Lately I have been reading a fascinating book called ‘Open’ by David Price OBE (interviewed recently on the DWYL blog here). It’s all about ‘how we will live, work and learn in the future’ and looks at how the world is changing faster than governments and big corporations are prepared for or want to believe. It shows how the middle man is being removed from so many traditional equations, and how people power has come alive since the advent of Twitter and other platforms which allow instant global communication, often for free so accessible to nearly everyone.
Some of it is scary – just contemplating the rate of change of technology in the past few years and what that means for our children literally makes your mind boggle – but most of it is inspiring and full of hope. ‘Open’ tells the story of a future which is anybody’s and everybody’s; a future where we openly share our gifts, knowledge and expertise for the greater good, and receive so much more in return. It demonstrates how this is already happening with so many huge educational institutes like the Open University, many Ivy League colleges and huge online learning sites such as Coursera, but also how we have just scratched the surface of where things are going in the future.
It made me think about how much more valuable it is for us to shape our learning around what we need, than what others think we should be studying, and it reminds me how important it is to keep on learning all our lives. And it doesn’t have to be academic subjects, or vocational subjects. There is huge value in stretching your mind and comfort zone through learning opportunities which challenge you in spheres such as abstract creativity, spirituality, risk taking, mischief making… This is highlighted in a recent guest post on the DWYL blog, where columnist Ben Keene explored 10 ‘schools’ that are changing the way we see education. Each one is inspiring in its own way, and challenges the norm with its approach.
Which in turn made me think back to why I created the original version of the Do What You Love e-course several years ago. In the beginning I wanted to call it ‘Everyday Adventure’, because it had been inspired by the idea of seeking out more adventure in every area of your life – and in doing so becoming more confident, braver, more inspired and happier even. I felt like I had had twenty lifetimes of adventures already, and it was inside each of those experiences that my real life learning had taken place. Not at school, not at university or graduate school, but on the road, in the mountains, on foreign shores, outside my comfort zone.
But when I talked to my deeply insightful business mentor about it, she said, “Hmmm, not sure about the name. What else have you got?” And it was from there that the name ‘Do What You Love’ was born, because at the heart of it, doing what you love is actually what it is about. I realised that the adventures weren’t the end goal, although they were fun and exciting. They were the vehicle through which I had learnt and grown, and found my way to doing what I love. The adventures were my classroom.
And that is what I hope for you. Whether adventure to you means walking through the desert, learning a new language, falling in love or talking to someone new in a coffee shop, it all matters. Because the breadcrumbs of your adventures lead you to a life of doing what you love. If you don’t seek out the breadcrumbs, the trail won’t lead you anywhere. Create more chances for adventure – more breadcrumbs – and not only does your life become more interesting and exciting, it starts leading you somewhere you really want to go.
This week we’d like to challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone and turn one ‘normal’ thing you do this week into an adventure. How different do you feel?
If you want a guide to help you identify those breadcrumbs, encourage you into more adventure and show you the way to doing what you love, join us for the virtual voyage of Do What You Love, starting next Monday January 26. I will even be delivering some of it from the Arctic Circle where Mr K and I will be taking our little one on a big adventure of our own! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to put yourself first and carve out a life doing what you love – register now.
Hope to have you join us for the online adventure of a lifetime!
Beth and team
Our acclaimed course Do What You Love begins on Monday 26 January and runs for five weeks. In those five weeks, everything could change for you – not least how you see yourself, others, your future and your place in the world. It’s powerful and inspiring – don’t miss it. Book your place now.
