Five Small Guidelines for How to Play Big
March 31, 2010
A few weeks ago, I had the amazing opportunity to take part in the inaugural TEDx Austin event. I’ll freely admit that if I hadn’t been sitting down, I just might have been knocked off my feet by Steven Tomlinson’s talk. It was about how to play big—authentically. As with Daniel Pink’s discussion about the Surprising Science of Motivation, the insightful concepts of how to play big were, again, absolute music to my Professional Destiny ears!
Tomlinson is a business educator, performer and playwright—a unique and interesting combination. He began his talk with a story about how he sought advice at age 28 from a wise professor at a local seminary who was known for giving insight and tough love. Tomlinson loved three things: business education, theology and theatre, and was seeking a concrete, specific answer about which one to pursue in order to make a living. The “answer” he got was not what he expected—it was “don’t discard—pursue all three.”
As Tomlinson experimented with this advice, he began to see connections and perspectives he hadn’t noticed before. Then, after years of first-hand experience, he condensed the concept of playing BIG to be about five things:
- Practice—spend some time (two hours per week) wholeheartedly engaged in each of the things you love
- Paying attention—let the things you love talk to each other and observe what begins to happen in your life that is unique and powerful
- Not discarding—be determined to keep all your gifts in play and trust that there is some wisdom that will start to bubble to the surface
- Leading with what you love—find your calling where your gifts meet the world’s deep need
- Making degrees of freedom—simplify in order to free yourself to do the work the world wants you to do. For more ideas on this see, The Freedom Plan.
As I wrote in Professional Destiny, “A job is something we do to earn a living. Oftentimes it is too small for our spirit. Our life’s work is a mighty undertaking that challenges us, taps into our creative energy and reawakens our spirit. It is our work with a capital W. Once we start on the path, the urgency of this work is bigger than us. Our passion and creativity are ignited.”
Finding your own Professional Destiny takes commitment and a deep yearning to express your unique gifts in a way that matters. It’s an exciting journey. Playing big requires creating small ways of demonstrating what you can do well—and letting them prosper and grow. When Tomlinson delivered this presentation to the TEDx crowd, he received a standing ovation. The message resonates at some level with all of us. Watch the video clip and see if you’re inspired—you may just be prompted to give a standing ovation of your own.
Filed under: Doing What You Love,Job vs. Career vs. Life's Work
8 Comments Leave a Comment
1. Ruthann | March 31, 2010 at 8:01 pm
I like this. “Don’t discard – pursue all three.” Hmmmm…..
2. Jerry Daniel | April 1, 2010 at 1:48 am
You are an angel, Valerie! Today, I’m losing my job again for the second time within a year – yes twice in a row on April Fool’s Day! I think there’s a deep message there for me!
So I very much needed to hear what Steven Tomlinson (through you) had to say right now. Here’s hoping the wise messages you keep sharing (and I keep finding) in your book and blog help me realize my Freedom Plan this time!
3. Valerie Hausladen | April 1, 2010 at 10:55 am
@Jerry:
Can’t wait to hear how this turns out!
Thanks for the comment. So glad you loved the book and the message. Sounds like you a perfectly poised for your new future that will bring you great satisfaction. The Universe is CLEARLY sending you this message to get going! I mean two times on April Fool’s Day — that’s a pretty darn good message. You have the tools and help you need — so be diligent and set out on your new Professional Destiny journey.
4. Glen | April 2, 2010 at 7:19 am
Valerie,
As I read and continue to reflect on your work (and how you tie others’ works into this blog), I am drawn to the idea of someone who does quilting…an artisan with a knack of knowing what “goes together” and a skilled craftsman, detailing the intricate patterns required to highlight and augment the individual parts into a creative pattern. Your work continues to inspire and shines a new ray on each element of finding my own professional destiny and leading others in that pursuit. Thanks for the shot of OJ this AM!!
5. Valerie Hausladen | April 2, 2010 at 8:33 am
@Glen:
Why thank you! It’s a great honor to be seen as a “quilter” — there’s so much that beautifully comes together when we set out on our Professional Destiny. Enjoy the journey… and thanks for helping others along the way!
6. Marcy | April 7, 2010 at 6:07 pm
This is great and divine timing to my current life pathing. Just ordered the book and can’t wait to get it and devoure it!
7. Valerie Hausladen | April 7, 2010 at 8:31 pm
@Marcy: Great. Hope you love the book! Keep me posted once you’ve devoured it!
8. Amy | June 4, 2010 at 7:00 am
I like this. “Don’t discard – pursue all three.” Hmmmm…..
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