Die Empty

There is a podcast I often listen to called the Accidental Creative. The show is hosted by Todd Henry – self-proclaimed ‘arms dealer for the creative revolution’. It’s a great podcast, and I urge you to listen to it, but that is not the point of this post.  Each episode he signs off by stating – “cover bands don’t change the world – you need to find your unique voice if you want to thrive”.

We hear this sort of stuff all the time, and I think we all agree that as people who turn our thoughts into value it’s especially relevant. But how can we actually go about practicing and honing something so inherent as our own authenticity?

In an article Todd Henry expanded on this point by offering 10 questions we should all regularly ask ourselves. He argues, “We must actively search for our voice, and a clear path for it to emerge”.

The questions he poses are –

–       What angers you?

–       What makes you cry?

–       What have you mastered?

–       What gives you hope?

–       As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

–       If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you do?

–       What would blow your mind?

–       What platforms do you already own?

–       What change would you like to see in the world?

–       If you had one day left, how would you spend it?

Now, although none of these are groundbreaking by any standard, I think the point is a valid one. Being aware of our motivations and the things in life that touch our emotional trigger-points is key to making our contributions meaningful. The article ends with this rather motivational call to action –

“

We need you. You are not disposable, and your contribution to the rest of us is not discretionary. Do not abdicate your contribution. If you do, you will spend the final days of your life wishing you’d treated your time here with more purpose. Today, here, now, in this moment, resolve to uncover your voice and to begin acting to affect change in this world. You may be reluctant to accept the role that you can play, but resolve to engage. Die empty.

“

Die empty. Love that.