a life of 'P'
The following is the content of a 7 min speech I wrote and gave at a toastmasters club competition event… Based on a true personal story – with some modifications for more dramatic storytelling..
I think there is a lot more to this area to think about. It can certainly help create our future ….
Good morning …
Coming up with an intriguing title is always a little tough at toastmasters, I thought of others that could have worked I suppose…
- My life as a P addict
- How using P changed my life
- A bucketlist of P
So I settled with the title above. Designed to intrigue and be a little bit controversial.
I had my first public urination accident at the age of 7
Kids can be so cruel….
I was in front of classroom for my first speech in front of a new class (changed school) and froze…. laughter ensued and my bladder could not hold longer (I knew I should have gone at the break)
Blow to my psychology! (age 7 issue)
Then….
..after the worst possible wedding speech ever done at the age of 30 – I knew I had to change things
After doing a firewalk and re-setting my life direction I made a couple of decisions about my life and one of the first was putting a confident speech on my bucketlist.
More than that, I set goals in many areas of my life.
The BucketList
Some of you may remember a movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.
The key outcome of the movie (as good as it was) was not just about ‘ticking’ some items off their listsIt was not about 2 people on their deathbeds…
..it was about who they became along the way (spoiler alert – they changed their ways!)
- so who has one?
- Where is it?
- Has it changed your life in any way?
- Did you ever pull it out by accident and then – tick the achievement, or are you living by default??
I watched and chatted to a guy called Travis Bell (aka the bucketlist guy) who gave a great Ted talk on his process with a simple credo “life’s way too short not to live your bucketlist”.
He is right and he does a powerful message with 80 squares on a page
80 squares - how many years are left?
The real issue is that the number of squares can end at ANY moment…
Maybe you wish to re-draw this with 100 squares or whatever, however cross out the years gone past. What’s left? If some of those are spent in aged care – that may even be less blocks.
SO ask yourself a question – are you really living?
I used the powerful imagery to help create my life of design
The real issue is that the number of squares can end at ANY moment
SO ask yourself a question – are you really living?
I used the powerful imagery to help create my life of design
See it everyday and create your life of design and not default
So what?
So what did I DO?
I had my bucketlist already and then created a system to help me drive it.
I call it… 7 ‘P’s
Set goals in 7 areas of your life (they all start with P) –
People, Places, Possessions, Play, Pounding, Potential, Philanthropy
NOTE: we remember way better with humour which is why I call it
6 P’s and an ‘F’
People:
Who do you want to meet, see, listen to or just connect with? An idol, a star, a famous writer, somebody you admire, a relative
Done: Tony Robbins, Sylvester Stallone
To be Done: Tim Ferriss
Places
Where do you want to travel to? What do you want to see? A special place, maybe magical for you? Your birth city? Could be simple or exotic, scenic or adventurous
Done: Bali, The Eiffel tower
To be Done: Antartica, Japan
Possessions
What do you want stuff wise? To own, big, a treasure, special object, asset, memento? Your desire
Done: e-Bike, Mac
To be Done: Electric car!
Play
Express yourself, be creative, play, be, imagine.
Done: Danced on stage, got a tattoo
To be Done: write a book
Pounding
Get your heart racing. Your ultimate challenge – jump, push, extreme adventure, scary but possible.
Done: Solo parachute, cliff jump
To be Done: Base Camp – Mt Everest
Potential
Learn, connect and expand yourself. Education, growth and curiosity
Done: Learnt German & Spanish, Learnt Salsa and Ceroc, Master NLP, Hypnosis diploma, Celebrant, Pilates Instructor
To be Done: Own a well-being studio, speak for money
Philanthropy
What do you want to do for others? Leave behind as a legacy? What kindness, acts of service do you aspire to do?
Done: Suicide Helpline counsellor, Mental Health First Aid instructor
To be Done: Establish my growth foundation
Now Its Your Turn…
- Get clear on time – draw your squares
- Create your list
- Make it visible
- Make plans to do it
- Get support / accountability
- Tick them off and live a full life.
This Is Not The End
Life is uncertain. Tomorrow may not come.
However, it might, and so why not enjoy that last day?
This is not a fatalist way of looking at things. It is about becoming more mindful of life and each moment within it. I started talking about a square with 80 segments (or whatever number you come up with) but we have no idea when that the final segment will be filled in
A bit of my history regarding life span.
- 2 grandparent passed away before 50
- My dad only made it to 39
- My last grandparents – before 55
- The record is not good, however my mum is still wonderfully around at 85+!
Not just exist..I have my list… I’m designing my life
A life of 6 P’s and an ‘F’ 🙂
Go Well…
Living to 120!!!
