I recently met a very special person.
He’s been my remote mentor and role model. And over the years, we’ve become good friends.
But we’ve never met in person before.
Derek Sivers founded CDbaby.com, to help independent musicians create and sell their music.
After leading the company to fame and popularity for 15 years, he sold it at the peak of a dot-com boom…
For a little over 20 million US dollars.
And then…
He donated the ENTIRE amount to charity. A non-profit organization that he set up to promote indie music!
He’s also a TED-talk speaker.
And a best-selling author.
Runs a very popular blog.
One of his essays on it shook up my perspective. It begins with this scene…
Two friends are at the mansion of a billionaire.
They gawk at the amazing displays of wealth and prosperity all around them.
One of them turns to the other and says: “This guy has EVERYTHING!”
The other replies: “No, he doesn’t.”
“What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t have… enough!”
Wow!
The first time I read that, it was a punch to the gut.
How many people do we know like that?
Who are on an endless quest… for more.
Of anything!
Because they’ll never have… enough.
And the psychology behind having enough is pretty complex.
I’ve pondered it for at least 20 years now, starting from when I first read Derek’s blog.
To feel like you have enough… have done enough… have achieved or accomplished enough…
You need a few things:
1. Contentment – a deep-seated satisfaction and fulfilment with what you’ve already done or got
2. Balance – a sane perspective, one that sees things in their proper relationship to others; and is rooted in reality, not fantasy
3. Confidence – to look others in the face and truthfully say, “I’m happy… right here, right now”
Without this, you will not have “enough”.
You cannot.
But when you do, everything changes.
Magically.
And dramatically.
When I discuss this with people, many argue that it would kill motivation.
Urge them settle for mediocrity.
And lead to apathy.
Quite the contrary, in fact.
Freed of the overwhelming need to keep going on – often, just for the sake of going on – the knowledge that you have (or have done) enough…
Can be liberating!
No more social or peer pressure.
No more striving for other people’s approval.
No more doing what no longer amuses, excites or fascinates you.
Having enough… frees you up to explore more.
Experiment widely.
Take new risks.
And venture into avenues you’ve never dared before.
There’s a lot more to say about having enough.
But the key message is this…
If you don’t have enough, you’re doomed to an endless – often passionless – journey, along a well worn path.
If that sounds scary (and it should!), pause your journey.
And think.
Ask yourself…
Do I have enough?
Then dare to hop off the hamster-wheel.
And see life in its other, richer dimensions.
After all, you only get one go-around.
Make it count!
🥳