Last week and over this past weekend I spent time working on the set-up for two projects. Preparation and organization are two of my strengths when it comes to working on projects of any kind. So I felt pretty confident in the steps I had taken. Confidence in those steps normally leads to my weakness, which is follow-through. I tend to get caught up in details, prep, organization, etc and loose focus of my goal and purpose, sometimes falling short of what I planned to accomplish. Ironically I viewed two different programs this weekend that may have been signs letting me know that I need to focus on my goals and purpose.
The first program, or clip rather, was the “Face to Face” interview with Karl Lagerfeld from my last blog post. Karl asked himself what the perfect day would be like for himself. Lagerfeld is a very savvy, very wise and very patient man. All those contribute to him being the icon that he his but he’s also surprisingly simple. His response to his question was proof of his simplicity. Everyday should be the perfect day. He states that “it’s up to you to work on it”. You have to make your day perfect. You and no one else but you must give your day purpose. It takes will and discipline says Lagerfeld, to accomplish those goals, achieve that purpose and make that day perfect. The lesson to be learned from the silver-hair genius is that you won’t be happy unless you set a goal and go about your day working towards that goal making things as you see fit for your own happiness.
The second program I watched was episode two for this season of Starz hit series “Spartacus”. The episode begins with Oenomaus, the former trainer for the gladiators of the House of Batiatus, in the underground gladiator fight circuit. (This is like the D-league of the Arena gladiators). Oenomaus was once Doctore, a noble position that held pretty good rank within the House, but now he’s lost and fighting for his life for mere coins. The episode flashes back to Oenomaus as a youth and shows his path to how he became a gladiator within the House of Batiatus. The Dominus of the House of Batiatus handpicked Oenomaus because he fought with anger and passion. Dominus saw greatness within Oenomaus and decided to give him guidance and wisdom. He told Oenomaus that anger and passion are not enough for him to become great, he must find a purpose to fight for, a purpose larger than himself. Only then will he achieve his full fighting potential as a gladiator. Oenomaus determined, on his own, that his purpose would be to serve the House of Batiatus. He went on to be one of the greatest gladiators and trainers but now since there is no House he feels as if he has no purpose, thus he’s fighting in the underground until he meets his death. The lesson learned here is that setting goals and defining your purpose pushes you passed obstacles, sets your aim and gives you life and vigor. Also serving a purpose larger than yourself amplifies the magnitude of your actions and benefits yourself and others along the way.
Think about rocks. What purpose do rocks have? None until we determine a purpose for them. They can function and serve us in many ways but by no means are they worthless. Life is the same way. It’s not worthless at all but we must give it a purpose and set goals as we live our lives. That’s how we accomplish things. That’s how we complete projects, have good days, or provide great service. That’s how we become happy. Now that I’m preparing and organizing I need to remind myself to make myself happy.
