Let go of the “how”

By Chris Trout | March 4, 2010

"How is none of you business!" These were the bold words I recently read in a book about building a business with soul. These same words apply to any endeavor, to life! Nothing stops us in our tracks like the word "how." Why? Because we tend to think only in terms of the people, events and circumstances that are in our realm of consciousness right now, even though that can change in an instant.

 
Someone who wants to fall in love has a hard time considering the stranger they may rear-end on the way to work today - and marry next year. Someone who wants to change careers is unlikely to figure into their "planning" the perfect job they've never heard of or the small inheritance that will make their dream of returning to school possible. As far as our minds can consider, these don't yet exist, so can't be part of the equation. Except they are. We just can't be doing the calculating.
 
So if not "how," then what?

Exactly.

We keep our focus on "what!" When we get clear on the "what" and that "what" excites us and draws energy through us, then the next step becomes clear, then the next, then the next. Each step builds on the last and each step is built on the new people, events and circumstances created by the last step.
 
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Will Smith, whose movies have grossed more than $5 billion worldwide, said his success comes from never considering the size of the mountain he wants to climb. He just names what he wants, then lays down the first brick, then the next, then the next.
 
I remember a colleague of mine who wanted to go to a graduate program at Harvard. She didn't have the money, but really wanted to go. Step One: Get accepted - check. Once that was done, she had just a few months to come up with $50,000.  How could this ever be done? Step 2: She began to apply for little independent scholarship grants, those ones from the DAR or little family foundations. (How could she ever raise $50,000 in a few months doing this? What an unrealistic plan!) But one little application led to another, each referring her to the next, each piece of money contributing to a better and better story for the next application. She just kept following the energy and by the time she was done (just before the deadline), she had $50,000 - and her "what" - a masters degree from Harvard.
 
"How" was none of her business. She knew the "what" and let the energy of this dream drive the first step, which led to another, which led to another. It was an unrealistic plan, except that it worked. And it worked because she let the energy of her "what" be her guide. She stayed awake to her dream and let her action flow from her focus.  
 
All that is required is that the "what" energize you, fill you up, align with who you are. That has real organizing power - the power to attract the people, events and circumstances needed to accomplish your "how" - one step at a time. The "how" is none of your business.

©  2010  Chris Trout, Strengths in Focus

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If you'd like to truly know your "what" and begin moving toward it today,
join me on March 20th in Yarmouth, Maine for What Do I Want? How Do I Live It?
See how you can still get the early bird price… or even attend for free!