So a powerhouse of a book come out yesterday and I want you to buy it.
I want you to buy a copy for everyone you know who has ever wondered what the hell they are doing with their work life.
I want you to buy a copy for everyone you know who has ever slumped on the couch and said, “I have no idea what I did today. I was so busy but what did I actually do?”
I want you to remember that you read it here first that this book is going to become a classic and every bit as influential as What Color is Your Parachute? or Wishcraft.
I want to tell you all this but I feel a little odd saying it because I love the guy who wrote this very fab book.
I’m biased, okay, FCC?
Tell me something about your Great Work in the comments in the next 24 hours for a chance to win a copy of Do More Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier.
Buy Do More Great Work today and get some cool bonuses. Last chance for the bonuses is today.
Consider this quote by Seth Godin that Michael ends the book with:
It’s not about you, it’s about the next person. The single best use of a business book is to help someone else. Sharing what you read, handing the book to a person who needs it… pushing those around you to get in sync and to take action–that’s the main reason it’s a book, not a video or a seminar. A book is a souvenir and a container and a motivator and an easily leveraged tool. Hoarding books makes them worth less, not more.
I’m giving a copy away. I’ve bought several to send to friends. I hope you will do the same. God knows we need more Great Work in our lives.
Cheers, Michael. Keep it up.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Clara Feb 23, 2010
I’d love to tell you more about my Great Work, but I’m on my way to finding it. For many years I worked as a marketer in a large corporation. Last year I took a leap of faith and left the company to work for myself. Although I worked on several projects that were able to sustain me financially, I realized that, in many ways, it was the same-old, same-old.
I decided to transition to working with nonprofits and individual artists. I’m now involved in small projects with both, and for the first time in a long time, I’m truly enjoying my work. The remuneration, in dollars, is less, but the value is much more. I can’t yet say that my work is sustainable, but I’m determined to give it my best shot.
2 Gina Feb 23, 2010
I am doing many tasks, but my Great Work is settling my staff managers during a time of transition. We are experiencing a Board takeover in my company, and it is gut-wrenching. I am focusing my intent and the intent of my staff to keep our feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the skies. In all that I do, it is service to another human being’s well-being that matters most.
3 Sarah E. White Feb 23, 2010
My Great Work is helping other people live the dream life that I have of being a full-time freelance writer. I’m hoping to do that with my Freelance Coach website, but it’s been slow getting off the ground and being able to get the message out to other people about the information I’m sharing and the community I’m trying to build. (In part it’s slow going because I have a six-month-old baby!)
Would love the opportunity to do more Great Work and share myself with people who need to know that I’ve done what they want to do and they can do it, too!
4 Jill Allison Bryan Feb 23, 2010
My Great Work in this moment is creating and promoting “Infinite Possibility – A Night of Music, Art & Women Helping Women” which will celebrate the release of my solo CD debut, “Dancing in Limbo” with a silent art auction featuring 13 pieces of original art inspired by the 13 songs on my CD – all benefiting Women for Women International! (Whew – that’s a mouthful!) Finally recording and releasing a solo CD at age 45 is a dream come true and the opportunity to turn that into an event to help women around the globe and promote independent artists is one of the most ambitious things I’ve ever done in my life, so I think it definitely qualifies as my Great Work – at least for the moment. (ps – one of the fabulous 13 female artist is the illustrious muse, Jill Badonsky!)
5 Bridget Feb 23, 2010
My great work is bringing clarity and hope to the people around me through intuitive guidance counseling.
6 Paige Feb 23, 2010
My great work started when I let go of “when and if” and realized that the opportunities and experiences I wanted existed right in front of me – right here in the same job I’ve been doing for the last 5 years. I have realized that in order to do great work I don’t need to change WHERE I am doing my work, but HOW I am doing my work. It all started with daring to think about what I really wanted and then looking around to see how I could make those wants a reality in this environment, in this work that I am currently doing. Well, the doors have blown wide open!
Too many times I think we glamorize opportunities in new or different environments. We cut ourselves off from the potential that exists right in front of our faces. I have been so guilty of that a million times. For so many years I’ve been waiting for other things to change, so that in return, I could change. Thank goodness that my life lessons over the last couple of years have been teaching me to do the opposite. I feel so empowered to know that I can be the difference that I want to see in the world, and that attitude, that change is just as possible in the workplace as it is any where else. Sometimes, even more so!
I’m currently reading Seth Godin’s book, Linchpin, and it such a great affirmation to many of the ideas and concepts that I have been dealing with in my work environment. It has motivated me to keep plugging forward because what I am doing and why I am doing it isn’t just about me, but the people I lead and work with everyday. Understanding the ability to give my gift has created so many opportunities for “great work”.
I’ve just had to be willing to see past the barriers that would get in my way (often my own lizard brained self) and recognize where I could be the artist I’ve been longing to be, where I could use my creativity, where I could seize opportunities, where I could expand my vision and influence.
I’m still in the same “position” I was 5 years ago, but the work I’m doing today is like night and day. I dared to turn this into my dream job, and low and behold, it is happening. I didn’t need to change jobs, I just needed to make some changes to me and to tap into my wants, needs and desires and then figure out how to incorporate them in the life I have right now. It takes time, it takes effort, it takes risk, it takes being bold, it takes paying attention to your wants, it takes believing in yourself…and in my book that’s what any dream job or any great work requires.
By the way, I first heard about Seth’s book on your blog. Thank you very much!
7 Suzanne McDermott Feb 23, 2010
My Great Work is founding and directing Drawing America, a national initiative to get everyone drawing while building community across the United States. Stay tuned at http://www.drawingamerica.com
where we are launching a new website and blog by the end of this week.
I am also launching my new personal website and blog by the end of this week. I’m changing my game there with Life is the First Art — my new blog. Stay tuned at http://www.suzannemcdermott.com
Must return to that work so that I can slump into bed at the end of the day (night!) knowing what I did today and what’s in store for tomorrow.
Thanks for YOUR great work! I’ve been a fan since I found your Comfort Book in a shop on Cape Cod many years ago.
8 Michael Feb 23, 2010
Woo hoo! Good luck everyone. And thanks, Jen – love your wisdom & support.
9 Page Feb 23, 2010
My Great Work is “Kid Shakti”, a program that helps kids recognize their own splendor and make healthy choices through yoga, pranayama, journaling and recognizing Consciousness in its multitude of beautiful variations.
10 Shannon Feb 23, 2010
My Great Work is that I get to work in higher ed and have at least some influence over our future generations.
11 Josiane Feb 23, 2010
My Great Work is the thing I was working on at the writer’s retreat last summer, and on which not much progress has been done since then. I’m slowly working through my stucknesses, and I can feel that I’m getting closer to making it happen. I’m sure the inspiration I’d find in that book would help!
12 Lisa Feb 23, 2010
My great work is to inspire and to be inspired! My great work is helping others to feel like creative beings so that they can discover comfort and joy in reaching for THEIR greatness. My great work is also being a mom to my sweet kiddos and being for grateful for every second that I have with them. My great work is living authentically and being present with whatever is in front of me in any particular moment. Woohoo!
13 Natalia Feb 23, 2010
My Great Work at the moment is designing spaces and objects that make their users feel great.
14 Jennifer Feb 24, 2010
The winner is…. drawing a number out of a hat…. number 7. Suzanne! Thanks everybody for playing, more book giveaways happening soon and thank you thank you for your inspiring stories!
15 Michael Feb 24, 2010
Suzanne! Congratulations!
16 Suzanne McDermott Feb 25, 2010
Thanks so much, Jen! I’m thrilled and looking forward to reading Michael’s Great Work.
17 Great Work Quote 66: I feel a very unusual sensation. If it is not indigestion, I think it must be… | The Great Work Blog Mar 1, 2010
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