The Blog

 

Insight and Inspiration for Living Your Legacy

"Productful" personal development storytelling Feb 03, 2019

My wife and I homeschooled our sons. We invested much of that time in cultivating a love for storytelling. The boys were not only avid readers but also developed a love for crafting tales in various ways.

They also had a knack for inventing words to better describe things that existing words just...

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Of Shame and Sufficiency endeavor book excerpts personal development Jan 25, 2019

Shame is an invitation you do not have to accept.

There is no shame in sufficiency.

You can’t advance any endeavor without making mistakes. Getting things "right" involves going through a lot of "wrong."

And some of those "wrong" choices come with a heaping helping of regret. And when...

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Creatives Break Things creativity personal development Jan 21, 2019

Creatives break things. It comes with the job. Things are as they are, and then the creative brings forth something new. Suddenly what was is no longer what is.

It so often happens at the micro level that you simply stop taking note. But sometimes the change is so profound that ...

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The Rise of the Virtue Vampire personal development stoicism Jan 11, 2019

Many ancient philosophical and religious traditions speak to the importance of virtue. The ancient Cynics said it was all that was required to live "the good life." The Stoics said it was "sufficient." As a kid, I learned the Catechism of the Catholic Church which instructed that a firm...

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The Fog of Craft personal development Jan 07, 2019

Tactics are so numerous in the digital age. Analytics, metrics, ads, boosts, 7-step systems, hacks, tricks, etc. abound. And they're soooo bloody seductive!

So are the many invitations to develop technique. Blogs, books, YouTube videos, online courses, and famous successful people promising...

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Reflection & Inflection 2018 personal development Dec 31, 2018

I don't often dwell on the past. But I am reflecting on 2018 today and the inflection points that inform and inspire what's coming in 2019 for Creative On Purpose.

Here's a few highlights from 2018:

  • The project formerly known as The Stoic Guitarist and The Stoic Creative was rebranded...
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3 Crucial Lessons Learned in 2018 to Help You Endeavor Better in 2019 personal development Dec 30, 2018

Many conversations in 2018 informed and inspired my journey to develop myself through enhancing the lives of others. Each helped me develop and deliver my greatest endeavor so far

These three had the biggest impact in helping me cultivate a greater sense of peace and prosperity,...

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Life Without FOMO: The Virtues of "Missing Out" personal development Dec 27, 2018

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), is a relic of our prehistoric brain that has outlived its necessity and utility.

When we scuttled about the planet as just another species trying to get enough to eat without being eaten, FOMO was very real. Miss out on a meal when they come with dangerous...

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Generosity endeavor book excerpts personal development Dec 24, 2018

Generosity is the expression of kindness, understanding, and selflessness. It’s an inherent impulse born of our social nature. This primal quality explains why giving and helping makes you feel good and why being selfish and stingy feels terrible. As with gratitude, there is good science...

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"Just In Case" Vs. "Just In Time" personal development Dec 17, 2018

Are you a "just in case" learner, or a "just in time" doer?

You and I grew up in the age of "just in case" education. Learn your algebra, learn to diagram a sentence, learn the battles of the Civil War, and learn the rules of volleyball just in case you might need them later.

But you and I...

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Care to Coddiwomple? personal development Dec 16, 2018

Maybe your experience is different, but sometimes I take myself and my work a bit too seriously. I treat my life and my vocation like a quest. A hero's journey to find guides, fight dragons, and ferret out treasure.

But when I look back at my most meaningful endeavors, they look more like a...

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