Eike Batista, a Brazilian business maven, describes it as having a 360 degree view of what we’re doing–which I think is a great way to think about it. If we step back enough to see a situation from all sides, we can use our strategic minds to manage it differently and not just get caught up in our personal perspective.

I look forward to your future comments.

Margery

I have recently (past 2 years) been going through the awareness of living ‘consciously’ as a life entrepreneur so you’re article hit home with me. I guess I’ve been a prisoner of the comfort trap of a well paid job in IT for 17 years and only at the age of 39 got that realisation which quizzed me with: “Is this the career/life I wish to pursue for the rest of my life” realisation.

Some might call it a mid-life crisis – I’d rather call it a mid-life awakening.

Thankfully* the recession came along and made me redundant from companies twice in the space of 24 months which gave me that wake up call.

* – I say ‘thankfully’ as the recession has, as you put it, been a wake-up call for a lot of people of people. As the tagline in Lemonade, the Movie goes – its not a pink slip, Its a blank page.

So whether its being a Life Entrepreneur, or Life Designer, I’m glad to be consciously working on the next chapter of my life and making it a positive one. As a book recommendation, “What Color is Your Parachute” has been an invaluable read for me in working on a new life design, and ties in nicely with your articles remit to “pay attention to all seven areas, Spiritual, Mental, Vocational, Financial, Familial, Social and Physical”.

Greatly enjoyed your article Life Entrepreneurs manage change differently too. I had not heard the Darwin quote before with the nuance you mention. After completing a Masters in Innovation Management I had started to see that the ability for organisations to manage change in business as a key success factor. The ability for organisations to manage new product delivery (changes to the market, product lines, handling the S-curve etc). So it was interesting that your article handled managing change at an individual level as a key success factor in life. I would propose that managing change is a key success factor at several levels (individual, small groups, nations of individuals).

Rod

Margery

I highly recommend this book–it truly inspires us to think bigger and really get out of anyone else’s box and explore our own paths.

Margery

Great to hear of your time with SVPI. I agree they are all life entrepreneurs. If you haven’t seen it already you might be interested in the book we wrote, “Life Entrepreneurs: Ordinary People Leading Extraordinary Lives” (Jossey-Bass). Many of the themes should resonate with you and might be helpful for your coaching practice.

All the best,
Christopher Gergen