Finding the WHY – Introducing Decogification
Do you know those times when you can feel what you are destined to do, yet you can never really put your finger on it?
For about ten years I have felt compelled toward something, but I had no idea what it was. There was something substantial in front of me, but it would never materialize. My thoughts would point me in a direction and I would run – not knowing exactly what it was I was headed toward, let alone what the final destination would be.
Over the years, this feeling has been my WHY – that thing that keeps me going and gives me a purpose for my work. That direction was begging me to run to it. So, in my work, I have focused down this line, producing content and delivering value.
WHAT I did has changed. I started and completed my masters in learning & performance technologies, I started a couple of blogs (Engaged Learning and this one), I started up a podcast, twitter accounts to engage audiences, a series of videos and started speaking professionally. Some of my efforts have only been marginally successful. Some have failed. Others have been very successful. But they were all pointed toward this unknown WHY.
Although WHAT I have done has changed, my WHY hasn’t.
Even if I didn’t totally understand my WHY, I could feel it (which is probably more important).
Recently, my end goal has became clear. Let me explain.
Every company I consult with has some incredible people – it has been a blessing to work with them all. They are crazy smart and many are very passionate. It has been a highlight of my career. But within the same companies “I see dead people.”
Too many of the people I meet are “walking around like regular people. They don’t see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don’t know they’re dead.” And I see them “all the time.”
Rather than scaring me, it saddens me. Here these are good people, smart, wonderful people who have so much potential, but it is almost as if they are a zombie. They do their work (and may be really good at it), but 8-10 hours of their day is focused on… survival. Not toward any great purpose that they are trying to accomplish, but just to make it to the end of the day, week, or even until retirement.
I call these people COGs.
This is no way to live a life.
My WHY is to help people love what they do. Rather, to help people do what they love and bring some purpose, some love and passion back into their work, so when they go home they are more energized by what they did that day than when they began. I want them to be extraordinary.
To help others (and possibly you), I have started http://decog.me. This site gives resources and help to those who want more, but feel stuck in the rat race.
You may be a cog yourself. If you are, I want to help. If you know someone who is a cog, this site can help you help them.
To be clear, I want to help. I don’t expect to create a consulting practice or get rich quick off (or at all) of something like this. I am not doing this for monetary gain. I seriously just want to help.
What I ask of you.
Please join me. Sign up for the email list. Join the Google+, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages. Follow the movement on Twitter. Follow the deCOG Blog. Learn how you can help those around you decog themselves. Give your ideas. Ask your questions. Give examples.
The more we can help people decog themselves, the more they will learn of their potential. And, yes, as they decog, your work life satisfaction will increase an immense amount as well.
I hope you will join me.