--- content_date: 2020-04-22 feed: "DANIEL_ON_SLOPE" codex_section: "S09" codex_candidate: false source: Scotomaville source_file: 01.12-it-needs-work.pdf chapter: 01.12-it-needs-work total_pdf_pages: 6 volume: v1 title: It Needs Work monomyth_stage: "06 - Tests, Allies, Enemies" category: - awareness - strategy tags: - hard-work - self-mastery - scotoma - opportunity - reframing - maslow-hierarchy - journey - commitment - isolation - future-self summary: | I share how the best opportunities usually show up looking like hard work, and during the pandemic lockdown I reframed my wish for a larger Airstream into committing to the challenging work with what I had. By focusing on doing the hard things like making the bed or shaving, I affirm my determination and learn who I am on the journey out of Scotomaville. It's about seizing the chance to mature rather than settling for shortcuts. qr_links: - https://youtu.be/Pq25u5_2DEY - https://youtu.be/W68UxPHyI5E --- # 01.12-it-needs-work ## Spread 001 [p1–p2] **type:** text_only | **img coverage:** L=26% R=0% **heading:** VOL 1 AWARENESS ### Left page VOL 1 AWARENESS IT NEEDS WORK You don’t have to think long to recall the last opportunity for hard work you declined. It’s tough to do the hard thing, let alone be eager. And yet, this is what achievers do. Imagine creating a video and print trilogy during the pandemic in a space the size of a bathroom? Yeah, you’re reading it. You have the power within you to design a life! Don’t settle. Turn what you were handed into something to be proud of. The reward for making your bed? It’s not about having a clean, organized, poofy bed! The prize is that you affirm your will and determination to continue your ascent toward self-mastery. I once had a fabulous opportunity to be mentored by John Kalench. John founded ‘Million aires In Motion.’ I was in San Diego with him at one of the events. There were about a dozen multi-millionaires around the table. Reading this in hindsight chokes me up as John pointed out something small that I didn’t quite understand at the time what he meant. He said, “Daniel, look around the table. These guys wish they were where you are now - with an opportunity to go for their dreams again - because they miss the journey. They’re all rich, yet Our best opportunities usually show up looking like hard work. Don’t miss a chance to mature. Leaving Scotomaville is not about where you end up. It’s about learning who you are, by using multi ple tools to overcoming present challenges. .12 .12 ### Right page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 109 “sustained smart work always overcomes bad luck and heritage” they can’t re-experience climbing out of ignorance to become abundant.” John also said, “Daniel, look around the table, tell me what you see?” And I said, “A bunch of nice guys.” And he said, “No, no, no, what do you see different?” Eventually, I figured it out. I was the only one that had a beard, a scruffle. John said, “There’s a clue.” I was perplexed. ‘What? You can’t have a beard if you’re rich?’ Eventually, I figured out that he didn’t mean that you can’t have a beard. Instead, he suggested that I shouldn’t give up the opportunity to shave - not merely to be clean-shaven - but to value the self-time in the mirror aiming at who I would become. The same goes with isolation during a pandemic or in a jail cell or a hospital, or while living out of your car. You can change who you will be at any time! “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” Og Mandino The point John was making was that I was missing the real opportunity to find out who I am. My youthful idealism didn’t see that even if you are wealthy, and can’t buy another expedition out of Scotomaville. It’s a one-way trip. Aim well. Likewise, cleaning a bowl or a sink may seem trivial, but not when it’s time invested with yourself. It’s time to learn who you are and where you want to go with your character. Getting out of Scotomaville is not about where you end up. It’s about the journey of sorting yourself out, and aiming at who you will become. Get it? Making breakfast and cutting grapefruit, those things are not about fancy scrambled eggs with garnish. You’re missing the point - that’s a scotoma. Cutting grapefruit is not about avoiding your finger; it’s about aiming your attention at thoughts going through your head. Isolation has value for recognizing who you are becoming and what you still have to work on while celebrating that you’ve come far, and recommitting to finish the journey. A simple way to say this: don’t miss an opportunity to do the hard thing. Don’t settle for a shortcut. Don’t leave it - ‘ahh, good enough.’ Don’t pass an opportunity to do the hard thing! “Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.” Jim Rohn ## Spread 002 [p3–p4] **type:** text_only | **img coverage:** L=5% R=29% **heading:** Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE ### Left page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 110 Here’s a current event to drive home my point. I’m recording this on week five of the lockdown. I committed to creating Scotomaville in a 19-foot Airstream. Five weeks ago, we came to the north of Phoenix to pick up our 30-foot Airstream. I’m regularly fighting the thought that, geez, if I just had the 30 foot then this would be sooo much easier. If I only I had...’ REFRAMING MY EXCUSE I have to re-frame my excuse - Daniel; this is not about needs. It’s about seizing the opportunity to do something challenging, the mental reframing work. It’s not about what I want; it’s about utilizing what I have. It’s about recognizing and putting to work this chance - now in my hands, where I’m at - so that others can mimic and follow from where they have to start. Daniel, your mindset is one that many can relate to, especially in times of constraint or adversity. It challenges us to reflect on what we truly need and to find contentment and creativity within our current means, rather than longing for what we don’t have. Look at the bottom of Maslow’s classic hierarchy. It describes survival. Getting by is normal, but it’s not something that creates pride because living there borders on dependency. You’re tempted to mask life there with pharmaceuticals and government handouts and regret. By seizing a challenge to do something tough, unfamiliar and hard, we gain confidence to climb upward. Working the need presented moves us to the next challenge. Don’t miss the chance with what’s in your hand. That is what God said to Moses. Moses complained that he stuttered, and had only a stick and some sheep. God turned his stick into a snake to point out it’s not what Moses could do, rather what God could do with Moses. It was about history recording the events which would unfold following his full commitment. You might not expect that I have served in the Navy, in ministry, and international economic development. I’ve been an entrepreneur for 48 years. Yet, I have spent over 15 years sleeping on cots and in bunks and on mattresses on the floor, and in sleeping bags, in tents and vehi cles, and anything but a home. EXPLANATORY KNOWLEDGE I’ve bought the story of a higher calling and purpose. Authoring and curating Scotomaville is a mission with an imagined out come that gives my life meaning and value. My future-self is giv ing my daughter a copy of this book at her wedding. I imagine my grandchildren understanding my journey and taking on their own. Our prefrontal cortex allows us to tell ourselves stories to do things that other people think are crazy! So gaming ourselves is my thesis. Summiting awareness by purposefully hacking my beliefs is the way! “Follow the way by which we began” Again, the original Maslow’s hierarchy said we needed to take care of our basic needs - food, shelter, and clothing before we could become actualized. We couldn’t find purpose in life without meeting our basic needs, but there’s been an upgrade to the classic view. ### Right page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 111 It’s better illustrated horizontally, where you can pursue multiple layers simultaneously. So while you’re locked down, not sure about your income, not sure about keeping your job or house, you can pursue meaning, purpose, and actualization simulta neously! You’re not limited to a vertical ascent, you see? Still too Idealistic? Alright, scotoma. Ready? Look right here under my waterbottle, do you see? There’s this little tool right here. AHA! Scotoma! The factory installed it, and I JUST found it. Maslow’s horizontal hierarchy is a factory-in stalled tool. Likewise, we have a prefrontal cortex at the front of our brain that can do extraordinary things. For example, a dog can worry a bone, but a human can use explanatory knowledge to talk about the sun the dog lays beneath. The sun is a burning ball of gas we call a star, one of a hundred billion in our galaxy, and there are trillions of them across the universe. As with our gut microbes or the neurons in our brain, we control the narrative. We can imagine our future-self, create dopamine, and be motivated to do the hard work. We can create explana tions with stories. We have that gift in our brain, just like this multi-tool in my bike frame. So don’t just be a lazy dog worrying on a bone. Don’t let your emotions run away because you need this or that BEFORE COM MITTING! Don’t give in! OK. I’m over-chewing it, but it’s essential and fabulous. Don’t miss an opportunity to shave, clean a bowl, slice grape fruit, get dressed, make a bed. Don’t miss a chance to prove that you have what it takes to make a difference. Your voice doesn’t have to be locked in your head by the scotoma that you’re living! Escape self-tyranny! You’re appreciated! Get out of Scotomaville! personal development journey intensity of needs self-actualization esteem love/belonging safety needs physiological needs ## Spread 003 [p5–p6] **type:** text_only | **img coverage:** L=0% R=15% **heading:** Pq25u5_2DEY **urls:** `https://youtu.be/` `https://youtu.be/` ### Left page YOURT https://youtu.be/Pq25u5_2DEY Doing the hard mental work is a choice. I’m certain you have many experiences where opportunity passed by looking like impossible work. Anthony Robbins hears from his wealthy clients that regret is more painful than effort. The Reflection on this Episode turns out more painful and rewarding than expected. What do you mark your progress by? List some challenges you have faced. Mark them with a (pass) or (fail) for your commitment. WATCH REFLECT https://youtu.be/W68UxPHyI5E ### Right page RTURN John Kalench told to my face; value your journey out of ignorance as wealth, as something millionaires can not do twice. Don’t go it alone. Share your rich insights with other explorers and me. DISCUSS