Life. Is. A. Secret. Game.

Posted on 06 February 2010 by Shane Mac

I sit. Thinking. Smiling. Reflecting. Wondering… About all of the people, the moments, the times that have changed my life. How did my path lead to where I am? Why do I feel so fortunate for everything that I have? Why am I typing and smiling so cheesy that the coffee shop barista probably thinks I am in love with this crack box called a computer? Because it is incredible, but realize, it is a game.

A game of inspiring and enabling others. A game of doing the unexpected. That’s it. The UNEXPECTED. Many of us do what is asked of us. That’s not a bad thing per say. Imagine if we all didn’t do what was asked of us? We try to “Crush It” in our jobs, in life, in everything for that matter. I look around and there are so many people that are all trying to do this one thing. Live. Enjoy. Create. Build. Better. But are we? Do you spend time at your job working on your tasks at hand or trying to bring everyone together to do more? Do you tell your boss that you have great ideas and they might help? Do you call your family and just say hi? Do you do things in your life that are not EXPECTED? That. One. Thing. Is. The. Secret. Do what is not expected. Always.

If you have a girlfriend, heck with Valentine’s Day and pick a different one. If you know someone’s birthday is coming up, be the first to call… 3 days early. Same with holidays. Most of all (since a lot of us spend 1/2 of our awake life working) if you have a job, don’t focus on your checklist in front of you. Make sure to get it done but start doing the unexpected. Think about your company as a whole and how you think other departments, other roles, other people, could benefit from something that you use, you know, you built. Think about the small things. Do you use a checklist that helps people? Anything. Think. You probably wait to speak up when you have your ‘review.’ Ya? Why? Why not ask for 15 minutes after work and make your own review or your own I HAVE AN IDEA talk. Chances are that you are already doing it. Just not in the unexpected way. People don’t expect help. They think they should have to ask. That is crap. Everyone can use a hand. Realize that the expected only gets you the expected outcome. Also realize that this is always changing, evolving, and that the unexpected today will be expected tomorrrow. Seth Godin said it recently in a blog post where he talked about a situation where the waitress remembered everything he ordered. He said that…

The first time someone does this to you in conversation (no matter how subtly), you’re going to be blown away and flabbergasted. The tenth time, it’ll be ordinary, and the 20th, boring.

So are you going for that 10% raise, the next job title, and more tasks with your new checklist or are you striving to do more? Are you trying to climb the ladder we all try to climb in the corporate world that just leads to another ladder? You must know and realize that there is no top of the ladder. Ever. It is just a climb to another ladder. Is that bad? No. Not at all. Just realize that it is not the cloud you think it is. The secret is about doing small things, the little things, the things in life that can catapult you to another level in everything you do. And guess what? It only takes…… nothing. No. More. Effort. No. More. Time. Just. A. Different. Approach.

So tomorrow, head out to make someone smile, call an old friend, or let your boss know you think you can help. Never tell, just provide questions that make one think. Enable others to feel like they were able to see what they didn’t know existed. Just ask. Why doesn’t this work? Maybe this could work better? Why are you telling me happy birthday 3 days early? Because you care. Simple. You have to care though and if you don’t then this post is useless. Worthless. Crap. By doing these simple things you will start to get noticed, get a voice, be seen as a leader. It is such a game of being heard and if nobody knows what you are thinking then you will sit there checking the box. Feeling like you can be more. You should be the CEO. You are better than this. The truth is, you are. Not that everyone should be a CEO but we should all feel like we can be something more…and we can. It is just easy to get caught in the routine and feel like no one is listening. Speak up. Now. Right now. If you get fired because you are trying to help then awesome… you don’t want to work there. At all. Start doing what others wouldn’t expect. You could spend your life working 9-5 checking off a list or you can start doing the unexpected. You can work 9-5 checking a list AND doing the unexpected.

I am not some guy saying screw work and 9-5 is dumb. I am saying that you can kick your careers ass by doing things a little differently. A little unexpectedly (is that a word?) The unexpected is not crazy, it is appreciative. It is not jumping off a cliff rather climbing a new wall. It is not a golden ticket rather the tunnel from Shawshank Redemption. It takes time, takes humbleness, takes persistence, takes you believing in what you are doing so much that you will spend 15 years chipping away at a wall to build it. You are building a better life in this case instead of a tunnel to freedom. But that is it. You are already doing the stuff that I am talking about. The problem is that you are doing it like everyone else. You think Andy was the only person thinking about getting out of prison? Stop. Do the unexpected and kick ass in all you do from this day forward. Starting Now.  Ask yourself, am I doing anything unexpected? Thoughts anyone? Am I talking crazy here?

UPDATE: I wrote this on Saturday, Feb. 6th and at around noon my Dad showed up on our doorstep all the way from Illinois. Just bought a ticket and came to see his son’s play some music as “The Son’s of Theo.” The unexpected, when done in great ways, is incredible and it was amazing to see my Dad. My brother, Max, and I are booking shows all over Seattle right now so be sure to keep up on our shows on my Eventbrite page… http://www.eventbrite.com/org/384038583

What makes me an expert? Nothing. I am just a guy who enjoys helping people find career paths that they didn’t know existed. I strive to help people ask questions and think about things a little differently. Life and Careers are about asking the right questions. Please ask us anything, or just subscribe to the The Squab feed via RSS or Email to receive notifications of new posts.

This post was written by Shane Mac, founder of thesquab.com.  Read more about him, follow him on twitter, join him on Brazen Careerist. or become a fan of the squab on facebook, 

Photo credit: The Pug Father

Photo Credit: SuperFantastic

  • steve
    That. Is. Awesome. You rock Shane.
  • Thank you Steve! Where are you from?
  • I finally got around to reading this post, and I am so glad I did. I am working on a blog post to share what I do that is unexpected right now & I will be sure to share it.

    Thank you for posting this.
  • As promised: http://bit.ly/dChi9U <-- My response to your post.

    Thank you again for inspiring this post. You are truly going places. The rest of the world is not going to know what hit 'em...
  • Just responded on your blog.
  • jrmoreau
    Shane, I'm pretty sure you're going to be doing some pretty huge, unexpectedly awesome things in the near future. You're already down for helping people and making sure that people you connect with know you're listening and down to lend a hand. You give a lot, you're going to get a lot. That's usually what's most unexpected. Lots of people feel like they need to hold onto what they've got and grow it and nurture and not let anyone else in on that secret. But when you've figured out some of the tricks to success, coming up with great ideas and being able to accomplish tasks seemingly bigger than you and you share that.. well that's only going to lead to better stuff.

    BTW, smiling at barristas who appear to be having a bad day is my favorite pastime. Sometimes they're hard asses, but as a frequent coffee drinker, they eventually accept my goofy ass smile for what it is haha.
  • Hey man,

    Thanks for the comment. I hope this post can help others see the great things that have happened to me because of the simple, the small, the sometimes I thought 'dumb' things I have done.

    Your take on ideas is spot on. I used to think I should keep it all in, shhhhh it's a secret. My good friend Beth Andrus, @beth_andrus, told me this...

    "The people who will take your idea are the people who already have enough ideas on their own." I add to that... We always try to do the next BIG thing, something that has never been done.. But why? There are SOOOO many people out there and SOOOO many of the same products that it is not about that most of the time and rather about YOU, YOUR COMMUNITY, and that my friend is how this whole game called life works. People.

    As for your coffee statement... So true. Making people smile, everyday, is more powerful that we think. People should make sure to walk by a person that can help them get to the next step in their career EVERYDAY. Just say Hi. Boss, VP, CEO, whatever... That will to the RELATIONSHIOP you need.

    You heard of this? http://www.consequentialstrangers.com/
  • Well, Mr. Moreau (man, that's fun to type AND say out loud!) pretty much summed up part of what I wanted to say.

    Shane, in the brief time since we've connected, it's clear that you offer help, you reach out, you share your skills, insight, expertise. And THAT is entirely unexpected.

    Like Srini, I was happy to see your connection to Godin's recent post. As I've been thinking about what "the unexpected" is in my life, I've realized that the moments, the phrases, the spaces in which I let my guard down and move forward are the times when I either 1) create the unexpected or 2) experience the unexpected. Okay...that's not meant to seem so ephemeral... :)

    For example, over the past 6 months I've been meeting TONS of new people...largely through the social web at tweetups or tech events. At these events, I'm a shape-shifter: I can be buttoned-up and business-like when the situation calls, insanely goofy and outgoing when around friends, reserved and hanging in the background if it's not my spotlight. This shape-shifting can be a positive trait--and often is. I consider myself sensitive and attentive to circumstances and people.

    But the shape-shifting trait can also be an escape, so far as I can hide behind it. So...many of my unexpected moments have happened when I completely let any facade melt away...like when I crack a wise remark in conversation with a business-suit-wearing, seemingly stuffy business owner that I just met. And he laughs. And because I'm just, well, ME, he then he gives me his card, and I have potential work. :) Anyway, I'm learning to [openly] be exactly who I am. Somehow, THAT is an unexpected space--one that I'm sure will launch me forward at light speed.

    Love this: "Speak up. Now. Right now...Start doing what others wouldn’t expect."
  • To much to say that I think we just need a Skype soon... Let's do it!
  • Ok, let's make it happen.

    Chris Guillebeau just wrote about building cages versus empowering. I just read it, and it struck a chord much in the way that this post of yours did: http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/the-small-man-bu...
  • prosperitygal
    Shane I am so blessed that Hank Wasiak connected us on Twitter, who says Twitter is a waste of time-folks who do not connect with other-shazam.

    I love your posts and looking forward to meeting ya!

    Nice to find someone who thinks as deep as me!
  • Done and done.
  • Shane,

    After our talk the other day, it's clear to me that you genuinely enjoy helping people. I found out about the the most innovative job search methods I've heard of to date. I even referred friends to you. Seth's blog post a few days talk about a very similar concept and I'm glad you have addressed it here.

    It's those small things you do that other people don't do that set you apart. I remember almost everybody' sname, I even try to remember details about their lives even if I only meet them once.
  • Thanks man. I hope to help others see something that they didn't know about. Seems easy enough heh? Thanks for stopping by and reach out anytime!

    Thanks,
    Shane Mac
blog comments powered by Disqus
FOLLOW THE SQUAB

Twitter Icon Facebook Icon Email Icon RSS Icon

Career Questions? Ask The Squab

advice brazen careerist BUSINESS CAREER careers change coffee COLLEGE cool css debt degree econ email employee fair fear google guide HELP inefficient INSPIRE job jobs job spice life life careers luck quotes lunchroom meeting networking productivity relationships resume shane mac social media squab stjude student the squab TIPS true luck twitter unread work

SQUAB APPROVED

 

You need to log in to vote

The blog owner requires users to be logged in to be able to vote for this post.

Alternatively, if you do not have an account yet you can create one here.

Powered by Vote It Up