As you can imagine I’ve had quite the week since Seth Godin featured my blog post. Suddenly I had visitors from all around the world popping by to say hello. As the host, of course, I’m honored and pleased that many of you decided to stick around. Maybe you liked the decorations, maybe you liked the drapes. But that would just be guessing. Honestly, I don’t really know what you liked.
Rather than sitting here silently wondering, I’ve decided to do 2 things. One, I want to tell you what I’m about and why I’m writing this blog. Two, I’d like to hear more about you.
I consider my greatest strength to be my ability to deeply observe the world around me. In all the time I’ve been alive I have spent an unusual amount of energy reflecting on myself and the world. Though I haven’t found all of the answers – far from it – I have come to one very solid conclusion. The greatest unexplored frontier is within each of us.
Your own mind is the one place that no one else can explore. Look at the wild and untamed Nile River… someone has been there. The moon… yup, been there. The great depths of the ocean… done. Inside your mind? Nope. No one has ever been there and no one else ever will. It is all yours. Yours to explore, yours to receive this world and yours to interpret your outer journey. It holds the most powerful and beautiful frontier you could possibly imagine and it holds the key to fulfilling every single one of your dreams.
My dream? I can imagine an ideal world, not down to every detail, but rather how it feels and interacts. The core of that ideal world is that every single person is self-actualized and self-aware. Only when we have harmony within can we manifest harmony with others and nature. My purpose in life, writing, and as a business owner is to inspire and investigate living from this core and to help others build their outer lives (businesses and social interactions) from that place. This is the business, political and social world that I want to be part of – where everyone is self-actualized, creating, self-aware and thus fully alive. Wow… it would be so amazing.
I don’t exist on an island though. I have already seen that I am one of many living with this vision in mind. When the time is right for you I would love to hear your story (email: ben(at)theartistfarm.com or leave a comment on this post). Who are you, how do you spend most of your time, where are you going, what you like about this blog and what conversation you’d like to have here?
Suffice it to say, I am very excited to be part of this world we are creating together. We are a part of something very real- an evolution of civilization based in thought and action and penetrating all aspects of life including business, politics and family. Thank you for sharing the ride.
I’m one of the ones that stuck around. I liked what Seth linked to, then I read (and loved) “How do You Maintain The High?” and “Do You Want A Hit?”.
You speak on something really important here. Hits are great, but when you do get one, it’s just a momentary rush of attention. It’s not lasting connection. Many of your first-time viewers will stereotype you in their heads.
I’m sure you’re feeling that way now. Ironic, I guess. You just got a big hit. Now you’re maintaining the high. You’re welcoming people into your base. Away from the split second rush, into the base. That’s where I’m at now. That’s where genuine connections happen.
I share your vision. I share it to a scary extent. In fact, the subtitle on my blog is “know thyself”. I hope this is the start of a good conversation. My gut says it will be.
I came, I surfed, I read, I felt, and I got stuck. I like your views on life as well as business. Like Nathan I also like your initiative to make a genuine connection. I also aspire to make lives better, to utilize my potential, and to create something worthwhile. Looking forward to a long lasting relationship with you
Ditto to what the other comments say above. I came after Seth linked to you — read your stuff and really liked it. I want to support you and say that you are being heard, listened to, responded to and enjoyed for your writing.
Keep up the good work!
As a fellow deep observer of our world you have done a fabulous job of putting “what it’s about” into words.
I agree with you about the way you describe yourself (an observer). It shows through your posts, which are concrete but intense. I’m in that path too. I try to read as much philosophy and psychology as I can, confronting myself every day with my ‘business side’ (the need). Two concepts that I relate with your post about the power of the human mind:
- Hegel’s “Master-Slave dialectic”: the key conclusion is that masters (psychologically speaking, people who pursue and are consistent with their true desires) have a different approach to death vs. slaves. Masters don’t fear death (failure) as much as they fear their being coward and relentless in front of their desires. Slaves are the opposite.
- The concept of “locus of control”. People with internal locus of control are self-driven and self-motivated (sort of hegel’s masters), while the ones with an external locus of control are too affected by others’ opinions and therefore externally driven (slaves).
Good luck. I will stick around.
Thank you all for taking the time to write a comment and some feedback here. I’m grateful knowing that my thoughts are helping you out as well.
Nathan~ One of my co-workers commented on that “high” blog post as well stating your same observation. When I wrote it, I wasn’t even thinking of the connection. The subconscious is funny that way! I read your blog – is your company Gowalla?
Kapil~ Thanks for your kind comments. I checked out your blog – thanks for writing and putting it out there!
Thanks Michael for taking the time. I appreciate knowing your reading.
Bob~ Good to hear from you again! Let’s keep it going.
Maxi~ That’s intense! I reread your comment and few times and am still digesting it. It’s hard to beat our fears, I know that. I’m working on trust rather than fear right now and it’s working! A blog post on that coming some day. Thank you for the deep thoughts… I will check out Hegel.
‘Til next time! Thanks for sharing the ride.
Ben
Your blog inspires me, and gets me going. Sometimes when I want to just put my pen down and give up on something I am doing, i scour the internet for some kind of reading to inspire me to keep going. Your’s my friend, has been at the top of the list, ever since Michael suggested I read it. Seems like every obstacle I run into ( especially in the music industry ), you have been writing about. Funny, I was actually asking Michael for his opinion/advice for the band I manage, he turned over the link to your blog, and the next day your article “2 Reasons to Take a Gig” was literally the exact topic I was pondering.
Keep writing!
Also- I suggest you read the Sixthman blog ( a company that produces the music cruises i.e. rock the boat, cayamo, simple man cruise) Actually – this one in particular http://www.sixthman.net/blog/2010/03/15/the-sprinkler/
-AJ
Another one that stuck from Seth’s recommendation.
I really like the post on Maintaining the High, your take that it’s all about cultivating relationships is a great vision to live to.
Also liked the post on Value, through Self-awareness and iterations. Good guide to building your own self.
I’d like to see you keep digging there, into the core of those stuff.
Keep rockin’ man
Ashlee-Jean! Good to hear from you again. Thanks for the recommendations and for the kind words. I look forward to continuing the conversation.
Renato~ Great to know you. Thanks for the feedback. I think I’ve got a good many more thoughts on the core issues. Thanks!
Yep… ditto. I came after Seth’s link about your post. Seth is on my homepage RSS feed and now, so are you. Don’t change… just keep pumping out the cool insights.
Thanks for the words of encouragement James!
Your words comfort me and freak me out at the same time. I read what you write and I think that you are in my head, just a couple years further down the road. You are more collected and more coherent.
I publish a post, or send a friend a long intense email, and after its already left my hands I continue to reread it over and over and over again. I am trying to learn things. I am trying to understand my intentions. I am trying to figure out if I wrote my most honest words. I am not in search of manipulation or persuasion, I am in search of truth, honesty, and awareness. And so I analyze- both myself, and others. I am constantly exploring the depths and capabilities of my mind.
It is interesting to me how writing seems to bring out this ability to seek and share truth. I used to think that face to face communication was the best way to get to know someone, and for someone else to get to know me in return. But when I write just to write, not to anyone, just as a record of where I am and what I’m thinking, it pushes me. I write for myself more then anyone else. I write to learn about me. If along the way something I write happens to have an effect on someone else I would be honored, but writing for that purpose would spoil it.
(side note: also am going to have to check out Hegel)
Be well. Rock on. Write always.
mud
Thanks, Ben…very cool of you…let’s all do this oir something like this….pay it forward and play it forward!
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Mud~ Those are some powerful words you wrote, thanks! I’m glad to know I’m writing something that’s working! I look forward to continuing the dialogue.
Ken~ I agree, let’s keep pushing the bounds. Everyone is capable of doing great things while paying it forward.
Hey Ben! Love your call to action here. I was lead here by Seth originally, but stayed for the conversation about making a life as an artisit.
I am a wedding & portrait photographer in Maine, mother of a crazy little 2 year old, I’m also a sister, & wife. I spend my time shooting, editing, marketing, doing yoga, drinking tea, and spending time with my family (unfortunately, in that order pretty much). I think it’s the hardest and most rewarding job being a paid, full time “artist.” It’s much more difficult than it looks…and that is why I like being part of an online or otherwise community like your blog. It’s like therapy.
I find your blog inspiring, and your wandering thoughts about life as an artist strike a resonance in me that I find it hard not to respond to. I’d love to explore how to balance life and work, like you mention in “the path is not always clear.” The thing is, the path, as you alluded to, used to be clear. But now sometimes I find it confusing and overwhelming…I am now not only supposed to be an amazing image maker (now a given), but also a marketing and networking savant, not to mention a witty writer for my blog….all the while being a homemaker, mom, wife, social butterfly etc. But if you stop and just listen sometimes…it can be a run ride. Let’s explore that some more…the stopping and enjoying!
Keep on blogging!
Geneve! Thanks for your thoughts. I’m stopping and enjoying the right now! The greatest joys can come from the simplest moments… but sometimes the craziest moments too!
I could not agree more Ben. Introspection is where it’s at. But it’s also just about the hardest thing there is to do. At least to any effect. The world around us all but forces us to look outside for answers. To depend on consumer products for happiness. If you’re unfulfilled, more money is the stock answer. Yeah, increase your purchase power, that’ll fix it. And we’re bringing up our young people to fit nicely within this worldview.
There’s a key that’s required to unlock that door. The one that, once opened, sheds light, and provides an escape route…perhaps even some opportunity. There was a time when we could forge it – this key – ourselves, made from so many small pieces of a life well lived. But if I ever had that skill, that gift, I’ve lost it. I knock and knock. Sometimes I hear shuffling behind that door. On rare occasions I catch a glimpse through the keyhole, and it keeps me going. Keeps me knocking. Keeps me from giving up on the prospect that this door might one day open wide.
Jeb- That second paragraph is beautiful – nicely done! Within each of us, I’m not sure there is a single key to unlock that door. Actually, if there is one key it’s mindfulness. But being mindful unlocks all sorts of secret pathways and discoveries underneath our behaviors.
Thanks so much for your post. Really great to know you!