The social age is causing disruption with businesses everywhere. Indeed the chaos, pace and pressure of this present day shift can often leave us in a state of bewilderment, a slump, a funk or a rut. Perhaps, from time to time, like me, you find yourself in a valley of deep shadow wondering how to change the apparent trajectory of your vocation whilst trying to balance it all.

"I need answers!" I hear you say. Get a grip. You've got them already.

Take a blank sheet of paper, pen/pencil of choice. Proceed to a quiet place and write down your intuitive answer to this question:

Why don’t you have everything you want in your life right now?

Do this alone, be honest, write freely. More than likely it will include a few of these usual suspects:

1. I procrastinate,
2. I’m not clear,
3. I don't work off a plan or set goals,
4. I’m not organised,
5. I sleep in,
6. I watch too much TV,
7. I'm addicted to social media, email, the Internet, my devices,
8. I work hard on things that don't matter,
9. I complain and make excuses,
10. I’m always busy doing things for other people;
11. I don’t pause and reflect,
12. I am living someone elses expectation for my life,
13. I don’t collect ideas,
14. I don’t experiment and take moderate risks,
15. I don't track my progress
16. I don’t have the desire,
17. I don’t follow through and build momentum,
18. I don't even know what I want any more,
19. I’m waiting for a sign,
20. I blame others,
21. I don't step outside my comfort-zone; I play it safe,
22. I'm not prepared to do the hard work,
23. I'm waiting for permission,
24. I allow self-doubt to hijack the projects I start,
25. I am too reliant on others,
26. I don't take baby steps and lack consistency.

.....be sure to write your own list ;-)

It's commonplace to look on the outside for answers, solutions and direction. You’ll just get another book, you'll just talk to another friend, you’ll just wait a little while longer until you know, you’ll attend a focus group, you'll wait for your boss to tell you, you’ll sign up for another webinar etc.

No doubt about it, there is a time to seek advice.

The thing is this: we have this faculty called intuition, honed by what we consistenyly feed our minds, which is perfectly capable of giving us the direction, answers and solutions that we need only if we can be still and quiet enough to let it speak. Your first stop is you, then others.

Our modern day information rich culture is very noisy. The downside is that makes it harder and harder to hear your inner voice.

I like quiet time. Its the sure fire way I know to tap into my inner wisdom. All artists know this. You and I know what we need to do. So lets do it.

Thanks for reading. Be kind!

As you begin another work day, what goes through your mind?

Is it just another day on auto pilot?

What will you do today? Will it matter?

Will you enjoy it?

Will you inspire others and maybe yourself?

Will you be productive, engaged or even passionate?

Will you surprise others or maybe even yourself?

Will you do your best work?

Will you bravely transform or simply transact?

Will you complete the day feeling satisfied with your contribution?

Will you do what you want to do or will it be the bidding of someone else?

I'm inspired by the concept of intention and the people who enact it. We have a choice to let each day pass or to make each day matter. A day is all you have, compounded over time our days have the potential to add up to a lot. The inimitable Benjamin Franklin, founding father of the USA, knew this and had potent approach to his daily routine. He commences each day with the discipline to ask as profoundly simple, yet powerful question.

"What good shall I do this day?" --Benjamin Franklin

With the pandemonium and the busyness of life I find it’s too easy to just let another day go by. Sometimes it’s scary to realise I can't recall what I've done in the last few days because I never did anything of real meaning or value. Sure I was busy and sure I was not lying around watching TV, but therein lays the trap. We can easily busy ourselves to no avail. Sure we have to get stuff done, but don't trick yourself into thinking that being busy is OK. This is too easy.

I write, not because it’s easy. I write because it forces me to think and makes me intentional about my time, my days and the things I choose to do. It sparks the power of intention. This power is simple and I like simple.

Being intentional creates personal potency because it set in motion creativity and creativity is what we get rewarded for. --Karl Rohde

This is how all artists begin. Great art or meaningful outcomes occur when we set about to intentionally create something. And all we need is today to start.

There are two kinds of people in the world. There are hammers and there are nails. You decide which one you want to be. --Will Smith, in the movie FOCUS.

Being intentional is the difference between creating something and creating nothing. Go forth. (click to tweet)

Building on my series of articles on the Social Age, in this article we look a little deeper into the first step to winning in the new world of work.

On September 2009, in a small venue in Puget Sound, the 3rd most popular TED talk of all time was given by Simon Sinek to an audience of around 100 people. The punch of the 18 minute discourse sums up succinctly how leaders inspire action. It's a simple message that resonates deeply with the human spirit and our innate desire to grow and do something that matters.

Here’s the nub of his talk: We all know what to do and how to do it but very few know why. Knowing the WHY is paramount because people don’t buy what and how you do things they buy why you do it. When what you do carries a sense of purpose and meaning, customers, bosses, clients and peers connect beyond the utility of what you do. This is how Social Age tribes are formed. This is how personal branding comes to light. This is how people become notable leaders.

Furthermore a new study from Deloitte confirms that companies who focus on purpose before profit are more successful than companies that don’t.

Unsettled by uncertain economic times, rattled by the emptiness of our hyper-consumer society, and transformed by mobile Internet connections, people are seeking to create meaning in their lives. (Emotive Brand)

So, if the new world of work is defined by meaning and purpose we do well to question our personal working style. So why do you work? And does it even matter?

Why Do You Work?

It’s a tough question if for most of your working life you have focused on WHAT and HOW. Is it for money, purpose, meaning, relationships, creative expression, passion or growth?

The social age makes answering this question ever more relevant because customers, being spoilt for choice, expect more. And this coincides nicely with the Social Age where the opportunity to do more, as individuals, has never been better. Yes, the Social Age makes art, your creative output, more achievable than ever before. We are living in a modern Renaissance.

The ability to do great work, not just good work has never been more accessible. Permission to do your special thing is no longer required. You can start a blog, a meet-up, a community, produce a product, give a talk or create a course. Art used to be something for a privileged elite but now anyone with a connected device can ship art. Being generic, an offshoot of the industrial age, used to be a viable path to a long term career. This is no longer the case as we see disruption across the economy, technology, industries and the rise of smart Internet savvy entrepreneurs.

As it turns out the new world of work is a choice. What would you rather be? Aware, caring, committed, creative, honest, improvising, incisive, independent informed, initiating, innovating, insightful, leading, strategic, authoritative, supportive......or obedient? (Seth Godin, author of Linchpin).

Why Can’t I Just Focus on WHAT and HOW?

The hierarchy of value tells us that there are more people at the bottom (script based repetitive work) where the pay is low, the work is hard but easy to learn. At the top (creative, innovative, social) there are fewer people, the pay is high, the work is easier but harder to learn.

You can: keep your head down, follow instructions, show up on time, work hard, suck it up, and do just what your job description says.

Or you can: be remarkable, be generous, create art, make judgement calls, show vulnerability, connect people and ideas and go beyond the confines of your position description.

Who would you rather hire, work with or buy from?

The call to action is this: expose the WHY in your work. Winning in the new world of work begins here.

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The terms to describe the economic era we are presently contending with are varied. The Digital Era, the Internet Age, the Connection Economy are but a few new terms for the ever evolving economic era that is defining a new world of work. If you've been following my writing you'll know I refer to it as The Social Age.

Once you recognise we are living in a new and ever changing economic era you'll begin to see that the way we've been working needs to change too. The workplace and businesses are being disrupted and the management thinking that built them is losing validity fast.

Many incumbents—aka pre-Internet companies—built their businesses based on assumptions of scarcity: scarce information, scarce distribution resources and market reach, or scarce choice and shelf space. Now, though, these factors are abundant, lowering or eliminating barriers to entry and making entire industries ripe for change. --Eric Schmidt (executive chairman of Google)

In the foray of this change we have a choice. Hold back or adapt. If you choose the latter there is a new path working itself out that is in perpetual metamorphosis among a growing tribe of passionate connected individuals.

My research points to 5 things that super successful people are doing to thrive in this new world of work. Here we go:

5 Sure Fire Tactics to Succeed in the Social Age

1. Be On Purpose. It was Simon Sinek who embellished the concept of knowing your WHY. And it's with good reason for the simple discovery that people don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it. Knowing our why generates purpose and meaning in our work and this is where your uniqueness becomes competitive advantage.

2. Work for Yourself. In the post-industrial era the idea of dependence and entitlement is waning. Security is your responsibility and not that of your employers. A new entrepreneurial work ethic is gaining momentum and it incorporates the age old wisdom from Ralph Waldo Emerson to be self-reliant. This is a mindset that applies to employees just as it does to the self-employed.

3. Become an Authority. Being mediocre is no longer an option like it was in the past. In the Social Age you have to be brilliant at something and thanks to the Internet establishing a personal brand showcasing your work never been more possible. When we Google your name, what will we find?

4. Build A High Quality Network. Working in isolation has its limits. In the Social Age where passionately connected individuals drive the value chain, you need a network. A network is your pool of talent that helps to amplify your impact and reach. If you got laid off today, who in your network could you call that would care?

5. Build A Platform. In the Social Age you have to market and sell your wares. Yes, the Internet is vast and awesome but it brings chaos. It's a noisy place and getting heard is not easy. And not getting noticed means you don’t get paid either. Therefore, a platform is the place that tells me what you want me to know about you and what value you provide. This is your new resume that showcases your work.

These 5 tactics are all about being remarkable, indispensable and accessible. And it’s a choice. In the next 5 posts I will build on each of these tactics. So stay tuned.

Thanks for reading another WorkLikeAnArtist.com article.

Question: What are your observations of this new world of work? I'm all up for connecting so please go ahead and email me - karl [ If you liked this post please share on your social networks, email to a few friends. Connect with me on Google+, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

This article is a continuation in a series of articles on the Social Age. You can start reading it here.

When I look at people in the workforce I see fear. Mostly it lies dormant when things are predictable, comfortable and when we are distracted by small things. This fear is however, quickly activated. It becomes more pronounced when businesses change and peoples jobs are impacted. It could be a re-structure, a new operating model, downsizing, offshoring, merging and more. The fear is this: Will I be lucky enough to make it through the change. Since we were taught through the industrial era to be reliant, this is a natural response. It is however, time for a more relevant response that relies less on luck and more being relevant to the present economic era.

The reality is that businesses are not only changing, they are being disrupted whether they like it or not. There are winners (Amazon, Netflix) and there are losers (Kodak, Blockbuster). The Social Age is making its mark and making a big impact on businesses and workers alike.

How the Social Age has Impacted Work

1. The industrial age is dead. Compliance and obedience at work will no longer be rewarded like it was in the past. Google, for example, places recruitment as the number one skill for managers and what they want are a new type of employee: SMART CREATIVES who lead themselves, collaborate and never stop growing. The digital era is spawning fast business where new rules apply and where entrepreneurial culture is on the rise.
2. The map is gone. Career planning used to be predictable. Now the only certainty is uncertainty. Business transformation is in play. We are seeing the thin edge of the wedge. What we see now will only be amplified in the future. Just reflect back 5 years when the iPad didn’t exist. The pace of change is faster than we can plan for. No one can plan even 5 years ahead. We are at the start of a whole new era and we are just beginning to figure it all out.
3. Customers are more tech savvy and can source their own technology. Customers have more options now than ever before and they don't need to rely on a skilled technical elite to guide them. In many cases marketing teams are giving IT a kick in the rear. With digital, the channel for business is no longer controlled.
4. There are now two races. Seth Godin articulates that there is now a race to the top and a race to the bottom. Be the cheapest or be the best. Being mediocre is not a long term option like it used to be. At the bottom we observe the Internet fuelled challenge to lower prices, find cheaper labour, and deliver more for less. At the top we observe the remarkable where people and businesses are embracing creativity, innovation and the pursuit of meaning (watch a few TED.com talks).

What Must I Do Now?

I'm not going to give you a map (Remember, the map is gone.)

What we are seeing is the pressure to change. What naturally follows is the impulse to survive. This is the law of nature. Choosing to hang onto the old way is going against nature and what many will do. This is the difference, according to Carol Dweck between two mindsets. Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset.

Adapt yourself to the environment into which you have been cast, and show true love to the fellow mortals with whom destiny has surrounded you. --Marcus Aurelius. (Roman Emperor A.D. 121-180)

I'm with Marcus Aurelius on his sage advice to adapt. In the next article in this series on the Social Age I get cracking with practical things you can do to adapt and grow with style and poise.

For now, follow the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin and make time to think about where you are (Tip: The Social Age) and where you are going and what are you doing to get there.

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Question: What are your observations of this new world of work? email me - karl [at] worklikeandartist.com. If you liked this post please share on your social networks, email to a few friends or Connect with me on Google+, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

This article is a continuation of a series on the Social Age. You can start reading it here.

As the Social Age gains momentum it's becoming more and more important to recognise the impact it is having on our work and our ability to maintain our viability in the economy. When the practices we were taught to run our careers start to wane in effectiveness and value its prudent to consider where we need to change, improve and adapt. Once we understand the defining characteristics and business shifts of the Social Age we do well to question the challenges we will likely face.

Indisputable Realities Affecting Work

1. Knowledge workers can no longer rely on promises of long term job security. The era of century old organisations offering attractive long term career tracks is over. There’s no such thing as long-term job security anymore. The age-old promise of a lifelong career at one company is gone and has been for a while. IBM, for example, used to be famous for its promise of lifetime employment, but in 1992 this policy was scrapped. One year later some 60,000 employees were made redundant. In his book, Free Agent Nation, author Dan Pink links the rise of microbusiness, temp workers and soloists to the decline of job security. The bottom line is that career advancement is no longer your company’s responsibility. In general, a slowdown in economic growth, digital transformation and the GFC has forced organisations to change tack with people resourcing. Not surprisingly it’s predicted that one of the 25 best growth sectors in the economy is that of re-skilling and aging workforce.

2. An increased material abundance has increased our desire for meaning. Since World War II a high standard of living has reached deep into the middle class and altered expectations. Today it's up for debate whether the middle class continues to thrive, but purpose driven people and businesses are on the rise. Along with the explosion of the personal development industry in the last 20 years people are more attuned to doing or at least aspiring to do work that matters. It connects well with Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory which presents the idea that people will aspire to express their innate potential more fully when their safety, material and social needs are met. People no longer just want the utility of a job, they are seeking purpose in their work beyond the money. Karl Moore, contributor at Forbes.com, clarifies the point that Millennial’s long to be part of something bigger than themselves and that purpose trumps pay. Will we find our purpose? Will organisations be more purposeful?

3. Globalisation is shipping white-collar work overseas. Globalization means skilled labour is all over the map. We used to think of the West as the domain of intellectual work and the East as the place to find cheap labour. If that ever was the case, it certainly isn’t now. Countries like China are investing heavily in education and it’s paying off. By 2030, 30 percent of the world’s college-educated workers will come from China, while only 5 percent will come from the U.S.

4. In the post GFC market business functions are under increased scrutiny for tangible value. Businesses are outsourcing entire departments. Human Resources departments, IT departments and others are being traded for fixed service contracts. We often hear tragic lacklustre outsourcing tales, however despite the bitterness this is still a growing sector as businesses prioritise cost, core business, standardisation and "as-a-service" cloud computing efficiencies. The global financial crisis was a wakeup call for businesses, but for their employees, it was a nightmare: Cost-cutting measures led to dramatic reductions in the workforce. Moreover, just because the recession is partly over, doesn’t mean people should expect to get their jobs back. In his book, Choose Yourself, author James Altucher contends that larger companies won’t be restoring their employee numbers to pre-GFC levels.

5. Hyper connectivity and disruptive technologies are changing everything. According to Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, 3 technology trends have converged to shift the playing field in most industries. First the Internet has made information free and ubiquitous - practically everything is online. Second, mobile devices and networks have made global reach and continuous connectivity widely available. Third, cloud computing has put practically infinite computing power at everyone's disposal, on an inexpensive, pay as you go basis. From a consumer perspective, the convergence of these three technological waves has made the impossible possible. Gartner Research Corporation has created a model called the Nexus of Forces that is in full swing right now. Cloud, Social, Mobile and Data (information) are ushering in the so-called digital era of business that is now the buzzword of moment. The barriers to innovation are indeed melting away. Anyone can capitalise on these forces to transform business because the cost of experimentation and failure has dropped significantly.

With these challenges in full swing how do we best respond, adapt and develop the ability to face them with confidence and poise? There is a way forward and we see this being played out across the internet, social media, digital transformation initiatives and the rise of the so-called modern day hacker, people developing smarter ways to thrive in the new workplace. Stick around as I unravel these the opportunities that the Social Age presents for the brave and willing.

For now stay tuned for the next post in this series on the Social Age where I talk more specifically on its direct impact on work.

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In every interview I conduct I ask this question: What book are you reading or have you recently read?

It's with good reason. With the pressure of the Social Age bearing down on us keeping sharp and savvy is a fundamental expectation for any knowledge worker. In today's modern workforce creativity and innovation is paramount to preserving one's value proposition. It naturally follows that I emphasize the mentality of the artist. Why?

To be an artist you must create. To support this capability a source of inspiration, mindfulness and perspective is a necessity. Reading is perhaps the best way I know to do this and to consistently facilitate the creative process, keep your mind beautiful and prepared to do your best work.

"The book you don’t read won’t help." --Jim Rohn, America’s Foremost Business Philosopher

Reading is my primary form of professional development. In line with the "7 Habits of Hightly Effective People" it’s how I sharpen my saw. I don’t just read the text! I have a brief process to super charge my reading so that its on-purpose and adds to my perspective, knowledge and ultimately my work; my art. The insights of my reading should be impressed on my brain for application in my work at a moments notice.

The Artists Guide to Reading

1. Non-fiction makes up the bulk of your reading. Reading fiction is mostly entertainment.
2. Reading is ongoing; it never stops - You need to keep the soil of your mind moist with regular watering (reading). I’m never wondering what I’ll read next. I keep a list of books to read in Workflowy.
3. Read with a pen and a highlighter at the ready. Write notes and highlight salient points.
4. Get an Amazon Kindle or some other e-Ink ebook reader (the Kindle app will also do, but e-Ink is the Dom Pérignon for long form digital reading). This has transformed reading - period! The native highlighting and notes features makes it a snap to extract the key points into the MY CLIPPINGS file on the Kindle. If you bought content from Amazon your highlights and notes are stored online at your kindle.amazon.com page. I am in the habit of sending all my digital book clippings into Evernote where I can index and search the content at will - which is super handy for talks and other research.
5. Prepare you mind before reading. Think about what you want to get out of the book. Flick through the book to get a gist of what you are about to read. Review the table of contents. Read the back cover (not available on the kindle).
6. Read the darn book! Don’t drag it out; get it read!
7. Make sure you review your notes a few days later. Either your hand written and highlights in the printed book or your Kindle digital notes.
8. Review your notes a few weeks later.
9. Share with others the great insights you’ve gleaned. Dinner parties will never be the same. ;-)

If you want a great list of books to read along with a monthly recommendation email check out Ryan Holiday's List.

If you want a manifesto of sorts on being more purposeful about reading check out Austin Kleon's thoughts on reading.

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I’m guessing for most of us, we would like to think that we are driven by goals, a higher purpose, meaning, fulfillment and passion. The reality is that these things really do not drive us. There is a difference between our aspirations and what really goes down in the history book of your life. The reality that’s hard to hear is that our lives are not a product of some great vision. It’s rather something un-sexy and a little staid. And it’s why true change can be a tough challenge.

What really drives us is INERTIA:

1. a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.
2. a property of matter by which it continues in it’s existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force.

Inertia is that thing that keeps us doing what we’ve always done. When you wake up inertia drives you like a plane on autopilot. It’s why you’re doing the same thing you’ve always been doing. It’s why you’ve been in the same job and or industry your whole working life. It’s why you’ve been living in the same neighborhood for decades or even your life. It’s why you’ve been part of the same social group or religion for years. It’s why you’ll be doing what you’re doing now next year and the next 5 or next ten years.

Our default response in life is not to experience happiness. Our default response in life is not to experience meaning. Our default response in life is to experience inertia. - Marshall Goldsmith (the most influential leadership thinker in the world by Thinkers50/HBR)

Inertia is the most powerful force in your life and is not to be underestimated. What makes it so powerful is that it requires little to no effort to allow it to run the show. It’s like the momentum of a monster ship. Once it gets going it just keeps going. Once the ship is in motion, to change course, stop or slow it down requires forethought, planning and sometimes the assistance of a tug boat.

If you want to work with a little more vision, meaning and creativity, take a moment to think about the impact of inertia on your ship.

If your New Years resolutions are a distant memory, you now understand inertia in practice. With this in mind its never too late to start something new. The best time to start is now. You don't need to wait until next year.

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Whenever a New Year rings in the blogosphere erupts with a flurry of goal setting, planning, vision creating tips and tricks. It's good vibes all around. It's a wave well worth riding. In order to achieve the big things that matter to you, taking the time to eke out a map is a definite step in the right direction. It does mean however that some action must follow to ensure the envisioned transforms into the tangible.

As you approach the apparent blank canvas for the new year consider how easily it is to lose track earlier in the year than we care to admit. Usually the goal train derails somewhere around January. The "annual planning" thing is a habit I believe we should get out of. As Jerod Morris at copyblogger relates: Waiting for January 1st is arbitrary.

KNOW THIS: The best time to start of course, is now. The trick of saying you'll start tomorrow is basically underpinning the reality that you'll ultimately repeat the habit of postponing important actions for a temporary measure of comfort now. This sense of self deception must go if you are to realise your best year; any year.

To help you on your way and get past the everyday annoyances that suck away your potential to do big things here are 4 productivity concepts to consider.

Scratch the surface of your WHY and WHAT

Carry out a simple and profound review of the past 12 months to get clear on WHAT you need to do and more importantly WHY. Ask yourself this potent question: Why don't I have everything I want in my life right now? Dig deep and write freely. Don't filter what you write. This list is for your eyes only. An honest response will result in a whole swag of ideas to put into play. This is your inner sense of what work and effort will actually translate into something you want. Don't over complicate things. If it's more than a page you'll lose interest so keep it real and to the point. This is super selfish and should reflect an intuitive sense of your aspirational magnetic True North. Beware however not to step into a state of analytic paralysis. Your ultimate WHY can take years to figure out. (I'm still trying to find mine.)

Focus on the ONE thing(s) that matters the most

The biggest mistake you can make with annual planning is trying to do too much. You can't climb two mountains at the same time. Narrow your focus! Yes narrow it down to ONE THING. Spreading ourselves too thin results in thin results. People who achieve big things know this intimately. A big goal requires focus on that one goal. Ask yourself, "If there was one thing you would really love to accomplish, what would it be?" Now make that your target. Don't get side tracked with small things on the way.

Another way of looking at this is the principle of subtraction. Take away everything on your list that you don't need to do right now. Its quite easy to create a long list of things to do, but when it comes to execution you can only do one thing at a time. This is what it means to be productive: work on the one thing that matters the most right now.

You may have heard of the Buffet List? (Thanks to Amy Porterfield for this). It's a productivity hack that traces back to mega-investor Warren Buffet. It's this: Create a list of everything you want to do. Pick out the top 3. Now, throw the rest away. Yes....this is about eliminating everything you don't need to do now so that you can focus on the things you do need to do now!

Take small steps daily

Get out of the habit of bursting into something only to burn out soon after you start. Like diets that fizzle out or new gym memberships that fall by the wayside after 2 months. Research into notable masters point to the most effective way known to achieve big things: DAILY PRACTICE. How do most people achieve extraordinary things? It's not overnight. People who have achieved mastery do so over decades, yes even Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!

Consider the Slight Edge principle which states that consistent efforts compound. Small disciplines performed everyday amass to more than a lot over time. This is akin to compound interest.

Robin Sharma, bestselling author of the Leader With No Title encourages people to consistently do 5 things everyday to achieve the extraordinary one day at a time. That amounts to 1825 things in a year. Undoubtedly that will reap something of value.

Give yourself less time

Don't make the mistake of giving yourself too much time. You already have the time you need. What you really lack is a deadline. Deadlines are an imperative to get you working with pace and focus. If you know you can wait a week or a month, you will!. Instead of creating a 12 month plan, make it a 12 week plan. Set yourself hard deadlines and make a commitment to shorter timeframes to drive action to an endpoint. If you feel tired and know you can wait a week you'll wait a week. Whatever it is you need to do create a tight schedule that carries momentum and drive it to an end. Then relax.

Note that every time you stop and take a break the harder it is to get going again. Time slicing or task switching is the enemy of great work and NO, humans can't multitask. The effort to recalibrate back to where you left off becomes an ever increasing pain you'll want to avoid and this then creates a bigger desire to relax and snack on some comfort. The stop-start habit is one to banish. Compress your time and get your work done and ship your products. Knowing your deadline is sooner than 31 December is potent medicine. The concept of a 12 month goal timeframe is way too long and it carries way too much option for delays, self-doubt and procrastination. Tighten up.

Why not run with the the idea of quarterly projects. 4 big projects broken into 12 weeks with a break in-between.

Bonus tip: Work on your mind and body

This is not really a tip. This is a principle for life. Being healthy is integral to doing your best work. Your brain just works better when you're healthy. In fact, being highly productive is not about working to death. It's about working smart and utilising the capabilities of your mind and body. In his 50's, prolific author Robert Greene says the most important things to his being super productive hinges on rigorous exercise and zen meditation. Michael Hyatt, big time blogger, CEO and NYT best-selling author, also in his 50's, is machine-like with his productivity. His trick? Boost your energy levels!!

For your body make the time to be fit daily. For your mind make time to be grateful daily: get a journal and write down 3 ways in which you are blessed - because we all are.

Thanks.....

If after you get started you feel like giving up read this.

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Its hard to think 2015 is already here. With another year down I thought I would share my 4 most recommended books I devoured in 2014. With the social age bearing down on us and the industrial age slipping away the pressure to transform our way at work is higher than ever. These 4 books dig deep into what I believe is paramount insight into a purposeful approach to our life’s work. With the rapid innovations of the social age and the breaking down of the traditional barriers to create something of meaning we are facing a remarkable time that demands a fresh approach. With this in mind press on and check out these books.

There are 3 themes that cut across these 4 books: YOUR CALLING, OVERCOMING YOURSELF AND FINDING YOUR EDGE.

Please note that while I read these in 2014 they were not all published in 2014. Enjoy.

1. Mastery by Robert Greene

Robert Greene is no ordinary writer. As with his previous writings this book carries his signature style: edgy, avante garde, leftfield, confrontational. Contemplating the enormity of his books I quivver with respect. The amount of research that materialises a book like Mastery is staggering to my comprehension. It's 5 years, many interviews and over a hundred books of reasearch in the making. He takes the chaos of the seemingly unrelated and makes it flow with logic and sensibility. While he is renowned for his other epic book, The 48 Laws of Power (#mustread), for me, Mastery would have to be his jewel in the crown. Being his latest book it it corresponds well to his revelations on mastery that we will ultimately do our best work when we become a master. Greene recounts the examples of many a master from way back in history to the present. Understandably the one master he does not recount is himself. Reading this book I’m certain you’ll agree he is a master writer.

Why it rocks: It’s ridiculously well researched and highly practical. If a blend of historic and modern day real life stories mixed with pychological trists and turns carried intrigue this is jam packed. Its like learning from many masters but with the added impetus that its relatable to your own life and the calling we all have to complete our life’s work.

Why you should read it: If purpose, calling, growth, development are things you relate to this is the proverbial Aladdin's cave. This cuts to the core of what separates us from animals, our humanity, creativity and aspiration for the remarkable. Around the globe, people are facing the same problem - that we are born as individuals but are forced to conform to the rules of society if we want to succeed. To see our uniqueness expressed in our achievements, we must first learn the rules - and then change them completely. This book relays those rules.

2. The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

You may not know this but there is a connection between Ryan Holiday and Robert Greene. Robert was a mentor to Ryan. This book is a remarkable text and has a similar grit and style to that of Robert Greene. In short, its a book on stoicism; a modern remix however. The title was derived from a maxim by the renowned stoic, philosopher emperor of Rome, Marcus Aurelius: The impediment to action advances action. This book is a stark reminder that the things that teach us most are the struggles and hurdles we have to overcome. A life of luxury does little to temper the soul and develop our character. The framing of challenges and obstacles as something to pursue and be grateful for is an empowering reframe of circumstances. To see the hard things in our lives as a blessing is profound for our mental vitality. With this mindset fear is put in its place allowing us to gain strength from each hurdle we overcome.

It’s almost a cliché at this point, but the observation that the way to strengthen an arch is to put weight on it—because it binds the stones together, and only with tension does it hold weight—is a great metaphor. The path of least resistance is a terrible teacher. We can’t afford to shy away from the things that intimidate us. We don’t need to take our weaknesses for granted. --Ryan Holiday

Why it rocks: In effect this is a “how to” manual in dealing with obstacles. It presents a method and a framework for understanding, appreciating and acting upon the challenges life throws at us. Its relevant to all of us and carries a sense of being timeless wisdom to apply.

Why you should read it: Obstacles are everywhere. They are a part of our everyday life. Seeing them as a gift is a crucial life skill when we consider that all great achievements and masters learnt the art of overcoming the odds they faced. Its OK to be discouraged but its not OK to quit. If you want to learn the art of persistence this is it. If getting through the battle to do your best work is important this is oil for your armour

3. Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

Building on his eponymous book, The War of Art (#mustread), Pressfield takes his idea of beating resistance to the next level and he calls this “turning pro”.

“When we're living as amateurs,” Pressfield states, “we're running away from our calling — meaning our work, our destiny, the obligation to become our truest and highest selves.” --Steven Pressfield

This treatise illustrates where most of us are and perhaps where most of us want to go. Yes, what we are all seeking is our own voice, our own truth and our own authenticity, but we’re terrified. He expounds the folly of the amatuer mindset and how we sell out to keep safe, be cool with the tribe and how failure is an addiction. The transition to becoming a pro and living in line with our magnetic North requires grit and a decision to which we must commit to daily. Our dreams are eroded one day at a time. The intention of artists is to get better, to go deeper, to work closer and closer to the bone.

Why it rocks: Its brutal. A cold shower on a winters morning. There is no softener here. This is straight, served cold. This articulates the gap between boring and captivating making it a cinch to know where you sit. If you’ve ever wondered about being more-than this will lay out the price we all must pay. Turning pro is not for everyone but reading this you’ll soon find out if the endeavor is for you.

Why you should read it: If being entrepreneurial in any shape or form is on your map this consolidates the essential mindset that’s required.

The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida

This book cuts to the core of what it means to be a man and to live the masculine experience with deep truth and honest fulfilment. It expounds upon the three foundational elements to manhood: woman, work and sexual desire. This is a monumental work of poetic genius. No, its not just for men. It encapsulates feminine psychology in a way that man and woman alike can gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic that takes romantic relationships to a higher level. Its a pragmatic guide to life that separates the meaningless from the profound and how to break through our bullshit and be better, more attractive people. This is a hardcore dive into the spirit of bravely living with integrity, authenticity and freedom.

Why it rocks: The problems in our lives like a lack of meaning, loneliness, boredom, dealing with the mundane and losing ourselves are addressed with a depth of perception rarely spoken about in our society. It pushes the reader to find their edge. That place where fear rises, denial reduces and growth begins. That place where our gifts start to emerge, where our work becomes purposeful and where our mark is made.

Why you should read it: If you’re looking for your edge, start here. If you need a reminder to crack on and do your best work this will reignite your senses to know where your edge begins and how to play closer to it as a means to living closer to your true self.

Happy reading!

If you decided to read one of these books as you head into 2015, please let me know. Leave a comment in the box below. If you liked this post please share on your social networks, email to a few friends or reply to this to email me. Connect with me on Google+, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn*