Worth Doing

[Randy Pausch: Really achieving your childhood dreams - 1:16:27]

I was having a bit of an introspective moment the other night, thinking about how much of our goal setting is driven by external stories - and the need for affirmation that we have value. And how little space we give ourselves to think deeply and reach into our inner drive, and appreciate the value we already have.

So here I was, immersed in these thoughts, wondering about contribution and thoughtfulness, and I happen upon a post by Michel Hogan on The Inspirational 10. And there I am, next to TED, ChangeThis, Ode magazine, my own sources of inspiration. What a nice gift.

Which is what brought me back to TED and the Randy Pausch talk on really achieving your childhood dreams. If you haven't seen this video, do set aside the hour to watch it. At about minute 52, he shares his own methodology on providing students a way to learn what it's like to work with each other.

We learned from Steve Roesler about feedback recently - as in "how are we doing?" That is a good format to have candid conversations about teaching and learning. "Here's how I think we're doing" elevates the conversation and encourages positive forward movement. The point for checking in and its rightful dimension.

Indeed, I also found that the best way to teach (and learn) something is to be engaged with people who are equally enthralled by the process of doing and the love of learning.

This is also a self selection process. Thanks to the tools available to us today, we can choose to surround ourselves with people who are as curious and inquisitive about learning and who are doing something useful with it as we.

If you do one thing differently today, consider starting with you - dig deeper into what you are and what lights you up. That's inspiring.

© 2006-2010 Valeria Maltoni. All rights reserved.

Comments

[Lance]

Valeria,
I love this message (and the video has always been a favorite). What I really love is how you have ended this piece - about digging deeper into what lights us up. That IS it!! And it's inspiring, because the closer we can get to that spot of "bliss", the more our life really goes in amazing directions! And that's also where I believe we can do our most good...

Awesome stuff!

[Valeria Maltoni]

Thank you, Lance. I loved how Jim Collins approached his own discovery of what lights him up. He kept a diary where he annotated behaviors he observed about himself. Not a bad idea, as we tend to talk ourselves out of thinking bigger.

[Joe Lima]

Valeria,
Thank you so much for sharing this video and the thoughts on finding quiet time to discover ourselves. I remember watching the Last Lecture video then reading Randy's blog through to the end. My wife gave me his book and as a dad with three small children, it is really hard to read it without becoming extremely introspective. Live life honestly and completely.

Can't wait for the TED 2010 talks!

Thanks for sharing,

[Valeria Maltoni]

What a gift must that one have been! There are days when I struggle as to why we feel the need to be so buttoned up in business when emotion is such a connective tissue for humans. Three small children, you've got your hands full. I like your motto, Joe. Thank you for stopping by.