I would love to share a couple of things about my journey over the last few months exploring effortless doing.

If you have not read my recent posts about this, you can get back to them through this LINK.

If you instead just continue and catch up later, again, if you have not watched this video yet, it explains things about the concept I am talking about, and that might be helpful.

The Impossible

Last week, I started my fourth CTI (Creating The Impossible) Project. When picking a project, there are a few things to consider. You can pick anything, but the ones that seem more fun to do (BTW, that is one of the considerations) tend to get completed or well on their way.

Here we go:

• The chances of completing it in 90 days look impossible from your viewpoint at square one.
• Your hard work alone will not complete the project.
• If you get giggles and grins and find yourself saying oh shit, how cool would it be, that does a good project.
• For it to happen, it seems like a miracle needs to occur.
• Avoid making it into a self-help or an “in order to” project. You are doing it for the pure fun of seeing something that wasn’t there before coming into the world of existence or form.

There might be more, and I think you get the idea.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

– William Hutchison Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

The Plan?

Last week was “Book Your Ticket to Bombay” day. Choose and declare your project to the world. Well, at least to the community of those in the workshop. As the quote above states, until one is committed, there is hesitancy.

How does hesitancy show up for me?

Here is what I hear in my head:

• Do I have the skills to do this?
• Do I have the right to?
• I have never done this before?
• I don’t know how to do this or that?
• What if I fail or run out of time?

Do any of those statements sound familiar when you get a nudge to do something different?

You are not alone!

This year’s project is to have my book on the New York best seller list in 90 days. To be a best seller, yes, I know there are a few steps to go through at the view of square one.

Here was my plan as I saw it:

1. Come up with a topic.
2. Title the book
3. Write the book
4. Edit the book
5. Contact publishers
6. Get the book published.
7. Have people read the book.
8. Have Opra interview me and endorse the said book.
9. Get a phone call from a publisher telling me that I made the Best Seller list!

A funny thing happened on my way to Bombay. The strategy in step three was very sound. I read a few other blogs about writing a book. They were all similar in nature in their message. Commit to writing at least 20 minutes a day, no matter what.

I can commit to that, but 20 minutes didn’t seem long enough. I WILL commit to one hour a day. That sounded better! Right?

How it Really Happened

Day one didn’t happen, and I resigned that this would not be the day I write. Tomorrow will be different. I can hit the reset button and start my plan. (Note: my plan)

On day two, the time I scheduled got filled by an overtime meeting. Or did it?

There was still almost 45 minutes left in the hour. Yes, it wasn’t a full hour, and the only thing in my way was thinking it was not enough time for what again?

I spent the next 40 minutes writing a chapter for the book. I see that the results of any effort are not up to me; it’s just the doing. What is done in that time will be what is done in that time. This time, it was a chapter.

I had my next appointment and took my Dad to his physio class. While waiting for it to be completed, a random thought came to mind about a subject for the book.

Shit! I hope I will still remember this when I return home.

It then occurred to me that there is an app for this – Google Docs! Duh

I downloaded the app, sat in my car, and pecked at the phone till I had to pick up Dad again. Wow, a good chunk of another chapter was before my eyes.

The writing plan seems a little looser than “I” would have predicted.

Here is the thing here. It was just how it unfolded, and I showed up and responded accordingly. Something magical happens when you let go of what you think something should look like.

Pulling on Threads

One last moment I want to share. Thanks for hanging in this far. This is one of my longer posts.

I would not have in a million years when “planning” to write a best seller is to submit an application to do a TEDx talk.

There was a thread (metaphor: like noticing a thread on your sweater and pulling on it. Sometimes it’s a short one, and sometimes it’s WTF) I noticed. I pulled on it and discovered a TEDx event close to where I live, happening shortly after the 90 CTI project.

I don’t know if I have been accepted at the time of writing this. I don’t hold any thoughts that this must happen, BUT I have blocked the time in my calendar. (smiling)

We shall see. (More grinning)

Until next time, thanks for hanging out with me, and if you have heard something new or would like to share your experience, please do not hesitate to comment or email me.

“Begin it now.”

Much love and respect,