Enjoying the Journey, not just the Destination

At what point do you derive the most joy in your endeavors? Is it at the beginning, along the way as you progress or upon completion?
Depending on your answer above, today's post is especially for you. So join me and read on...

The word success does have many definitions, be it from a business, spiritual, societal or any other stand point. My favorite goes something like this:

Success is waking up every morning, whoever you are, however old or young, and bounding out of bed because there's something out there that you love to do. Something you're good at. And you can wait to get at it again today.

In this post, success is defined thus:

Success is not all about being in the right place at the right time, rather being at the right place enough times.

For me, success is deep. personal fulfillment in the process of or upon realization of specific set objectives. It is not an end in itself. One should feel good be it half-way of at any stage before completion. This will in most cases be possible if continuous inventory is being taken.

That way, success will not be an end in itself. Neither is it a process. It keeps happening as a necessary part of a process towards fulfillment.

John Mayer in his song 'In Repair' talks about being "not together but heading there."

Watch the video below:

Methinks we often limit ourselves and so deny ourselves the joy of acknowledging and appreciating progress and achievement when we:

1. only feel successful upon completion, and not before or anywhere near finishing, of specific tasks.
2. compare ourselves overtly with others, and thus neglect to acknowledge achievement that are commensurate with our individual circumstances.
3. peg success and achievement on the basis of predefined metrics, thanks to what has been done before. Think in terms of breaking records and super-ceding others.

At the end of every single day, I look back and ask myself if I have progressed in some small way. If I have made something better, not just for me but for others as well.

Such small positive differences are in my opinion what the following words were predicated on.

In sum, do you enjoy the journey or derive your greatest satisfaction and sense of fulfillment upon reaching your destination?

Society too, can Change.

When I started posting on The Walkabout in 2009, I wanted to share from my experiences and those of others around me, all the insightful and inspiring things we can together learn from. My primary drive has never been page views, advertising revenue or any other benefit that revolves around 'self.' If anything, the most I personally get from my writing on the site is 'Self Discovery.'

Much more than Self-help

In an increasingly selfish and self-centered world, I still firmly believe that the essence of life is planting trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit. That is the altruistic approach I've always taken on The Walkabout, where I have deliberately expanded the scope beyond issues that affect that one reader who identifies with what is shared on The Walkabout, to issues that affect our lives as a society.

Reading The Walkabout, one may get the feeling that it is largely a self-help site. That is indeed correct, to an extent. When one embarks on a journey of insight, inspiration and self discovery, it is a personal endeavor. The Walkabout endeavors to effect change in society, one person at a time.
Well, that is where we start. By that is by no means where we stop.

Change Society?

In one of his best speeches, then Senator Barack Obama noted in A More Perfect Union that one has to always start somewhere:

...embarking on a program of self-help also requires a belief that society can change.

 As explained above, posting on this site may not be enough in addressing all our issues and solving all our problems. It is however done in the knowledge that we need to go beyond self-help, firmly believing that society too, can change.

It may not be enough. But that is where the collective amelioration begins.
It is true. Society too, can change.

Adding Value to Information

NOTE: This post has been cross-posted on Pete on Books.

Today's post is largely an update, in readiness for some of the far-reaching changes in my writing that will take place in the fourth quarter of this year, with effect from October 01, 2013.
In essence, the changes are for the long term, which makes what you'll read next an expression of intent.

Learning and Sharing

Since 2009, The Walkabout has been a place where we learn, share and grow together. We have focused on insight, inspiration and self discovery. The posts on the blog have been tremendously useful to me, and to many others as well.

In short, we have been sharing valuable information.

Stated Objectives

With growth comes change.
Beginning next week, my writing, and indeed the business model that is now predicated on it, is all about adding value to information.

This I'll do through book authoring, blogging and publishing. Ultimately, I'll embrace more media viz: radio and television.

This renewed focus will be instrumental in the release of 'The Walkabout' book that has been inspired by the posts and the topical discussions that have ensued in the comments. All going well, the book will be out just before the end of 2013.

Ideas: Policy, Not Politics

Additionally, this next phase will involve the setting up of the Policy and Ideas blog.
Here, candid, topical discourse on issues that really matter and add value will be carried out. The solutions and ideas generated will eventually lead into action, since only action begets results.

So much for this update, let us meet again next week on The Walkabout, Pete on Books and the Policy and Ideas blogs.