This story had a huge impact on me… 📚✨
Hey, it’s been a while!
There’s been a lot going on this past few months, a lot down to the busyness of the World Cup, but its great to be back writing and sharing stuff!
After spending 2 months away from home I’ve very much tapped into a more restful and reflective time. I also enjoyed some pretty cool sunrises in Italy as of the pic below, I guess jet lag has some positives!!
But I wanted to share this story that has had a huge impact on me this past year.
I hope that you can take some inspiration from it too.
Last year in Italy (yep I went last year too!) I was feeling at a bit of a crossroads and needing a little direction and inspiration.
I was listening to a podcast with author Geoff Thompson who mentioned inventor and architect Buckminster Fuller - his story was just what I needed.
In 1927 Fuller found himself in turmoil.
His business had failed leaving him in massive debt, he tragically lost his first child and was drinking heavily leading him to breakdown.
At his lowest point and contemplating suicide Fuller had an epiphany.
He realised that he had great potential that he was squandering and that he had a ‘duty’ to fulfil.
On a deeper level his realisation was that he belonged to the universe, to something bigger and it was his obligation to humanity to serve it, not to quit.
He began to redesign his life.
He had a duty.
A duty to create.
A duty to Invent.
A duty to make things and put stuff out in the world (no matter what the reward) that would help others.
From that moment on he would see his life as an ‘experiment’ and do only things that would help people and serve humanity.
On a deeper level Fuller saw himself as ‘part’ of the world, something dynamic and evolutionary process. Adapting and moving forward each day for the greater good rather just being static and ‘stuck’ to a label.
3 major things I took from his life… 💡
I was fascinated with his story so I did some more reading on his life.
These things really resonated.
Be a verb not a noun
You are never stuck! Life is dynamic and ever changing and you are not a static label; you are an ongoing process of action and contribution. Don’t let others put you in a box and know that you can always change, try something new and reinvent yourself.
Only act on ‘Dynamic Integrity’
In your life be honest, truthful and try your best to do what feels right over what might make you more money or bring you increased fame/likes/followers.
This is true success.
This is peace of mind.
Only trust your own thinking
Fuller realised that he let others do his thinking for him.
He would learn to trust his own thoughts and follow the path that only he could follow.
He become unstoppable because he was himself.
Buckminster Fuller (still experiencing trails and tribulations along the way) became prolific.
He lived an extraordinary life and helped and inspired many along his journey.
This past year I have tried to learn from these lessons as much as possible by being true to myself and trying and put out only good stuff in the world regardless of the outcome or results.
🎥 At the start of the year I created a beginner VFX and creative editing course using a free app - you can check it out here!
🏃🏻♂️I ran my first Ultra Marathon
🇺🇸 Spent the summer in the USA at the World Cup living in a completely different country allowing me to expand and challenge my content in different ways and meet/collab with different creators.
🙂 Earlier this year I was offered a substantial amount of money to create content for a company that turned out to be selling fakes. I was was so tempted to do it thinking ‘it will be fine’ but I felt something inside wasn’t right. Maybe it was a test?! I decided I would say No, which if I’m honest was difficult. But I knew it was wrong, it’s dishonest and it’s greedy. I don’t want to live like that. Within a few weeks the money that I would have made on that job came back to me in another project that was aligned with me. It was a test, maybe so I could share this story.
Integrity and honesty wins.
All these things have challenged and changed me in positive ways even though they had difficulties.
I actually feel like a different person for what I have learned doing them.
It’s not what you get at the end its the person you become.
I hope this helps…
John
PS - If this helped you in anyway, please forward to someone else that it may help. I write these posts to share an honest account of what I’m learning and facing each day as a video and content creator in the hope that it helps others.