Turn Your Superpower Into Your Career

Transcription

1 Turn Your Superpower Into Your Career Study Guide 4: Extreme Expert Flow Life is too short to be mediocre. Our lives shouldn t be about trying to do everything, but about trying to do a few things extraordinarily well. How are we going to be amazing? If we aren t clear on our gifts and Promise, there s a chance we will be persistently stressed and unhappy. What helps human beings perform at the highest level? Maintaining a capacity that matches the level of our performance. Anxiety, fatigue, not enough exercise, confusion, loss of focus, cynicism, not connecting with our values gets in the way of our performance. These forces of disengagement disengage us from our capacity to really excel and create value. When people put themselves in the right circumstances and get crystal clear on what it is they want to do to create value, their performance is magnified. What is Flow? A state in which we re totally engaged in the present moment and everything else is blocked out (hobbies: rock climbing, surfing, etc. work: solving a problem; home: playing with our kids) Focused attention without distractions or interruptions Productive happiness Sense of inner grace Sweet spot of capability and challenge (over-challenged we get anxious, underchallenged we get disinterested). The key is to drive yourself in a way where your capability and challenge is in the zone, growing but not overwhelmed. ***QUESTION: What are some activities that put you in the flow? Remember: We can be in the state of flow at work, home, and play, not just participating in our favorite hobbies. Copyright 2012 Will Marre. All rights reserved. Study Guide 4 - page 1

2 What is Superflow? Flow + Value What you re passionate about and have value for State of flow doing something that is meaningful You at your best ***QUESTION: What are some activities that put you in the Superflow? Flow Generates Self Confidence New Capabilities Intuitive Wisdom Auto-Reinforcing You would do it for FREE How do you live in a state of flow? 1. Talents and traits are aligned 2. Intrinsic motivation, meaningful challenge Flow Drivers Clear goals Interest in challenge Confidence in abilities Focused attention (set limits) Personal autonomy (no outside force, personal choice) Copyright 2012 Will Marre. All rights reserved. Study Guide 4 - page 2

3 Example Clear goal: To find work. Do I know what I want to do? (make money or save money) Interest in challenge: I need and want a new job. Confidence in ability: I know I can get a job. Focused attention: I will search for a job 4 hours a day. Personal autonomy: I will choose the industry and employer I will work for. Flow Killers Multitasking o There's no such thing as multitasking o It makes us stupid o False sense of accomplishment and confidence o We are designed to focus on one thing at a time Hunger Fatigue Boredom Anxiety Flow Cycle: Way of Living Take breaks where you re not thinking about your task o Go for a run Meditation Audio learning Cooking and cleaning Remember: The key is to be fully present in the moment. If you re washing dishes, focus on the feel of the water. If you re running, focus on your breathing, your surroundings, etc. Copyright 2012 Will Marre. All rights reserved. Study Guide 4 - page 3

4 Flow Leads to Psychological Resilience Thoughts Action Results = Expertise The more expert you are, the faster the learning loop of thoughts, action, and results accelerate. Stress and anxiety disappear When you re fully focused, you have no time for fear. All you have time for is excellence. ***QUESTION: Think of a task you do often from driving to work, reading a book, or working in the yard. What might you do to put yourself in the flow during this task? EXERCISE: Job Analyzer How would I live out my Promise? Put an X through the oval in each column that resonates with you. Copyright 2012 Will Marre. All rights reserved. Study Guide 4 - page 4

5 Next, draw a line that connects all of the ovals across the columns. This should help you understand why you might be happy or unhappy with in your current situation and what you need to do to change it. For example, if you want high pay, but also want ample time off and high security look for a career that fits that (i.e., government position). An entrepreneur probably wants to make a lot of money, be great, doesn t mind being connected to work, high stress gives them energy, doesn t mind high risk, and wants their unique fit. Where do you fit? ***QUESTION: What are some careers that fit your unique Job Analyzer profile? How do you become so extraordinary that you are indispensable? You have to become an extreme expert. There is very little need for generic workers. So, what are you specifically willing to become an extreme expert at? Become a Brand of One: Up-to-date, deep domain knowledge o Attend conferences o Read trade magazines o Research online o Teach others Great general knowledge o How does your niche fit into the wider world? o What are the trends in your industry and other industries? Emotional Intelligence o Great self-knowledge What am I great at? How do I present myself to others? What effect do I have on others? o Ability to communicate and persuade; ability to listen and understand QUESTION: What is one thing you can do right now to improve your personal brand? (i.e.: subscribe to a publication, commit to read The New York Times once a week, register for a conference, etc.) Copyright 2012 Will Marre. All rights reserved. Study Guide 4 - page 5

6 Extreme Expert: Pursue something that aligns with your talents and manifests your traits (your design). When you combine your design with a passionate Promise, then you really invest in an area that interests and excites you. o When you take a Promise to challenge the status quo and change the game, along with a personal design includes a love of beauty and art, you get Steve Jobs. o If your Promise is to achieve challenging goals and rally others to do the same and your passion is sports, you may become a coach. If your passion is fashion you may become the sales manager for a hot fashion brand. If your passion is food, you may become a head chef. o If your Promise is to inspire moral courage and put your values in action and your passion is child development, you may volunteer or work for a charity like Boys and Girls Club. Be willing to develop your talents in the service of your passion over and over again with an open mind so that you re always learning and developing an intuitive sense about how to make the most impact. One of the fastest ways to become an expert is to teach and write about your expertise. It takes time to develop your expertise. Remember: The sustained motivation to develop your expertise comes at the intersection of your design (talents, traits, and track record) and your desires (passions). That is your Superpower. Turn Your Superpower Into a Career Discover your traits and talents (design). Become clear on your Promise. Learn to perform in the state of superflow. Become an expert at something that aligns with your design and manifests your Promise. Remember: You can harness your passions to create a career! ***QUESTION: If you were going to incorporate the above four principles into your life, what would it look like? Copyright 2012 Will Marre. All rights reserved. Study Guide 4 - page 6

7 Engage at ThoughtRocket.com Tell us how your journey is going. Connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges. Coach and be coached by your peers. Ask Will important questions. Copyright 2012 Will Marre. All rights reserved. Study Guide 4 - page 7