There are 3 things that I am obsessed with doing in this life.
Things I’m desperate to achieve.
Even if I fail.
A quick word of caution - you should read this essay with the mindset that I am utterly ridiculous.
“To what end, Daniel?” I can hear my mother say.
I share these vulnerabilities with you because maybe there’s something that you want to achieve that you’ve never told anyone about. And maybe you need to know that there’s others just like you.
The theme of my 3 things is about contributing something of value to the world.
But what is the world missing that I could possibly pretend to offer it?
Steven Pressfield says:
“Our job in this life is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it”.
1. Write a book
There are 3 books that I want to…. redo that… WILL write.
The first book is a children's story that teaches. The title is Pool Dad is Cool Dad. I’m writing this because sometimes I struggle to be present at home. But calm and playfulness come naturally when I’m in the pool with my sons.
The intent of the book is:
to send a message to Dad’s about how they can lighten up and be more engaged at home.
to make children smile.
The second book is to convert the musings of The Deal Space (a blog, if you can call it that) into a portfolio of essays. The title is Rule #1: Don’t do Dumb Sh!t. I’m writing this to offer a playbook for the people having a red hot go at the sport of business. Because business is a full contact sport, and sometimes you need a hand. Open to any page on any day in any situation for practical tips and tactics.
The third book is a fiction novel. I know the premise, protagonist, and antagonist. (That means I know what it’s about, and who the good guy and the bad guy is).
I haven’t worked out if I’m the good guy or the bad guy yet.
This is a story for another day.
2. Create and scale a business
The UpdateMate web application by Trivinci Pty Ltd is my first public effort at entrepreneurship.
UpdateMate is the simplest system a medical specialist will ever use to update their referrers.
The system prototype has been developed and is in production - we are in the roll-out phase with our first customer.
We will launch on the open market by year end.
We’re in discussions with other medical tech companies to leverage and scale with them.
I've been recording videos, writing sales copy, building websites, and finding target customers.
It’s so much harder than I expected, and I love it.
I WILL give this everything I’ve got.
An uncapped, unlimited future awaits (maybe).
My reflections on this venture are currently private and I’ll share more about this soon - wins and losses, successes and failures.
Read Confessions of a Business Maverick for 5 mistakes in my first 6 months of entrepreneurship.
3. Teach what I know
The possibility of an accusation of arrogance cripples me. I generally dare not to admit that I’m afraid, but of this I’m terrified.
It’s possible you do not know this about me. My slicked back hair betrays me.
I don’t want what I write to be misinterpreted as ‘self’ promotion. My ambition is ‘idea’ promotion.
The Deal Space is my first public effort to share my work and teach what I know. I love writing. I’ve written something every day for years and years. I have 60,000 written words sitting in a lonely word document.
But currently what I write is invisible.
I am invisible.
Except to you. (I know who each of you are - thank you, by the way).
I do not own a domain to host these essays.
Recorded YouTube videos sit unlisted in an archive folder online.
I’m crippled with nerves to publish to my LinkedIn network.
Everything is buried away from seeing eyes.
This MUST change in 2024 and I WILL share my work.
Now, all that is left is to simply do the work.
Even if I fail.
While enjoying every step along the way.
Hi Dan,
What a courage and bravery! Talking about vulnerability and inner personal traits is not everybody’s strength , good on you mate. I like the idea of an even number for standing, it will beat an odd number of failure 😊
There’s always so much valuable points in your writings that requires double-reading (at least for my note-taking brain). In general, what I extract from your intuitive essays, if I can call them so, is your awareness (or your journey towards awareness) of yourself and an attempt to answer some fundamental queries that any high-achiever person might have encountered. Martin Heidegger, one of the most influential philosophers of modern time, in his masterpiece “Being and Time”, questions the true meaning of “Being” and provokes some existential queries into our purpose in life.
“Thinking begins only when we have come to know that reason, glorified for centuries, is the stiff-necked adversary of thought.” M. H.
I think I need so many more coffee catch-ups, so much to learn and so little time.
Thanks for sharing mate and looking forward to reading those three books and more.
Cheers
Thanks for sharing - I liked your book goals! Have you considered publishing only to trusted writers for friendly feedback using the secret draft link?