Lifelong Project

Writing the Lifelong Project

I write. I sit at my keyboard and bang out thoughts and drone on about topics and I get to use run-on sentences and ignore commas and people pay me money to do it. I work until late at night and I sleep in almost everyday. I’ve written seven books, hundreds of articles, and co-authored or edited more than 30 books to date. My keyboard space bar is wearing down.

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Sometimes when I have a great idea for a book or article it’s a phone call, a sushi lunch, or a quick proposal away from a yes. Actually, and I cherish this, I usually can sell a book idea in an email. I’m not bragging - I’ve worked hard to deliver quality copy and to foster good relationships with my editors. They are valuable people and I love them (that’s right - I love them; hear that editors?).

When I pitch an idea, I do my research, grab stats, and point decision makers to websites that back up my claim. Publishers want what I want: books that are going to sell. No one, especially me, wants to write a book that’s not going to see squat. It’s a waste of time, money and shelf space at Borders. It sucks to spend months writing a manuscript and to see the sales flop.

I do my best to write well. I do my best to be aggressive in meeting my deadlines, editing my own material, and responding to edits. It’s called being professional - it’s part of my job. Just like in your job you have commitments, promises, and expectations so do writers. Sure, I can set my own schedule but the majority of my schedule is right here. Write here.

A few years ago I went to a conference for writers. My lunchtime group giggled about their routine of writing, how they’ll drift from a paragraph to a muffin to the mailbox and browse the web and then back to writing again. I didn’t laugh. I keep my ass in this chair and crank. I write and write and when I’m stumped I plow through it. Writing is, and I know from all sorts of experiences, a marathon. You have to keep chunking out words and cohesive thoughts. The last period is chased by a few hundred pages - not muffins and coffee.

The worst part about writing: rejections. I’ve become kind of spoiled based on my track record of selling books. Usually I can pitch an idea, draft a proposal, and have a contract in a week or two. Of course, this relationship is based on my experience in project management. Self-help, goal-setting, and business life, however, is a different story. While I’ve spoken on this topic around the world over the past two years, led workshops for universities, and given lectures at PMI chapters, management organizations, and coming up my first church presentation, I’m facing challenges selling my book.

I’ve written the Lifelong Project manuscript. It’s done and waiting to be published - but this is a crowded, risky genre. I expect a challenge and I’m not going down without a fight. Strike that: I’m not going down until this book is sold.

I’m not use to rejection and I don’t like it. And then today I remembered something amazing: one of my favorite books, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, was rejected 121 times before it found a publisher. Jonathon Livingston Seagull was rejected 26 times before its publication. Harry Potter? 14 times. And it took Steven King more then 30 rejections before he found a home for Carrie.

I’m not done. I’m pressing on - persistence, persistence, persistence. Keep me and my manuscript in your hearts and prayers. I believe in the power and logic of the Lifelong Project and know this book is going to be huge.

Spring Break with KJ

I’ve spent the past week on the road with my son during his spring break from school. His voice is crackly, a few pimples dot his nose, and he’s almost as tall as me now. He’ll be 14 this spring and it’s hard to believe that over the next few years my little buddy will become a man. Already he’s looking forward to college, mapping out his career plans, and talking about his first car.

We started our trek in Champaign, Illinois where his mom and I have met hundreds of times over the past dozen years. We’ve perfected the swap: a quick, kid-centered conversation, luggage tossed into the trunk, mandatory pee, grab a soda and some snacks, and make plans for our next reunion. And then she goes one way and I the other - a living analogy for our relationship.

KJ and I cranked up the Ipod, his choices of course, and cruised south on Highway 57. There’s the typical chatter about school, upcoming adventures, pending homework, and  report cards, progress reports, and school updates. KJ fills me in on his Boy Scout adventures, what he’s been doing with his free time, and other important news. Within an hour I’m caught up on the essentials and we let Mellencamp, Petty, Springsteen, and Lucinda Williams take us into Metropolis, Illinois.

Metropolis, in case you didn’t know, is where Superman grew up on Earth. I’ve always wanted to see his hometown and KJ was game. The rolling hills, chocolate earth, and lines of old, grey trees made a believable Americana town for Clark Kent. Downtown Metropolis, all four blocks of it, boasted a coffee shop, a drug store, a computer repair store, and a gaudy Superman tourist trap.

In front of city hall was what we came to see: a two-story statue of Superman. Even with the bright sun the statue looked old, odd, and dirty - like a discarded carnival attraction from the 1950s. We were the only tourists this Saturday. We clicked a few photos, gawked around the town square, bought a Superman magnet, and climbed back into our car.

Just out of site from the statue we saw where the real tourist attraction was: a riverboat casino docked on the edge of Illinois and across the river from Kentucky. I imagined Lex Luther in there laughing all the way to the bank at truth, justice, and the American way. Sad.

Our next stop was another sleepy town: Clarksville, Tennessee. No real reason to stop here other than it was as far as I wanted to drive in one day. At our hotel a lady reported that she didn’t know of any good local restaurants but told us that she ate at Applebee’s often - “and it was real good.” We passed on the familiar, bland fare and wandered into downtown Clarksville looking for something we couldn't have anywhere else.

This old river town reminded me of Metropolis sans Superman. There were a few downtown restaurants, some odds and ends stores, a tattoo parlor, and the Roxy Theatre. Austin Peay University is nearby and it looked like the college crowd was keeping this old downtown alive. Good for them. We settled on the Black Horse Pub based on a some college kids' recommendations. It was good pub food, though I kept it as light as possible with a veggie sandwich. KJ splurged on a giant cheeseburger and fries - and a root beer, of course.

Sunday morning Kyle and I zipped past Nashville and onto into Chattanooga. My brother Ben and his wife Laura from Atlanta and my brother Sam joined us for mom’s Sunday dinner. It was great to visit with my family. We spent the afternoon entertaining KJ with stories about one another, our childhood, and misadventures we had on our farm. Mom and Dad spoiled us with coffee, treats, and gave me a banana (no sugar, remember?).

Over the next few days in Chattanooga we visited with Sam and his wife Susan. Each evening Sam made a little fire and his neighbors Ronnie and Lisa joined us for a visit. One night a friendly raccoon chattered at us from the edge of the woods. He wanted our BBQ ribs but he only got the bones.

We toured the Chattanooga Zoo, took an amazing boat ride down the Tennessee River, and walked miles and miles through the Chickamauga Civil War Battlefield. I was a little sad that my mom caught the flu on Monday and was in bed for most of our visit. Fortunately she was up and around by our last day and we got to spend some time with her before we took off.

Our last adventure for Spring Break was a stop at Mammoth Cave National Park. I always wanted to go to Mammoth Cave - so we did. We took the Historical Tour through the cave and learned about how the cave helped during the War of 1812, early explorations of the cave, and learned how slaves worked in the caves as tour guides. It was fascinating and KJ and I loved the trip.

I feel so lucky to get to spend these stretches of adventure with KJ. My dad had a job where his schedule wasn’t as flexible as mine. And there were five of us boys growing up for him to spread him time amongst. I want KJ to remember these days, these adventures, and lessons as he continues to grow.

In just a few hours my little buddy returns to his mom’s house. Spring break is over. It’s back to school, back to learning different lessons, and back to work for both of us. In just a few hours we’ll repeat our midway routine. I’ll wave goodbye and see her taillights in my rearview mirror. And then it's back to his life, back to my life. And in a few weeks we'll meet again, get caught up, and it all starts over.

Life on the High Seas

Would you live on a boat? I think about it - but I know someone who does. When I lie in bed and my mind wanders to sailing I can’t help but think of a certain Lyle Lovett song. And I think of warm nights, lapping waves, and the freedom the wind can bring.

I am curious about sailing; more aptly, I’m curious about living and sailing - together. The idea of living on a boat, zipping from tropical island to island, dodging hurricanes, racing dolphins, and sleeping beneath the stars is a bit of a fantasy for me. I wouldn’t call it a goal, per se, but it’s definitely something that’s on my radar for my lifetime.

In my initial research I found a fascinating blog about a school teacher who ditched it all, bought her boat to sail and live on, and is simply living her dream. Teresa cruises the eastern coast aboard her 27-foot sailboat with her cat, Dory, and blogs about her adventures, lessons, and the people she meets.

Check out her blog and photos here.

Zen and Zoom

Every Friday is Zen and Zoom picture day. Enjoy!

What's not to like? I can't remember where I shot this big pink flower. Every time I see it it makes me smile though. Have a great weekend.

Book Review: The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery

You probably wouldn’t expect much from a book with a title like The Good Good Pig. You’d be surprised. This lovely little book may be the only biography of a pig: Christopher Hogwood. It details the birth, life, and eventual passing of a good, good pig.

It’s more than just a tale of a pig and all the trouble he manages to find his way into. It’s also the story of how this special animal makes friends, helps others through their own pain, and lets us wonder at all this world can offer. It’s the story of a community and how something as odd as a big, happy pig can bring people together.

While the story is sweet it’s not syrupy, sappy, and melodramatic. Sy Montgomery tells the story in such an easy, conversational, approach that it’s easy to picture Christopher Hogwood living down the road, wandering into town, or slurping down an occasional beer. The book includes a few color photos as a bit of evidence and fun. It’s an easy, happy read and I’d recommend it to anyone.

 

April 18, 2009: Start Your Own Lifelong Project

What if you treated the next year of your life like a project? That's a question I asked myself years ago and nothing has been the same for me since. No, your life is not a project, but you can use the principles of project management to make your life richer, energetic, and full of joy.

The Lifelong Project is a concept to get more into and out of your life using the practical principles of project management. You can launch your Lifelong Project, create and achieve goals, and realize more joy, balance, and confidence than ever before. It’s worked for me and it might work for you.

On April 18 I’ll be presenting a four-hour presentation and workshop on the Lifelong Project at Geist Christian Church in Indianapolis. This is a presentation I’ve delivered throughout the United States and in Europe. You don’t want to miss this hands-on, motivating, and action-provoking event.

From Geist Christian Church: This event, built around author Joseph Phillips experiences, will launch a series of quarterly gatherings for executives, business owners and other professionals. This first event will be held at the Geist Christ Church south campus, 86th and Mud Creek, in the ALTARed Worship Center. Contact Courtney Richards at 842-3594 ext. 491 to register for the event. Everyone is welcome!

The Next Milestone: Illinois Marathon and Half Marathon

It feels great to have the Tampa Half Marathon done. It was a wicked, wet, and windy race - but I loved it. Just to be down in Tampa running in the early morning was quite an experience. It was a good welcome back to running and now I’m eager for my next running event. In April I’ll be trekking to Champaign, Urbana for the Illinois Marathon and Half Marathon event.

This flat, fast course starts on the campus of the University of Illinois and you get to end on the fifty yard line of the Memorial Stadium football field. How cool is that? This next milestone in my trek to the Chicago Marathon is just a touch over four weeks away. I’m preparing for this next run by continuing my training runs - but I’m also adding more weight lifting to my regime. The weight lifting exercises have already helped me shed some stubborn pounds and I feel stronger when I run (and when I am not running!).

As luck would have it, my son KJ is out of school on the Friday and Monday surrounding the Illinois Marathon weekend so he’ll be coming along. I don’t know much about Champaign-Urbana so I’m looking for some good father-son activities to do while in town. Any one have any good ideas? KJ is 13 and is quite the Boy Scout. Thanks!

Saving Time

Every year when daylight savings rolls around I wonder about the idea of saving time. I like to think that I work smart when it comes to writing, preparing for a class, or even preparing for my week. My goal is always to do the best possible work in the least amount of time. As we say in project management, sometimes fast and good is better than slow and perfect. It is often better to accept a few errors and get the work done than to refuse to have any mistakes and take forever to create an error-free deliverable. Certainly this rule doesn’t apply to surgery, life-altering choices, and other important aspects of life.

The concept of time always fascinates me. Whenever I’m on vacation, reading a great book, or really enjoying good conversation time seems to zip by. When I’m studying project management, editing my writing, or putting in those maintenance miles, the hours seem to drag on and on. Why? Is this Einstein’s Theory of Relativity? Is this just our nature as humans?

Another aspect of time that continues to amaze me is Parkinson’s Law. When I have a ton of work to complete before a road trip I’m able to buzz through multiple assignments with relative ease. Those same types of assignments, however, when I’ve loads of time available to complete don’t go as smoothly. This is Parkinson’s Law - where work expands to fill the amount of time allotted to it.

And then there’s the time in our lives. Time is really the only thing that we all have the same amount of time. If you want to see what’s important to a person examine how they spend their time. The greatest gift we can give another is our time.

Visit With America: February Job Losses Soar

Politicians, newscasters, and friends have been telling me the same thing: it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Not what I, and probably you, wanted to hear. And now it looks like these naysayers are right after all.

The US Department of Labor issued a report that the nation’s unemployment rate has jumped to 8.1 percent - rates we’ve not seen since 1983. You remember 1983, right? To put some salt in the wound, the same report promises that the US workers will be hit with waves of layoffs in the coming months. Not good.

Back in December 2007, when the recession officially began, the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent. The 4.4 million jobs lost since December ’07 wasn’t a gradual trend - more than 2.2 million jobs have been lost in the past four months.

If you’re coping with a job loss you’re not alone. Would you be willing to share your story and what you’re doing in this tough time? You can find more information here.

Zen and Zoom

Every Friday is Zen and Zoom picture day.

The Indiana State Fair hosts a "Night Glow" every year the night before the fair actually opens. Once it's dark outside all of the hot air ballons fire up and glow. It's magical.