How are you defined?

If you aren’t on Simon Sinek’s daily notes to inspire list, you should really consider it!

This tidbit today was great!

I believe too often, we define ourselves by what we do. “I’m a chiropractor.” “I’m a teacher.” “I’m a potato chip critic.”

Those are all the jobs we chose, and we should be proud.

However, the bigger thing is WHY we do them.

If we are happy with our careers, it is more than likely because we get to express what we truly care about in life through our field.

We are defined by what we care about, and how we choose to make a (happy) living is our way to express what we care about.

So if you are feeling burned out, a bit sluggish or etc, tap into what you care about, connect that to what you are doing today and I promise you, your day will be immensely brighter (for yourself and for everyone you come in contact with).

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

-Dr. Lindeman

Profit < Trust

I love this tidbit from Simon Sinek.

The awesome thing is (for the most part) if we focus on why we do what we do, we gain the trust of the people we serve.

When we gain trust, profit will become a de facto result.

The key is to focus on why, and do what we do out of service mentality.

The money is always secondary and will come when we focus on the truly important things.

Happy Tuesday!

-Dr Lindeman

Passion & Work Ethic

This is a great message from Simon Sinek. (If you haven’t signed up for his daily motivation service, check it out here.

I believe having a strong work ethic and having passion for what you “do” are both vitally important.

I also believe one can lead to the other.

Even if you are not passionate about your daily job right now, if you dive in to making sure you have a strong work ethic, if you are passionate about that alone, you more than likely will find enjoyment and things you CAN be passionate about daily.

It is also possible to be passionate about something (art, music, etc) but unless coupled with a strong work ethic in those endeavors, you will not achieve nor will you grow in those avenues.

You can CHOOSE your work ethic, so put some energy into that today.

-Happy Wednesday!

Dr. Lindeman

Play the INFINITE Game

The above was taken from Simon Sinek’s book: The Infinite Game.

I just started reading it last night, but I love it!

Simon talks about the difference between finite games and infinite games in business, and in life.

Finite games are “played” with a goal of winning, beating the competition, becoming “the best.”

In life (and in business), the best things are truly INFINITE.

You don’t truly want to be “the best” at what you do. Because, in reality, you know that being the best is HIGHLY temporary. There will always be new players, new competition, new rules, new advancements, new hurdles, etc.

Take for instance, the NFL. The NFL is most likely switching to a 17 game season as opposed to a 16 game season. Think about how many “bests” will be beaten with one more game. Passing records, rushing records, sack records, etc. all have a HUGE probability to be beaten with the addition of one more game.

Being the best, ends.

Looking at FINITE successes eventually leads to a cold-end game.

Instead, as Mr. Sinek proposes, focus on infinite successes. Fulfillment > Victory.

Focus on fulfillment for you, your family, your friends, your community, and for future generations and you will lead a much happier life, and your “victories” will go on in the future, rather than being the used-to-be best.

Lead with inspiration. Focus on doing what you love for the betterment of others (and in return, you will reap rewards yourself-that’s the way this amazing universe works), rather than short-sighted gains of trying to get ahead.

Live a life focused on fulfillment and we WILL ALL benefit.

Have a fantastic, fulfilling Monday!

-Dr. Lindeman

Fulfillment > Achievement

Thank you for this reminder, Simon Sinek.

The true joy in life comes not from the accolades, finish lines or etc.

True joy is found on the journey toward our goals.

We may not realize it at the time, because putting in the work to get to where we want to go, is hard.

However, without the “struggle”, our achievements would be far less meaningful.

The award you win for completing a 10k would be a glorified paperweight if it was easy to achieve.

Even an Olympic medal would be just another shiny object if winning it was easy.

So, no matter how hard the struggle is now, realize that in the end, this time, this toil and this work you are putting in will truly lead to a more fulfilling life.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

-Dr Lindeman

Lasting fulfillment

This is so true!

We have a much bigger IMPACT on the world when we help others.

And (if you’ve read any of my other blog posts you know) when we help others we also have a larger, longer lasting impact on our own happiness as well.

The good news is that we are all in a position that we can help others.

Some of us can donate to charities.

Some of us can help our neighbors by bringing in their mail, taking their leaves, etc if they are unable to do so themselves.

Some of us can go grocery shopping for a friend who is ill.

Some of us can lend a helping hand or even a smile to a stranger.

Some us us can send thank you cards to the people that have helped us in our lives.

No matter the method, we can all help someone and I fact lots of someone’s.

So we can all achieve fulfillment.

Have a fulfilling Monday!

-Dr Lindeman

Your passion

Simon Sinek is spot on!

I truly hope you all have a job that you love. I truly hope you are passionate about your vocation, hobbies, lifestyle, etc.

But don’t let what you DO define WHO you are.

If you love your job, it is because it resonates with your soul.

Your satisfaction comes from the combining your purpose with your activities.

Your vocation doesn’t fuel you.

Your soul is your inspiration. Your purpose precedes your vocation.

If you are struggling at work or in some area of your life right now, get back to your source, your passion, your why.

Take some time to explore that, to stoke those fires and you will see that all else improves as well 🙂

Have an amazing Thursday!

-Dr Lindeman

What you give, you get (in SPADES)

“The more people you inspire, the more people will inspire you.”-Simon Sinek

This goes right along with “what goes around, comes around.”

You can substitute the word inspire for almost any other word.

The more people you love, the more people will love you.

The more people you say hi to, the more people will say hi to you.

The more people you laugh with, the more people will laugh with you.

The more people you are angry at, the more people will be angry at you.

The more people you hate, the more people will hate you.

It really is a “Choose your own adventure” kind of thing (don’t know if you all remember those books, or maybe MadLibs?)

The point is, the best way to improve your mental and emotional state is to provide that to others.

If you want to be happy, put forth some happiness, it always comes back 🙂

Have a wonderful Thursday!

-Dr. Lindeman

Are you a star or a leader?

Simon Sinek is awesome.

He is an excellent speaker and author and an all around wonderful human being.

I received this in his daily email service today:

“A star wants to see themselves rise to the top. A leader wants to see those around them become stars.”-Simon Sinek

What a simple but powerful message.

If we want to succeed for our benefit we may become stars.

And we may burn bright, for a time, only to burn out just as fast.

But if our motivation is to help lift others up, to inspire, to create positive change within others (which will also do the same for us, it’s kind of a law), then the light we help create will burn sooooo much brighter and for soooo much longer.

Focus on LEADING, not shining.

Have a wonderful Monday!

-Dr Lindeman

Fulfillment

“Fulfillment is not born of the dream. Fulfillment is born of the journey.”-Simon Sinek

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating.

The journey is more important and more fulfilling than the destination.

Our goals surely matter.

But the processes of achieving them: the “grind”, carries more weight.

If we don’t love the journey (even the hard parts), we will not be fulfilled at the finish line.

The struggle is where progress is born and that progress leads to success.

Do what you love and love doing it with each step.

Don’t make the (all-too-common) mistake of thinking you’ll be happy when you “get there.”

Be happy now.

Enjoy the process.

The goal is but a stepping stone on the journey.

Find your fulfillment in what you do today!

Happy Thursday!

-Dr Lindeman