stimulation. But it's just that: candy . A synthetic substitute for other types of gratification that can be ultimately more rewarding and enduring." (link)

"Environment matters, but in the end, when it comes to tackling the question, What should I do with my life? it really is all in your head. The first psychological stumbling block that keeps people from finding themselves is that they feel guilty for simply taking the quest seriously. They think that it's a self-indulgent privilege of the educated upper class. Working-class people manage to be happy without trying to "find themselves," or so the myth goes." (link)

"Probably the most debilitating obstacle to taking on The Question is the fear that making a choice is a one-way ride, that starting down a path means closing a door forever. "Keeping your doors open" is a trap. It's an excuse to stay uninvolved. I call the people who have the hardest time closing doors Phi Beta Slackers. They hop between esteemed grad schools, fat corporate gigs, and prestigious fellowships, looking as if they have their act together but still feeling like observers, feeling as if they haven't come close to living up to their potential." (link)

Additional relevant quotes:

"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." - Sir Edmund Hilary

"The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me." - Abraham Lincoln

"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places." - Ernest Hemingway

"Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord make harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

For more reviews on Po Bronson's What Should I Do With My Life? learn more at Amazon.

Book Review: The Accounting Game

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:50:00 +0000

I must admit that accounting principles never really "clicked" for me. Though I made A's in those classes, much of what I knew at that time (the basics) has worn off since graduating just a few short years ago.

What makes the The Accounting Game stand out is that its authors, Mullis and Orloff, have crafted an interactive story to go along with the concepts. This element of story requires the individual to engage and practice on-the-go while following the changes of the ultimate American enterprise....the ephemeral Summer Lemonade Stand. Topics known in the classroom for sleepy-eyes and nodding heads become...dare I say fun!

Most reviews on Amazon talk about how great The Accounting Game was in preparing them for undergraduate coursework. This would have surely helped me greatly in my undergraduate coursework, no doubt. However, its also appropriate for those beyond entry-level. If you're currently planning to open your own business, unemployed/underemployed, considering attending graduate school, or in career transition...this book will be helpful in refreshing your mind of the key elements of Accounting in a fresh, fun, interactive format.

The Accounting Game takes the complicated, foundational principles of Accounting, boils them down to their very simple core, provides a story, and oh yeah.....lots of colorful pages. In fact, the pages are so colorful sometimes you feel like your reading a coloring book (especially if you mark-up your books like I do). It will surely be an excellent addition to your arsenal if you feel you need a refresher or an introduction the basic and intermediate Accounting concepts.

For more independent reviews and thoughts check out Lemonade Stand Accounting at Amazon.com.

Career & Money: Active vs. Passive Income

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:23:00 +0000

Everyday, I get to work with kids in the classroom and on the basketball court. I have the freedom to express myself with others in my interactions, my lessons, and I get to work and think about things I enjoy. This was not always the case. Last year, I took a leap of faith and stepped away from a great job at a great company that, for whatever reason, just wasn't a great fit for me.

Even though what I do now is a better fit...there's still internal struggle. Ultimately, I love what I do every day, however, my struggle with this career path mostly revolve around matters of personal finance and income possibilities. In the field of Education income is stable, yet relatively low. Thus, a goal of mine for this year is to pursue new projects and figure out ways to supplement and expand income through creating new and more passive income streams.

My career (like most) is a form of active income. The money I earn is directly connected to my time involved. The same thing is true for my training and coaching side business. Passive income, however, is a stream that may require intense upfront work, but ultimately produces income independent of your time. Thus, learning to develop passive income streams is an extremely compelling task.

The core question to be asked is, "Why more?" For me that answer has to do with liberty. Making more money creates margin that provides freedom and the ability to provide a lifestyle that fits the needs of my family. I realize (and am continually learning) how little it is that we actually need, but I also believe that need is contextual. Sure, I could live in the same way as an indigenous South American Mestizo might, but that's not my reality. My reality is that I am an American living in a metropolitan area and have certain requirements externally placed upon my living that must be met. Are we to shun those externalities and continue on our own path? Or, instead, are we to accept them as they are and continue on doing our best within the situation?

Regardless of the answers to those questions, if your interest is peaked here are some great Passive Income Resources. Also, Smart Passive Income is an incredible blog by a guy who went from being laid off to making $300,000 or more per year. Other great reads include Your Money or Your Life and The Four Hour Work Week.

A few housekeeping items:
I have changed the url for this blog in an effort to more consistently brand my social media profiles online. Dan-Oliver.com is now the centralized headquarters for those efforts. In hindsight, this has created quite a problem with back-links across the blogosphere, something I may have reconsidered had I known the repercussions (traffic has dropped 60% since making the change). Anyways, what's done is done. I will stay committed to those changes and move forward having learned a valuable lesson: have branding in mind when you launch because its challenging to change direction mid-flight.

Weekly Inspiration: Office Space

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:05:00 +0000

Could you really ask for a more inspirational place to work? Click for a few more pics.

In vs. On

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 02:39:00 +0000

Shepherd by Reza Vaziri

In a recent post, Scott Young suggests that there is a key distinction between working-in and working-on and that this small twist has serious implications on how we utilize our time.

Though Young may not wholeheartedly agree with my analysis, for the purposes of this post working-in can be categorized as a posture rooted in response, whereas working-on is rooted in anticipation.

In response, our energy is directed by external stimuli and focused on maintenance. We respond to things we largely cannot control in order to perpetuate the status quo. We had better not disrupt office politics by missing our weekly report deadline, when in actuality we have three proposals that need our attention.

Anticipation, on the other hand, requires thoughtful and difficult decision. To anticipate well we must step back, gain perspective, and act in accordance with a vision of the bigger picture. If our goal is to serve and impact our customers, then shouldn't I actually be putting my energy and effort into tailoring these packages specifically to the needs of each customer? Yep. You should.

Here me say this: I am realizing much of my own life is rooted in response...and to some degree this is unavoidable. However, simply recognizing where we are can change everything. Will we be controlled by responding or will we choose anticipating as our first option?

Though it doesn't make it right, a posture of response is considerably more manageable in the short-term. Respond to this {insert your favorite: email, voicemail, bill, meeting, Facebook message, tweet, etc.} right now! It's tangible. It's also very easy to get lost/trapped/stuck/blindsided/mislead by this type of working-in work. We lose perspective, become jaded, and feel like we're doing more than we actually are.

Working-on requires a unique combination of vision and discipline. Working-on refuses to accept the status quo, self-perpetuates, and systematically removes oneself from response-related minutiae. Anticipating allows for the identification of work that maximizes our time, creates value, and offers significant return.

Now that you've read this, are you working-in or working-on? Where can you step back, gain clarity, and re-initiate?

Grad School

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 01:48:00 +0000

I have started a graduate degree program at Vanderbilt University relating to organizations and leadership. Though it will be engulfing much of my time away from work, I plan to continue blogging as part of a commitment to personal development. Many of my posts here will begin to reflect the topics and ideas covered in my program of study. I will, however, throw in a post every now and then relating to personal reading and/or DIY projects.

Though this blog is not aimed at the masses, if you do read my thoughts on a regular basis I thank you and appreciate your participation when commenting and emailing.

Book review: The Millionaire Fastlane

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:17:00 +0000

Frankly, once I started The Millionaire Fastlane I could not stop. I read it while eating breakfast, during breaks at work, between sets during my workouts, and (of course) before bed. It struck a chord within and challenged me on many levels to think...and to act.

Author MJ DeMarco has constructed a compelling text born out of practical experience. He shares his story in direct, conversational, humorous way that highlights the failures and successes of his personal track record. The book is about whole lot more than what you can buy with six extra zeros on the end of your bank account (though it discusses that too)...it's about an approach to life. Have your choice from The Sidewalk, The Slow Lane, or The Fast Lane.

Though there are many ideas worth considering, there are particularly three "sticky" points or key take-aways from my own reading:

- Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Value

- Events vs. Processes

- Producers vs. Consumers

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Value

Ultimately, this comparison is rooted in the issue of time. You have the decision to spend your time obtaining something to make you more knowledgeable as an individual (intrinsic value) or learning for the purposes of creating something that people want to consume (extrinsic value). Both strategies can work.....but extrinsic, market value seems to pay in larger doses.

DeMarco's thoughts on formal education really struck a chord with me. Especially, as I am beginning a 3 year stretch of part-time graduate studies. DeMarco is clear that he believes lifelong learning is key to success, but let's just say he's not bullish on education of the formal type. If I sold a company for $30mm I guess that I might feel similarly, too.

For me, education is important and it's something I am committed to pursuing. I plan to continue learning throughout my life, whether in a school-setting or not (that's a large part of what this blog is about).

Events vs. Processes

DeMarco suggests that events are individual moments that lead to a rapid increase in wealth: winning the lottery, a lawsuit, and/or gaining an inheritance. Processes, on the other hand, are what most consistently lead to wealth: building a business, making X# of sales calls, perfecting one's art/sport/music/craft, and more.

As DeMarco says, processes build value....and over time this increase in value leads to the aforementioned pay-day events (selling a business, making the bestseller list, booking a sold out tour, signing a contract in the NFL. As we know, Powerball winners frequently go bankrupt within 3-5 years. Processes, then, as a function are consistently more profitable than events alone.

I can identify with this mindset. In my personal experience, becoming a NCAA Division I scholarship athlete was a process leading to an event...which, in this case, lead to another process. My hope is that I can take this intuitive framework of process and use it to help me build something for the future (see: The Fastlane).

Producing vs. Consuming

It seems that Western culture has adapted a posture of full-fledged consumerism. Governments around the world can't control their spending, so why would their constituents? Consumers far outnumber those that produce. In the law of supply and demand producers win.

Why not play in a game where trillions of dollars are exchanged every single day?

For me, this question of producing versus consuming has continually reemerged since my days in high school and is something I'm going to have to address and find an answer because deep down I wonder whether or not I can do it.

A Final Note on Math

DeMarco makes a point about using math in your favor...and it makes a lot of sense. Here are a few examples: 40 hours for 50 weeks over 40 years, save 15% of income, 10% annual average return, 5 days on with 2 days off. We know what these stand for and understand that there are many more numbers that demonstrate the same point.

The notion of live the life you've always wanted when you're 65 years old has always struck me as obtuse. It seems that we give away our most vibrant years in exchange for a future that may or may not come. Many individuals my parents age have seen their portfolios wrecked in recent years, for instance.

Living below your means and saving/investing your future is a great idea and something I believe in, but there are things I hope to experience that just won't be the same when I'm 65. Is this line of thinking selfish or sensible? (Rhetorical...though if you have some thoughts please comment).

The Millionaire Fastlane was a good kick in the pants. It challenged me to think more critically about my financial/professional goals...and the road required to get there. Building/developing a business is a process. Processes take time, effort, resources...and more. Ultimately, this book is about time and energy more so than money. Money is and will always be a tool. Use it wisely!

Weekly Inspiration: May You Always Do What You're Afraid To Do

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 20:47:00 +0000

This idea is especially poignant for me right now. Many of the ponderings of my mind and heart are revealing that there indeed are challenges that scare me...and that, perhaps, I should face them squarely.

If you're looking for more inspiration check out Julian Bialowas' website or this post featuring many of his designs.

War and Peace: Change, Adaptability, and Structure

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 03:51:00 +0000

In the private sector, for-profit and social-sector businesses must adapt quickly to environmental circumstances in order to thrive in the market place. Governments, however, have less incentive...and , quite frankly, less ability to quickly adapt due to layer-upon-layer of bureaucratic structure.

In this TED talk Thomas Barnett discusses how the process for war and peace has fundamentally changed in the last century, yet the structures for engaging war and peace in the United States have remained much the same.

Barnett refers to a Leviathan force through which the U.S. has an unparalleled capacity to wage war and wipe out its opposition, yet no distinctly separate capacity for the transition period after war in which maintaining and building peace is critical.

Though difficult, if we remove political bias and view this example from another scenario it's much like two medical doctors who treat patients with distinctly separate specialties. One, a surgeon, and the other, and internist. Both doctors, two entirely different world-views. The former believes the best solution is to cut you, whereas the latter believes a combination of medicine, exercise, and nutrition is the best approach.

Though Barnett addresses an issue relevant to the Pentagon, the same point applies to the organizations we work in. What has changed about the environment in which we operate in the last year? 5? 10? Do we understand whom we serve and how? Can can we better coordinate departments (or knowledge, or relationships) toward the same end? Who can we invite into the process to reveal any bias we overlook?

Weekly Inspiration: Miles, Miles, Miles

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:13:00 +0000

Weekly Inspiration: Solitude & Contrast

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:19:00 +0000

"Solitude is the furnace of transformation." - Henri Nouwen

I love this picture from Tomasz Gudzowaty from his recent series on the Serengeti. To begin, my eyes scan the top of the photo where animals begin to become individuals again; a result of emerging from the sheer force and raw power of the herd. Next, in the middle of the photo it is virtually impossible to distinguish one animal from the next as they pile upon each other in an effort to climb the river bank and find safety. Finally, at the bottom of the photo, the lone Zebra stands in stark tranquility to the rest of the participants with an undisturbed, almost peaceful solitude. She seemingly holds her ground! A truly amazing photo.

So often we connect solitude with loneliness, yet they are distinct conditions of the spirit. Where loneliness is impaired, solitude is a insightful state of being. In solitude we find what we're made of...and what we're not. Learning both encourages growth. Yes, in solitude we are transformed.

Book Review: The Millionaire Next Door

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 16:08:00 +0000

If you have a pulse, work for a living, and are interested in becoming financially independent you should consider reading this book. You will find no secrets to overnight success only approaches for money, time, energy, and money from those who have really done it....and details from those who are no where close.

What I love about The Millionaire Next Door is that it is a research-based look inside the lives of America's wealthiest households that yields a surprising examination of the habits and characteristics in alignment with accumulating wealth. There are anecdotal references and stories thrown in to add flavor, but the authors by-and-large stick to the data.

Though published in 1996, The Millionaire Next Door proves to be an oldie-but-goodie. Though current research may show the hard numbers to be different today, the underlying principles of how individuals accumulate wealth likely will not change.

Through exhaustive research of IRS data, focus-groups, and one-on-one interviews with high-income earning and/or high net-worth individuals, authors Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D and William D. Danko, Ph.D boil the traits demonstrated by those who accumulate prodigious wealth down to seven factors:

1. The live well below their means.
2. The allocate their time, energy, and money efficiently, in ways conducive to building wealth.
3. They believe that financial independence is more important than displaying high social status.
4. Their parents did not provide economic outpatient care.
5. Their adult children are economically self-sufficient.
6. They are proficient in targeting market opportunities.
7. They chose the right occupation.

Interestingly, Stanley and Danko offer a simple equation for computing one's expected net worth:

.1 X (Current Age) X Pre-Tax Annual Income = Net Worth

For example, Sallie is 31 years old and earns $80,000 per year before taxes. According to the authors, Sallie should be worth approximately $248,000 assets, equities, cash, and cash equivalents. In addition to this equation, the authors detail what it is to be a prodigious accumulator of wealth (PAW), an average accumulator of wealth (AAW), and an under accumulator of wealth (UAW).

Frankly, I wrestle with this formula as a young-professional. One, because I don't hit that target and, two, it seems oversimplified. There seems that there should be some sort of climbing curve, as, in general, earning power does not seem to hit full-stride until middle or late career. Anyhow, I can see the need to keep things simple. The book is published for the public and not a scientific community.

I found the chapter on Economic Outpatient Care to quite informative, as well. The book explains the pitfalls many first-generation wealthy create for their children in an effort to provide an economically safe environment that includes private schools, expensive clothing, and social memberships. This, however, is the law of unintended consequences at play. In an effort to prevent financial hardship and struggle, first-generation millionaires often actually prevents their children from developing resilience and self-sufficiency by enabling a lifestyle of hyper-consumption. Of course, this is not true for all, but the data is fairly compelling.

A mentor recently shared the following advice with me relating to financial independence: Never go a day without income. Always spend less than you earn. Put money away for opportunities later...and be conservative. And, if you marry, make sure it's the right match. Much like that found in the book, this advice confirms that, ultimately, the patience, discipline, and focus are the elements of developing wealth with any income!

On a separate note, posting will slow down this Fall (especially book reviews) as I am beginning graduate-level studies on top of working full-time. I am very excited about what's ahead and hope to discuss topics relating to Leadership and Organizations as I study them in my coursework, but I am also unsure of the demands that will be placed on my time. Only time will tell!

Book Review: Read This Before Our Next Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 23:18:00 +0000

Read This Before Our Next Meeting is a book about meetings and what they reveal of organizational posture. What does the culture of meetings suggest about the character of your company? Do individuals arrive prepared and ready to participate or do meetings seem to roll along with no clear objective or end in sight? Somewhere along that spectrum you will find your organization.

What Pittampalli calls The Modern Meeting Standard is the guideline for 21st Century meetings and 21st Century organization. Meetings are frequently some of the most expensive undertakings an organization does, especially when they are inefficiently managed, strictly informational, and/or held for the convenience/status of the decision-maker.

At is core, The Modern Meeting is about decision, dissent, conflict, and coordination. It is used to determine the specific actions needed to carry out the underlying decision, though ultimately, it must only be owned by one individual. The individual who owns is the leader...regardless of position/status.

Below are the seven principles of The Modern Meeting Standard:

1. The Modern Meeting supports a decision that has already been made.

Conversations are critical for pre-decision input...not meetings.

2. The Modern Meeting starts on time, moves fast, and ends on schedule.

Sports have clear outcomes and are generally framed by boundaries and time. In the same manner, meetings need to start, end, and move swiftly.

3. The Modern Meeting limits the number of attendees.

With each additional attendee the number of agreements to establish consensus increases exponentially. The fewer, the better.

4. The Modern Meeting rejects the unprepared.

Agendas are thoughtfully crafted and sent in advance. If you are unprepared or unwilling to speak up, don't be surprised if you're not invited to the next one. (See #3)

5. The Modern Meeting produces committed action plans.

It’s the decision maker/owner must lead effective meetings, establish clear responsibilities, and follow up. a meeting with no steps for action is a waste.

6. The Modern Meeting refuses to be informational. Reading memos is mandatory.

Managers will be required to capture and disseminate their ideas in memos, yet everyone will be required to read in order to participate. (See #4)

7. The Modern Meeting works only alongside a culture of brainstorming.

The Modern Meeting is about decision, thus brainstorming is critical in creating as many options/ideas as possible. Some will be terrible, but a small percentage will be outstanding. Use the great ones.

In reviewing the Amazon page for the book, a reviewer commented:

There are some good ideas and quotes in this book, and some that are just wishful thinking. For instance, before attending a meeting, every member should ask himself: "Are you attending symbolically, or simply as a way to demonstrate your power?". Then it continues: "From now on, if you're invited to a meeting where you don't belong, please don't attend". Whaaat? Do you diss your boss's, the steering committee's and some other meetings because "you don't belong"? If everybody does it, good. If only YOU do it, that's career suicide.

This guy is absolutely right...with a caveat. Yes, it is career suicide if you just decide to stop showing up at meeting without having that conversation of why with your superior. Certainly, even if one does have that conversation there's a possibility it won't be well received. However, if this new standard is rolled out intentionally in small doses within committees, project teams, departments, business units, and more...then maybe one day The Modern Meeting Standard will be a viable option.

If you're interested in learning more, check out The Modern Meeting Standard website. In addition to great ideas there you will find wonderful agenda template to consider using in your organization. I love the personal pledge it incorporates at the bottom of the page.

Weekly Inspiration: Move. Eat. Learn.

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:13:00 +0000

3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage...these are the elements of an amazing journey. The byproduct of that trip, you ask? See the three videos below. They are beautiful reminders of the power travel has to transform our perspective.

As Mark Twain said in Innocents Abroad,"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

$7 Fitness: PVC Roller

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:14:00 +0000

Foam rolling is a form of self-massage accomplished using a 6" diameter foam tube between 12"-36" long. Rolling works wonders by allowing you to self-massage through applying pressure to tender and tight muscles. It's definitely something to consider adding to your current routine.

Rather than dropping $25 (or more) on an item which may need to be routinely replaced, why not spend $7 on one that will last considerably longer? Enter the PVC pipe.

Yes, PVC is harder than your typical foam. This may be problematic for some, but really...it hurts so good! If you really need to soften the PVC up a bit, then follow this guy's advice and wrap it up with an old yoga mat or even tightly wrap it with cord/rope.

For more flexibility and mobility advice checkout MobilityWOD, by far one of the best sources of information online. Here's a video for reference:

Related archives:

$15 Fitness: T-bar Kettle Bell

$35 Fitness: Garage Pull-up Bar

$10 Fitness: PVC Parallettes

Book Review: Making It All Work

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Truth: We are not born with an inherent understanding of how to manage the flow of information that assaults us daily. These details include: personal commitments, projects and deadlines at work, car and home maintenance schedules, organizing meals for a friend at church, planning your summer vacation, calling your grandmother, researching anniversary gift ideas, finding time to exercise, picking up the dry cleaning and many more. As someone, who has historically struggled with life's details…this truth was a key factor for engaging so deeply with Making It All Work.

In order to fully understand this book, we must examine its context. Making It All Work is actually a follow-up to the very successful book and productivity system, Getting Things Done. GTD, as its known in the blogosphere, has a fanatical following for its simple, detailed prescription of how to best capture and deal with the constant flow of information that enters our lives.

Having not yet read GTD (though still very familiar with its underpinnings), Making it All Work is actually a great starting point for someone like myself. Where GTD seems to be the engineering/design, nuts-and-bolts, system-focused approach, Making It All Work is the highlighted, Cliff-notes, visionary version. Fundamentally, Making It All Work is a big-picture book focused how the GTD system fits into the bigger picture of being human and operating well within the challenges of the modern world.

At its core, Making It All Work is focused on harmonizing life's details by enhancing control and perspective. Material like this seems like it could drift into outer space, yet Allen remains very practical suggesting a variety of tools and approaches.

The first half of the book is dedicated towards gaining control. This section is basically an introduction and cliff-notes version of his original GTD framework. However, for someone who has not read the first book, this section provides the necessary overview without having to get into the monotonous nuts-and-bolts of the system. Think about GTD as a tractor on a farm…it gathers, processes, sorts, plants, and provides helps optimize conditions that allow for growth.

Capturing - This is the starting block. In order to free your mind, your system must capture everything. Start with a brain dump or physically collecting everything in you physical space that requires your attention.
Clarifying - Helps transform the vague into the real. Process each item individually that has been collected/captured. What does this mean to you? Does it require action? Is it trash? Act accordingly.
Organizing - Perhaps, the most obtuse and, yet, essential component of GTD. How will you arrange, track, and manage the details. Many a pearl of wisdom here!
Reflecting - We must routinely pause: 1) to get current and 2) gain insight. We must reflect on our process and examine is working and what is not in order to build a sustainable system.
Engaging - What has to happen first? What does doing look like? Where does it happen? This details the thought process of thinking through and mapping out the actions related to whatever enters our world.

The second half of the book is dedicated to sharpening perspective. To capture the essence of perspective, Allen uses the airplane and its altitudes as metaphor. Aligning our actions within the bigger picture of who we are a individuals is the ultimate target. To do this, though, we must have a greater understanding of who we are and where we want to go. Again, Making It All Work provides an excellent framework for examining the various levels of personal perspective.

Purpose/Principles (50,000') - Why am I? How, in terms of quality, am I?
Vision (40,000') - What does long-term success look, sound, and feel like?
Goals (30,000') - What do I want to achieve?
Areas of Focus (20,000') - What do I need to maintain?
Projects (10,000') - What do I need to complete?
Actions (runway) - What do I need to do?

Action and Engagement represent the intersection of perspective and control. This is where the rubber meets the road.

Making It All Work is primarily concerned with the stewardship of self as means of maximizing productivity and how that translates to our day-to-day, moment-by-moment actions. However, at the same time it is spiritual in that it is predicated on a greater understanding of one's self, beliefs, and contexts. If we have not made amends with and/or developed an understanding of where we obtain ultimate meaning then action is, to some degree, diluted. Just as we learned with Your Money or Your Life, every aspect of outward living is rooted with our inward spiritual selves.

This book is easily one of the best I've read. Ever. However, there were at times when 10 pages of reading was all I could handle for the moment. The sheer granularity of the subject matter was just too much to process. Ultimately, though I would return hungry for more instruction. There is so many points of application, it will truly become an essential reference in how I manage my life and interact with the details that flow within it.

***Edit 8/2/11: If you find yourself interest in learning more, checkout Getting Started with Getting Things Done and his is a wonderful visual of the GTD decision tree....

Weekly Inspiration: We Miss You

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:19:00 +0000

WE MISS YOU is a short, yet powerful commentary on our disconnectedness from nature. Give it a watch, it's only two minutes. Like any relationship, the more time I spend in nature the more I grow to respect and wonder at it's complexity, generosity, and dynamism.

This film reminds me of what author Donald Miller recently wrote on his blog relating to his need for unplugging:

"Regardless, I’ll be off the grid, recharging, remembering that God made the world and we made the city and fighting to bring a little more of what God made back into the stuff that we made."

If you want to spread the word, check out the video's website and share on Twitter, Facebook, or Email. (Hat tip to Eugene who consistently finds amazing content)

Related Archives:

180° South: Reflections on Journey, Nature, and Modern Civilization

Thoreau & Tools

Weekly Inspiration: Torrey Pines

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 03:08:00 +0000

I spent last week in San Diego for a conference relating to work. Wednesday provided a break between two-day sessions and allowed me the opportunity to travel up the coast to nearby La Jolla, CA where Torrey Pines is located.

Interestingly, Torrey Pines leaves the first hour of play available for walk-ons. After some diligent research, I learned it is best to show up between 5:00-5:30am...a small sacrifice for the opportunity to play a world-class course that hosts an annual PGA Tour event (Farmer's Insurance Open) and the 2008 US Open won by Tiger Woods won in an epic 19 hole Monday playoff.

Everything about Torrey Pines was exhilirating: the starters and staff, the morning fog, the vistas, the ambiance. Frankly, it took me 9 holes to settle down...though I did lip out for birdie on #1. Here are some pictures from the experience worth sharing.

Hole #3: Played 167 with a back-left pin. Arguably, the best vista on the South Course.

Hole #12: This 465 yard Par 4 plays into the ocean breeze. Paragliders launch to the left.

Holes #13: This 523 yard Par 5 features dramatic elevation changes and three tiers of bunkers fronting the green. The tree at the bottom of the hill hosts several hawk nests, which circle above if you require a three shot approach.

Hole #14: This 420 yard Par 4 is fairly straightforward. The vista from this green is my personal favorite as you can see the ocean, a broad valley, and much of the rest of the course....also, slightly biased because I birdied it with a 20' put!

***Scorecard here (PDF).

Book Review: Your Money or Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Oliver) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:53:00 +0000

Imagine being held at gunpoint at an ATM late at night. After a few moments of pleading with the criminal, he says"Gimme all the money you can get from this machine…..or it's your life!" What would your answer be? Certainly, all of us would give up our money in exchange for our lives. Right?

However, upon a thorough examination of our financial accounts and decision-making, we may likely discover that we have a tainted relationship with money; a relationship that actually places money in greater importance than living.

Your Money or Your Life provides the template for examining your relationship with money through a series of penetrating questions and processes designed to reveal our true attitudes relating to work, life, and money.

Ultimately, money is an expression of the life energy we traded it for. For example, $100 is has a different value to an investment banker than an elementary school teacher. The relative value of any sum of money depends on the time and rate at which it was earned. Though we share common currencies, the value of my dollar is different from yours. We live in different cities, have different jobs/skills, and enjoy different experiences/things. By choosing to understand money as an embodiment of our individual life-energy we can more fully evaluate those things we purchase.

Ultimately, this book is about consciousness and value. By developing a greater awareness of how we earn and spend, we then are equipped to better measure the value of purchases relative to our individual interests/values/morals/ethics. This is not about being a cheapskate, but more about maximizing value. By increasing our understanding value, we can begin to determine what is actually enough. Be it money, possessions, experiences, or anything else we trade money for.

Along with incredible economic expansion, the Industrial Revolution has fostered a host of problematic side-effects most notably marked by the measuring stick of material possession. Armed with an new understanding of money, we can go forth resisting consumption that provides no personal value and better optimize how we spend our time, talents, and resources. We can switch gears to address the other needs of our lives that so frequently go unnoticed: relational, philosophical, philanthropic, spiritual, and more.

Money is not inherently bad. It has no intrinsic value whatsoever, beyond that which we assign it. Choosing to see our unique and personal life-energy embedded in the dollars we acquire provides new possibilities. We can better evaluate expenditures, we can better evaluate our jobs, we can better evaluate our life style, and more….

As one who is often captivated by money, this book has been a blessing. I look forward to working through the nine steps over the next few months and developing a greater understanding of my relationship with money and how to continue growing in light of these lessons. I feel this book could come with a powerful disclaimer, to an unsuspecting reader:

WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU'RE TRULY INTERESTED IN CULTIVATING A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY!