Imagine you are lost in the deep woods, really freakin’ scared and really freakin’ lost. What are the two tools you would want? When I ask this question, I most frequently hear food and water. This is good but it’s not the most important tool. You see, food and water are temporary tools. They have built in expiration dates. When they’re gone, they’re gone and soon you will be as well. Another one I hear a lot is a lighter. Again a lighter will start a fire, but only for awhile. This too is exhaustible. Flashlights are another frequent flyer. Again, batteries burn out baby. Phones are a popular choice with teens and twenty something’s…
Lost in the woods you want a compass and map. The compass points due north and the map guides you to temporary solutions (like food and water) and the big dream of getting out of the woods and onto the promised land. Most humans live like the ancient Israelites, wandering in the desert for 40 some years and then dying. This is not the one you want.
Building your BTL CORE & OPUS are life tools. Your core is your compass, pointing you due north to the man/woman you are, your deepest held beliefs, and the principles that dictate your days. Your authentic OPUS is your road map for living your best life toward your land of milk and honey. It would be nuts to possess a strong CORE, authentic OPUS and then not use them. This would be like being lost in the woods with a compass and map and simply leaving them in your pocket. I mean c’mon man, it would be insane to build the tools and not use them everyday to guide your way.
Use these tools. Look at them. Remind yourself, daily, who you are, why you’re here, and where you’re going. Choose productive action from your PoP (Playbook of Productive Action) each day. Align behaviors to beliefs – your beliefs. Life is difficult. We are mostly lost in the deep woods. The best among us, simply have better tools to navigate the adversities that lie ahead. They use these tools everyday, not every once in a while. Build your CORE & OPUS, as I challenged a team of titans this morning.
Are you mastering the art of living, friend? When was the last time you steadied yourself with your strong CORE and strode with confidence and conviction toward your OPUS? Who’s PoP are you following? Slow down and reflect. Stop swiping. Stop living by default. CORE & OPUS are tools to live life by design. Use them.
Live hard. Love harder. By design…
BUILT TO LEAD 