Transformation

Outside my summer home in northern Michigan, nature puts on quite a show. Whitetail deer, foxes, and songbirds are common. Among our most welcome visitors are the bright orange and yellow Monarch butterflies. 

They’re not only beautiful, they’re the classic example of today’s topic. 

What is Transformation

Webster’s defines transformation as “a thorough or dramatic change.” In the spring, adult Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed plants. When the caterpillar emerges, it feeds on the juicy leaves until it’s time to form a cocoon. As a caterpillar, it never leaves its birthplace. But when it transforms into a butterfly, it flies an astonishing 2,000 miles to winter in tropical Mexico. 

Books can be Transformational

Fortunately for us, insects aren’t the only creatures that experience radical transformation. If you’re like me, you’ve probably read a book that was so transformational that you simply could not put it down. Or maybe you’ve listened to an audiobook so intensely that it had you glued to the speakers. If you share my insatiable lifelong thirst for knowledge, chances are you have a shelf full of books that have transformed who you are today and who you are becoming. 

My biggest transformation was ignited by Earl Nightingale and his cumulative work, Lead the Field. I was in my mid-twenties, working at IBM on my first “real” job. I checked out a series of books on cassette from the company’s lending library. In no time at all, I was hooked on audiobooks. Especially Earl’s books. I’ve posted Blogs about his impact on me, and referenced him several times in my book Replace Retirement: Living your Legacy in the Exponential Age. 

The Impact of Earl Nightingale

Hearing Earl explain how success is mostly built on sticking to timeless, commonsense principles literally changed my life. Eager to advance, I readily absorbed his teaching on the importance of attitude, forgiveness and intelligent objectivity. The seminal concepts the “Dean of Development” shared transformed me personally and birthed the field of motivational self-help. In fact, Earl and his partner Lloyd Conant literally transformed the publishing industry. Together, these innovators opened a new world of accessing knowledge via audiobooks, selling millions of tapes and helping guys like me reach full potential.  

Earl not only had a profound effect on my professional trajectory, he transformed me into a different person. He flipped a switch in my head that turned me into an enthusiastic lifelong learner. Today, 40 years later, I’m overwhelmed by the number of people in my circle of acquaintances who are equally committed to lifelong learning, or to borrow a better label, committed to a “Growth Mindset.”  

Developing a Growth Mindset

For a detailed understanding of the Growth Mindset, check out Carol Dweck’s groundbreaking 2006 book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. This Stanford psychologist shows how success in business, sports, school, the arts, whatever, can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset (those who believe abilities are fixed) are less likely to flourish than folks with a growth mindset — (those who believe abilities can be developed). It’s been widely accepted, and still a vital read.

Nightingale was certainly not the first to come up with the ideas he espoused. Neither was Dweck. And neither was I. But I do believe I can transfer much of what I’ve learned from others to help my peers keep their footing on the well-worn path of success. Although my book is targeted to folks in the 45-65 age range, it’s certainly not limited to a specific demographic or income bracket. I designed the ideas and tools to be universal, and I hope you will check it out.

Amassing Wealth Won’t Solve All Your Problems

I’m guessing that like me, you’ve been exposed to countless books, articles, podcasts, and seminars that were meant to energize and enhance your journey to the top. I also suspect that in your “quest for success” you’ve discovered there’s a huge fallacy out there! What’s the error? What’s the elephant in the room? It’s hard to believe, but our culture still promotes the idea that gaining enough financial wealth will cure all ailments and solve all problems. That’s nonsense.

For decades, Growth Minded leaders (I use the term “leader” not as a formal title, but to indicate a certain approach to life) have discovered (through the teachings of Earl and others great thinkers) that the mindset of continuous value creation leads to transformation in both material wealth AND intrinsic wealth. 

Value Creation and Intrinsic Value

By that I mean, gaining assets with intrinsic value. Money has no inherent worth; it cannot produce a satisfying and rewarding life. It cannot buy loving relationships, peace of mind, or meaningful goals. Only pursuing “true riches” can bring joy, fulfilment, harmony, satisfaction and balance to your life. That’s why I am committed to leading the nationwide transformative movement to Replace Retirement with Intentional Living.

You Can be Transformed

At any point, we can start (or re-start) our journey of dramatically changing who we are and how we serve. I target my transformative visions in 10-year blocks. In this current decade, my transformation persona includes being an author, speaker, and thought leader. Right now, I’m in my early 60s and intend to reach my target age of 111. That means I’ll make 5 more transformations. 

If butterflies can do it, why not us?