In 25 words or less, tell me what you're doing for the next 12 months

Chris Brogan led me to the amazing storyteller, DYKC, and this post on his blog:

DYKC™ Found Stories — MEN WANTED

The sum total of descriptive words in this want ad is twenty-five. Twenty-five words opened the door to any man who dared brave the unknown. Feeling a sense of adventure, I stepped through and discovered epic tales of expedition.

In 1907, Ernest Shackleton issued a challenge. Journey with him, literally, to the ends of the Earth. A perilous trek where death was imminent, and if you survived, the promised reward of honor and recognition.

The early twentieth century ushered in the great race of National Antarctic Expeditions, and British, Scottish, and German explorers answered the call. Glory, for himself and his homeland, the prize for a champion who could successfully conquer and claim the frontier known as the South Pole.

From 1907-1909, Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition defied the odds to extend mans reach towards the South Pole. When Shackleton stopped, both he and his landing party were a mere 97 miles from the objective. It was the furthest anyone had traveled into the antarctic. A noted failure with a marked victory.

Was the adventure worth the risk for the members of his landing crew? The estimated salary for the entire shore-party was 6055£. Evenly divided amongst the recorded count of sixteen men, spread over three years, the individual expedition pay equaled low-down dirty wages. For the sum total of $175US per year, what sort of dangerous (and possibly life ending) scenarios would you entertain? Some people could barely make a decent grocery run to Whole Foods for a single week at that rate.

Over a century ago, men danced with fate on the final frontier, daring to boldly tread further than any man before them. Would an opportunity to make history, today, be worth the stretch? Could you relish the Shackleton experience and accept small wages for a chance at honor and recognition, in case of success?

It's often written that the definition of the ideal job/career is one that you would do even if you weren't paid for it. How often are we challenged and revved up in our daily work where we feel we're working on something that makes such an enormous difference?

Here's the thing. Do you provide a product or service that helps someone in their own daily work? Do you improve the efficiency or effectiveness of another business? Do you help them make more money? Save more money?

If you are, then guess what? You're making an enormous difference.

Comments

[David Long]

Hi Steve!

That reminds me of another "historic" ad (1860-61) that has always stood out in my mind for hiring Pony Express riders:

"Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred."

My wife, Janet, and I went to the Pony Express Museum in 2005, and I saw it there on our 6 1/2 week motorcycle ride across the country.

As far as "loving" what you do... life is far too short to do otherwise!

Good stuff, Buddy!

[Deb Holton]

This is a great way to think about it. I don't think I would have made it through Antarctica with Shackleton though. Feels like unknown territory we're in now -- at least a barren landscape. It's always within yourself that you find the spark of determination to go on. How can I be a shackleton?

[Paul Lemberg]

Steve,

Before i tell you what I'm doing, I really like your site. It feels fresh, like you're promoting... OMG! Thinking!

To the question at hand (in 25 words or less)

For the next 12 months I'll be promoting and extending my new fast-acting super-simple business growth program, Formula Five.