April 24, 2018 / in Personal / by Mic Johnson
Hey there, thanks for stopping by. It’s Mic Johnson here, and I wanted to share some thoughts on the only real goal I have in my life.
I’ve heard countless “experts” on life and business over the years talk about the importance of setting goals.
Now, to be sure, there’s nothing wrong with setting goals. Do whatever works best for you.
Personally, I haven’t really subscribed to that philosophy over the better part of my post-college personal and professional life.
I’m not sure exactly why that is, but I think one of the reasons is because I lost my dad at such a young age (He was 46. I was 23). That moment in time has stayed with me all of these years and has been my constant companion, reminding me that we only have one life to live…so we would be wise to make the most of it.
It’s not that I haven’t had aspirations about my life, career, retirement, etc. I’ve just never been one to listen to other people who tell me I HAVE to have a 5-year plan, 10-year plan, and so on.
In fact, the only real goal I have in my life is this:
It’s really that simple for me. I regularly remind myself of this life-goal and I’m intentional about setting up my days, weeks and months accordingly.
Here are just a few examples of some of the things I do to be true to the spirit of that goal:
I start almost every morning with 20 minutes of meditation. It’s a great way to start the day and set the tone for everything that each day brings.
To learn about my meditation practice, check out Get Out of Your Mind and Get On with Your Life.
An hour-long walk typically covers about three miles and it’s a great way to clear my head, listen to music or podcasts, get some sunshine on my face, get some exercise, and have time to contemplate where my life is and where it might go.
I always feel mentally and physically refreshed after a good, long walk and I’m super excited that Spring finally appears to have come to Kansas City for good.
(Jason got me started on regular walking last year. You can read about his journey here: How Fitbit is Changing Jason’s Life…10,000 Steps at a Time.)
I get a lot of energy from spending time with my clients, helping them share their stories through their blog, building websites and coaching them up on LinkedIn. My clients mean much more to me than what they pay me to help them with.
I’m acutely aware that their trust in me and what Blue Gurus does allows me the opportunity to do a lot of other things I love to do.
My clients are my friends and an extension of my family. I will do whatever I can to help them personally and professionally.
I have two peer groups that meet monthly called Introducing Awesome and IA2 (Introducing Awesome 2).
I also have quarterly lunches set up with select people who give me positive energy…and for whom I do the same. Knowing that each week usually involves a handful of awesome people routinely gives me something to look forward to.
Oh, and one more thing…My wife Missy and I also started a tradition a few years ago called #FrontPorchFriday, where we’ll start the weekend a little early and enjoy food, drinks, friends and family on our front porch. We do it as often as possible when Mother Nature and our schedules allow.
If you haven’t checked out WhatsApp and aren’t using it to keep in touch with people/groups who give you energy, check out How WhatsApp Helps Me Build Personal and Professional Relationships.
It really is a fantastic tool that has a lot of practical applications for personal and business interactions.
Now in our fifth year in business, I love seeing how many clients Missy and MJMeetings have been able to help with their annual meetings, fundraisers and other events.
She’s learned so much over the years after taking the entrepreneurial “leap” and it’s rewarding to see her work with people who truly value who she is and how she works. Because we’re both home-officed a good portion of the time, I also love talking about business and life over our “lunch breaks” several times a week.
Those are just a few of the things I do with regularity to help support my life-goal. I’m curious what YOU do? Do you set regular goals or do you have one primary goal like me? What kinds of things do you do that help you in your life?
As always, thank you for taking the time to read and share this post with others!
What an innovative and energizing approach to building a website.
I have partnered with Blue Gurus on multiple sites and referred many of my own clients to them. They make the whole process simpler, easier, faster and more fun than you would ever imagine. If you need a new website for your business, consider Blue Gurus! Also talk with them about LinkedIn training for your execs and/or sales staff. If anyone can convince people of the value of LinkedIn, these guys can!
Julie Bartels Smith
President at JBSmith Communications, Inc.
