The “Lonely-Forest” Lumberjack Manifesto.
If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it Does it make a sound? The more self-development books and biographies I read… The more ...
If a tree falls in a forest
and no one is there to hear it
Does it make a sound?
The more self-development books and biographies I read…
The more entrepreneur and leadership interviews I conduct…
The more I search for words to succinctly vocalize the difference between
- The successful few,
And - The hopeful “yet-to-make-it” multitudes…
.
The more I conclude that the difference is being willing to be a lonely-forest lumberjack.
.
A “Lonely-forest” Lumberjack is
That Rare Breed, who,
Despite lacking an audience,
Continues to cut down trees in the forest.
Who despite lacking validation,
or compensation of any kind,
continues to do what he believes in.
Who is not opposed to being rewarded…
But already receives a reward from doing the work.
.
Having a big enough “WHY” isn’t enough for success.
Hollywood is full of actors who REALLY WANT TO SUCCEED, but never make it.
Same with any professional sports league.
.
Having the same playbook as successful people isn’t enough for success.
Knowing, and doing, are a world apart.
Doing, and sticking to the plan even when the doing doesn’t appear to be working…
a galaxy away from simply knowing.
Yet most of us aspire to simply KNOW what the “gurus” know.
.
Think back to your own experiences.
You’ll realize that more often than not, if you found yourself quitting at an endeavor you had once deemed worthwhile, it very likely is because you lacked:
- The validation,
- The monetary compensation, and
- The external feedback to tell you that you were doing the right thing.
.
I’ve been the lonely-forest lumberjack countless times in my life.
And in many instances,
after toiling away tirelessly,
I eventually stopped chopping wood.
It would be naive for me to think that all I had needed was “A Big Break”, to succeed in those instances.
An opportunity.
.
Success = OPPORTUNITY + PREPAREDNESS
.
No. What I needed, was to have chopped up enough wood,
chopped down enough trees,
to be ready for the opportunity, whenever it presented itself.
We all get more opportunities than we can shake a stick at.
What we lack, more often than not, is preparedness.
.
So keep on chopping down trees, cutting up wood.
One day, a crowd will show up, desperate for firewood.
Not missing a beat, you will be in place to seize your overnight success.
.
What’s your take on it?
The “Lonely-Forest Lumberjack” is a framework that’s still very new… I’m still thinking through it.
Help me do that.
Leave a comment, let me know what you think.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Bolaji O, known as "The Nocrastinator", is an expert in goal getting for digital entrepreneurs.
8 Responses to this article
Bolaji O,
Hey, how have you been? You guys finished up with your AJ trainings and stuff, yet?
First, love the looks of your theme.
I agree that just because you have the same playbook as somebody else who succeeded, doesn’t mean you will. Take, for example, the whole “Patriots video taping” episode…just because the other team had watched how they perform, or were going to perform, doesn’t mean they could stop it, or replicate it.
So, anyway, later,
Brandon
TheInfoPreneur´s last [type] ..Shhhh…I KNOW Why You are Failing…
What’s up, Brandon!
Great to have you on here, Mr. Infopreneur.
Hey, great example, dude! LOL! Love that. Especially right after the Superbowl.
Knowing the master-plan does not make you a master.
Idea is miles away from execution.
Hope to see you as a regular commenter, Brandon!
Bolaji O´s last [type] ..My 2011 Goals- Vitamins- Value- and TunnelVision
Bolaji –
That was a great post. Like most people, I have found myself in that situation more than once. But that is exactly what I continue to do. Keep on keeping on.
I guess I never stopped to think of just how many people are doing the exact same thing. I will admit that sometimes it’s hard and sometimes it would just be easier to quit. But that’s not what we do is it?
SHARON – I LOVE THAT COMMENT!
Yeah – it often feels like we’re struggling alone, in that lonely forest. It’s such a pervasive feeling. And when we’re getting NEITHER results NOR encouragement for our effort… well, it sucks.
But all successful people have been through this DIP.
(Seth Godin’s “THE DIP” is a fantastic read when you’re struggling through this phase. I think I’ll do a book review on it.)
KEEP CHOPPING THAT WOOD IN THAT LONELY FOREST, SHARON!
By the time the people eventually find you, you’ll have a wood castle built! Ha ha!
Bolaji O´s last [type] ..The Go-Giver’s Law of Value Cartoon- How Much Value Are You Willing to Give
And while you’re chopping, use the wood to make yourself some nice furniture. Then maybe set up a custom-crafted purple cow furniture shop.
Jodi Kaplan´s last [type] ..Better Copy Without Writing a Single Word
Jodi.
You are ridiculous.
How you managed to work cows, furniture, and lumberjacks into the same conversation is beyond me.
Bolaji O´s last [type] ..Success “FAIL”! Funny Video When Opportunity Knocks- & Preparedness Has Gone Fishing
KEEP CHOPPING THAT WOOD IN THAT LONELY FOREST, SHARON!
By the time the people eventually find you, youll have a wood castle built! Ha ha!
Bolaji – I’ve been thinking about what you wrote. Great advice actually!
Hi Bolaji O,
The is my first post after joining with you. I like the clean spacious format and the content is right on. Everything you write seems to be a success truism (if you don’t do some of this you ain’t getting none of that). It’s not what you do, it’s that you ‘do’. This is a requirement along the path of success. You’ve brought up a good reminder of that and one that we all need reminding of from time to time.