Time for Money: Is This a Fair Trade?

Time for Money: Is This a Fair Trade? (Plus, Five Better Trades) Mon, Jun 25, 2012Passionate Living, Success Strategies Someone asked the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, what surprises him most. This was his response… “Man, because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present; the result being that he doesn’t live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived.” Our behavior is very surprising indeed. For example, it’s really surprising to see the vast majority of people seeking happiness by following “a day’s work for a day’s pay” approach to life. How on earth can a person think that this approach brings happiness? Truth is that it cheapens us! You were born to create art and make a difference. “The moment you’re willing to sell your time for money is the moment you cease to be the artist you’re capable of being.” - Seth Godin You can never ever find happiness, freedom or fulfillment in trading time for money. Let’s examine better types of trades… Here are 5 better ways to live and trade 1. Unleash Your Uniqueness {Image Source} “A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament” – Oscar Wilde There is something unique about you. Find what it is and you can create work of art that takes the world by surprise. Nick Vujicic has transformed his unique situation of having no limbs into a message that inspires millions and pushes them beyond limits. 2. Change The Status Quo {Image Source} One of the best forms of art is one that causes a change in the status quo. When Apple introduced the iPhone, it changed the way we used mobile phones forever. It didn’t only change the entire mobile industry, it also changed the way we live our lives. 3. Solve An Interesting Problem {Image Source} Have you heard of the HurriQuake nail? This is a construction nail designed by Ed Sutt to provide more structural integrity for a building against the forces of hurricanes and earthquakes. The HurriQuake was honored as the grand award winner for Best Innovation of the Year, 2006. Instead of settling for being an ordinary civil engineer, Ed was determined to make a difference instead of following a manual. “The nail’s design began when its inventor, civil engineer Ed Sutt, traveled to the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Marilyn. Sutt’s trip to the Caribbean was part of a team examining the wreckage of the 80% of the island’s homes and business that had been destroyed in the hurricane’s winds of 155 km/h. The finding among the homes that had been destroyed was that wood failure was not the cause of destruction; instead, the findings showed that the nails holding the wood together had failed, leading to the buildings’ ultimate collapse.” – Clynes, Tom (2006), “Dr. Nail vs. the Monster”, Popular Science That’s an example of an enlightened trade used by a difference maker. 4. Create Something New {Image Source} One of the best marketing and branding insights I’ve ever learned is, “You don’t have to be the best, you only need to be the first” Being a pioneer in any given field is invaluable. Apple took our minds by storm when it introduced the iPad. It was a brand new category of mobile devices that we’ve never seen before. They created a whole new line of business and production. 5. Lead A Movement Image of Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food movement {Image Source} Create a movement or lead a tribe against a global problem or to serve a popular cause. Examples of famous social movements are: Civil rights movement: ensures one’s ability to participate in the civil and political life of a state without discrimination or repression. Women’s liberation movement: fights for equality in society between men and women. Slow food movement: an alternative to fast food that encourages farming of plants, seeds and livestock characteristic of the local ecosystem. There are many other types of trades other than “time for money”. YOU are much more valuable and there is a much better way to live rather than “a day’s work for a day’s pay”. In my new e-course, “How To Make Your Life Important”, you will discover how to follow your passion and make your life a story that’s worth telling. When you’re passionate about something, there will be much more to life than the “time for money” trade. Your passion will inspire you to create art that will change the world. Following your passion is a surefire way to live a life that matters … to make your life important. I highly encourage you to consider registering today, and follow the 12-week action plan to living your passion and creating a life you can be proud of. *Photo Credit: by Retlaw Snellac ** If you found this post useful, please give it a LIKE and share it with someone you care about. http://www.transformationalmotivation.com/time-for-money-is-this-a-fair-trade-plus-five-better-trades/